Identification
To spot a cicada, look for a stout, wedge-shaped silhouette and iconic, wide-set compound eyes that give them a perpetually "surprised" expression. Most common species, such as the **Dog-day Cicada** (*Neotibicen canicularis*), sport a camouflaged mosaic of forest green, glass-black, and dusty white. Their wings are the real giveaway: large, transparent, and intricately veined, folding like a tent over the abdomen. Look closely at the forehead to find three tiny, jewel-like "simple eyes" (ocelli) arranged in a perfect triangle—a feature that distinguishes them from look-alike giant flies or moths.
Habitat & Range
Cicadas are global citizens, thriving on every continent except Antarctica. They are most at home in temperate and tropical deciduous forests, though they’ve adapted remarkably well to suburban parks and orchards. In North America, they are synonymous with mature hardwood stands of oak, maple, and ash. If there are deep roots and a summer canopy, the cicadas are likely there, hidden in the high leaves.
Behaviour
The cicada’s life is a subterranean odyssey followed by a brief, operatic finale. After years underground, nymphs emerge at dusk to shed their skins; you’ll often find these translucent, golden-brown "shells" (exuviae) clinging to tree bark. Adults are famous for their "song"—a deafening, rhythmic drone produced by males vibrating drum-like organs called tymbals. This chorus is a survival tactic; by singing in unison, they create a wall of sound that confuses birds and attracts mates during their fleeting few weeks of adulthood.
Diet
These insects are "liquid-diet" specialists. Using a needle-like rostrum, both nymphs and adults pierce plant tissues to drink **xylem sap**. While nymphs tap into the lifeblood of tree roots in the dark soil, adults forage on the tender twigs of the upper canopy. Because xylem is mostly water, they must drink enormous quantities to gain enough nutrients.
Fascinating Fact
The **Periodical Cicadas** (*Magicicada*) are master mathematicians. They emerge in massive swarms only every 13 or 17 years. By synchronized emerging in prime-numbered cycles, they prevent predator populations from ever evolving to track their arrival, ensuring there are simply too many cicadas for birds to possibly eat—a strategy known as "predator satiation."