Magicicada cassini | |
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A Magicicada cassini female ovipositing | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hemiptera |
Family: | Cicadidae |
Genus: | Magicicada |
Species: | M. cassini |
Binomial name | |
Magicicada cassini (Fisher, 1851) |
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Synonyms | |
Magicicada septencassini |
Magicicada septencassini
Magicicada cassini, sometimes called the dwarf cicada is a species of periodical cicada endemic to the United States. It has a 17-year lifecycle but is otherwise indistinguishable from the 13-year periodical cicada Magicicada tredecassini. The two species are usually discussed together as "cassini periodical cicadas" or "cassini-type periodical cicadas." Unlike other periodical cicadas, cassini-type males may synchronize their courting behavior so that tens of thousands of males sing and fly in unison.