INYEZA zitholakala kuzo zonke izingxenye zomhlaba ngaphandle kwase-Antarctica. Kodwa umhlobo lo wama-periodical cicada wona utholakala e-northeast America kuphela njalo usulesikhathi eside umangalisa abezesayensi.

Cabanga ngalokhu: Izinkulungwane zenyeza lezi zivela okwamaviki ambalwa ngesikhathi kuqalisa intwasa. Ngesikhathi lesi ziyahluba izikhumba zazo ezibutshelezi, ziziphaphele, zikhale ngendlela evala indlebe, zizalane besezisifa. Kusiya ngokuthi yiwuphi umhlobo wenyeza abantwana baze babonakale ngemva kweminyaka engu-13 kusiya ku-17. Okweminyaka yonke le bayabe besenzani?

Ukuze siwuphendule umbuzo lo kumele siqale ngokuhlola impilo eyisimanga yenyeza le. Ngemva kweviki zivelile ezinsikazi ziyabekela amaqanda afika 400 kusiya ku-600 phakathi kwembaxa zezihlahla. Ngemva kwalokho ziyafa. Kungadlula amaviki amalutshwana amaqanda la ayachamisela abantwana bakhithikele phansi batshone emhlabathini, kulapho abayabe bephila ngokumunya imihluzi yezimpande zezihlahla okweminyaka eminengi. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-13 kusiya kwengu-17 abantwana bayathutsha besebeqalisa kutsha futhi impilo.

Imagazini ethi Nature nxa ikhuluma ngesimanga sempilo zenyeza lezi ithi: “sekuphice abezesayensi okweminyaka eminengi. . . . Lakhathesi abezesayensi bazama ngazo zonke izindlela ukuzwisisa ukuthi kanti impilo yakhona yaqalisa njani.” Inyeza lezi ziyisimanga sezimanga.

Ucabangani? Kambe ukuphila kwenyeza lezi kwazivelela yini loba kwadalwa?