what are cicadas?

Answer 1

The Basics

Cicadas are insects, best known for the sound made by the males of the species. The males make this sound by flexing their tymbals, which are drum-like organs found on their abdomens.

Cicadas belong to the order Hemiptera, suborder Homoptera and family Cicadidae. Leafhoppers, spittle bugs and jumping plant lice are close relatives of the cicada. Hemiptera are different from other insects in that both the nymph and adult forms have a beak, which they use to suck fluids called xylem from plants. This is how they both eat and drink.

The origin of the word cicada isn’t 100% clear however it appears to be based on the Latin word for cicada. This makes sense as there were certainly plenty of cicadas in the days of Rome. Cicadas are called semi in Japan, cigale in France, cigarra in Spain.

Different Varieties

There are over 100 species of cicada in North America, and over 2000 species around the world. Cicadas exist on every continent but Antarctica.

The largest cicada species of cicada is the Pomponia imperatoria, which is native to Malaysia.

According to the University of Florida Book of Insect Records, the Tibicen walkeri are the loudest cicadas, and can achieve 108.9 decibels.

In North America there are two main types of cicadas: periodical (which belong to the genus Magicicada) and annual. The Tibicen is the most common genus of annual cicada in North America.



Life Cycle

Cicadas begin life as a rice-shaped egg, which the female deposits in a groove she makes in a tree limb. The groove provides shelter and exposes the tree fluids, which the young cicadas can feed on. These grooves can kill small branches. When the braches die and leaves turn brown, it is called flagging.

Once the egg hatches the cicada begins to feed on the tree fluids. At this point it looks like a termite or small white ant. Once the young cicada is ready, it crawls from the scratch and falls to the ground where it will dig until it finds a root to feed on. Once a root is found the cicada will stay underground for 2 – 17 years depending on the species.

After the long 2 – 17 years, cicadas emerge from the ground as nymphs. Nymphs climb the nearest available tree, and begin to shed their nymph exoskeleton. Free of their old skin, their wings can inflate with fluid and their new skin can harden. Once their new wings and body are ready, they can begin their brief adult life.

Adult cicadas, also called imagoes, spend their time in trees looking for a mate. Males sing, females respond, mating begins, and the cycle of life begins again.
more info then you need to know huh

Answer 2

No! Cicadas do not attack people or bite. They do however fly really bad and might fly into a person on accident. Cicadas burrow underground such as the Brood XIII that is about to come out of the ground after a stay of 17years!!! The larva such the tree roots and when it is time for them to come above ground they climb a vertical object such as a tree where they molt and then get their wings. Cicadas live for 30 days and their main goal is to mate. The male cicada has a call that is 90db loud which is equal to the sound of a kitchen blender. Note: They are high in protein and dogs, cats, squirrels like to eat them. Cicadas are also eaten by people in other Countries they say that they taste like asparagus to shrimp to nothing at all.

Answer 3

I'll give you the short interesting version. We have 2 main varieties in North America. The insects feed on the sap of trees. They come above ground every 11-17 years to reproduce only and do not feed during that time. It is ever so neat to watch one come out of the ground. They are compact and lime green. It takes about 2 hours to get the body fully extended and turn the dark color with red eyes. After this time, you will hear them making lots of noise in or near the trees where they came out of the ground. We have lots of them come out near the Oak trees and find empty skeletons on the bark. They are totally harmless, though lots of people are needlessly afraid of them. Some years more come above ground than usual. I remember in the 1980's, one year, the noise was so great on summer evenings, we had to stay inside. I haven't heard as many since.

Answer 4

These disgusting bugs that come out once every 17 years. They're kind of like grasshoppers, only they eat EVERYTHING in sight. Very bad news for farmers. They eat something like 1000 times their body weight or something crazy like that. *gag*

Answer 5

my 2 points.

Answer 6

ANOYING BUGS THAT COME UP ONCE EVERY 17YEARS AND WHEN THEY COME OUT THERE ARE MILLIONS THERE LIKE INVADING

Answer 7

BUGS!!!