The adult cicada will breed, laying eggs on branches in trees and then die. Larvae hatch from the eggs and fall to the ground, burrowing down to mature in the deep earth. They are thought to suck out the juice/water out from tree roots.
After growing underground for a time, they resurface and the young nymphs will molt (shed) their exoskeleton in order to become larger, plumper and, eventually, harder. The cicada bursts out the back of its exoskeleton which then dries out in place. These dried-out, crunchy brown 'shells' of the younger nymph look just like a cicada and it's not uncommon to see them clutching onto tree trunks, on plant stems, soffits, gutters, window screens and even blades of tall grass.
This particular species seems to prefer pines and its presence will completely disappear from an area once all pines are gone/dead. It takes 3 years for nymphs in this species to become an adult. Adults are not known to eat. Instead, they focus their energy on reproducing during their short lifespans.
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