Cicadas: A Detailed Exploration
Cicadas
are amazing insects that are members of the order Hemiptera, superfamily
Cicadoidea. They are often referred to as real bugs. They belong to the
Auchenorrhyncha suborder, which also includes smaller jumping insects like
froghoppers and leafhoppers. There are two primary families within the
Cicadoidea superfamily: Tettigarctidae, which has two species that are mostly
found in Australia, and Cicadidae, which includes over 3,000 recognised species
worldwide, with many more that are yet undocumented.
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Classification of cicadas
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Auchenorrhyncha
Infraorder: Cicadomorpha
Superfamily: Cicadoidea
Hemiptera is the order that cicadas are in, along with other insects including aphids, leafhoppers, and true bugs. Cicada belongs to the infraorder Cicadomorpha and the suborder Auchenorrhyncha within the Hemiptera order. The actual cicadas are members of the superfamily Cicadoidea.
Physical
Characteristics and Behavior
The
characteristic characteristics of Cicadidae are their large, widely separated
eyes, short antennae, and fragile membrane front wings. The majority of these
insects' very loud tunes are produced by the quick buckling and unbuckling of
tymbals, which resemble drums. With remains from the Upper Permian epoch being
the oldest known, cicadas have a long and rich evolutionary history.
Cicadidae usually live in trees, where they deposit their eggs in cracks in the bark and
consume the watery sap of the xylem tissue. The majority of cicadas are cryptic
in nature, and although some may call at dawn or night, most species are active
throughout the day. It is known that a few uncommon species are nocturnal.
Known
as periodical Cicadidae, members of the fascinating genus Magicicada, inhabit
North America for the bulk of their existence as subterranean nymphs that
sporadically emerge every 13 or 17 years, depending on the species and region.
Because of their enormous numbers, which may appease predators before
presenting a danger to their survival, this protracted emergence cycle helps
prevent predation.
Conversely,
annual cicadas are subterranean nymphs that come to life once a year and have
various life cycles ranging from one to nine years. Their above-ground
emergence is not synchronized like that of periodical cicadas, thus some
individuals appear annually.
Taxonomy
and Diversity
Within
its two main groups, the superfamily Cicadoidea displays an amazing variety.
There are species in Tasmania and southern Australia that belong to the
Tettigarctidae family. The Cicadidae family, on the other hand, is made up of
many subfamilies, including Tettigomyiinae, Cicadettinae, Derotettiginae, and
Tibicininae (or Tettigadinae). The fact that Cicadidae are found on every
continent save Antarctica has made them valuable research tools for
biogeography studies in places like Indonesia, Asia, Australia, New Zealand,
South Africa, North America, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
Because
they emerge in late July and August, certain species of cicadas found in North
America are referred to as annual or dog-day cicadas and belong to genera like
Neotibicen, Megatibicen, or Hadoa. By comparison, the longer life cycle of the
Magicicada genus makes it stand apart.
Australian cicadidae are found in a broad range of habitats, including deserts, alpine
regions, tropical islands, and chilly coastal beaches. Numerous of them go by
intriguing common names, such as black prince, Crimson Eye, brown baker, and
cherry nose. Furthermore, around 40 indigenous species of cicadas are found in
New Zealand.
Paleontology
and Evolution
The
group to which cicadas belong, Cicadomorpha, first arose in the Late Triassic
epoch, according to the fossil record. Upper Permian fossils, like those of the
Australian and South African Dunstaniidae family, provide light on the
ancestors of modern cicadas. Giant cicadas, or Palaeontinidae, first appeared
in South America and Eurasia in the Lower Cretaceous and Jurassic periods.
The
diversity of cicada species and their adaptations is a notable reflection of
their long evolutionary history, with most fossil evidence originating from the
Cenozoic period.
Biology
and Anatomy
Cicadidae are distinct from other insects due to their distinctive biological and
physical characteristics. Their conical-base, three- to six-segmented,
three-jointed tarsi, as well as their rostrum, which protrudes from the
posteroventral region of the skull, are their distinguishing features.
Cicadidae also have elaborate wing structures, membranes that produce sound, and a system
of joining their wings that consists of upwards projecting flaps on the
hindwings and downward-rolled edges on the forewings. The Tettigarctidae family
is distinct from the Cicadidae family in that the prothorax extends to the
scutellum and they do not have tympanal apparatuses. Their forelimbs are
designed for life underground as nymphs.
The
mature cicada's wings are translucent and have complex venation patterns. Its
overall length usually ranges from 2 to 5 cm. With their huge eyes, they have
great eyesight. Cicada species exhibit a wide variety of colors and patterns,
from enigmatic browns and greens to eye-catching black and orange patterns.
Life
Cycle and Reproduction
Different
species have different life cycles, which makes cicadidae fascinating and varied.
Here's a broad rundown:
- Egg
Stage: Female cicadas cut slits in tree branches or wooden stems
and place their eggs inside with their ovipositors. Depending on the species,
this period of time might range from a few weeks to many months, during which
these eggs hatch into small nymphs.
- Nymph
Stage: Cicada nymphs are underground creatures that feed on the
sap of tree roots. They puncture plant tissue with specially designed
mouthparts in order to get nutrition. Nymphs usually go through many moults as
they mature. Several years may pass during this subterranean stage, depending
on the species.
- Emergence: After
completing their growth, nymphs rise from the earth. When cicadidae gather in
large numbers on a regular basis, they produce an amazing show called a
"brood." The annual cicadas appear less often.
- Adult
Stage: Cicada nymphs become adults once they emerge. With an
average adult life span of a few weeks to a few months, these individuals don't
have much time to find a spouse and have a family.
- Reproduction:
Cicadas reproduce via complex courting rituals in which males scream out loudly
to entice females. The life cycle is completed by females depositing eggs on
tree branches or stems after mating.
Ecological
Significance
Cicadidae are vital to the ecology of many different environments.
- Nutrient
cycle: They aid in the cycle of nutrients in forests by feeding
on the sap from tree roots when they are nymphs. When they die and break down,
their emergence also contributes to an increase in nutrients.
- Predator
Satiation: When cicadas erupt in large enough numbers, they satisfy
predators, allowing enough individuals to live and procreate. It is believed
that this tactic is an adaptation meant to lessen the pressure of predators.
- Food
Source: A variety of species, such as birds, mammals, and other
insects, eat cicadidae. They play an essential role in the food webs of their
particular environments.
- Tree
Health: Although cicadas may harm trees by depositing their eggs
on branches, eating xylem sap does not usually have a negative impact on a
tree's health. Some even contend that the pruning impact of egg-laying might
encourage trees to sprout new branches.
Cultural
Significance
Cicadas
are deeply ingrained in many countries' cultures.
- Symbolism: Cicadas are associated with immortality, longevity, and rebirth in various civilizations. They often relate to concepts of rebirth and metamorphosis.
- Literature and Art: Throughout history, cicadidae have been depicted in mythology, literature, and art. They are the focus of tales, paintings, and poetry from many cultures.
- Cuisine: Cicadas are eaten as food in several Asian nations where they are regarded as a delicacy. They are supposed to have a nutty flavor and are often fried, boiled, or roasted.
- Scientific Study: A great deal of study has been done on cicadidae , which has improved our knowledge of entomology, acoustics, and ecology.
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