# 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! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** 13-Year Cicada ![Riley's 13-Year Cicada](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Magicicada_tredecim.jpg&width=800) Photo: kenkneidel, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Magicicada_tredecim.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hemiptera - **Family:** Cicadidae - **Genus:** Magicicada ## 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 - **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. - **Super Singer:** Riley's 13-Year Cicada can create incredibly loud buzzing songs that helps them find mates in noisy swarms. - **Root Drinker:** Riley's 13-Year Cicada has a special straw-like mouthpart that helps them drink sap from tree roots while underground. - **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 - **Eaten by:** [European Starling](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-starling) (*Sturnus vulgaris*) — Feeds on emerging and adult cicadas. - **Eaten by:** Wild Turkey (*Meleagris gallopavo*) — Scratches for cicada nymphs and adults. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Hunts cicadas emerging from the ground. - **Depends on:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — Nymphs and adults feed on its sap. ## 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. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [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. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## 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? 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 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 ## Where to spot - [Caldwell Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/caldwell-street-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Greensboro Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greensboro-commercial-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Old Clinton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-clinton-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District [View all places to see Riley's 13-Year Cicada](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/rileys-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: [Riley's 13-Year Cicada: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rileys-13-year-cicada)