Cicadidae, the true cicadas, is the largest family of

cicada The cicadas () are a superfamily, the Cicadoidea, of insects in the order Hemiptera (true bugs). They are in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha, along with smaller jumping bugs such as leafhoppers and froghoppers. The superfamily is divided into two ...

s, with more than 3,200 species worldwide. The oldest known definitive fossils are from the

Paleocene The Paleocene, ( ) or Palaeocene, is a geological epoch that lasted from about 66 to 56 million years ago (mya). It is the first epoch of the Paleogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era. The name is a combination of the Ancient Greek ''pal ...

, a nymph from the Cretaceous

Burmese amber Burmese amber, also known as Burmite or Kachin amber, is amber from the Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar. The amber is dated to around 100 million years ago, during the latest Albian to earliest Cenomanian ages of the mid-Cretaceous period. ...

has been attributed to the family, but could also belong to the

Tettigarctidae The Tettigarctidae, known as the hairy cicadas, are a small relict (mostly extinct) family of primitive cicadas. Along with more than 20 extinct genera, Tettigarctidae contains a single extant genus, '' Tettigarcta'', with two extant species, o ...

Description

Cicadas are large insects characterized by their membranous wings, triangular-formation of three ocelli on the top of their heads, and their short, bristle-like antennae.

Life cycle

Cicadas are generally separated into two categories based on their adult emergence pattern.

Annual cicada Annual cicadas are North American Cicadidae species that appear every summer. The life cycle of a so-called annual cicada typically spans 2 to 5 years; they are "annual" only in the sense that members of the species reappear annually. The name is ...

s remain underground as nymphs for two or more years and the population is not locally synchronized in its development, so that some adults mature each year or in most years.

Periodical cicadas The term periodical cicada is commonly used to refer to any of the seven species of the genus ''Magicicada'' of eastern North America, the 13- and 17-year cicadas. They are called periodical because nearly all individuals in a local population a ...

also have multiple-year life cycles but emerge in synchrony or near synchrony in any one location and are absent as adults in the intervening years. The most well-known periodical cicadas, genus ''

Magicicada The term periodical cicada is commonly used to refer to any of the seven species of the genus ''Magicicada'' of eastern North America, the 13- and 17-year cicadas. They are called periodical because nearly all individuals in a local population ...

'', emerge as adults every 13 or 17 years.

Ecology

Communication

Cicadas are known for the loud airborne sounds that males of most species make to attract mates. One member of this family, ''

Brevisana brevis ''Brevisana brevis'', known as the shrill thorntree cicada, is a cicada found in Africa and is the loudest insect on record. It has been recorded producing sounds with pressure levels of 106.7 decibel The decibel (symbol: dB) is a relative ...

'', the "shrill thorntree cicada", is the loudest insect in the world, able to produce a song that exceeds 100 decibels. Male cicadas can produce four types of acoustic signals: songs, calls, low-amplitude songs, and disturbance sounds. Unlike members of the order Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids), who use stridulation to produce sounds, members of Cicadidae produce sounds using a pair of tymbals, which are modified membranes located on the abdomen. In order to produce sound, each tymbal is pulled inwards by a connected muscle, and the deformation of the stiff membrane produces a 'click.'

Reproduction

Newly emerged cicadas climb up trees and molt into their adult stage, now equipped with wings. Males call to attract females, producing the distinct noisy songs cicadas are known for. Females respond to males with a 'click' made by flicking their wings. Once a male has found a female partner, his call changes to indicate that they are a mating pair.

Higher Classification

Cicadidae is one of two families within the superfamily Cicadoidea. This superfamily is in the suborder

Auchenorrhyncha The Auchenorrhyncha suborder of the Hemiptera contains most of the familiar members of what was called the "Homoptera" – groups such as cicadas, leafhoppers, treehoppers, planthoppers, and spittlebugs. The aphids and scale insects are the ot ...

, containing cicadas, hoppers, and relatives, within the order Hemiptera, the true bugs. There are five subfamilies within Cicadidae: Cicadettinae, Cicadinae, Tettigomyiinae, Tibicininae, and Derotettiginae. Subfamily

Cicadettinae Cicadettinae is a subfamily of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. About 230 genera and 1,200 described species are placed in the Cicadettinae. Tribes These 14 tribes belong to the subfamily Cicadettinae: * Aragualnini Sanborn, 2018 * Carinetini ...

Buckton, 1890 * Tribe

Aragualnini ''Aragualna'' is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae Cicadidae, the true cicadas, is the largest family of cicadas, with more than 3,200 species worldwide. The oldest known definitive fossils are from the Paleocene, a nymph from the Cre ...

