Data from: Cicada nymph predation by ants

Temperate cicadas are characterized by their extremely long underground nymphal stages, which last 5-20 years or more. Due to the prolonged underground juvenile stage, little is known about their juvenile survival and predation risk. Here, we report the extensive aboveground predation of eggs and 1st instar nymphs of the common Japanese brown cicada Graptopsaltria nigrofuscata by colonial ants in a city park. The greater than 95% mortality during the egg and 2nd instar nymph stages in periodical cicadas may be due to the aboveground predation by colonial ants. The observed predation by colonial ants may be a major source of mortality in this cicada species and other temperate cicadas. The typical life cycle of this Japanese cicada and temperate cicadas in general is proposed based on the current and previous studies.