Animal Profiles
Insects

Cicada

Cicadidae

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Cicadas include annual and periodical species. This account describes Magicicada septendecim, a North American cicada with a long underground juvenile stage.

Female Magicicada septendecim photographed from below, showing the orange abdominal markings.

Female Magicicada septendecim photographed from below, showing the orange abdominal markings.

peterwchen · CC BY

At a glance

Location
This periodical cicada inhabits wooded parts of the eastern and central United States.
Habitat
Temperate forest, Towns and cities
Diet
Herbivore
Food
Juveniles draw fluid from roots, while adults can also feed from trees.

Classification

Common name
Cicada
Browse group
Insects
Scientific name or taxon
Cicadidae
Taxon rank
family
Order
Hemiptera
Family
Cicadidae
Source classification
Insecta

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • Juveniles live underground.
  • Adults have reddish eyes.
  • Broods normally follow a 17-year cycle.

Habitat and range

This periodical cicada inhabits wooded parts of the eastern and central United States. Deciduous trees provide roots for underground juveniles and twigs in which females place eggs.

Appearance and adaptations

Adults have dark bodies, reddish eyes and transparent wings traced with orange veins. Young cicadas develop underground and shed their final juvenile skin after reaching the surface.

Diet and behaviour

Juveniles draw fluid from roots, while adults can also feed from trees. Synchronized broods normally emerge on a 17-year cycle, with males gathering to produce mating choruses.

Sources

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