# What Do Cicadas Eat?

> What cicadas eat: Herbivore (plant sap), foraging style, and seasonal shifts in Forests and grasslands worldwide.

- **Species:** Cicada (*Cicadidae*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Herbivore (plant sap)
- **Habitat:** Forests and grasslands worldwide
- **Lifespan:** Nymphs years underground; adults a few weeks
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cicada/what-do-cicada-eat/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cicada/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

Cicadas are large sap-feeding insects of the family Cicadidae, famous for the loud song of the males and for spending most of their lives underground. Adults are 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 in) long, fly on clear membranous wings, and feed on plant sap. Nymphs live underground for years, while adults survive only a few weeks. They are found in forests and grasslands worldwide.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a captive feeding plan from a veterinarian. This page is wild diet, not a pet-care sheet.

## Appearance and identification

Cicadas are stout, broad-headed insects measuring 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 in) long depending on the species, with prominent bulging eyes set wide apart. They have two pairs of clear, well-veined membranous wings that are held roof-like over the body at rest. Many species are green, brown, or black, sometimes with striking red or gold eyes. Adults are strong fliers but clumsy, and are often heard long before they are seen.

## Help protect the Cicada

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cicada/what-do-cicada-eat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.