Landcare Research - Manaaki Whenua

Landcare-Research -Manaaki Whenua

Cicada eggs


Order: Hemiptera
Family: Cicadidae

Size range

  • About 5 mm long

Distribution

  • New Zealand native

Life History

  • Medium to large insects, bigger species up to 40 mm in length including wings
  • About 40 New Zealand species, many identifiable by the song
  • Very loud in summer months
  • Feed on plant sap
  • Eggs laid in grooves in twigs
  • Egg grooves cause damage to twigs often causing them to break
  • Larvae develop underground, feeding on tree roots

Additional images