The 5 Largest Cicadas in the World

You may be familiar with the noisy “song” of the cicada. These large insects make a buzzing-chirping sound to attract females during mating season. However, did you know there are more than 3,000 different species of cicada? Most cicadas we see in the U.S. only measure 1 to 1.5 inches with wingspans of around 3 inches. However, some species can grow much larger. Keep reading to discover some of the largest cicadas in the world.

5. Black Giant Cicada (Cryptotympana facialis)

Black giant cicadas can be found across the main islands of Japan, as well as Tsushima Island, the Ryukyu Islands, and the Izu Islands. They primarily inhabit subtropical lowland regions, including coastal regions. These cicadas are also increasingly present in urban areas, such as Osaka and Kyoto City.

Black giant cicadas are also called “bear cicadas” because of their size. They can reach about 2.5-2.75 inches long, with an estimated wingspan of around 5.5 inches. These cicadas have glossy black bodies and transparent wings with green to tan-colored veins. They have short antennae and large, dark, widely-set compound eyes. Black giants typically emerge beginning in late spring or early summer.

4. Double Drummer Cicada (Thopha saccata)

Double drummers are the largest, and possibly the loudest, cicadas in Australia. The song is a high-pitched whine, which some have likened to bagpipes. These cicadas can be found in eastern Australian, specifically New South Wales and Queensland. They prefer tall trees in dry sclerophyll forests, which are characterized by evergreen trees with hard, waxy leaves, including different types of eucalypts.

Double drummers’ bodies grow up to 2 inches long and their wingspans can measure up to around 6 inches. These cicadas are shades of brown with black markings. They have relatively broad heads compared to other cicada species and brown eyes on the sides of their heads. Their wings are transparent with brownish-colored veining. Double drummers are active from November through early March.

3. Giant Cicada (Quesada gigas)

Giant cicadas are found mostly in Central and South America, but the northern range reaches as far north as Mexico and Texas. The southern range reaches all the way down to Argentina. The giant cicada has one of the largest ranges of any cicada. Their songs, which are said to sound like whistles, are consistent throughout their entire range.

Their bodies measure up to 2.25 inches long, and a wingspan of up to 7 inches has been documented. The giant cicada is a mix of brown, green, and black, with clear wings and black veins. They have two large, reddish-brown eyes on the sides of their heads. While these cicadas usually live in wooded areas and forests, they may also inhabit rural, suburban, and urban areas. They typically emerge as early as April in Texas, but they may emerge at different times in other parts of their range.

2. Emperor Cicada (Tacua speciosa)

The emperor cicada (Tacua speciosa) can be found in Indonesia and Malaysia, including the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. They prefer wooded and forested areas, specifically those with hardwood trees. Emperor cicadas can measure up to 2.2 inches long with wingspans of up to 7.1 inches.

They have robust, black bodies with a yellowish-green collar around their necks, a red horizontal stripe on their backs, and a blue-green abdomen. While some cicadas’ wings are clear or colorless except for the veins, the emperor cicada has dark grayish-brown wings with reddish-brown veins and light-colored wing margins. They are most commonly observed between March and April.

1. Empress Cicada (Megapomponia imperatoria)

The largest cicada in the world is the empress cicada (Megapomponia imperatoria). These impressive insects have a body that can measure up to 2.8 inches long, plus a wingspan of 7-8 inches. Empress cicadas are found in Southeast Asia, specifically Malaysia and Thailand. These cicadas prefer lowland rainforests with dense vegetation.

They have stout, slightly flattened brown bodies and transparent, heavily veined wings marked with brown dashes and dots. They have short antennae and prominent, compound eyes on the sides of their heads. Empress cicadas also have long front legs covered in spines that help them grip leaves and tree bark. Some Malaysians refer to these giant, noisy insects as the “six o’clock cicada” due to their chorus of loud chirping that begins at sunset. These cicadas are most active between March and May.