Cicadas are a remarkable group of insects recognized for their distinctive buzzing sounds and their often dramatic, synchronized appearances. These creatures spend the vast majority of their lives hidden underground before emerging for a brief period above ground. Their unique life cycle often sparks curiosity about their habits, particularly whether adult cicadas consume food during their short time in the sunlight.
What Adult Cicadas Consume
Adult cicadas do indeed feed, though their diet is highly specialized and their intake is minimal. They primarily consume xylem sap, a watery fluid found within the vascular system of trees and woody shrubs. Unlike many other insects, cicadas do not chew or consume solid plant material. Their feeding mechanism involves a piercing-sucking mouthpart, which they use to penetrate the plant’s surface.
This specialized mouthpart allows them to tap into the xylem, which transports water and some nutrients from the roots to the rest of the plant. Recent research confirms adult cicadas actively ingest plant sap, dispelling older misconceptions. Plant DNA from woody plants has been detected in their guts, indicating active feeding.
The Purpose of Their Feeding Habits
The feeding habits of adult cicadas sustain them through their brief adult lifespan, not for significant growth or development. Their minimal intake of xylem sap provides just enough energy for essential adult activities like flight, mating, and egg-laying. The energy reserves accumulated during their long nymphal stage underground are the main fuel for their adult existence.
While the sap offers some nutrition, it is also thought to help with hydration and potentially body temperature regulation, especially on hot days through evaporative cooling. The primary objective for adult cicadas is reproduction, and their feeding supports this singular, time-sensitive goal. This contrasts with the extensive feeding of their nymph stage, dedicated to growth and development.
The Brief Adult Life of a Cicada
The adult stage of a cicada is remarkably short compared to its lengthy development period underground. While nymphs can spend anywhere from 2 to 17 years underground, the adult cicada lives only for a few weeks, typically four to six weeks. This short adult phase is almost entirely dedicated to reproduction, with males producing loud calls to attract mates and females laying eggs in tree branches.
During this short above-ground period, cicadas also play a role in their ecosystem. They serve as a readily available food source for a variety of predators, including birds, mammals, and other insects, contributing to the food chain. Additionally, their emergence can benefit the soil, as the tunnels created by nymphs aerate the ground, and their decaying bodies contribute nutrients back into the earth.