Cicadas are a family of insects that belong to the Hemiptera order. You may know them from their clicking and buzzing sounds. But do you know what they eat?
Cicadas are herbivorous insects. They feed mainly on plant matter. They commonly feed on juices from tree roots, leaves, branches, and other juicy plant parts.
When cicadas are underground, they mainly feed on the sap from plant roots. Their straw-like mouthpiece enables them to suck the juices from the roots.
Adult cicadas do not eat a lot. Some of their preferred tree species are oaks, willows, and maples.
The easiest way to feed cicadas in captivity is to provide a host plant for them. In choosing the host plant, ensure your choice is one that can survive indoors.