# Cicada — Facts, Threats & Conservation

*Cicadidae*

> Cicadas are large sap-feeding insects of the family Cicadidae, famous for the loud song of the males and for spending most of their lives underground. Adults are 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 in) long, fly on clear membranous wings, and feed on plant sap.

**IUCN status:** Least Concern  ·  **WARN range:** Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Oceania

## Quick facts
| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Family Cicadidae |
| Diet | Herbivore (plant sap) |
| Habitat | Forests and grasslands worldwide |
| Lifespan | Nymphs years underground; adults a few weeks |
| Length | 2–5 cm (0.8–2 in) depending on species |
| Sound | Among the loudest of all insects |
| Conservation status | Varies by species |

## Scientific classification
- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Hemiptera
- **Family:** Cicadidae

## Conservation status
- **Status:** Least Concern (IUCN Red List category)
- **Population:** Global population not compiled for this guide
- **Trend:** See the IUCN Red List assessment
- **Assessed:** See the IUCN Red List assessment
- **CITES:** See CITES appendices
- Conservation figures are drawn from the IUCN Red List and CITES; this guide links to the authoritative sources rather than restating population counts.

## Key facts: Cicada
- Cicadas are stout, broad-headed insects measuring 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 in) long depending on the species, with prominent bulging eyes set wide apart.
- Male cicadas produce one of the loudest sounds of any insect using paired ribbed membranes called tymbals on the sides of the abdomen.
- Cicadas spend the great majority of their lives as nymphs living underground, where they feed on sap from plant roots.

## Appearance and identification
Cicadas are stout, broad-headed insects measuring 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 in) long depending on the species, with prominent bulging eyes set wide apart. They have two pairs of clear, well-veined membranous wings that are held roof-like over the body at rest. Many species are green, brown, or black, sometimes with striking red or gold eyes. Adults are strong fliers but clumsy, and are often heard long before they are seen.

## The famous song
Male cicadas produce one of the loudest sounds of any insect using paired ribbed membranes called tymbals on the sides of the abdomen. Muscles buckle these membranes rapidly in and out, and the largely hollow abdomen amplifies the clicks into a continuous, penetrating call. The song is used mainly to attract females, and different species have distinct calls so that mates find the right partner. In large choruses the combined sound can be intense enough to be uncomfortable at close range.

## Life cycle underground
Cicadas spend the great majority of their lives as nymphs living underground, where they feed on sap from plant roots. Depending on the species this stage lasts from a couple of years to many years, and some North American periodical cicadas emerge together after 13 or 17 years. When ready, the nymphs dig to the surface, climb a plant or tree, and moult into winged adults, leaving behind the familiar empty shell. The adult stage that follows lasts only a few weeks.

## Diet and feeding
Both nymphs and adults are herbivores that feed on plant sap rather than solid food. Using needle-like mouthparts, nymphs draw sap from roots underground, while adults feed on the fluids of twigs and branches. Because the sap is watery and low in nutrients, cicadas process large volumes and are not considered serious pests of crops in most cases. Their feeding and egg-laying can, however, cause minor damage to young twigs.

## Predators and defence
Cicadas are eaten by birds, small mammals, reptiles, and predatory insects, and they have few active defences beyond flight and camouflage. Periodical species rely on a strategy of overwhelming numbers, emerging all at once so that predators cannot possibly eat them all before they breed. A specialised wasp known as the cicada killer hunts them to provision its nest. When handled, adults may emit a sharp distress squawk and take off quickly.

## What WARN does
WARN does not run a dedicated cicada programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The cicada is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the cicada supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.

## Frequently asked questions: Cicada
### Why are cicadas so loud?
Male cicadas make sound with ribbed membranes called tymbals on the abdomen, which they buckle rapidly while the hollow abdomen amplifies the noise. The call attracts females, and large choruses rank among the loudest sounds made by any insect.

### How long do cicadas live?
Cicadas spend most of their lives as nymphs underground, which can last from a few years up to 13 or 17 years in periodical species. The winged adults that emerge live only a few weeks.

### What do cicadas eat?
Cicadas are herbivores that feed on plant sap. Nymphs draw sap from roots underground, while adults feed on the fluids of twigs and branches using needle-like mouthparts.

### Do cicadas bite or sting?
Cicadas do not bite or sting and are harmless to people. Their mouthparts are built for piercing plants to feed on sap, not for defence.

### Why do periodical cicadas emerge every 13 or 17 years?
Emerging together after 13 or 17 years floods the area with so many cicadas that predators cannot eat them all, ensuring many survive to breed. The long, prime-numbered cycles are also thought to make it harder for predators to sync with them.

### Are cicadas the same as locusts?
No. Cicadas are a separate group of sap-feeding insects and do not swarm to destroy crops. Locusts are a type of grasshopper, and the two are often confused only because of the noise and large numbers of emerging cicadas.

### Where do cicadas live?
Cicadas live in forests and grasslands worldwide. Adults are 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 in) long, fly on clear membranous wings and feed on plant sap. Nymphs spend years underground on tree and shrub roots before emerging to moult into winged adults.

### Are cicadas dangerous?
No. Cicadas are harmless to people and do not bite or sting. Their mouthparts pierce plants to feed on sap. Adults survive only a few weeks above ground, and their loud male song — among the loudest of all insects — is for attracting mates, not aggression.

### How big is a cicada?
Adult cicadas measure 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 in) long depending on the species, with prominent bulging eyes and two pairs of clear, well-veined wings. Typical length in this guide's summary stats is about 0.04 m (4 cm), with adults weighing around 2 g.

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Cicada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicadidae)
- [Wikidata — Cicada](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q130778)

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Full guide: https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cicada