Cicadas

Definition

A superfamily (Cicadoidea) of sound-producing insects in the order Hemiptera, suborder Auchenorrhyncha, characterized by large body size, prominent compound eyes, short antennae, and membranous wings held roof-like over the body. The group comprises two families: Tettigarctidae (two relict Australian species, the hairy cicadas) and Cicadidae (more than 3,000 described species worldwide). Males produce loud, species-specific acoustic signals using paired tymbal organs on the abdomen to attract females. Most species have annual life cycles with overlapping generations, but North American periodical cicadas (genus Magicicada) exhibit synchronized, mass emergences at 13- or 17-year intervals, the longest development period of any insect.

Etymology

From Latin cicada, possibly imitative of the male calling song

Example

The 17-year periodical cicada Magicicada septendecim forms dense choruses exceeding 100 decibels during mass emergences in eastern North American deciduous forests, whereas annual cicadas such as Okanagana rimosa appear every summer across western North America.

Synonyms

• Cicadoidea

Related Terms

• Hemiptera
• Auchenorrhyncha
• tymbal
• periodical cicada
• Magicicada
• Tettigarctidae
• Cicadidae
• stridulation
• Exuviae

Usage Notes

In strict taxonomic usage, Cicadas refers to the superfamily Cicadoidea, not a family or informal grouping. The common name is sometimes applied loosely to any loud, large-bodied homopteran, but true cicadas are distinguished from related Auchenorrhyncha (leafhoppers, treehoppers, spittlebugs) by their larger size, tymbal-based sound production, and wing venation. The term periodical cicada is reserved for Magicicada species with synchronized, multi-year life cycles; most cicada species are annual with overlapping generations. Hairy cicadas (Tettigarctidae) represent the sister lineage to all other cicadas and retain primitive features including abdominal hairiness and functional tympana in females.