Certain species of cicadas have evolved a life cycle which is a prime number of years long (I know of 13 and 17 years). This prevents predators from synchronizing their life cycle to that of the cicadas.

I believe the reason for avoiding synchronization is that different swarms avoid competition for resources. Wouldn't predators just sync up with them otherwise?

> Wouldn't predators just sync up with them otherwise?

Not easily. They need to get the frequency and phase correct, which is probably hard to do with decade long cycles. If they align with the cycle but are out of phase they never match. If they "choose" another cycle they'll only match at best at twice the period, so 30 year cycles. That probably makes it very hard for any predator species to specialize on them, although not of taking advantage of them when they do happen to be around.

It seems that security through obscurity has worked for them for millions of years!

Only against as dumb-witted an opponent as evolution!

A sub-plot of Episode 3 of Silicon Valley; a genius one at that.

http://valleywag.gawker.com/the-peter-thiel-sesame-seed-scen...