Cicadas - insects belonging to the order of proboscis (Rhynchota), suborder of homoptera (Homoptera). They are ubiquitous, mainly in places with a hot climate. Now about 1700 singing species are known, but only a few of them can be found on the territory of our country. The most common mountain cicada (the name is unsuccessful, because it lives well in the plain forests, right up to Kostroma), less often oak and ordinary - the inhabitants of southern forests.
All types of cicadas have a short head with very prominent faceted eyes located on the sides of the head, and three small eyes in the center, forming a triangle. Antennae have short, five-membered. The abdomen is thick, in females the ovipositor is located at the end, and in males there is a copulation apparatus. Depending on the species, the wings can be colorless or brightly colored, but at the same time transparent. Their always 2 pairs have cicadas. The photo shows well that the back is shorter than the front.
The oral apparatus consists of a proboscis (modified lips), inside of which there are long and sharp bristles (similar to jaws). The latter moves freely, but cannot bend, so the creature pierces the skin of plants without effort. Cicadas are insects that feed on their juice. They are not capable of biting or chewing. Proboscis, and females also ovipositor, pierce various parts of plants. After such injuries, juice continues to flow out of them,
hardens in the air and is a nutrient, the so-called "manna".
Their sizes vary greatly depending on the species. For example, royal cicadas are insects with a body length of more than 6 cm and a wingspan of up to 18 cm, and the mountain type, which goes far to the north, is only 2 cm in size.
A distinctive feature is the ability of males to sing. They chirp thanks to cymbals - convex plates located on the anterior segment of the abdomen. “Roulades” are given mainly during the hottest time of the day, most likely to attract females. Indian and South American cicadas make sounds not inferior in volume to locomotive whistles.
These are well flying insects. They live on trees and shrubs. Lifestyle of all kinds is similar. Females lay eggs in the petioles of leaves or under the bark of branches.
The larvae emerging from them fall to the ground and burrow into it. Sometimes deep enough - a meter or more. They have a clumsy thickened discolored body with hard smooth skin and strong single-membered limbs, especially the front ones, which perform digging functions. They live and feed on the roots of plants, and before turning into an adult, they rise to the surface. The duration of the larval stage depends on the species, in some - 2 years, and in others - 4 years, and there are individuals in which - up to 17 years. During this time, they experience several links.
It is not clear whether the larvae of cicadas harm trees. It is known that in ash and linden forests, where a huge number of them were found (up to several hundred), inhibition of plants was not detected. However, in Brazil, cicadas are believed to be insects that cause enormous damage to coffee plantations.
