Cicadas are large, distinctive insects known best for their synchronized, noisy mass emergences that occur in certain regions. These events, sometimes involving billions of individuals, capture public attention and often lead to questions about the insects’ impact on the environment. Due to their frequent presence on plants and trees, a common question arises regarding their function: Do these loudly buzzing creatures contribute to the process of pollination? This article clarifies the actual behavior of cicadas and explains the significant ecological roles they fulfill.
The Verdict: Cicadas and Pollination
The direct answer to whether cicadas are pollinators is that they are not considered effective agents of pollination. Pollination requires an organism to intentionally seek out and transfer pollen between the male and female structures of flowering plants, typically while foraging for nectar. Cicadas do not feed on nectar or pollen, which means they lack the behavioral motivation to visit flowers for food.
Furthermore, their physical structure is unsuited for carrying and distributing pollen grains efficiently. Unlike bees or butterflies, which have fuzzy bodies that readily collect pollen, the adult cicada has a relatively smooth exoskeleton. Their mouthparts are specialized for piercing and sucking fluids, not for foraging in floral structures. Any pollen transfer that occurs is purely accidental and insignificant compared to the work of true pollinators.
Cicada Interaction with Plants
Cicadas interact with plants not as foragers of nectar or pollen, but as specialized fluid feeders. Both nymphs and adults possess piercing-sucking mouthparts, which they use to tap into a plant’s vascular system. Nymphs spend years underground, drawing sustenance from the xylem of tree roots, a watery fluid that carries nutrients up from the soil.
When they emerge as adults, they continue this feeding habit, primarily consuming xylem sap from the twigs and smaller branches of trees and woody shrubs. This explains why cicadas are so frequently observed on plant material, leading to the confusion about their role. Female cicadas interact with plants for reproduction: they cut small slits into young branches with a specialized organ called an ovipositor to lay their eggs.
Ecological Roles Beyond Pollination
The contributions of cicadas to their environment center on soil health, nutrient distribution, and the food chain. During their subterranean life, which can last for 13 or 17 years for periodical species, the nymphs tunnel extensively through the soil. This burrowing behavior naturally aerates the earth, enhancing water infiltration and improving the circulation of oxygen for plant roots.
The mass emergence of cicadas culminates in a phenomenon called predator satiation. Billions of insects provide a temporary, abundant food source that supports a massive number of predators, including birds, small mammals, and reptiles. While many cicadas are consumed, the sheer number that emerges ensures that a sufficient population survives to mate and continue the species’ cycle.
Upon the completion of their short adult lifespan, the bodies of the deceased cicadas fall back to the ground. Their decomposition acts as a natural fertilizer, rapidly introducing a significant boost of organic material, particularly nitrogen, back into the soil. This natural nutrient cycling enriches the forest floor and can lead to increased productivity in the surrounding understory vegetation.