Cicadas

Cicadas are part of the Order Hemiptera (formally classified under Order Homoptera) that represents 82,000 categorized species around the globe to which some 12,000 are found in North America alone. Cicadas belong to the same order as "True Bugs" but are differentiated by their rigid mouthparts that attach to the back of the head instead of the front (as in True Bugs). Cicadas emerge in large numbers which in itself can be considered a defense mechanism against predators - if your enemy's stomach is full of your friends, he will not feel the need to try and eat you.

Adult Cicadas primarily feed on sap from plant sources while their young nymphs take on fruit, pollen, flowers and seeds. Adult Cicadas themselves are a prime target of birds and some human cultures dine on the species. Cicada larva begin life underground and their rate of maturity varies per species - hence the term "Seventeen Year Cicada" for one such grouping. After mating, eggs are laid by the female in branches of trees and several hundred eggs may be deposited. Larva then spend most of their early lives underground. From there, the flightless Cicada eventually takes to the surface and comes to rest on tree bark, deck posts or similar structure. The Cicada then molts from its original "skin" and emerges with a set of wings - though they make for relatively clumsy flyers.

Cicadas are well known for their variable pitch whines in the spring and summertime months, usually found around trees and forests. This call is the male attempting to attract the female and this "singing" takes place mostly during daylight hours. The singing is accomplished by way of "tymbals" found on the sides of the abdomen. Cicadas tend to appear in large numbers - sometimes numbering in the millions) and there exists several major types including the Periodical Cicada (the "Seventeen-Year Cicada") and the Grand Western Cicada - the latter being the largest of all Cicada types. Periodical Cicadas are further broken down into seven species under the genus Magicicada. Of these at least four groups are known to span approximately thirteen years to reach full maturity while the rest are of the seventeen-year variety. Periodical Cicadas are generally found in all states east of the Mississippi River and are a common summertime sight (and sound). Annual Cicadas tend to share shorter maturity times with adulthood reached in as little as five years. As such, it is not uncommon to have generations of these Cicada types overlapping in a given year.

There are 4 Cicadas in the Insect Identification database.
Those listed below are showcased in alphabetical order.