Ocean Strider vs Periodical Cicada
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Ocean Strider | Periodical Cicada |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Halobates micans | Magicicada septendecim |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Gerridae | Cicadidae |
| Size | 4-5 mm | 25-33 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Woodlands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Root Feeders |
| Regions | Tropical Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Ocean Strider
A remarkable open-ocean water strider that spends its entire life on the surface of tropical seas. It is one of the very few insects adapted to a fully marine existence. It lays eggs on floating debris including feathers and seaweed.
Did You Know?
It is one of the only insects to have colonized the open ocean and can be found thousands of kilometers from the nearest land, surviving storms and wave action.
Periodical Cicada
Emerges in massive synchronized broods every 17 years. Nymphs live underground feeding on tree root sap. Males produce the loudest sounds of any insect at up to 100 dB.
Did You Know?
Periodical cicadas spend exactly 17 years underground (a prime number), and scientists believe this evolved to prevent predators from synchronizing their own cycles.