Cicadas - insects singing

Cicadas are insects belonging to the order of the proboscis (Rhynchota), the suborder of the equinocthes (Homoptera). They are prevalent everywhere, mainly in places with a hot climate. Now about 1,700 singing species are known, but only a few of them can be found on the territory of our country. The most common is the mountain cicada (the name is unsuccessful, because it lives perfectly in the plain forests, down to Kostroma), less often the oak and ordinary - inhabitants of the southern forests.

All kinds of cicadas have a short head with strongly prominent facetted eyes located on the sides of the head, and three small eyes in the center forming a triangle. Antennae have short, five-segmented. The abdomen is thick, the females have an ovipositor at the end, and the male has a copulatory apparatus. Depending on the species, the wings can be colorless or brightly colored, but 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 setae (similar to the jaws). The latter moves freely, but can not bend, so the creature without effort pierces the skin of plants. Cicadas are insects that feed on their juice. They can not bite or gnaw. Proboscis, and females also ovipositor, pierce various parts of plants. After such damage, juice continues to flow from them, Hardening in the air and is a nutrient, the so-called "manna".

Their dimensions 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 a mountain type, which extends far to the north, as small as 2 cm.

A distinctive feature is the ability of males to sing. They chirp thanks to cymbals - bulging plates, located on the anterior segment of the abdomen. "Rulad" issued mainly in the hottest time of the day, most likely to attract females. Indian and South American cicadas produce sounds that are not inferior in volume to locomotive whistles.

These are good flying insects. They live on trees and bushes. The lifestyle of all species 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 a hard smooth skin and strong one-segmented limbs, especially the forepaws, performing digging function. Live and eat on the roots of plants, and before they turn 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 who have - up to 17 years. During this time they experience several lines.

Whether the larvae of cicadas are damaged by trees is not for certain determined. It is known that in ash and linden forests, where a huge number of them (up to several hundred) were found, the oppression of plants was not detected. However, in Brazil it is believed that the cicadas are insects, causing huge damage to coffee plantations.