Desert Cicada (Diceroprocta apache) (Family Cicadidae) are the bugs that make huge buzzing noises in the trees during summer in the desert southwest -- fortunately, only the males buzz. Cicadas are recognized by their large size, the large eyes that protrude from opposite sides of the head, and the transparent wings with distinct veins. Desert Cicadas are dark overall with a yellow band across the back.

Cicadas reproduce by laying eggs in the stems of plants. The larvae hatch and drop to the ground where they burrow into the soil and live underground for years (some species stay under for 17 years). Eventually, they come up out of the ground, shed their exoskeleton, and emerge as adults. The males then buzz, mate, and die; females mate, lay eggs, and die.

Desert Cicadas are harmless to humans, except that if you let one sit on you long enough, it might get hungry and try to feed on you. If so, the long mouthpart would hurt when jabbed into your skin.

Adult cicadas feed on plant juices, using their long, tubular mouth-part to pierce plant stems. Immature cicadas live underground and feed on roots and other underground plant parts.

In North American, there are more than 160 species of cicada.

For more information, see Wikipedia and BugGuide.net.