Periodical cicadas (genus Magicicada Davis) are named for their extraordinarily regular adult appearances, caused by near-perfect synchronous development of the underground nymphs. Long life cycles of 13 or 17 years and large adult populations (up to about 3.75 million/ha, or 1.5 million/acre) make their periodicity events (Fig. 25) especially remarkable. Their importance has been long-standing, as can be seen in the following quote:
Periodical cicadas emerge synchronously.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Alexander RD, Moore TE (1962) The evolutionary relationships of 17-year and 13-year cicadas, and three new species (Homoptera, Cicadidae, Magicicada). Univ Michigan Mus Zool Misc Publ 121:1–59
Dybas HS, Lloyd M (1974) The habitats of 17-year periodical cicadas (Homoptera: Cicadidae: Magicicada spp.). Ecol Monograph 44:279–324
Karban R (1986) Prolonged development in cicadas. In: Taylor F, Karban R (eds) Evolution of insect life cycles. Springer-Verlag, NY, pp 222–235
Kritsky G (2004) Periodical cicadas: the plague and the puzzle. Indiana Academy of Science, Indianapolis, Indiana
Lloyd M, Dybas HS (1966) The periodical cicada problem. II. Evolution. Evolution 20:466–505
Marshall DC, Cooley JR (2000) Reproductive character displacement and speciation in periodical cicadas, with description of a new species, 13-year Magicicada neotredecim. Evolution 54:1313–1325
Marlatt CL (1907) The periodical cicada. USDA Bureau of Entomology Bulletin 71:1–181
White J, Lloyd M (1975) Growth rates of 17- and 13-year periodical cicadas. Am Midland Nat 94:127–143
Williams KS, Simon C (1995) The ecology, behavior, and evolution of periodical cicadas. Ann Rev Entomol 40:269–295
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this entry
Cite this entry
Marshall, D.C. (2008). Periodical Cicadas, Magicicada spp. (Hemiptera: Cicadidae). In: Capinera, J.L. (eds) Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_2852
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_2852
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-6242-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-6359-6
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences