There are cicadas that spend 17 years of their lives sleeping, only to wake up for a few weeks, mate and then die.
The Magicicada
of eastern North America are a genus containing several species of
"periodical cicadas". They are periodical because instead of adults
appearing every year, the periodical cicadas only seen once every 13 or
17 years (depending on the species).
The young Magicicada (known as "nymphs") live underground for either 13 or 17 years . They sucks nutrients from roots. When they grow up in their 13th or 17th year, they dig their way out, molt their old skin, grow a new exoskeleton, feed off the vegetation, and prepare to mate.
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The young Magicicada (known as "nymphs") live underground for either 13 or 17 years . They sucks nutrients from roots. When they grow up in their 13th or 17th year, they dig their way out, molt their old skin, grow a new exoskeleton, feed off the vegetation, and prepare to mate.