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ANIMAL SPECIES:Greengrocer

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The Greengrocer cicada is probably the most commonly encountered in the Sydney area.

Alternative Name/s

Yellow Monday; Chocolate Soldier; Blue Moon

Identification

The two common names of Greengrocer and Yellow Monday refer to different colour forms of the same species. The origin of the names is unclear but they are known to have been in use as early as 1896. Other names for different colour forms include Chocolate Soldier (dark tan form) and Blue Moon (turquoise form).

Size range

11 cm - 13 cm

Distribution

The Greengrocer is found from southern Queensland to Victoria and South Australia.

Habitat

Greengrocers live in urban areas, forests and woodlands.

Behaviour and adaptations

Feeding and Diet

Greengrocers are common on a range of trees, the adults spend much of the daytime sucking sap from branches.

Communication

Dusk is the usual time to hear the male Greengrocers calling for females, but they also sing in the morning on warm days. The harsh song may be continuous or delivered in short bursts, and can be extremely loud and penetrating.

Life cycle

Adult Greengrocer cicadas live for around six weeks. Females deposit eggs into dead or dying branches of a food plant. The eggs hatch after about four months into spidery-looking, long-legged nymphs that burrow into the soil. Here they suck sap out of plant roots and grow for up to seven years, emerging as adults between September and November on warm nights often following rain.

Classification

Species:
australasiae
Genus:
Cyclochila
Subfamily:
Cicadinae
Family:
Cicadidae
Superfamily:
Cicadoidea
Infraorder:
Cicadomorpha
Suborder:
Auchenorryncha
Order:
Hemiptera
Class:
Insecta
Subphylum:
Uniramia
Phylum:
Arthopoda
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?


Last Updated: 20 May 2009

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Yellow Monday Cicada

Yellow Monday Cicada View full size
David Gray © Australian Museum

Yellow Monday Cicada on branch

Yellow Monday Cicada on branch View full size
David Gray © Australian Museum

Yellow monday cicada emerging

Yellow monday cicada emerging View full size
David Gray © Australian Museum

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