CICADAS Fast facts

Size: Adult cicadas tend to be large (about 1 to 2 inches), and most North American species have clear wings, held rooflike over the abdomen.
Attributes: Cicadas have conspicuous long-range acoustic signals produced by specialized abdominal structures called tymbals; in most species, only the males have these structures. Most cicadas are active only during the day and/or evening.
Emergence: So far as is known, all cicadas have multiple-year life cycles. Cicadas in which almost all of the individuals in a given location mature into adults in the same year are periodical. Periodical cicadas are also known as "17-year locusts" or "13-year locusts" but they are not locusts, which are a type of grasshopper.
Defense: Cicadas do not possess special defensive mechanisms. They do not sting or bite. The ovipositor is used only for laying eggs and the mouthparts are used only for feeding on twigs. When approached, a cicada will simply fly away. If handled, both males and females struggle to fly, and males make a loud defensive buzzing sound that may startle but is otherwise harmless. Cicadas are not poisonous or known to transmit disease.