UPSC Prelims 2024 Q21: Cicada, Froghopper and Pond Skater — Explained
The organisms "Cicada, Froghopper and Pond skater" are:
- Birds
- Fish
- Insects
- Reptiles
Answer: (c) Insects
Statement-wise explanation
- a: incorrect — Birds are vertebrates with feathers, a beak and two legs. A cicada, a froghopper and a pond skater have none of these. All three are small jointed-leg animals with six legs, three body parts and an outer skeleton.
- b: incorrect — Fish are vertebrates that live in water and breathe through gills. The pond skater lives on water, but it stands on the surface film. It does not swim below it. Cicadas and froghoppers live on land, on trees and plants.
- c: correct — All three are true bugs of the insect order Hemiptera. Cicadas belong to the family Cicadidae, which has more than 3,000 species. Froghoppers belong to the family Cercopidae, and their young are called spittlebugs. Pond skaters, also called water striders, belong to the family Gerridae. All three have six legs and feed through sucking mouthparts shaped like a beak.
- d: incorrect — Reptiles are scaly vertebrates such as lizards, snakes, turtles and crocodiles. None of the three organisms has a backbone or scales. Each has the six legs and outer skeleton of an insect.
How to eliminate
You can solve this without knowing all three names. You only need to place one of them. A cicada is the loud 'singing' insect of tree canopies, and that alone rules out birds, fish and reptiles. The word 'hopper' in 'froghopper' is a clue, as in grasshopper and leafhopper. 'Skater' describes something that glides on the water surface, which no fish or reptile does. Also notice that UPSC grouped three organisms under one class. If you recognise one name with confidence, you have the answer. Fact to remember: cicada, froghopper (spittlebug) and pond skater (water strider) are all insects of the order Hemiptera.
Know more
Hemiptera: the 'true bugs'
Hemiptera is one of the largest insect orders, with about 98,000 known species. Every member has piercing-sucking mouthparts shaped into a beak. Plant feeders use it to suck sap, and predators use it to suck body fluids from prey. Hemipterans also undergo incomplete metamorphosis: the young (nymphs) look like small adults, and there is no pupa stage.
| Organism | Family | Habitat | Feature UPSC likes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cicada | Cicadidae | Trees; nymphs live underground | Males 'sing' by vibrating drum-like membranes called tymbals near the base of the abdomen. North American periodical cicadas emerge every 13 or 17 years. |
| Froghopper | Cercopidae | Plants | Nymphs ('spittlebugs') cover themselves in a froth that protects them from predators and drying out. Adults are strong jumpers. |
| Pond skater (water strider) | Gerridae | Surface of ponds and streams | Water-repellent hairs and surface tension keep it afloat. The middle legs row, and the hind legs steer and brake. |
Related bugs that show up in exams: aphids, leafhoppers, plant hoppers, bed bugs, water scorpions and backswimmers.
Names that mislead: many common names hide what an animal really is. A starfish, a jellyfish and a silverfish are not fish. A flying fox is a bat. A horned toad is a lizard. A glow-worm is a beetle. When UPSC lists common names, first identify what each one actually is.
Why insects matter: they pollinate crops, recycle nutrients and serve as food for birds and fish. Many hemipterans, such as aphids and leafhoppers, are also major crop pests. That links this topic to Integrated Pest Management.
In the news
In April–June 2024, just before the Prelims, periodical cicadas were in world news. Brood XIII (17-year cycle) and Brood XIX (13-year cycle) emerged together in the United States for the first time since 1803. The question itself is mostly static.