Cicadas are large Insects that develop on the roots of trees and shrubs. Most are long-lived and may take two to five years to become full grown. Many produce loud, shrill buzzing noises. Cicadas do little if any injury while feeding on plants.
Adults sometimes cause injury when they insert eggs into twigs, producing splintering wounds.
Cicadas are the largest Colorado Insects in the order Homoptera, which includes other sap-sucking groups such as leafhoppers, aphids and spittlebugs. Twenty-six species occur in the state. Although abundant, cicadas are far more often heard than seen. Males make a variety of sounds to attract females. Most commonly heard are loud, often shrill, buzzing, sometimes with several individual Insects synchronizing their songs.