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Traditional Origami Cicada

Make a flat paper cicada with two pointed wings and two overlapping head flaps. Fold the wings as complete packets, then lower the two head layers separately and fold the sides behind.

Preparation + 9 numbered steps

Materials

6-inch square · 6 × 6 inches

One 6 × 6-inch square (15.24 × 15.24 cm), preferably thin origami paper. Use a ruler and pencil for the illustrated finishing marks. No cuts or glue.

Start the interactive guide ↓
Read all illustrated steps ↓Download PDF ↓ · one-page illustrated guide
Flat paper cicada with two separated pointed wings and two staggered triangular head flaps
Finished flat cicada · two wings and staggered head flaps

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Preparation

The interactive guide needs JavaScript. Read every illustrated step below.

Camera only; does not change the fold.
Help · controls & diagram

Play or drag the progress slider to watch a fold from 0% to 100%. Use the view buttons or drag the diagram to look from another angle.

Blue and gold track the original left and right halves of one sheet. Darker tones show the reverse. Orange marks moving paper and hinges.

With the diagram focused: Space plays or pauses, ←/→ change steps, and Home resets.

Every step, at a glance

Compare your paper with each diagram after completing the action. Blue and gold track the original left and right halves of one sheet. Darker tones show the reverse. Orange marks moving paper and hinges.

  1. 0. Prepare the square
  2. 1. Make the triangle
  3. 2. Raise the right corner
  4. 3. Raise the left corner
  5. 4. Lower the right wing
  6. 5. Lower the left wing
  7. 6. Lower only the first head layer
  8. 7. Lower the remaining head layer
  9. 8. Fold the right side behind
  10. 9. Fold the left side behind
  1. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: gold6-inch square · color face down

    PREPARATION · Traditional no-brim cicada

    Prepare the square

    Place the square as a diamond, with the intended outside color facing down and one corner toward you.

    Layers: One uncut sheet lies flat.

    Check: The side corners are level and all four edges have equal length.

    Explore this step ↑
  2. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldBottom corner to top

    STEP 1 · Traditional no-brim cicada

    Make the triangle

    Bring the bottom corner onto the top corner. Match both sloping edges and press the horizontal fold.

    Layers: Lift the entire lower half.

    Check: Two free corners meet at the top; the folded base lies below.

    Explore this step ↑
  3. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldRight corner packet to top

    STEP 2 · Traditional no-brim cicada

    Raise the right corner

    Bring the right base corner up to the top point. Align its lower edge with the vertical center of the triangle and press.

    Layers: Lift both layers of the right corner packet together.

    Check: The right corner reaches the apex; the left half stays flat.

    Explore this step ↑
  4. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldLeft corner packet to top

    STEP 3 · Traditional no-brim cicada

    Raise the left corner

    Bring the left base corner up to the same top point, mirroring the last fold.

    Layers: Lift both layers of the left corner packet.

    Check: The new diamond has two corner packets meeting along its center. Its lower central point will be the reference for the next ruler marks.

    Explore this step ↑
  5. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldRight wing · both attached layersCenter mark: 1.70 in above lower body pointCrease to the existing right side corner

    STEP 4 · Traditional no-brim cicada

    Lower the right wing

    Keep the diamond upright. On its center seam, mark 1.70 inches (4.31 cm) above the lower central body point. Crease from this mark to the existing right side corner. Fold the raised right packet toward you and downward across this line.

    Layers: Move both attached layers of the right corner packet. Leave the central backing and left packet still.

    Check: The right wing tip projects below and to the right of the lower body point. The original apex layers remain upright.

    Explore this step ↑
  6. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldLeft wing · both attached layersUse the same center markCrease to the existing left side corner

    STEP 5 · Traditional no-brim cicada

    Lower the left wing

    Use the same center mark and crease to the existing left side corner. Fold the left raised packet down across this line.

    Layers: Move both attached layers of the left corner packet; keep the right wing and central backing flat.

