This process is called sublimation. The opposite (deposition) is where a gas turns directly into a solid. Sublimation occurs if the pressure and temperature are right for the specific substance, so that the solid phase in a phase diagram borders the gas phase.
Most cicadas go through a life cycle that lasts from two to five years. Some species have much longer life cycles, such as the North American genus, Magicicada, which has a number of distinct broods that go through either a 17-year or, in some parts of the world, a 13-year life cycle.
A periodical cicada of the genus Magicicada is an insect measuring 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) in length with a red-orange hue and protruding red eyes. In fact, this coloring is an easy way to identify periodical cicadas from other species, including the more common dog-day cicadas.long with 17-year cicadas, there are five broods of 13-year cicadas, which are more prevalent in the southeastern part of the U.S. [source: Penn State University ].