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Cicada


n.

Any species of the genus Cicada or of the family Cicadidae . They are large hemipterous insects, with nearly transparent wings. The male makes a shrill sound by peculiar organs in the under side of the abdomen, consisting of a pair of stretched membranes, acted upon by powerful muscles. A noted American species ( Cicada septendecim ) is called the seventeen year locust . Another common species is the dogday cicada .


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