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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - After weeks of hearing the loud, high-pitched buzz of the cicadas, their time is coming to an end... at least for now.

Earlier this spring, millions of cicadas emerged from the ground, just like they do every 13 to 17 years. How long cicadas live depends on their “brood” and if they are an annual or periodical species.

The two periodical broods this summer are Brood XIX, which has a 13-year life cycle, and Brood XIII, which has a 17-year life cycle. This year we saw both broods across portions of the U.S., which is a rare occurrence, as the two broods have not emerged together since 1803.

The first cicadas were spotted in Middle Tennessee in mid-April and began dying off at the end of May. Most will be gone by mid-June, although some could last until early July. However, the noise across the Mid State has already started to die down as most of the cicadas have already lived their full life cycle.

The main purpose of cicadas coming from above-ground is to mate. The deafening song that we’ve been hearing for the last few weeks is a mating song. Once the male cicadas woo the female cicadas with their song, they mate. The males die after mating and the females lay eggs on trees, then also die shortly after. All of the insects die around three to six weeks after emerging above ground.

The eggs that the females lay will hatch about 10 weeks later. Those babies then bury themselves underground and will stay dormant for 13 to 17 years until the next cycle of cicadas emerges sometime in 2037.