Periodical Cicada vs South American Spittlebug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Periodical Cicada | South American Spittlebug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Magicicada septendecim | Deois flavopicta |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Cicadidae | Cercopidae |
| Size | 25-33 mm | 8-12 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Root Feeders | Sap Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
South American Spittlebug
A dark brown and yellow spittlebug that is a major pest of tropical pasture grasses in Brazil. Nymphs produce protective frothy spittle masses on grass stems.
Did You Know?
Outbreaks can damage millions of hectares of Brazilian pasture, causing estimated annual losses of over $2 billion.