Periodical Cicadas
ExploreInsects
Periodical Cicadas
Magicicada
Periodical cicadas are special insects that come out every 13 or 17 years! They sing a loud song to find friends and can be found in many places during their big years.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The Periodical Cicadas has a sturdy, dark body, typically black, with bright red eyes that stand out. Their clear, membranous wings are veined with orange, giving them a distinct appearance from other cicada species.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHemipteraFamilyCicadidaeGenusMagicicada
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
After they emerge, their shed skin shells are often found clinging to trees and plants!
Some groups of cicadas have been tracked for hundreds of years, like a living calendar!
Their incredibly loud songs can be as noisy as a roaring lawnmower!
They emerge in such huge numbers, scientists can predict their arrival decades ahead!
Special abilities
Ability
Underground Time-Travelers
Periodical Cicadas has the ability to live underground for 13 or 17 years as nymphs, safely developing before emerging.
Ability
Nature's Loudspeakers
Periodical Cicadas can produce extremely loud mating calls using special vibrating membranes, attracting mates from afar.
Ability
Sustained Siphoning
Periodical Cicadas can drink sap directly from tree roots or branches using a straw-like mouthpart for nutrients.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 60-100 mm
- Size
- 20-40 mm
- Lifespan
- 4745-6205 days
- Flight Speed
- 15 km/h
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
These insects sip sap from trees and plants using a straw-like mouth.
Age differences: Nymphs feed on tree root sap, while adults feed on sap from branches.
Primary Foods
- tree xylem sap
- tree root sap
- plant stem fluids
Ecological connections
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Singing
Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Ancient Lineage
This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Longevous
This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Also known as
17-Year CicadaMagicicada
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Cicadas are not harmful, but it's best to watch them from a distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Periodical Cicadas's wingspan?
60-100 mm
How big is Periodical Cicadas?
20-40 mm
How long does Periodical Cicadas live?
4745-6205 days
How fast can Periodical Cicadas fly?
15 km/h
What does Periodical Cicadas eat?
These insects sip sap from trees and plants using a straw-like mouth.
Where is Periodical Cicadas usually found?
Forests
How many legs does Periodical Cicadas have?
6
Snap Map
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