Cicada

Cicadas are a superfamily of insects in the order Hemiptera, known for the loud sounds produced by males and for the long underground nymph stage of many species.

Cicadas are a superfamily of insects in the order Hemiptera, known for the loud sounds produced by males and for the long underground nymph stage of many species. The group includes more than 3,000 described species worldwide and is found in tropical and temperate regions across many habitats. Some North American species are periodical, emerging in synchronized cycles of 13 or 17 years, and cicadas occur in Canada, especially in southern regions.

Classification

Cicadas are classified in the order Hemiptera and suborder Auchenorrhyncha. The superfamily Cicadoidea is divided into the families Cicadidae and Tettigarctidae, with most cicadas belonging to Cicadidae; Tettigarctidae contains two living species in Australia.

Life cycle

Cicada nymphs live underground and feed on root sap before emerging as adults. Some species are annual, while periodical cicadas synchronize development and emerge after 13 or 17 years. Many species spend years underground as nymphs.

Sound production

Male cicadas are known for their loud calling songs, which are used in courtship and territory. The sound is produced by specialized organs rather than by biting or stinging, and cicadas do not bite people in the way many other insects do.

Distribution and habitat

Cicadas are found in tropical and temperate regions worldwide. They occupy habitats including forests, grasslands, and deserts, and also occur in Canada, especially in southern regions.

Human significance

Cicadas appear in folklore, symbolism, and cuisine in some cultures. They are also studied for their unusual life cycles and mass emergence behaviour.