Sanborn, 2018 * Tribe

Carinetini Carinetini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in the neotropics. There are about 7 genera and at least 90 described species in Carinetini. Genera These seven genera belong to the tribe Carinetini: * '' Ahomana'' Distant, 1905 ...

Distant, 1905 * Tribe

Chlorocystini Chlorocystini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are at least 20 genera and 170 described species in Chlorocystini. Members of Chlorocystini are found primarily in southeast Asia, Australasia, and the western Pacific. Isolated ...

Distant, 1905 * Tribe

Cicadatrini Cicadatrini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are at least 120 described species in Cicadatrini. Members of Cicadatrini are found in the Palearctic and Indomalaya. The genus '' Pachypsaltria'' is found in South America, and ma ...

Distant, 1905 * Tribe

Cicadettini Cicadettini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are at least 110 genera and 520 described species in Cicadettini, found worldwide except for the Neotropics. Selected Genera * ''Adelia'' Moulds, 2012 * ''Amphipsalta'' Fleming, 1 ...

Buckton, 1890 * Tribe

Katoini ''Katoa'' is a genus of cicadas from Southeast Asia. The type species is '' Katoa tenmokuensis''. Formerly placed in the tribe Tibicinini, after detailed morphological analysis, in 2012 Lee placed the genus among the Cicadettini, also of the su ...

Moulds & Marshall, 2018 * Tribe

Lamotialnini Lamotialnini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are about 19 genera and at least 90 described species in Lamotialnini, occurring worldwide except South America. Genera These 19 genera belong to the tribe Lamotialnini: * '' Ab ...

Boulard, 1976 * Tribe

Nelcyndanini ''Nelcyndana'' is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae Cicadidae, the true cicadas, is the largest family of cicadas, with more than 3,200 species worldwide. The oldest known definitive fossils are from the Paleocene, a nymph from the Cr ...

Moulds & Marshall, 2018 * Tribe

Pagiphorini ''Pagiphora'' is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in the western Palearctic. There are about five described species in ''Pagiphora''. ''Pagiphora'' was formerly placed in the tribe Cicadettini Cicadettini is a tribe of cicada ...

Moulds & Marshall, 2018 * Tribe

Parnisini Parnisini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are more than 20 genera and 80 described species in Parnisini, found in the Neotropics, Palearctic, tropical Africa and Madagascar. Genera The following genera belong to the tribe Pa ...

Distant, 1905 * Tribe

Pictilini Pictilini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in Australia. There are at least two genera and two described species in Pictilini. Genera These two genera belong to the tribe Pictilini: * '' Chrysocicada'' Boulard, 1989 * '' Pict ...

Moulds & Hill, 2018 * Tribe

Prasiini Prasiini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are about 9 genera and at least 50 described species in Prasiini, found in tropical Africa, Australasia, and the Neotropics. Genera These five genera belong to the tribe Prasiini: * ' ...

Matsumura, 1917 * Tribe

Taphurini Taphurini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in the neotropics. Genera These genera belong to the tribe Taphurini: * '' Anopercalna'' Boulard, 2008 * '' Chalumalna'' Boulard, 1998 * '' Dorachosa'' Distant, 1892 * '' Dulderana' ...

Distant, 1905 Subfamily

Cicadinae The Cicadinae are a subfamily of cicadas, containing the translucent cicadas. They are robust cicadas and many have gaudy colors, but they generally lack the butterfly-like opaque wing markings found in many species of the related Tibicenina ...

Latreille, 1802 * Tribe Antankariini Sanborn, 2021 * Tribe

Arenopsaltriini Arenopsaltriini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in Australia. There are at least two genera and about seven described species in Arenopsaltriini. Genera These two genera belong to the tribe Arenopsaltriini: * '' Arenopsaltri ...

Moulds, 2018 * Tribe Ayuthiini Moulds, Lee, and Marshall, 2021 * Tribe

Burbungini ''Burbunga'' is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in Australia. There are about 11 described species in ''Burbunga''. ''Burbunga'' is the only genus of the tribe Burbungini. Species These 11 species belong to the genus ''Burbun ...

Moulds, 2005 * Tribe Cicadini Latreille, 1802 * Tribe

Cicadmalleuini ''Cicadmalleus'' is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in Indomalaya (Thailand). There is at least one described species in ''Cicadmalleus'', ''C. micheli''. ''Cicadmalleus'' is the only genus of the tribe Cicadmalleuini. ...

