Subject: Clicking bug but I down think it’s a beetle
Location: Largo fl
July 19, 2017 7:45 am
It was on my mom’s scrunchy hairtie, she said it kept clicking and she pulled her hair out of a bun, and this bug didn’t even flinch.
It’s slightly red on its back and it’s like shaking one of its back wings. It’s not hurt but it won’t leave.
Signature: Cevanna
Dear Cevanna,
This is a Cicada, and based on the information you provided, we are guessing it was a very small Cicada, probably a Small Grass Cicada in the genus Cicadetta, and according to BugGuide: “These are small delicate cicadas often mistaken for “Tree/Leaf Hoppers”. All members are less than an inch in length incl. wings. They are variable in color from bright lime green to tan to boldly patterned with browns and/or greens.” Cicadas are among the most vocal of all insects, and large Cicadas produce the loudest sounds in the insect class.
Thanks so much! It was driving me crazy because usually I can investigate Google until I find it but I couldn’t with this bug!
I recall from David Attenborough’s wonderful documentary “Life in the Undergrowth” that while the male cicadas make the extremely loud buzzing or whining sounds, the females make a click with their wings to tell the males where they are. At one point Attenborough found a male on a twig and kept snapping his fingers to attract it. Every time he snapped, the cicada would turn around to go in that direction.
The documentary showed 17-year cicadas, but I’m thinking that perhaps this is true of all cicada species. Maybe the cicada above was clicking because it was a female.
Thanks for your wonderful and insightful comment.
I recall from David Attenborough’s wonderful documentary “Life in the Undergrowth” that while the male cicadas make the extremely loud buzzing or whining sounds, the females make a click with their wings to tell the males where they are. At one point Attenborough found a male on a twig and kept snapping his fingers to attract it. Every time he snapped, the cicada would turn around to go in that direction.
The documentary showed 17-year cicadas, but I’m thinking that perhaps this is true of all cicada species. Maybe the cicada above was clicking because it was a female.