Cicada
- Pronunciation
- /sih-KAY-duh/
- Category
- Taxonomy
- Singular
- Cicada
- Plural
- Cicadas
Definition
Insects known for their loud, distinctive mating calls, produced by males through rapid buckling and unbuckling of tymbals, and belonging to the superfamily Cicadoidea.
Etymology
From Latin 'cicada', meaning 'tree cricket'.
Example
The annual cicada emerges every year, unlike the periodical species, which have a life cycle of 13 or 17 years.
Synonyms
Related Terms
- Tymbals
- Mating call
- Insecta
- Cicadoidea
- Nymph
Usage Notes
Cicadas are primarily known for their emergence cycles and the distinct, often deafening sounds produced by males. They are sometimes mistaken for locusts.