🕷️ How to photograph cicadas (tips)

🧾 Quick Facts

Cicadas, often heard before they are seen, are among the most recognizable insects due to their loud calls and distinctive appearance. Photographing them requires patience and a keen eye for detail.

How to photograph cicadas (tips)

🔍 Identification

Identifying cicadas involves recognizing their distinct body shape and unique features. Their broad heads and membranous wings make them stand out.

🧠 Basic Body Structure

Cicadas, like all insects, have three main body parts: the head, thorax, and abdomen. They possess six legs and an exoskeleton, which they molt as they grow. Most cicadas have prominent wings and are classified as invertebrates, meaning they do not have a backbone, relying instead on their exoskeleton for structure and support.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Cicadas thrive in environments that provide ample trees and shrubs for feeding and mating. Their typical habitats include deciduous forests, woodlands, suburban yards, and urban gardens. They often reside under bark or within tree canopies. Globally, cicadas are found in temperate regions, with the greatest diversity in Australia, Southeast Asia, and the eastern United States. Changes in habitat, such as deforestation and urbanization, can affect the visibility and abundance of cicadas in an area.

📅 Seasonal Appearance & Activity

Cicadas are most visible and active during the warmer months, particularly in late spring and early summer. They are diurnal insects, so they are active during daylight hours. Their activity peaks during warm weather with high humidity, making sunny days the best time for observation.

🥚 Reproduction & Egg-Laying

Cicadas have fascinating mating behaviors, most notably the male’s loud calls to attract females. After mating, females lay eggs in the bark of twigs and branches. The number of eggs laid can vary, with some species laying hundreds over several sites. The larvae, known as nymphs, drop to the ground and burrow into the soil to continue their development.

🌀 Metamorphosis & Life Cycle

Cicadas undergo incomplete metamorphosis, meaning their life cycle includes egg, nymph, and adult stages. The nymphs live underground for several years, feeding on sap from tree roots before emerging as adults. Upon emergence, they molt to reach the adult stage. Adults live for a few weeks, feeding and breeding before dying, while the next generation begins again with the hatched eggs.

🍽️ Diet & Feeding Behavior

Cicadas mainly feed on plant sap using their piercing-sucking mouthparts. Both nymphs and adults consume sap, with nymphs focusing on tree roots and adults feeding directly from plant stems and twigs. Although they are primarily herbivores, they play a role in regulating plant growth.

🦉 Predators & Defense

Cicadas face predation from a variety of animals including birds, reptiles, amphibians, spiders, and small mammals. Their primary defense strategies include camouflage—blending into tree bark—and sheer numbers: emergence in large swarms can overwhelm predators. While cicadas do not bite or sting, their loud calls can deter or disorient some predators.

👥 Social Behavior & Swarms

Cicadas are primarily solitary creatures, only coming together for the purpose of breeding. However, some species, such as the periodical cicadas, emerge in massive numbers, leading to temporary swarms. This synchronized emergence is often triggered by soil temperature, ensuring optimal conditions for development and mating.

🧭 Senses & Communication

Cicadas have developed acute senses to communicate and interact with their environment. Their primary form of communication is through sound, with males producing loud calls to attract females. They have well-developed sight but rely heavily on sound, using tymbals, specialized structures in their abdomen, to produce their characteristic calls.

🌱 Role in the Ecosystem

Cicadas play an essential role in their ecosystems, particularly through nutrient cycling. As they die, their bodies decompose, enriching the soil with nutrients. They also serve as a food source for a variety of predators, and by feeding on plant sap, they can help manage plant growth. Despite their significance, in large numbers, cicadas can cause damage to young trees by laying eggs.

📉 Population & Conservation Notes

Cicadas are commonly found in suitable habitats, yet certain species face threats from habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate changes. Data on global population numbers can be limited, with local abundance varying significantly. Conservation efforts can focus on preserving natural habitats and reducing chemical usage.

⚠️ Human Interaction & Safety

Cicadas do not pose a direct threat to humans as they neither sting nor bite. Interaction with cicadas is generally safe; however, large swarms can be a nuisance due to noise. To observe them respectfully, maintain a non-intrusive distance and avoid collecting wild specimens. If handling becomes necessary, such as removing them from indoor areas, do so gently.

📌 Summary