Dog-Day Cicada vs Deer Ked

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dog-Day Cicada Deer Ked
Scientific Name Neotibicen canicularis Lipoptena cervi
Order Hemiptera Diptera
Family Cicadidae Hippoboscidae
Size 27-33 mm 5-7 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Sap Feeders Blood Feeders
Regions Eastern and central North America from Canada to the Gulf states Europe, Asia, introduced to North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Dog-Day Cicada

A large green and black annual cicada that sings during the hottest days of summer. Its buzzing call is the quintessential sound of late summer in North America.

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Did You Know?

Its common name comes from its emergence during the 'dog days' of summer, the hottest period from July to August.

Deer Ked

A flattened, reddish-brown blood-sucking fly that sheds its wings upon finding a deer host. It clings tenaciously to the hair with strong claws and feeds on blood throughout its life.

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Did You Know?

After landing on a host, it breaks off its own wings permanently, spending the rest of its life as a wingless ectoparasite.