cicadoid

Cicadoid is a term used in entomology to refer to cicadas or to members of the superfamily Cicadoidea, within the order Hemiptera and the suborder Auchenorrhyncha. The superfamily comprises two living families: Cicadidae, the true cicadas, and Tettigarctidae, the primitive or "hairy cicadas," with additional extinct groups known from the fossil record. The group is united by certain morphological and behavioral traits that distinguish them from other hemipterans.

A defining feature of cicadoids is their sound-producing capability. Males possess tymbal organs on the abdomen that generate species-specific songs by rapid buckling of membranes, a mechanism used to attract mates. They typically have stout bodies and transparent, often conspicuously veined wings. Cicadoids exhibit hemimetabolous development, meaning they undergo gradual metamorphosis with nymphs resembling smaller versions of adults.

Life history varies among species but follows a common pattern: nymphs spend one to several years underground feeding on plant roots, after which they emerge as winged adults. Adults usually live for a short time, focused on reproduction and dispersal. Some species exhibit synchronized emergences, including periodical cicadas that spend 13 or 17 years underground before mass emergence in certain regions, while others have shorter, annual or multi-year cycles.

Distribution and habitat range widely, from tropical to temperate zones. Cicadoids are most diverse in warm, forested environments but can be found in a variety of habitats across many continents. They play important roles in ecosystems as herbivores and as prey for a range of predators, and their distinctive songs are a notable feature of many landscapes.