N° 72 of 101 · The Sonic Time-Traveler
Cicada
Family Cicadidae
The World's Loudest
Cicadas are the loudest insects in the world. Some species can reach over 100 decibels—that is as loud as a rock concert or a chainsaw!
Prime Number Survivors
Some cicadas (Periodical Cicadas) only emerge every 13 or 17 years. Scientists believe they use prime numbers so that predators can’t evolve a cycle to match their appearance.
Treetop Rain
If you stand under a tree full of cicadas, you might feel tiny "raindrops." This is actually cicada honey-dew (waste fluid) because they drink so much watery sap!
Field notes
| Range | Found on every continent except Antarctica |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | 2 to 17 years |
| Size | 2 cm to 15 cm |
| Weight | Approximately 0.5 g to 2 g |
| Colour | Iridescent & Transparent |
| Diet | Herbivorous (Xylem sap) |
| Family | Over 3,000 described species worldwide |
In the book
The Cicada is number 72 of the 101 creatures in Glowing Bugs. Its two pages show it from three sides, at its true size, with a map of where it lives. The plate is an artistic interpretation and does not show the true colours of the living animal.