Boulard & Puissant, 2013 * Tribe Cosmopsaltriini Kato, 1932 * Tribe

Cryptotympanini Cryptotympanini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. They are found in the Nearctic, Palearctic, Indomalaya, Oceania, and Afrotropics. Genera According to and ''BioLib'', this tribe includes the following genera in 3 subtribes: ;su ...

Handlirsch, 1925 * Tribe

Cyclochilini ''Cyclochila'' is a genus of cicada native to eastern Australia. Two species are recognised, the greengrocer (''Cyclochila australasiae ''Cyclochila australasiae'' is a species of cicada and one of Australia's most familiar insects. It is di ...

Distant, 1904 * Tribe

Distantadini ''Distantada'' is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in the Mascarene Islands The Mascarene Islands (, ) or Mascarenes or Mascarenhas Archipelago is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar consisting of the i ...

Orian, 1963 * Tribe

Dundubiini The Dundubiini are a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in the Palearctic, Indomalaya, Australasia, and the Western Pacific. There are at least 180 described species in Dundubiini. Subtribes and Genera The ''Dmitriev species file ...

Distant, 1905 * Tribe

Durangonini ''Durangona'' is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae and the monotypic tribe Durangonini, found in South America. Species ''BioLib'' includes the following described species: # ''Durangona exechopyga'' Sanborn, 2020 # ''Durangona tigrina ...

Moulds & Marshall, 2018 * Tribe

Fidicinini The Fidicinini (Boulard & Martinelli, 1996) are a tribe of cicadas. There are at least 20 genera and 250 described species in Fidicinini, found in the Nearctic and Palearctic. List of genera These 24 genera belong to the tribe Fidicinini: * ...

Distant, 1905 * Tribe

Gaeanini Gaeanini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in the Palearctic and Indomalaya. There are about 10 genera and at least 50 described species in Gaeanini. Genera These 10 genera belong to the tribe Gaeanini: * ''Ambragaeana'' Cho ...

Distant, 1905 * Tribe

Jassopsaltriini ''Jassopsaltria'' is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in Australia. There is at least one described species in ''Jassopsaltria'', ''J. rufifacies''. ''Jassopsaltria'' is the only genus of the tribe Jassopsaltriini. Refere ...

Moulds, 2005 * Tribe Kimberpsaltriini Moulds, Marshall, and Popple, 2021 * Tribe Lahugadini Distant, 1905 * Tribe

Leptopsaltriini Leptopsaltriini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are at least 200 described species in Leptopsaltriini, found in the Palearctic, Nearctic, and Indomalaya. Genera ''BioLib'' includes the following genera in six subtribes: ; ...

Moulton, 1923 * Tribe

Macrotristriini Macrotristriini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are at least 2 genera and 20 described species in Macrotristriini, all found in Australia. Genera These two genera belong to the tribe Macrotristriini: * ''Illyria'' Moulds, ...

Moulds, 2018 * Tribe

Oncotympanini Oncotympanini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in China and southeast Asia. There are at least 3 genera and about 12 described species in Oncotympanini. Genera These three genera belong to the tribe Oncotympanini: * '' Mata ...

Ishihara, 1961 * Tribe

Platypleurini The Platypleurini are a tribe of cicadas from the Afrotropical and Oriental regions There are at least 30 genera and 240 described species in Platypleurini. List of genera These 31 genera belong to the tribe Platypleurini: * '' Afzeliada'' B ...

Schmidt, 1918 * Tribe

Plautillini ''Plautilla'' is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in the Neotropics. There are at least three described species in ''Plautilla''. ''Plautilla'' is the only genus of the tribe Plautillini. Species These three species belong to ...

Distant, 1905 * Tribe

Polyneurini The Polyneurini are a tribe of cicadas found in the Palearctic The Palearctic or Palaearctic is the largest of the eight biogeographic realms of the Earth. It stretches across all of Eurasia north of the foothills of the Himalayas, and Nort ...

Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843 * Tribe Psaltodini Moulds, 2018 * Tribe

Psithyristriini Psithyristriini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in the Philippines. There are about 7 genera and at least 100 described species in Psithyristriini. Genera These seven genera belong to the tribe Psithyristriini: * ''Basa (ci ...

Distant, 1905 * Tribe Sonatini Lee, 2010 * Tribe Tacuini Distant, 1904 * Tribe

Talcopsaltriini ''Talcopsaltria'' is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There is at least one described species in ''Talcopsaltria'', ''T. olivei'', found in Australia, in Queensland. The genus was first described in 2008 by Maxwell Sydney Moul ...

