Cicada Images

Cicada Images, Facts and Information:

Superfamily: Cicadoidea

• Cicadas are insects with over 3,000 species divided into two groups: annual and periodical. They belong to the superfamily Cicadoidea and are herbivores. Cicadas are known for their loud buzzing sounds, which are mating calls produced by males. These sounds can reach 80-100 decibels and are crucial for reproduction.
• Cicadas have a unique life cycle. They begin as eggs laid by females in tree branches. After six to ten weeks, nymphs hatch and fall to the ground, where they burrow and attach to tree roots. Depending on the species, they remain underground for 2 to 17 years. Once they emerge, they shed their skins and become adults. Adults live above ground for about five weeks, during which they mate and lay eggs before dying.
• Periodical cicadas, found in the central and eastern United States, emerge in large numbers every 13 or 17 years. This mass emergence overwhelms predators, ensuring the survival of enough cicadas to sustain the population. Annual cicadas, on the other hand, emerge every summer and rely on camouflage to avoid predators.
• Cicadas are not harmful to humans, as they do not bite or sting, nor do they damage crops. They are often found in large groups, known as “clouds” or “plagues” of cicadas.

I hope you enjoy viewing my Cicada photos.