Cicadas, Aphids, Leafhoppers
Cicadas are not Locust nor Katydids!
Cicadas are members of the order Homoptera and are physically distinguished by their stout bodies, broad heads, clear-membrane wings, and large compound eyes (see photo below).
Cicadas are recognized as the loudest animal in the world. Cicadas are probably best known for their buzzing and clicking noises, which can be amplified by multitudes of insects into an overpowering hum. Males produce this species-specific noise with vibrating membranes on their abdomens. I am sure most have heard the loud chirping of cicadas in the summer evenings, especially while driving in rural areas. The "songs of cicadas" are like a child's lullaby to put one asleep during the night. Cicadas can be heard as far as one mile away!
Cicadas are also famous for their penchant for disappearing entirely for many years, only to reappear in force at a regular interval. There are some 3,000 cicada species, but only some share this behavior (the 13-year and 17-year cicadas are examples). The dog day cicada emerges each year in mid-summer.
Have you ever noticed the cicada "shell" or exoskeleton? That shell is the outer exoskeleton of the final molt from the nymph stage to the adult.
On the night of emergence, nymphs leave their burrows, locate a suitable spot on nearby vegetation (often tree bark), and complete their final molt to adulthood.
Adult Tibicen Cicadas
For more information on these amazing insects visit - http://www.cicadamania.com/ and here is a long list of links to all kinds of sites you can visit including a link to a site about Cicada Killer Wasp, the mortal enemy of cicadas! And here is a link to frequently asked questions (FAQ's) about cicadas - http://www.cicadamania.com/faq.html .
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