Key Highlights :
     Have you ever been caught in the rain and thought it was a strange occurrence? Well, a group of police officers in Antipolo, Rizal had a similar experience when they were on an outdoor inspection. They thought they were getting peed on by cicadas! But is this really the case?
     In Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras Weekend," Sunday, the police officers did not realize at first that the water came from insects. "Bakit parang may shower?" said PCPT. Arjay Santos. "Hindi namin pinapansin kasi akala namin nanggagaling lang sa puno o mga ambon." Eventually, they looked up and finally spotted what was spraying them water: the cicadas.
     It turns out that cicadas need to hydrate and of course, pee. According to Alhar Cervantes, an entomologist, "During warm times they need to take in liquid so they have to suck in 'yong mga plant saps or tree saps, then eventually, 'yong excess water tsaka excess nutrients kailangan nilang ilabas."
     Cicadas can be found in all continents except Antarctica. They also have the longest lifespan among insects. Male cicadas make a loud sound using a pair of white membranes in its abdomen called tymbals. They vibrate to make a mating call.
     "May tinatawag na periodical cicadas. It takes them 13 to 17 years to complete their life cycle. They will grow under the ground as nymphs and stay there for a very, very long time," Cervantes said. "They will emerge from the soil in very very large numbers and transform to adult. So once they are adults ang purpose na lang talaga nila is find a mate and reproduce."
     Cicadas are amazing creatures that have adapted to their environment in order to survive. They use pee to hydrate and to attract mates. It's a fascinating process and it's something we should all appreciate. So the next time you're out in the rain, remember that it might not be rain at all! It could be cicadas peeing on you!