The Eastern horse cicada is a big, glossy black cicada, about 1.6–1.9 in (40–48 mm) long, native to Korea and China. In summer, males buzz loudly and nonstop from city street trees, often in chorus. It doesn't live in the United States, but it has been found in Japan.
Appearance
- Appearance
- Shiny black with orange markings on the edges of the abdomen and on the legs, and clear wings. Freshly emerged adults are dusted with golden hairs.
- Voice
- Males make a loud, rhythmless, continuous buzz. When one starts, nearby males quickly join in, creating a roaring chorus.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- street trees
- parks
- lowland woods
- Range
- Native to Korea and much of eastern and central China. It was found in Japan in 2001, likely brought in by people.
- Preferred conditions
- Prefers lowlands with loose soil and plenty of trees, and is common in cities.
Behavior
- Diet
- drink sap from tree roots underground; adults feed on sap from twigs and shoots.
Life cycle
- Breeding season
- Adults mate and lay eggs about 20 days after emerging, mostly from late June to late August.
- Larva
- Females cut slits into twig tips and lay eggs there in summer. The eggs overwinter and hatch the next May or June, and the nymphs drop to the ground and spend 3–5 or more years underground.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- In traditional Chinese medicine, its shed nymph skins are used as a remedy.
- Its nymphs are eaten in parts of China, often fried or stewed.
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