A finished Cicada in 3D, drawn by the folding engine

How to fold a Cicada

Difficulty
Medium
Steps
11 steps
Paper
One square sheet

Fold a triangle, bring its side corners to the top, fold the wings down and make a white stripe on the head, then fold the top edge down and the side corners behind to make a cicada.

Steps to fold a Cicada (11 steps)

  1. How to fold a Cicada: diagram for step 1

    Step 1Start with the white side up and turn the paper so a corner points toward you.

  2. How to fold a Cicada: diagram for step 2

    Step 2Fold the bottom corner up to the top corner to make a triangle.

  3. How to fold a Cicada: diagram for step 3

    Step 3Fold the right corner up to the top corner.

  4. How to fold a Cicada: diagram for step 4

    Step 4Fold the left corner up to the top corner too.

  5. How to fold a Cicada: diagram for step 5

    Step 5Fold the corner of the top flap on the right down along the line. It becomes a wing.

  6. How to fold a Cicada: diagram for step 6

    Step 6Fold the left one down the same way.

  7. How to fold a Cicada: diagram for step 7

    Step 7Fold down the top corner of just one layer along the horizontal line.

  8. How to fold a Cicada: diagram for step 8

    Step 8Fold down the top corner of the other layer, leaving a small gap. This makes a stripe of color change.

  9. How to fold a Cicada: diagram for step 9

    Step 9Fold the top edge down by about 1 cm.

  10. How to fold a Cicada: diagram for step 10

    Step 10Fold the right corner behind.

  11. How to fold a Cicada: diagram for step 11

    Step 11Fold the left corner behind too. The cicada is finished.

  12. Diagram of the finished Cicada

    Finished