Dog day cicadas, also known as annual cicadas or simply dog day cicadas, are a type of cicada belonging to the family Cicadidae. They are known for their distinct buzzing or whirring songs that appear during the hottest parts of the summer, commonly referred to as the "dog days."
These cicadas are characterized by their large size, ranging from about one to two inches in length. They typically have a robust body with transparent wings and prominent eyes. Their coloration varies, but they commonly have black, brown, or green bodies with lighter colored markings.
Dog day cicadas spend most of their life cycle underground as nymphs, feeding on the sap of tree roots. They have a long development period, often spanning several years, before emerging from the ground as adults. Once emerged, they shed their nymph exoskeletons and begin their short adult life.
These cicadas are predominantly active during the daytime, and their loud calls can be quite distinctive and intense. The sounds are produced by the males, who vibrate special membranes called tymbals on their abdomen to create a buzzing noise, attracting females for mating. These calls can be heard from trees and shrubs, filling the air with their characteristic buzzing, which can become quite loud when numerous cicadas are present.
Dog day cicadas are considered harmless to humans and are not known to cause any significant damage to trees or crops. Instead, they play a vital role in ecosystems by serving as a food source for other organisms, including birds, reptiles, and mammals.
