cicada

cicada, (family Cicadidae), family of more than 3,000 species of sound-producing insects. Cicadas are found in tropical and temperate areas worldwide and occur in deserts, grasslands, and forests. Cicadas have long been used in folk medicines, as religious and monetary symbols, and as an important source of food for humans and many other organisms. The cicada appears in the mythology, literature, and music of many cultures, including those of some Indigenous peoples in the Americas, and the males of certain Asian species have even been kept in cages for their melodious songs.

Physical description and song

Cicadas are medium to large insects, ranging in size from 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 inches). They characteristically have short antennae, two pairs of transparent membranous wings, prominent compound eyes, and three simple eyes (ocelli) that form a triangle between the compound eyes. The insects do not bite or sting. Major species are generally easily recognized by differences in songs, behavior, and morphology.

Male cicadas produce loud noises by vibrating membranes (tymbals) near the base of the abdomen. Males of each species typically have three distinct sound responses: a congregational song that is regulated by daily weather fluctuations and by songs produced by other males; a courtship song, usually produced prior to copulation; and a disturbance squawk, produced by individuals captured, held, or disturbed into flight. Most North American cicadas produce rhythmical ticks, buzzes, whines, or screams, although in some species the song is musical. Females lack tymbals, though some species use their wings to produce clicking or snapping sounds, often in response to the songs of the males.

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(Read Britannica’s “Why Are Cicadas So Noisy?”)

Life cycle

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All cicada species have a life cycle that consists of three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Adult female cicadas usually lay their eggs in woody plant tissues. Newly hatched nymphs burrow into the ground where they suck juices from roots of perennial plants. Nymphs usually undergo five molts during the year or more required to reach maturity. When prompted to emerge—the biology of which is not well understood for long-lived species—mature nymphs often appear aboveground en masse and undergo their final molt on nearby trees. The winged adults live for only a few weeks, just long enough to find a mate and lay eggs. Although not ordinarily considered a pest, the females, if numerous, may damage young saplings during their egg laying.

Major genera and species

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A large and diverse group, the cicada family comprises more than 500 genera worldwide. The periodical cicadas (Magicicada) are among the most fascinating and best-known cicadas. The genus contains seven North American species of 17-year cicadas (often erroneously called 17-year locusts) and13-year cicadas. In what are among the longest life cycles of any insects, periodical cicadas emerge in spring only every 13 or 17 years, with millions of insects materializing from the soil in a matter of weeks and dying shortly thereafter. These species occur in chronologically and geographically isolated broods.

(Read Britannica’s “Why Do Some Cicadas Appear Only Every 17 Years?”)

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To distinguish them from the periodical cicadas, a number of North American species are known as annual cicadas. These are seen every summer, though their life cycles typically span 2–5 years. Annual cicadas include the dog-day cicadas (genus Neotibicen), scrub cicadas (genus Diceroprocta), several species of the genus Neocicada, and members of the genus Okanagana.

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The nearly 60 species of the genus Cicada are found in Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. The common, or ash, cicada (Cicada orni) is one of the most familiar species in Europe. The New Forest cicada (Cicadetta montana) is the only cicada native to the United Kingdom, where it is considered an endangered species.

The largest cicadas in the world are found in Asia. Members of the genus Megapomponia are large-bodied insects native to Southeast Asia. Included is the empress cicada (Megapomponia imperatoria), the most massive of all known cicada species, with a superlative body length of about 7 cm (2.8 inches). The only member of its genus, Tacua speciosa can reach more than 5.5 cm (2 inches) in length. The insect is unusual in that its wings are opaque instead of transparent like those of other cicada species.

Two species of hairy cicadas are members of the family Tettigarctidae and are found only in southeastern Australia, including Tasmania.