Belostoma Giant Water Bug vs Decula Periodical Cicada

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Belostoma Giant Water Bug Decula Periodical Cicada
Scientific Name Belostoma flumineum Magicicada septendecula
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Belostomatidae Cicadidae
Size 18-25 mm 22-26 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Woodlands
Diet Omnivores Sap Feeders
Regions North America Eastern United States, co-occurring with other Magicicada species
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Belostoma Giant Water Bug

A medium-sized, oval giant water bug found across North America. Males carry eggs cemented to their backs by females until hatching. It is a common inhabitant of ponds and vegetated lake margins.

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Did You Know?

If a female tries to mate with a male already carrying eggs, she will systematically destroy the existing eggs first to make room for her own clutch.

Decula Periodical Cicada

The smallest of the 17-year periodical cicada species with a distinctive ticking call. It is often the least abundant species within a periodical cicada brood.

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Did You Know?

It is the rarest of the three 17-year species and was not described as a separate species until 1962.