IZIHLONONO, izinambuzane ezifana nezinkumbi, zitholakala kuwo wonke amazwekazi ngaphandle kwe-Antarctica. Kodwa kunohlobo olutholakala kuphela enyakatho-mpumalanga yeMelika okuthiwa isihlonono esivela ngankathi (i-ngankathi cicada), osekuyiminyaka ososayensi bezinto eziphilayo benelukuluku elikhulu lokwazi ngalo.

Cabanga ngalokhu: Izigidi zezihlonono ezivela ngankathi zivela kungazelelwe entwasahlobo amasonto ambalwa nje. Ngesikhashana ziselangeni, ziyebuza, zicule kakhulu, zindize, zizalele bese ziyafa. Ngokuyisimanga, isizukulwane esisha sivela ngemva kweminyaka engu-13 noma engu-17, kuye ngohlobo lwazo. Kwenzekani kulezi zinambuzane ngaleso sikhathi?

Ukuze siphendule, kudingeka siqonde umjikelezo ohlukile wokuphila kwezihlonono ezivela ngankathi. Cishe ngemva kwesonto zivelile, izihlonono ezindala ziyahlangana bese ezesifazane zizalela amaqanda asukela ku-400 kuya ku-600 emahlumeleni ezihlahla. Ngokushesha nje emva kwalokho, ezindala ziyafa. Phakathi namasonto ambalwa alandelayo, amaqanda ayachanyuselwa futhi iziphungumangathi ziqathakele phansi, zimbe zingene emhlabathini bese ziphila ngaphansi komhlaba, lapho zincela khona izimpande zezihlahla iminyaka embalwa. Eminyakeni engu-13 noma engu-17 kuvela isizukulwane esisha sezihlonono ezindala, siwuqale phansi futhi umjikelezo.

Ngokwesihloko esikumagazini i-Nature, umjikelezo oyinkimbinkimbi wokuphila kwezihlonono “usuxake ososayensi amakhulu eminyaka. . . . Ngisho namanje, izazi zezinambuzane zisazama ukuqonda ukuthi umjikelezo wokuphila oyisimanga walezi zinambuzane waba khona kanjani.” Uyimpicabadala engakaze ibonwe ezilwaneni.

Ucabangani? Kungenzeka yini ukuthi izikhathi zokuvela kwalezi zihlonono zilawulwa ukuziphendukela kwemvelo? Noma ingabe zaklanywa?