What do cicadas eat? Where do cicadas live? While these are both questions that often pop up in everyday conversation, their answers might surprise you, especially if you thought you already knew the answer! Cicadas are fascinating insects that live worldwide (even in places you wouldn’t expect them to), and as it turns out, there are some cicada facts that most people don’t know about. Here are 10 of those facts that you may not have known before reading this article!
1) The origin of cicada
The cicada is a member of a huge family of insects, which includes grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. There are more than 2,400 known species of the cicada! The origin of their name (from Greek roots) means sleeper or waker because they spend most of their life cycle in subterranean nymphal stages. This stage can last up to 17 years underground before emerging as adults.
2) The truth about their lifecycle
Because cicadas spend most of their lives underground as larvae, they are often confused with insects that go through a similar life cycle, such as beetles and grubs. But while beetles undergo complete metamorphosis—meaning they emerge from their eggs as entirely different creatures than their parents (e.g., a ladybug)—cicada larvae are not so different when they emerge: They still look like giant bugs, but now with wings and flying abilities.
3) How to avoid getting sick from them
If you live in an area where cicadas make their noisy presence known, it’s a good idea to know how to stay healthy around them. While some cicada species are simply an annoyance and pose no risk, others can spread harmful diseases that can easily become life-threatening. Here are 10 facts about these insects that will keep you safe.
4) Some facts about cicadas that would blow your mind
*If you think it’s hot now in Summer, just imagine what it’d be like if a cicada lands on your shoulder and starts singing! *Cicadas don’t produce any noise themselves. They make a noise by rubbing their wings. *Did you know that when female cicadas are ready to mate, they let out a special call? Males hear them and come for calling duels. The winner of the duel gets to mate with her. *The male cicada doesn’t live long after mating—only 2–6 weeks. Females can lay up to 200 eggs and live between two and six years more—just enough time for all of their offspring to emerge from underground as adults too!
5) How much do they eat each year?
Cicadas can eat about 1/5 of their body weight each day during their life cycle. The lifespan of a cicada is short; they only spend six weeks in one stage of life before moving on to another. But in the meantime, they are doing damage to trees and other plants — which is why you may sometimes see trees with large tubes near their trunks when it is time for the new generation of the cicada to grow.
6) How long are they underground?
The nymphs will remain underground, feeding off of tree roots and sap until they become adults. This is when they begin to see sunlight again, climb out of their burrows and crawl up onto a nearby tree or tall bush. They shed their exoskeleton and emerge as adults with new wings ready to live above ground. To go from nymph to adult takes roughly a year, but some species can take nearly two decades!
7) Where else are they found besides US & Australia?
Although they’re most common in North America and Australia, cicadas can be found in parts of Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America. Some can even be found as far north as southern Canada! If you live in one of these areas or are just feeling lucky, you might spot a few cicada shells—or even find a living specimen! In North America you’ll see 2 to 3 species per year; there are over 100 different species worldwide.
8) Their sizes, colors, and sounds
They vary in size from about one-tenth of an inch to three inches in length. They can be a variety of colors, from red, brown, and black to green, yellow, orange, and blue. Their bodies can be black or brown with patterns on them. Some cicadas make buzzing sounds; others have no sound at all. And some have color patterns that look like eyespots or even smiley faces!
9) What spiritual meanings do they have?
Spiritual meanings aside, there are some interesting facts about cicadas: for example, did you know that cicada mating calls can be heard from miles away? If you live in a region that experiences such choruses during late spring or early summer, perhaps you’ve marveled at just how loud and long these calls can get.
10) Interesting facts about tropical, temperate, and desert cicadas
1. There are over 2000 species of cicada but in North America, there are only 3 (periodical, annual, and dog-day). 2. Tropical cicadas start their life cycle underground as nymphs then emerge as adults when they reach adulthood they live on average two to four weeks and die after reproducing. 3. Temperate cicadas spend most of their lives living underground for 13 or 17 years before emerging from below ground as an adult; once above ground, these insects live for about 4–6 weeks. 4. Desert cicada spends at least 13 years living underground before emerging underground in adulthood; once above ground, these insects live about 6-8 days before they die.
