Natural Predators of Dog-Day Cicadas:
Who Eats Them?

Dog-day cicadas (genus Neotibicen) are a familiar sound of late summer in many parts of North America. Their loud, distinctive buzzing fills the air during the hottest days, giving these insects their common name. While their presence is often seen as a summertime nuisance by some, dog-day cicadas play important roles in ecosystems as both consumers and prey. Despite their robust size and loud calls, dog-day cicadas face natural predation from a variety of animals. In this article, we explore the diverse natural predators of dog-day cicadas, examining who eats them and how these predation relationships impact ecosystems.

Understanding Dog-Day Cicadas

Before delving into their predators, it’s helpful to understand the basic biology and behavior of dog-day cicadas. These insects belong to the family Cicadidae and are known for their large size (often 1-2 inches long), green-brown coloration, and characteristic high-pitched mating calls produced by males.

Dog-day cicadas spend most of their life underground as nymphs, feeding on root sap. After several years underground, they emerge en masse in summer to molt into adults, mate, lay eggs, and die within roughly 4-6 weeks. The adults feed briefly on plant sap.

Their noisy presence announces their emergence but also signals availability as prey to many predators that have evolved to capitalize on these predictable food sources.

Avian Predators: Birds That Feast on Cicadas

Birds are some of the most conspicuous predators of dog-day cicadas. Many bird species capitalize on the abundance of cicadas during the peak summer months.

Blue Jays and Crows

Blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) and American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) are opportunistic feeders known to consume cicadas readily. Their intelligence and dexterity allow them to catch cicadas mid-air or snatch them off tree branches where adults rest.

Mockingbirds and Thrushes

Northern mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos) and various thrush species also include cicadas in their diet. These birds often pluck adult cicadas from leaves or branches during peak emergence periods.

Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers such as the red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) hunt both adult cicadas and nymphs. They can detect nymphs underground tapping on roots or emerging from soil by listening for vibrations and then excavate them with their sharp beaks.

Flycatchers and Warblers

Some insectivorous songbirds like Eastern kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) and yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia) capture flying adult cicadas in mid-air using quick aerial maneuvers.

Impact of Bird Predation

Bird predation helps control cicada populations naturally and provides vital protein during breeding seasons. However, because adult cicadas have relatively short lifespans, birds often rely on other prey outside of cicada emergences for sustenance.

Mammalian Predators: Small Mammals That Hunt Cicadas

Several mammals also prey on dog-day cicadas at various life stages.

Bats

Bats are nighttime hunters that consume flying insects, including cicadas active during dusk or early evening. Species such as the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) use echolocation to detect flying adults against cluttered backgrounds.

Raccoons and Opossums

Nocturnal mammals like raccoons (Procyon lotor) and opossums (Didelphis virginiana) forage opportunistically for adult cicadas resting on tree trunks or foliage at night. Their dexterous paws help them pluck insects efficiently.

Squirrels

Tree squirrels occasionally prey on adult cicadas by catching them when disturbed or near trees where they feed or perch. While not a primary food source, they supplement diets with available insects during summer.

Shrews

Shrews, small insectivorous mammals, may consume nymphs excavated from soil or leaf litter. Their voracious appetites make them effective natural pest controllers.

Reptilian Predators: Lizards and Snakes

Reptiles also opportunistically feed on dog-day cicadas.

Lizards

In warmer climates, lizards such as the common fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) hunt adult cicadas actively. Their quick reflexes allow them to catch slow-moving adults resting on trees or shrubs.

Snakes

Some snake species may prey on nymphs found underground or near the soil surface during emergence periods. Though less documented than bird predation, reptiles contribute to controlling local cicada populations.

Amphibian Predators: Frogs and Toads

Amphibians take advantage of emerging cicada adults during late summer evenings when both are active.

Frogs

Frogs like green frogs (Lithobates clamitans) commonly snap up flying or perched adult cicadas near water sources or moist habitats where both species overlap.

Toads

American toads (Anaxyrus americanus) also opportunistically feed on adult cicadas using their sticky tongues to capture passing insects.

Insect Predators: Other Arthropods That Prey on Cicadas

Dog-day cicadas fall prey not only to vertebrates but also to other insects and arthropods.

Spiders

Orb-weaver spiders build webs in trees that can trap flying adult cicadas. Larger spider species can subdue even relatively large cicadas by injecting venom before consuming them slowly.

Praying Mantises

Praying mantises are ambush predators known for capturing large prey including adult dog-day cicadas. They use spiked forelegs to grasp struggling insects securely before eating them alive.

Robber Flies

Robber flies (family Asilidae) hunt flying adult insects mid-air using speed and stealth. They inject paralyzing saliva into captured prey such as cicadas before consuming internal fluids.

Ants and Wasps

Ant colonies scavenge dead adults fallen from trees or attack nymphs exposed near the soil surface after emergence. Some wasp species even specialize in hunting large insects including cicadas to provision nests for larvae.

Parasitoids: The Hidden Threats Beneath the Surface

While predators consume many adult dog-day cicadas, parasitoid organisms impact them at larval or pupal stages in more hidden ways.

Fungal Pathogens

The entomopathogenic fungus Massospora specifically infects periodical and annual cicada species. This fungus invades the body cavity causing eventual death while sporulating through exposed abdomen areas—effectively turning infected insects into carriers spreading spores to others before death.

Parasitic Wasps

Certain parasitic wasps lay eggs inside emerging nymphs or adults; wasp larvae consume host tissues internally, ultimately killing the host before reaching maturity themselves.

Nematodes and Mites

Some nematode worms and mites parasitize subterranean nymph stages by feeding internally while remaining concealed underground until emergence time weakens hosts.

Ecological Role of Cicada Predation

Predation pressure on dog-day cicadas helps maintain balanced ecosystems in several ways:

• Population Control: Predators help prevent periodic overpopulation which could otherwise damage vegetation through excessive sap feeding.
• Nutrient Cycling: Consumed bodies return nutrients rapidly back into food webs through predator excretion.
• Food Web Support: Cicada emergences provide critical seasonal food pulses benefiting predators’ reproductive success.
• Evolutionary Pressure: Predation shapes adaptive behaviors like synchronized mass emergences (“predator satiation”) reducing individual risk of being eaten.

Conclusion: A Symphony of Predators Keeps Dog-Day Cicada Populations in Check

Dog-day cicadas may seem ubiquitous during late summer with their droning calls and sudden appearances, but they exist within complex ecological webs featuring numerous natural enemies across multiple animal groups. Birds are among their most visible predators, supplemented by mammals like bats and raccoons, reptiles such as lizards, amphibians including frogs, diverse insect hunters like spiders and mantises, as well as specialized parasitoids infecting hidden life stages underground.

This rich variety of predators ensures that dog-day cicada populations remain balanced over time despite their explosive emergences every year. Understanding these predator-prey interactions highlights the intricate connections between species that sustain healthy environments through interdependence—a reminder that even noisy summertime insects play essential roles beyond mere background noise.

By appreciating who eats dog-day cicadas, we gain insight into nature’s cycles that orchestrate survival strategies across multiple layers of life—from soil depths to treetops—celebrating biodiversity in all its forms during our warmest months each year.