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Do Cicadas Have Mouths?

Elena Rostova • • 7 min read
Do Cicadas Have Mouths?

Cicadas have piercing/sucking mouthparts

mouthparts
The mandible (from Latin: mandibula or mandĭbŭ-lum, a jaw) of an arthropod is a pair of mouthparts used either for biting or cutting and holding food. Mandibles are often simply referred to as jaws. Mandibles are present in the extant subphyla Myriapoda (millipedes and others), Crustacea and Hexapoda (insects etc.).
› Mandible_(arthropod_mouthpart)
(similar to a mosquito) they use to obtain their nourishment from below ground roots and young twigs. Unlike locusts, cicadas usually do not heavily feed on plant leaves.

What do cicadas mouths look like?

The cicada's mouth parts (aka rostrum or beak) are in the shape of a straw, which can pierce rootlets, roots and branches. The labium form the outside of the beak of the cicada; inside the labium is the stylet which is comprised of the mandibles and maxillae, which the cicada uses to pierce plants and drink their sap.

Do cicadas eat?

What Do Cicadas Eat? During their time underground, cicadas primarily feed on the juices and sap of tree roots. Once above ground, adults may feed on plant juices which can cause minimal damage to trees.

Elena Rostova
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Elena Rostova

Elena Rostova holds a Master's degree in Public Health Journalism. She covers groundbreaking medical research, holistic wellness trends, mental health awareness, and nutritional science.