What does a cicada look like: who sings on warm southern nights
The common cicada is a song insect known for its chirping. It belongs to the phylum Arthropoda and the order Hemiptera. Pests differ not only in singing abilities, but also in agility and caution. They are common in tropical and subtropical regions.
Content
Cicadas: photo
Description of the cicada
Name: Cicada family songbirds and true
Latin: CycadidaeClass: Insects - Insecta
Squad: Hemiptera - Hemiptera
 | Habitats: | trees and shrubs |
 | Dangerous for: | plants from which it sucks juice |
 | Destruction: | usually not required, rarely insecticides |
Cicada is a butterfly with transparent wings.
The smallest individuals range in size from 20 mm to 50 mm. The royal variety reaches 60 mm. Its wingspan is 18 cm. This species lives in Indonesia.
The night butterfly has transparent membranous wings. The larvae do not have wings, they are similar to the bear. The body color of an adult is black with yellow or orange spots. The color of the spots depends on the variety.
Life cycle
Life expectancy of larvae is from 13 to 17 years. Male adults live 2 to 3 weeks, while females live 2 to 3 months.
The females lay eggs in autumn. This occurs in the soft tissue of the stems, leaves and basal part of winter cereals, carrion. One clutch contains from 400 to 600 eggs.
A month later, hatching of larvae begins. The pupal stage is absent. The hatched nymph falls to the ground and burrows. It lives at a depth of about 2 m. In nymphs, a pair of front legs breaks and digs out chambers closer to the roots that they use.
In a humid environment, a large individual builds a clay tower on the surface of the earth for ventilation. The nymphs are building an exit tunnel.
There is a hypothesis that the long life cycle evolved during the ice age to overcome extreme cold.
Range and distribution
Singing cicadas.
The insect inhabits all countries in which there are forests. Cicadas prefer warm climates. In this regard, only the mountain variety can be found in the middle latitude. This species is adapted to these conditions.
The northern borders are located in the Leningrad and Pskov regions, as well as in the Scandinavian countries. Some species settle in the southern part of Siberia and the Far East.
The most common is the common cicada. Habitat - subtropical regions of Europe, Russia, Ukraine. Also a large population in the Caucasus, Transcaucasia, the southern part of the Crimea, the Mediterranean.
A grove of ash trees and an oak forest are favorite places to live.
Varieties of cicadas
In the Russian Federation there are 2 varieties of insects. The common cicada has a size of 3 to 3,6 cm. There are large compound eyes on the sides. The center of the head is characterized by 3 small simple eyes. This species lives in the mountains, steppes, forest-steppes. Insects are able to take root in the garden and garden.
Diet
Cicada on burdock.
The cicada feeds on plant sap. This is possible due to the elongated proboscis. With its help, it makes a puncture in the bark of a tree and dense stems. The females do this by ovipositing.
They prefer air-hardened juice, cereals, oilseeds, melons. Cicadas are garden pests. Butterflies are able to destroy berries and root plants. The rose species feeds on lilacs, apple trees, roses, wild roses, cherries, and pears.
Natural enemies
In Australia, insects are destroyed by killer wasps. Also, pests are afraid of fungal diseases. Natural enemies include:
- birds
- mice;
- wasps;
- praying mantises;
- spiders;
- protein.
Interesting Facts
Some interesting facts:
- cicadas are a symbol of youth and longevity in China. In ancient times, the insect was placed in the mouth of the deceased to ensure an eternal afterlife;
- they are the model for amulets and ornaments;
- the butterfly symbolizes fertility and procreation. It is given to newlyweds;
- In China, butterflies were kept in a cage and listened to their singing. It was available to wealthy people.
Keeping and breeding cicadas
Insects are eaten by the people of Thailand. Cicadas are part of most national dishes. Breeding is carried out by specialized farms. It is very difficult to breed them at home, as they are very noisy. Cicadas are sources of protein that do not have fat. The taste is similar to potatoes or asparagus.
Methods of control and prevention
Cicadas are not pests, they are quite rare. But so that they do not get divorced too much, a number of preventive measures must be taken:
- dig up the ground near fruit plants;
- install feeders in the garden and garden to attract birds;
- remove weeds;
- they keep fallow soil infected with pests for 2-3 years, and also plant garlic and onions.
In the case of a large number of larvae on the site, they can be dealt with with special preparations or folk methods.
- Processed with compositions no more than 3 times. The interval should be 10 days.
- Sprayed in dry calm weather.
- For processing use a small sprayer.
Conclusion
Cicadas cause great damage to gardens. They destroy fruit trees by drinking their juice. Plants weaken and die. To save the crop, be sure to take measures to destroy pests.
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