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Show Mrs. Locust Saws Wood While Hubby Serenades The wife of the 17-year-old locust (cicada) is a pretty busy insect, but she is consoled somewhat by the serenade her mate gives her on his two trick cavities in his abdomen. ab-domen. While Mr. Locust waves a membrane over the cavities and gives out with his harsh music, his Wife is busy sawing slits into tree limbs. Although not a member of the carpenters' union, the female locust lo-cust manages to make an opening . in the wood to deposit her eggs. After the eggs hatch, the grubs fall to the ground and quickly dig their own home near succulent roots. There they stay, unless their root dies, until they emerge 13 or ,17 years later, depending on the variation of the species. |