Cicadas: Delightful Weirdos You Should Learn to Love

Subtle But Important Role in the Ecosystem

While they may not be the most glamorous insects, cicadas play a subtle yet important role in the ecosystem. Their egg-laying habits help to weaken branches, which can lead to the death of the branch and benefit the tree by eliminating the need to waste energy on a weak or diseased branch.

Evasive Strategies Against Predators

Cicadas have evolved a variety of strategies to evade predators. Large cicadas can fly rapidly to escape if disturbed, while many are extremely well camouflaged to avoid being seen by birds and other predators.

Diversity and Occurrence

The cicada family, Cicadidae, includes more than 3000 species of sound-producing insects. Cicadas are found in tropical and temperate areas worldwide, including deserts. They are categorized into roughly 3000 species, broadly divided into two primary groups: annual cicadas and periodical cicadas.