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Nature

Cicada

What is cicada?

· Emily Grant

Key facts

Scientific name Cicadoidea[2]
Family Cicadidae[2]
Order Hemiptera[2]
Species count Over 3,000[1]
Size 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 inches)[3]

Cicadas are insects in the superfamily Cicadoidea, known for the loud sounds males produce and found worldwide in tropical and temperate regions [3].

Context

Cicadas are a group of insects in the superfamily Cicadoidea, with over 3,000 species found in tropical and temperate regions worldwide [3]. They belong to the order Hemiptera, which includes other true bugs [2]. Adult cicadas range from 2 to 5 cm in size [3]. The most distinctive feature is the loud sound males make to attract mates, produced by vibrating abdominal membranes [3]. Cicadas have a life cycle with eggs, underground nymphs, and adults; the underground period lasts two to 17 years depending on the species [1]. Some species are periodical, emerging in broods after 13 or 17 years [1]. Cicadas are often confused with locusts, but they are different insects [2]. They are harmless to people and crops [1]. A related predator is the cicada killer wasp, and a common type is the dog-day cicada.

Documented claims

  • Male cicadas produce loud buzzing or shrill sounds by vibrating abdominal membranes [3].
  • Cicadas spend two to 17 years underground as nymphs, depending on the species [1].
  • Cicadas do not attack people, bite, sting, or destroy crops [1].

Questions and answers

Why are cicadas so loud?

Male cicadas produce loud buzzing or shrill sounds to attract females, using vibrating abdominal membranes [3].

Why do cicadas come out every 17 years?

Some periodical cicadas have a 13- or 17-year life cycle, emerging in broods after that dormant underground period [1].

Are cicadas good or bad?

Cicadas are not harmful; they do not attack people, bite, sting, or destroy crops [1].

Sources

  1. La Cigarra (Cicada orni) — acorral.es (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. CICADA Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster — merriam-webster.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Цикада — ar.culture.ru (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Nature