There are 3,413 species in 516 genera in 55 tribes in 5 subfamilies worldwide, 172 species and 22 subspecies in 18 genera in 8 tribes in 3 subfamilies in North America north of Mexico, and at least 13 species in 6 genera in 3 tribes in 3 subfamilies in Minnesota.

Cicadas spend most of their lifetime underground in the nymphal stage. They feed on roots. Annual cicadas spend two or more years as nymphs before they mature. Their emergence is not synchronized, so that some adults emerge every year. Local populations of periodical cicadas are developmentally synchronized to emerge in the same year. There are seven species of periodical cicadas, all in the genus Magicicada. None of them occur in Minnesota.

Photo by Dan W. Andree

When cicadas reach maturity, they emerge from the ground, climb a tree, and molt. Periodical cicadas emerge in May and June, annual cicadas emerge in July and August. Males call from the tops of trees to attract females. They are more often heard than seen, and they are usually identified by their “song”. Each species produces a unique song that can be distinguished by the pitch, the number and length of pulse sequences, and the duration of the song.

Description

Typical cicadas are large, usually 1″ to 2″ (25 to 50 mm) in length.

The mouthparts are optimized for sucking. They consist of four hair-like stylets in a tube-like segmented sheath (beak). The beak is short, and it emerges at the back of the head, close to the bases of the front legs. There are two large compound eyes and three small simple eyes (ocelli). The antennae are short and bristle-like.

There are two pairs of wings. The forewings are membranous, and they are much longer than the hindwings, which are also membranous.

On males, at the base of the underside of the abdomen, there is usually a pair of modified membranes (tymbals) for producing sound. Females lack these and respond to males’ songs with a “click” produced by flicking their wings.


Distribution
		Sources 6, 7, 24, 27, 29, 30, 82, 83.
11/30/2024


Taxonomy
Order	Hemiptera (true bugs, hoppers, aphids, and allies)
Suborder	Auchenorrhyncha (true hoppers)
Infraorder	Cicadomorpha (spittlebugs, cicadas, leafhoppers, and treehoppers)
Superfamily	Cicadoidea (cicadas)

Subordinate Taxa
Subfamily Cicadettinae Subfamily Cicadinae Subfamily Derotettiginae Subfamily Tettigomyiinae Subfamily Tibicininae

Synonyms
Cicadina

Common Names
cicadas true cicadas typical cicadas

Glossary

Beak

In plants: A comparatively short and stout, narrow or prolonged tip on a thickened organ, as on some fruits and seeds. In insects: The protruding, tubular mouthpart of a sucking insect.

Ocellus

Simple eye; an eye with a single lens. Plural: ocelli.


Visitor Photos

Share your photo of this insect.
		This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.

Dan W. Andree

Heres another other world like looking creature...

It was on the side of an outbuilding in Norman Co. Mn. First time I seen a cicada nymph but they are saying this year there is going to be a lot of cicadas.


MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos

Camera

Slideshows

slideshow


Visitor Videos

Share your video of this insect.
		This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.


Other Videos

Cicada Molting From Shell Time Lapse
Dan's Cool Videos

About

Premiered Aug 5, 2020

This time lapse of a cicada molting from its shell took over an hour of time from start to finish.

The time lapse of the process of changing from a nymph to an adult condenses the entire metamorphosis.

Camcorder


Visitor Sightings

Report a sighting of this insect.
		This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location.

Dan W. Andree
7/28/2024

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

It was on the side of an outbuilding in Norman Co. Mn. First time I seen a cicada nymph but they are saying this year there is going to be a lot of cicadas.