The Giant Cicada (Cryptotympana atrata) is one of the largest cicada species found throughout East Asia, including South Korea, China, Japan, and Taiwan. It is well known for its large body, glossy black coloration, and powerful, resonant song that fills forests and parks during the summer. Belonging to the family Cicadidae, the Giant Cicada is one of the most recognizable insects of the season and serves as a natural symbol of summer.

In this article, we’ll explore the Giant Cicada’s characteristics, habitat, behavior, diet, reproduction, and ecological importance.

---

What Is the Giant Cicada?

The Giant Cicada belongs to the order Hemiptera and the family Cicadidae.

It is widely distributed across South Korea, China, Japan, and Taiwan, where it inhabits forests, parks, gardens, and tree-lined urban streets. The species thrives in areas with abundant mature trees.

Adult Giant Cicadas typically measure:

• Body Length: Approximately 45–65 mm (1.8–2.6 inches)
• Wingspan: Approximately 90–120 mm (3.5–4.7 inches)
• Weight: Approximately 2–4 g (0.07–0.14 ounces)

Adults usually live for only 2–4 weeks, while the underground nymphs spend approximately 4–6 years developing before emerging as winged adults.

---

Characteristics of the Giant Cicada

1. Large Size and Powerful Song

The Giant Cicada is one of the largest cicada species found in Korea.

Male cicadas produce their loud, deep calls by rapidly vibrating specialized sound-producing organs called tymbals located on the abdomen. These calls are used to attract females and establish breeding territories.

---

2. Glossy Black Body and Transparent Wings

The Giant Cicada has a shiny black body and two pairs of broad, transparent wings.

Its wings feature intricate vein patterns, and strong flight muscles allow it to fly efficiently between trees.

---

3. Long Underground Nymph Stage

The majority of the Giant Cicada’s life is spent underground.

The nymphs feed on sap from tree roots for several years before emerging during the summer. After climbing onto a tree trunk or another vertical surface, they molt one final time and transform into winged adults.

---

Behavior

The Giant Cicada is a diurnal insect that is most active during warm daylight hours.

Its typical behaviors include:

• Living primarily in trees
• Only males producing loud mating calls
• Being highly active during the daytime
• Laying eggs in tree branches after mating
• Molting into adults after emerging from the soil
• Appearing mainly during the summer season

Females use their ovipositors to cut narrow slits into tree branches where they deposit their eggs. After hatching, the tiny nymphs fall to the ground and burrow into the soil to begin their long underground development.

---

Diet and Habitat

The Giant Cicada is a herbivorous insect that feeds exclusively on plant sap.

Its primary food sources include:

• Tree sap
• Oak tree sap
• Willow tree sap
• Maple tree sap
• Zelkova tree sap

The nymphs feed on sap from tree roots, while adults obtain nutrients by piercing tree trunks and branches to drink sap.

Preferred habitats include:

• Deciduous forests
• Mixed forests
• Parks
• Tree-lined urban streets
• Gardens
• Mountain forests

The species prefers areas with large, mature trees that provide both food and suitable breeding sites.

---

Ecological Importance

The Giant Cicada plays an important role in forest ecosystems.

Underground nymphs improve soil aeration and drainage as they tunnel through the earth. Both nymphs and adults serve as valuable food sources for birds, spiders, praying mantises, mammals, and many other predators, supporting healthy food webs.

Mass emergences of Giant Cicadas also provide abundant seasonal food resources for numerous wildlife species, contributing significantly to ecosystem energy flow.

---

Relationship with Humans

The Giant Cicada is completely harmless to humans.

It does not bite, sting, or transmit diseases and is widely recognized as one of the iconic sounds of summer throughout East Asia.

Although its loud calls may occasionally be considered noisy in urban areas, they are generally regarded as a natural sign of healthy green spaces and thriving ecosystems.

---

The Giant Cicada is one of East Asia’s most iconic summer insects, admired for its impressive size, powerful song, and extraordinary life cycle. Spending years underground before emerging for only a few weeks as an adult, it demonstrates one of the most remarkable transformations among insects.

With continued conservation of forests, parks, and urban green spaces, the Giant Cicada will continue to announce the arrival of summer with its unmistakable chorus while playing an essential role in maintaining healthy forest ecosystems for generations to come.