CICADAS

                              

     Photos taken by Elaine

 

           A bit of info about these strange bugs !

CICADAS
(Homoptera: Cicadidae)

Adult cicada

There are several species of cicadas in Ontario. All are large in size (2-5 cm long) robust and somewhat triangular in shape. Their antennae are very short, and some are black and green in colour. The wings are held over the back in a sloping fashion and are membranous. Cicadas are very attractive and different in form from most other insects, and often attract interest when they are found.

The common species in Ontario are referred to as the dog-day harvest flies. They have a life cycle of four years or more. The 17-year locust (cicada) is more common farther south in the United States. This species may take 13 to 17 years to complete a life cycle.