Is this a cicada?

[MamatoElvis]

What kind of bug is this? I've seen them on my screens the past few days. Is this a cicada? I want to breed them if it is.

 

[MamatoElvis]

I guess I don't know how to attach a picture

 

[reptileguy112]

Yes, if its wild then dont feed the parents, only the babies or else it might have something bad in it

 

[MamatoElvis]

Yes, I live in Florida so lots of mass spraying. But i thought I'd give breeding them a shot. Thank you for identifying it.

 

[ridgebax1]

I am not sure you can breed cicadas. It would depend on what kind it is I think. There are different life cycles I think. Some comeback every year and others not for as long as 17 years. Not entirely sure how it works with those bugs.

 

[JoCarp]

I am not sure you can breed cicadas. It would depend on what kind it is I think. There are different life cycles I think. Some comeback every year and others not for as long as 17 years. Not entirely sure how it works with those bugs.

I'm with you on this, I don't believe that is the kind that is every 17 years. I think those are more orange (or at least they were in Kansas), but this was the year that they came for what it's worth.

Regular ones spend the year under ground after hatching (without wings, look like a beetle of sorts) and then come up, climb trees and then molt their exoskeleton to reveal wings so they can fly around plus a few other changes. I'm far from an expert, but grew up in the country and I don't know how you would breed them in light of this. I could be wrong and would be interested if it is possible since they are everywhere here!

Make it a great day,
JBC

 

[JoeVet]

Regular cicadas can remain larvae for 2-5 years and feed on tree root sap. This not an insect you can propagate in the basement. You can find newly hatched ones on tree trucks in late evenings. If your chameleon is large enough they can be fed to them.

 

[MamatoElvis]

Bummer! I thought they would be like grasshoppers or crickets. I'll have to wait to try them next year. My guy is only 6 months.

 

[reptileguy112]

Yea, I lived in iowa for awhile and most of them sleep for 17 years at a time, weird right?

 

[ridgebax1]

There are 3 or 4 different kinds I think all with different cycles. Some come back every year, some after several years and some for the 17yr cycle. If you google it there are different schedules in each state as to when certain species will emerge from the ground. Even if you wait a year for your cham to get bigger I think it would be hard pressed to eat a fully grown cicada. They get pretty big and I think they have a relatively hard exoskeleton. I personally would not risk feeding such a large bug to my cham.