Cicadas are widely recognized for the distinctive sounds they produce, especially during the warmer parts of the year. These insects are a common sight and sound throughout Utah, contributing to the state’s natural environment. Their characteristic buzzing and clicking noises are a familiar sign of summer in many regions.
Cicada Presence in Utah
Cicadas are a consistent presence across Utah, adapting to diverse environments within the state. They typically thrive in areas with abundant woody vegetation, including both trees and shrubs. Adult cicadas emerge to reside on the branches and trunks of these host plants.
Their distribution spans various regions, from arid and semi-arid landscapes to cultivated urban settings, as long as suitable host plants are available. Human development, such as extensive plowing or land leveling for new construction, can interfere with their underground development, making them less prevalent in disturbed areas. While cicadas are always present, the sheer number of visible adults can fluctuate year to year, with some summers experiencing more noticeable emergences, particularly in northern Utah.
Identifying Utah’s Cicada Species
Cicadas are broadly classified into periodical and annual types. Periodical cicadas, known for their synchronized mass emergences every 13 or 17 years, are found predominantly in the Midwestern and Eastern United States. Utah, however, does not experience these large-scale periodical events. The state hosts numerous species of annual cicadas, which emerge every year, though not in a synchronized manner across their populations. Annual cicadas in Utah spend one to several years underground as nymphs before emerging as adults.
Over a dozen cicada species reside in Utah. The Okanagana genus is common, with species often showing red to orange coloration on their backs. These insects are generally medium-sized, featuring large compound eyes and clear, membranous wings held tent-like over their bodies. Many are typically black with small orange stripes and spots.
Some Utah cicadas, including those in the Platypedia genus, demonstrate distinct methods of sound production. Platypedia species may lack tymbals, producing clicking or crackling sounds by flexing body parts or wings. This difference in sound generation helps distinguish the various species present in the state.
The Cicada Lifecycle and Sounds
The lifecycle of cicadas in Utah begins underground, where they spend the majority of their lives as nymphs. These nymphs feed on the sap from tree and shrub roots, remaining beneath the soil for one to several years. When mature, they burrow to the surface, typically emerging in late spring or early summer. After emergence, they shed their exoskeletons, leaving behind the familiar brown shells often found clinging to trees.
Adult cicadas have a relatively brief lifespan above ground, usually lasting only two to four weeks. Their primary purpose during this adult stage is reproduction. Male cicadas produce loud sounds to attract females for mating. This distinct buzzing or clicking is most commonly heard during the summer months, creating a characteristic soundtrack for the season.
The sound production mechanism varies among species; most utilize specialized organs called tymbals, located on the side of the male’s abdomen. These tymbals vibrate rapidly, like a drumhead, to create the buzzing or whirring calls. Cicadas are true bugs, distinct from locusts, and are harmless to humans.