Texas Future Farmers Of America (FFA) Entomology Career Development Events (CDE) Practice Exam

Cicadas utilize a feeding strategy known as piercing-sucking. This method involves the use of specialized mouthparts, called stylets, which they pierce into plant tissues to access and extract fluid, primarily the xylem sap from trees and shrubs. Cicadas have a long proboscis that is adapted for this purpose, allowing them to draw nutrients from their plant hosts efficiently. This feeding strategy is essential for cicadas as it provides the necessary carbohydrates and nutrients needed for their growth and reproductive processes. Unlike chewing mouthparts, which are used for grinding and breaking down solid food, the piercing-sucking mechanism allows cicadas to feed on liquid nourishment without damaging the plant severely, although extensive feeding can cause stress to the plant. Understanding this feeding strategy is crucial for recognizing the ecological role cicadas play in their environments, as well as their impact on the plants they feed on.