How to Identify Brown Cicadas in Your Backyard

Cicadas are fascinating insects known for their distinctive appearance and loud, buzzing calls. Among the many species of cicadas, brown cicadas are some of the most commonly spotted in backyards across various regions. Identifying these insects accurately can be both interesting and useful for gardeners, nature lovers, and anyone curious about the wildlife in their outdoor space. This article explores how to identify brown cicadas in your backyard, covering their physical characteristics, behavior, habitat, and tips for observation.

Understanding Cicadas: A Brief Overview

Before diving into the identification specifics of brown cicadas, it helps to understand what cicadas are. Cicadas belong to the order Hemiptera and the family Cicadidae. They are known for their stout bodies, broad heads, clear wings, and most notably, their loud mating calls produced by males.

Cicadas spend a significant portion of their lives underground as nymphs feeding on root sap. After several years, they emerge from the soil as adults to mate and lay eggs. The adult phase is relatively short, lasting a few weeks to months depending on species.

Physical Characteristics of Brown Cicadas

Brown cicadas typically exhibit a range of brown hues in their coloration, which helps them blend into tree bark or dead leaves—natural camouflage against predators.

Size and Shape

• Size: Brown cicadas generally range from 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) in length.
• Body Shape: Their bodies are robust with a rounded thorax and elongated abdomen.
• Wings: They have two pairs of transparent wings with prominent veins. When at rest, wings are held roof-like over the body.

Coloration and Markings

• Primary Color: Various shades of brown dominate their body color—ranging from light tan to deep chocolate.
• Markings: Some species may display darker or lighter spots or stripes on the thorax or abdomen.
• Eyes: Often reddish-brown or blackish eyes set on either side of the head.
• Legs: Legs are typically brown and adapted for clinging onto tree bark.

Distinguishing Features

Brown cicadas may be confused with other cicada species or insects such as leafhoppers or moths. Key distinguishing features include:

• Large size compared to similar insects.
• Prominent clear wings with visible veins.
• The characteristic robust head with large compound eyes.
• The unique sound-producing organs (tymbals) located on the sides of the abdomen in males.

Behavior and Sounds

One of the easiest ways to confirm you have brown cicadas is by recognizing their distinctive calls. Male brown cicadas produce loud buzzing or clicking sounds to attract females. The volume can reach up to 100 decibels, making them one of the loudest insects.

When Are They Active?

• Brown cicadas are mostly active during warm months—late spring through summer.
• They are diurnal (active during daylight).
• Males typically sing during the hottest part of the day.

Locating Them by Sound

If you hear a persistent buzzing noise coming from trees or shrubs in your backyard during summer, it’s likely male cicadas calling. This behavior helps narrow down sightings even if visual confirmation is challenging due to their camouflage.

Habitat Preferences

Brown cicadas prefer habitats where they can easily hide and find food sources. Common backyard locations include:

• Trees: Deciduous trees like oaks, maples, and elms provide ideal perching spots.
• Shrubs: Dense shrubbery offers cover during resting periods.
• Wooded Areas: Adjacent wooded patches enhance chances of spotting multiple individuals during emergence periods.
• Gardens with Native Plants: These plants attract other insects that serve as prey or complementary food sources.

They feed primarily by piercing plant stems and sucking sap from xylem vessels. Unlike many pests, they usually don’t cause significant damage to healthy plants but can occasionally stress young trees if populations are dense.

How To Spot Brown Cicadas In Your Backyard

Spotting brown cicadas requires patience and careful observation owing to their camouflaging colors and quiet resting habits outside mating calls.

Step 1: Listen for Their Call

Start by listening for the unmistakable buzzing or clicking noises on warm sunny days from late spring through summer.

Step 2: Examine Tree Bark Closely

Look carefully at tree trunks and branches where brown coloration blends with bark texture. Slow movements help detect subtle shaking or twitching indicating insect presence.

Step 3: Look Under Leaves

Cicadas sometimes rest on leaf undersides during non-calling periods. Check leaves on lower branches for any signs of movement or visible wings.

Step 4: Use Binoculars for Better Viewing

Given their camouflaged appearance, use binoculars to scan higher branches without disturbing them.

Step 5: Watch at Sunrise or Sunset

Cicadas sometimes become less active at these times but may still perch visibly before resting fully at night.

Differentiating Brown Cicadas From Similar Insects

Several other insects can resemble brown cicadas at first glance. Knowing how to distinguish them will ensure accurate identification:

| Insect | Difference from Brown Cicada |
|——————|——————————————————————|
| Leafhoppers | Smaller size; jump rather than fly; lack noisy calls |
| Moths | Wings covered with scales; nocturnal; lack transparent wings |
| Treehoppers | Smaller bodies; pronounced pronotum (helmet-like structure) |

When you spot a large insect with a bulky body, transparent veined wings held roof-like over its body, producing loud buzzing sounds—it’s almost certainly a brown cicada.

Life Cycle Insights That Help Identification

Understanding the life cycle phases can assist backyard enthusiasts in predicting when brown cicadas will appear:

• Nymph Stage: Underground for several years feeding on roots.
• Emergence: Typically late spring or early summer when soil temperature reaches around 64°F (18°C).
• Adult Stage: Lasts only a few weeks—time for mating and egg-laying.
• Egg Hatching: Eggs laid in tree twigs hatch in late summer; larvae drop to soil starting cycle again.

Knowing this helps time your observations accordingly.

Ecological Importance of Brown Cicadas in Backyards

While some might view them as pests due to noise or appearance, brown cicadas play critical roles:

• Serve as food sources for birds, reptiles, small mammals, and other insects.
• Aerate soil during nymph burrowing activities improving soil quality.
• Act as ecosystem indicators reflecting environmental health.

By identifying these insects accurately, you cultivate an appreciation for biodiversity right outside your door.

Tips for Photographing Brown Cicadas

If you want photographic proof or just enjoy nature photography:

• Use a macro lens to capture fine wing vein details.
• Photograph during bright daylight for true color representation.
• Avoid sudden movements that may cause the insect to fly away.
• Focus on tree bark backgrounds showcasing camouflage effect.

When To Seek Expert Help

If you encounter large numbers causing damage or experience uncertainty about species identification:

• Contact local extension services or entomologists.
• Use online forums with insect identification communities sharing photos.

Proper identification ensures informed decisions about possible control measures if needed.

In conclusion, identifying brown cicadas in your backyard is an engaging activity combining observation skills with knowledge about insect behavior and ecology. By paying attention to physical traits like size, coloration, wing structure, combined with behavioral clues such as distinctive sounds and habitat preferences, you can confidently recognize these remarkable insects each season. Embrace their presence as part of your local natural heritage while appreciating their vital role in the ecosystem surrounding your home.