The female desert cicada inserts her eggs just under the surface of a plant stem. Shortly, these eggs hatch and the nymphs drop to the ground and dig into the soil to feed on the roots of a desert tree for three or more year before emerging. The emerged nymphs climb a tree, and sheds their exoskeleton emerging now in their adult flying stage. The shed brown brittle exoskeletons, or exuvia, are easy to find in your yard this time of year hanging from tree trunks and stucco walls. The males sing all summer long giving their mind-numbingly loud, whinny, buzzing call. The call attracts females to visits their good egg-laying tree and to mate.