In a recent breakthrough, taxonomical studies have unearthed a notable discovery concerning the cicada species, widely observed in South India. Previously misconstrued as the Malaysian species Purana tigrina, this specific cicada has now been identified as an individual species christened Purana cheeveeda. The investigation also underscores the prospective implications of the cicada’s distribution for ecological appraisals.
Key Discoveries from the Research
The research has uncovered that the distribution of P. cheeveeda stretches across the tropical evergreen forests spanning from Goa to Kanyakumari in South India. This novel finding corroborates a high amount of endemism amidst cicadas. The dwindling presence of cicadas in households can hint at the degradation of soil quality and plant life.
Facts About Cicadas
Cicadas are insects, classified under the order Hemiptera and the superfamily Cicadoidea. Often referred to as true bugs, Hemipteran insects possess mouthparts capable of piercing and sucking and exhibit two pairs of wings. They are recognized by their large eyes, transparent wings, and distinctive loud calls, generated by unique organs known as tymbals.
Dietary Patterns and Life Cycle
Mostly herbivorous, cicadas depend on plant sap for sustenance, utilizing their piercing and sucking mouthparts. They lead intricate life cycles encompassing extended durations of subterranean development and succinct instances of adult emergence.
Habitat Distribution
The majority of cicadas inhabit the forest canopy and are frequently found in natural woods teeming with large trees. Cicadas are present across all continents, barring Antarctica. In terms of generic diversity, India and Bangladesh lead the worldwide ranks, with China securing the second spot.
Importance of Cicadas
Cicadas play a pivotal role in maintaining biodiversity, offering food to numerous predators, aiding in flower pollination, aerating the soil, recycling nutrients, and signifying environmental health.
Primordial Threats
Human activities geared towards development are steadily diminishing the count of trees cicadas rely on for feeding and breeding. The menace of climate change also poses the threat of disruption in the timing and synchronization of cicada emergence. Chemical substances like pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides are major contaminants, polluting the soil and water bodies, thereby adversely impacting the health and survival of cicadas and their plant hosts.
