# Cicada (*Cicadidae*)

> 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.

- **Category:** Insect
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Forests and grasslands worldwide; known for the loud summer song of the males.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cicada/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Hemiptera
- **Family:** Cicadidae

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Family Cicadidae |
| Diet | Herbivore (plant sap) |
| Habitat | Forests and grasslands worldwide |
| Lifespan | Nymphs years underground; adults a few weeks |
| Length | 2–5 cm (0.8–2 in) depending on species |
| Sound | Among the loudest of all insects |
| Conservation status | Varies by species |

## 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.

## The famous song

Male cicadas produce one of the loudest sounds of any insect using paired ribbed membranes called tymbals on the sides of the abdomen. Muscles buckle these membranes rapidly in and out, and the largely hollow abdomen amplifies the clicks into a continuous, penetrating call. The song is used mainly to attract females, and different species have distinct calls so that mates find the right partner. In large choruses the combined sound can be intense enough to be uncomfortable at close range.

## Life cycle underground

Cicadas spend the great majority of their lives as nymphs living underground, where they feed on sap from plant roots. Depending on the species this stage lasts from a couple of years to many years, and some North American periodical cicadas emerge together after 13 or 17 years. When ready, the nymphs dig to the surface, climb a plant or tree, and moult into winged adults, leaving behind the familiar empty shell. The adult stage that follows lasts only a few weeks.

## Diet and feeding

Both nymphs and adults are herbivores that feed on plant sap rather than solid food. Using needle-like mouthparts, nymphs draw sap from roots underground, while adults feed on the fluids of twigs and branches. Because the sap is watery and low in nutrients, cicadas process large volumes and are not considered serious pests of crops in most cases. Their feeding and egg-laying can, however, cause minor damage to young twigs.

## Predators and defence

Cicadas are eaten by birds, small mammals, reptiles, and predatory insects, and they have few active defences beyond flight and camouflage. Periodical species rely on a strategy of overwhelming numbers, emerging all at once so that predators cannot possibly eat them all before they breed. A specialised wasp known as the cicada killer hunts them to provision its nest. When handled, adults may emit a sharp distress squawk and take off quickly.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why are cicadas so loud?

Male cicadas make sound with ribbed membranes called tymbals on the abdomen, which they buckle rapidly while the hollow abdomen amplifies the noise. The call attracts females, and large choruses rank among the loudest sounds made by any insect.

### How long do cicadas live?

Cicadas spend most of their lives as nymphs underground, which can last from a few years up to 13 or 17 years in periodical species. The winged adults that emerge live only a few weeks.

### What do cicadas eat?

Cicadas are herbivores that feed on plant sap. Nymphs draw sap from roots underground, while adults feed on the fluids of twigs and branches using needle-like mouthparts.

### Do cicadas bite or sting?

Cicadas do not bite or sting and are harmless to people. Their mouthparts are built for piercing plants to feed on sap, not for defence.

### Why do periodical cicadas emerge every 13 or 17 years?

Emerging together after 13 or 17 years floods the area with so many cicadas that predators cannot eat them all, ensuring many survive to breed. The long, prime-numbered cycles are also thought to make it harder for predators to sync with them.

### Are cicadas the same as locusts?

No. Cicadas are a separate group of sap-feeding insects and do not swarm to destroy crops. Locusts are a type of grasshopper, and the two are often confused only because of the noise and large numbers of emerging cicadas.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Cicadidae.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Cicadidae&searchType=species)
- [Wikipedia — Cicada.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicadidae)

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