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Riley's 13-Year Cicada

Magicicada tredecim

Riley's 13-Year Cicada is a special bug that spends most of its life underground. After 13 years, it comes out to sing and find a mate. They make a loud buzzing sound that fills the air in summer!

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Riley's 13-Year Cicada has a stout, dark body, often appearing black, with striking reddish-orange eyes and prominent orange veins on its clear wings. Its distinctive eye color and wing venation make it visually different from most other cicada species.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHemipteraFamilyCicadidaeGenusMagicicada
Riley's 13-Year Cicada
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Riley's 13-Year Cicada

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

4

Interesting facts

Baby cicadas dig tunnels as they grow, living deep below the earth!

Billions of these cicadas can emerge together, blanketing entire forests!

Their loud chorus can reach 100 decibels, like a motorcycle engine!

They wait for exactly 13 years before emerging from underground!

Special abilities

Ability

Underground Nap Time

Riley's 13-Year Cicada can spend 13 years underground because of its unique life cycle that helps them avoid predators for a long time.

Ability

Super Singer

Riley's 13-Year Cicada can create incredibly loud buzzing songs that helps them find mates in noisy swarms.

Ability

Root Drinker

Riley's 13-Year Cicada has a special straw-like mouthpart that helps them drink sap from tree roots while underground.

Ability

Synchronized Swarm

Riley's 13-Year Cicada can emerge in massive numbers all at once, which helps them overwhelm predators.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
60-80 mm
Size
25-35 mm
Lifespan
28-42 days
Flight Speed
10 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

These cicadas drink tree sap for all their food and water!

Age differences: Young cicadas drink sap from tree roots underground; adults drink from branches.

Primary Foods

  • Xylem sap
  • Oak sap
  • Maple sap
  • Hickory sap

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

13-Year Cicada

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Cicadas are safe to watch, but don't touch them too much since they can be delicate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Riley's 13-Year Cicada?

The easiest way to identify Riley's 13-Year Cicada is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

What is Riley's 13-Year Cicada's wingspan?

60-80 mm

How big is Riley's 13-Year Cicada?

25-35 mm

How long does Riley's 13-Year Cicada live?

28-42 days

How fast can Riley's 13-Year Cicada fly?

10 km/h

What does Riley's 13-Year Cicada eat?

These cicadas drink tree sap for all their food and water!

Where is Riley's 13-Year Cicada usually found?

Forests

How does Riley's 13-Year Cicada hunt?

Foraging

Snap Map

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