Moulds, 2008 * Tribe

Tamasini Tamasini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in Australia. There are at least two genera and about eight described species in Tamasini. Genera These two genera belong to the tribe Tamasini: * '' Parnquila'' Moulds, 2012 * '' Ta ...

Moulds, 2005 * Tribe

Thophini Thophini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae Cicadidae, the true cicadas, is the largest family of cicadas, with more than 3,200 species worldwide. The oldest known definitive fossils are from the Paleocene, a nymph from the Cretaceo ...

Distant, 1904 * Tribe

Tosenini Tosenini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are at least 10 described species in Tosenini, found in the Palearctic and Indomalaya The Indomalayan realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms. It extends across most of So ...

Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843 * Tribe

Zammarini The Zammarini is a tribe of cicadas. They are native to the Americas, especially the Neotropics. There are about 12 genera and at least 60 described species in Zammarini. Genera include: * '' Borencona'' Davis, 1928 * '' Chinaria'' Davis, 193 ...

Distant, 1905 Subfamily

Tettigomyiinae Tettigomyiinae is a subfamily of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in tropical Africa. There are about 16 genera and at least 100 described species in Tettigomyiinae. The tribes Tettigomyiini and Ydiellini were recently transferred to this ...

Distant, 1905 * Tribe Hovanini Sanborn, Moulds & Marshall, 2020 * Tribe Iruanini Boulard, 1983 * Tribe

Malagasiini Malagasiini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in Africa and Madagascar. There are about 5 genera and at least 20 described species in Malagasiini. Genera These five genera belong to the tribe Malagasiini: * '' Ligymolpa'' K ...

Moulds & Marshall, 2018 * Tribe

Tettigomyiini Tettigomyiini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in Africa and Madagascar. There are about 8 genera and at least 60 described species in Tettigomyiini. Genera These eight genera belong to the tribe Tettigomyiini: * '' Bavea'' ...

Distant, 1905 * Tribe

Ydiellini Ydiellini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in Africa. There are at least two genera and four described species in Ydiellini. Genera These two genera belong to the tribe Ydiellini: * ''Maroboduus Maroboduus (d. AD 37) was ...

Boulard, 1973 Subfamily

Tibicininae Tibicininae is a subfamily of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are 5 tribes and at least 140 described species in Tibicininae. They are found in the Neotropics, the Nearctic, and the Palearctic. Tibicininae underwent a major revision in 2 ...

Distant, 1905 * Tribe Citroriginini Sanborn, 2021 * Tribe

Chilecicadini ''Chilecicada'' is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae Cicadidae, the true cicadas, is the largest family of cicadas, with more than 3,200 species worldwide. The oldest known definitive fossils are from the Paleocene, a nymph from the C ...

Sanborn, 2014 * Tribe

Hemidictyini Hemidictyini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in the Neotropics and tropical Africa. There are at least two genera and two described species in Hemidictyini. Genera These genera belong to the tribe Hemidictyini: * '' Hemidict ...

Distant, 1905 * Tribe

Platypediini Platypediini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are at least 2 genera and 20 described species in Platypediini, found in the Nearctic The Nearctic realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting the Earth's land ...

Kato, 1932 * Tribe Sapantangini Sanborn, Moulds, & Marshall, 2020 * Tribe

Selymbriini ''Selymbria'' is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in the Neotropics The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting Earth's land surface. Physically, it includes the tropics, tropical Ecoregion#Te ...

Moulds & Marshall, 2018 * Tribe

Tettigadini Tettigadini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are about 11 genera and at least 50 described species in Tettigadini, found in the Neotropics The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting Earth' ...

Distant, 1905 * Tribe

Tibicinini Tibicinini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are about 8 genera and at least 100 described species in Tibicinini, found in the Holarctic. Genera These eight genera belong to the tribe Tibicinini: * '' Clidophleps'' Van Duzee, ...

Distant, 1905 Subfamily

Derotettiginae Derotettiginae is a subfamily of cicadas and includes two species '' Derotettix mendosensis'' and '' Derotettix wagneri'' . It is restricted to the Dry Chaco and Monte de Llanuras y Mesettas ecoregions of Argentina. The subfamily characters in ...

Moulds, 2019 * Tribe

Derotettigini Derotettiginae is a subfamily of cicadas and includes two species ''Derotettix mendosensis'' and ''Derotettix wagneri ''Derotettix'' is a genus of cicada in the Derotettigini tribe of the Derotettiginae Derotettiginae is a subfamily of ...

Description

Life cycle

Ecology

Communication

Reproduction

Higher Classification

Notes

See also

References

External links