Wing-snapper
Guides
Platypedia areolata
Salmonfly Cicada, salmonfly
Platypedia areolata, commonly known as the salmonfly cicada, is a species of cicada in the family Cicadidae found in western North America. Unlike most cicadas that produce sound using tymbal organs, males of this species communicate through crepitation—snapping their wings together or against vegetation to create audible signals. This species is part of a genus containing 21 species and four subspecies distributed across western North America.
Platypedia barbata
Platypedia barbata is a species of cicada described by Davis in 1920. Like other members of its genus, it lacks the timbal organs used by most cicadas for sound production. Instead, it produces sound through crepitation—snapping its wings against its body or substrate. The species occurs in California and is part of a diverse western North American genus comprising 21 species and four subspecies.
Platypedia minor
Minor Cicada
Platypedia minor is a small cicada species in the genus Platypedia, a group known for producing sound through wing-snapping rather than abdominal tymbals. Like other Platypedia species, males lack the timbal organs typical of most cicadas and instead communicate via crepitation—snapping their wings against their bodies or substrate. The species occurs in western North America, where it inhabits montane and foothill environments.
Platypedia mohavensis
Platypedia mohavensis is a species of cicada in the family Cicadidae, first described by Davis in 1920. It is native to western North America, with records from Arizona. Like other members of the genus Platypedia, it belongs to a group of cicadas that have lost timbal organs and instead produce sound through wing crepitation. The species includes two recognized subspecies: P. m. mohavensis and P. m. rufescens.
Platypedia putnami
Putnam's Cicada, Putnam's Wing-banger
Platypedia putnami is a species of cicada in the family Cicadidae, commonly known as Putnam's Cicada or Putnam's Wing-banger. It occurs in mountainous regions of western North America, typically at elevations around 6,000 feet in evergreen forest understory. Unlike most cicadas, males lack abdominal tymbals and instead produce sound by snapping their wings against vegetation—a behavior termed crepitation. The species has four recognized subspecies distributed across its range.
Platypedia putnami keddiensis
Putnam's Cicada
Platypedia putnami keddiensis is a subspecies of Putnam's cicada, a small, slender, hairy black cicada with orange highlights and a distinctive orange pronotal collar. Unlike most cicadas, males lack timbal organs and instead produce sound through crepitation—snapping their wings together or against vegetation to create a subtle tick-ticking noise. This subspecies occurs in western North America at elevations around 6,000 feet, primarily in evergreen forest understory. Both sexes can produce sound through this wing-snapping mechanism, potentially enabling two-way acoustic communication.