Cicadas are fascinating insects known for their loud buzzing songs and periodical appearances. A common question that arises when observing these creatures is: Can Cicadas Fly? The answer is yes, cicadas can indeed fly. Their ability to take to the skies is a crucial part of their life cycle, enabling them to mate, find suitable habitats, and escape some predators.
Cicada Wings and Flight Mechanism
After spending years underground as nymphs, cicadas emerge and undergo a final molt, shedding their exoskeletons to reveal their adult forms. A key feature of the adult cicada is the presence of two pairs of wings. These wings are prominent, membranous, and veined, providing the necessary structure for flight. You can often observe cicadas shortly after their emergence, with their wings still soft and developing, before they become hardened and ready for flight.
The wings of a cicada are not just for show; they are powered by strong flight muscles located in their thorax. These muscles allow cicadas to beat their wings rapidly, generating lift and propulsion. While perhaps not as agile as some other flying insects, cicadas are capable of sustained flight, allowing them to move between trees and shrubs in search of food and mates.
Why Cicadas Take to the Air
Flight is essential for cicadas during their brief adult stage. One primary reason cicadas fly is to find suitable habitats for feeding and mating. They are attracted to hardwood trees and shrubs, where they feed on sap and where females will later lay their eggs. Their ability to fly allows them to disperse and colonize new areas, ensuring the continuation of their species.
Furthermore, flight plays a crucial role in cicada mating rituals. Male cicadas use their flight to move around and find locations to sing and attract females. The characteristic buzzing sound produced by male cicadas is amplified by their tymbals, organs located on their abdomen, and serves as a mating call. Flight allows them to broadcast this call across a wider area, increasing their chances of finding a mate.
Cicada Behavior and Predators
Interestingly, despite their ability to fly, cicadas do not always appear to be adept at escaping predators. As highlighted in the original article, cicadas above ground often do not exhibit a strong inclination to fly away from perceived threats, including humans. This might be due to their life strategy, which relies on overwhelming numbers for survival rather than individual evasion. During mass emergences, the sheer quantity of cicadas satiates predators, allowing a significant proportion of the cicada population to survive and reproduce.
However, this apparent lack of fear doesn’t mean cicadas are incapable of flight when necessary. They can and do fly to move between locations and when sufficiently disturbed. Their flight might not be as rapid or evasive as some predators might expect, but it is a functional mode of transportation for these insects.
Human Impact and Cicada Observation
Understanding cicada behavior, including their ability to fly, is becoming increasingly important as we observe changes in their emergence patterns. Reports of cicadas emerging earlier than expected, potentially due to climate change, underscore the need for continued observation and research. Citizen science initiatives, utilizing apps like Cicada Safari and iNaturalist, provide valuable data on cicada distribution and population sizes. By contributing to these efforts, we can help scientists monitor these fascinating insects and better understand their role in the ecosystem.
In conclusion, cicadas are indeed capable of flight, and this ability is integral to their life cycle for dispersal, mating, and habitat selection. While they may not always seem eager to fly away from disturbances, their wings are functional and essential for their survival and propagation. Observing cicadas and participating in citizen science projects can enhance our appreciation for these remarkable insects and contribute to their ongoing study.
