Pest Profile Photo credit: Kansas Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License Common Name: 13-year cicada, 17-year cicada Scientific Name: Magicicada septendecim Order and Family: Hemiptera; Cicadidae Size and Appearance: Length (mm) Appearance Egg Tiny, rice-shaped White-transparent in color Laid in grooves of twigs Larva/Nymph Light brown with some transparency to shiny golden brown in color Reside in the ground (up to 2.5 meters below) for 13 years Recognizable brown, larval cases are left behind by adults on woody structures Adult Transparent wings with noticeable orange veins and legs Distinct black letter “W” on outer end of front wings 20-30 mm Short antennae, red eyes, and black abdomen Comes in many patterns or colors Males sing and females click their wings and the songs are specific to species Pupa (if applicable) Type of feeder (Chewing, sucking, etc.): Both nymphs and adults have piercing-sucking mouthparts. Host plant/s: Underground while a nymph, then trees, plants, fences, houses, etc. while an adult Description of Damage (larvae and adults): Cicadas are not a large concern as far as plant damage. However, adult female cicadas lay their eggs in grooves within twigs, which could create some stunting of growth. As soon as the egg hatches, the nymphs will feed on tree fluids within grooves. This feeding may cause branches to die and leaves to turn brown. Once nymphs drop from the tree they thrive underground for 13 to 17 years, feeding on available plant sap from roots. These nymphs will cause noticeable shotgun holes or tunnels in the ground as they travel to other vegetation to feed. References: BBC Nature. (2016). Periodical cicadas. Retrieved March 19, 2016, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Magicicada Bugfacts.net. (2008-2015). Cicada. Retrieved March 19, 2016, from http://www.bugfacts.net/cicada.php Cicada Mania. (1996-2016). What's new on Cicada Mania? Retrieved March 19, 2016, from http://www.cicadamania.com/ Encyclopedia of Life. (2016). Cicada - Cicadidae - Details - Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved March 19, 2016, from http://eol.org/pages/2645413/details Kansas Department of Agriculture. (2014, May 01). Periodical cicada (Magicicada septendecim ). Retrieved April 07, 2017, from https://www.insectimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5512043 Ohio State University. (2016). Periodical Cicadas - Life Cycles & Behavior. Retrieved March 19, 2016, from http://entomology.osu.edu/bugdoc/PerioCicada/PeriCicadaBehav.htm The University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Insect Division. (2016, January 8). Periodical Cicada -- Magicicada -- " 17-year Locust ". Retrieved March 19, 2016, from http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/fauna/ .