# Cassin's 13-Year Cicada (*Magicicada tredecassini*) Cassin's 13-Year Cicada is a special bug that only comes out every 13 years! They make a loud buzzing sound that can be heard in the summer. These cicadas are known for their unique life cycle and bright colors. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Cassin's 13-Year Cicada](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Magicicada_tredecassini_NC_XIX_male_dorsal_trim.jpg&width=800) Photo: David C. Marshall, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Magicicada_tredecassini_NC_XIX_male_dorsal_trim.jpg) ## Appearance The Cassin's 13-Year Cicada has a stout black body, striking reddish-orange eyes, and clear wings with prominent orange veins. Its underside often features orange markings on the abdomen, distinguishing it from other periodical cicadas by its specific visual patterns. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hemiptera - **Family:** Cicadidae - **Genus:** Magicicada ## Interesting facts - Adult cicadas don't eat solid food; they only sip watery tree sap for energy! - Cicadas have five eyes: two large compound eyes and three small simple eyes! - Their massive emergence is so synchronized, it's like nature's giant, noisy clock! - They have unique ear drums called tympana, used for hearing their species' songs clearly. ## Special abilities - **Time Travel Burrower:** Cassin's 13-Year Cicada can live underground for 13 years as a nymph because of its unique life cycle. - **Sonic Serenade:** Cassin's 13-Year Cicada has special vibrating organs that help them create incredibly loud, buzzing songs. - **Swarm Survival:** Cassin's 13-Year Cicada can emerge in massive swarms, which helps them overwhelm predators with sheer numbers. - **Tree Juice Sipper:** Cassin's 13-Year Cicada has a strong proboscis that helps them drink sap directly from tree roots and branches. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 50-70 mm - **Size:** 25-35 mm - **Lifespan:** 4745 days - **Flight Speed:** 12 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These cicadas drink watery sap from tree roots as nymphs and from branches as adults. - **Age differences:** Nymphs drink sap from tree roots; adults drink sap from twigs and branches. - **Primary Foods:** Xylem sap, Tree roots, Tree branches ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Birds feast on easily caught adult cicadas. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Mammals like raccoons eat cicadas during their emergence. - **Depends on:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — Nymphs feed on the roots of this tree species. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Cicadas are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Cassin's 13-Year Cicada? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Cassin's 13-Year Cicada's wingspan? 50-70 mm ### How big is Cassin's 13-Year Cicada? 25-35 mm ### How long does Cassin's 13-Year Cicada live? 4745 days ### How fast can Cassin's 13-Year Cicada fly? 12 km/h ### What does Cassin's 13-Year Cicada eat? These cicadas drink watery sap from tree roots as nymphs and from branches as adults. ### Where is Cassin's 13-Year Cicada usually found? Forests ### How many legs does Cassin's 13-Year Cicada have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abraham-lincoln-memorial-garden) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Berry College](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-college) — Georgia, US · Campus - [Eno River State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/eno-river-state-park) — North Carolina, US · State Park [View all places to see Cassin's 13-Year Cicada](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/cassins-13-year-cicada) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Cassin's 13-Year Cicada: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cassins-13-year-cicada)