Cicada
Cicadidae
Quick answer
Cicadas are large insects best known for the loud buzzing song of the males, which is among the loudest sounds made by any insect. They spend most of their lives underground as nymphs feeding on plant roots, sometimes for many years, before emerging to live only weeks as adults. Found across warm regions worldwide, cicadas are famous for the synchronized mass emergences of some periodical species.
Cicada facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Family Cicadidae |
|---|---|
| Diet | Herbivore (plant sap) |
| Habitat | Forests and grasslands worldwide |
| Lifespan | Nymphs years underground; adults a few weeks |
| Length | 2–5 cm (0.8–2 in) depending on species |
| Sound | Among the loudest of all insects |
| Conservation status | Varies by species |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Hemiptera |
| Family | Cicadidae |
Where it lives
Forests and grasslands worldwide; known for the loud summer song of the males.
The famous song
Male cicadas produce their loud song using special membranes called tymbals on the sides of the abdomen, which they vibrate rapidly. The largely hollow abdomen acts as a resonating chamber, amplifying the sound, which in some species exceeds 100 decibels. The song is used to attract females, and choruses of many males can fill a summer landscape with noise.
Life underground
Cicadas spend most of their lives as nymphs living underground, where they feed on sap from plant roots. This stage can last from a couple of years to many years depending on the species. When ready, the nymphs dig their way to the surface, climb a tree or stem, and molt into winged adults, leaving behind their empty shells.
Periodical cicadas
Some North American cicadas are periodical, emerging together in enormous numbers after either 13 or 17 years underground. These synchronized emergences flood the area with so many cicadas that predators cannot eat them all, a survival strategy known as predator satiation. Annual cicadas, by contrast, appear every summer in smaller numbers.
Diet and impact
Both nymphs and adults feed on plant sap and cause little lasting harm to healthy plants, though heavy egg-laying can damage young twigs. Cicadas are an important food source for many birds, mammals, and other animals, especially during mass emergences. Their tunneling also helps aerate the soil.
Frequently asked questions about the Cicada
How do cicadas make their loud sound?
Male cicadas vibrate ribbed membranes called tymbals on their abdomen, and the mostly hollow abdomen amplifies the sound. The song attracts females and can exceed 100 decibels in some species.
How long do cicadas live?
Cicadas spend most of their lives as nymphs underground, from a couple of years to many years, while the winged adults live only a few weeks. Periodical species famously emerge after 13 or 17 years.
What do cicadas eat?
Cicadas feed on plant sap throughout their lives. Nymphs drink sap from plant roots underground, while adults feed on sap from stems and twigs.
Are cicadas harmful?
Cicadas are harmless to people and do not bite or sting. They cause little damage to healthy plants, though heavy egg-laying can harm the twigs of young trees.
What are periodical cicadas?
Periodical cicadas are North American species that emerge together in huge numbers after exactly 13 or 17 years underground. Their synchronized appearance overwhelms predators so that enough survive to breed.
Why do cicadas come out all at once?
Mass, synchronized emergence is a survival strategy called predator satiation: by appearing in overwhelming numbers, cicadas ensure that predators cannot eat them all, so many survive to reproduce.