    Check: Two separated wing tips extend below the body. Two central apex layers still point upward.

    Explore this step ↑
  7. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFirst head flap · front layer onlyHorizontal hinge: 2.55 in above body pointLeave the other apex layer upright

    STEP 6 · Traditional no-brim cicada

    Lower only the first head layer

    Measure straight up from the lower central body point and mark 2.55 inches (6.47 cm). Make a horizontal crease at this height in only the front free apex layer; fold its tip toward you and down.

    Layers: Take only the front central layer, originally the bottom corner of the square. Leave the other apex layer upright and both wings still.

    Check: One triangular flap lies over the wings, with its tip above the lower body point. A separate apex remains standing behind it.

    Explore this step ↑
  8. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldSecond head flap · remaining layer onlyHorizontal hinge: 2.97 in above body pointLeave the first flap flat

    STEP 7 · Traditional no-brim cicada

    Lower the remaining head layer

    Mark a second horizontal hinge 2.97 inches (7.54 cm) above the same lower body point. Fold the remaining upright apex layer toward you and down along it.

    Layers: Move only the remaining central layer, originally the top corner. Keep the first head flap and both wings flat.

    Check: The second hinge is higher. Its tip stops above the first flap tip, leaving two staggered chevrons visible.

    Explore this step ↑
  9. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldWhole right side goes behindTop mark: 0.76 in right of centerBottom mark: 1.65 in right of body point

    STEP 8 · Traditional no-brim cicada

    Fold the right side behind

    On the top horizontal edge, mark 0.76 inch (1.94 cm) right of its midpoint. Make a second mark 1.65 inches (4.20 cm) directly right of the lower central body point, at the same height as that point. Join the marks. Fold everything to the right of that line away from you, underneath the body.

    Layers: Carry every layer crossing the side hinge, including the small head and wing portions. Do not fold just the visible face.

    Check: The right side narrows, while both head-flap tips stay visible. The body stays closed and flat.

    Explore this step ↑
  10. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldWhole left side goes behind · completeMirror the two marks on the leftCrease the whole side away from you

    STEP 9 · Traditional no-brim cicada

    Fold the left side behind

    Mirror the last marks on the left: 0.76 inch (1.94 cm) left of the top-edge midpoint and 1.65 inches (4.20 cm) left of the lower body point at its height. Fold the whole outer side behind along the joining line and press flat.

    Layers: Carry all layers of the left outer side underneath. Keep the central body and completed right side still.

    Check: Your flat cicada is complete: two long separated wings, a narrow head and two staggered head flaps. You may draw eyes on the head if you wish.

    Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes

Traditional design; reference tutorial by Origami-Instructions.com, Origami Cicada Instructions (undated tutorial).

Origami Cicada Instructions — construction reference ↗ · Source terms of use ↗

The reference identifies the design as traditional. This is design attribution, not permission to copy its tutorial. Source photographs and text remain protected. All English instructions, mathematical construction, code, diagrams and PDF here are independently authored; no source media or prose is copied. No project-wide license is asserted.

Adaptation: Uses the traditional no-brim variant: two complete wing packets, two sequential single-layer head folds and all-layer side folds behind. No extra brim or tucked slot. The exact 6-inch square and finishing fractions are authored choices, not measurements recovered from photographs. Let D = 3√2 inches, measured upward from the lower central body point. Wing hinges meet the center at 0.4D and the existing side corners at (±0.5D,0.5D). Head hinges are at 0.6D and 0.7D. Side hinges connect (±0.18D,0.7D) to (±0.39D,0). Rounded ruler distances are given in the steps. The flat folded body is complete without eyes; optional pen decoration is not a paper fold.

Original instructions and diagrams, made with AI assistance. About & reuse

Accuracy notes

Real-paper follow-along and paper weight have not been tested. Diagrams illustrate the sequence, not paper thickness, contact, collisions or exact layer visibility. One 36-square-inch sheet; both attached wing layers move together, while the two original apex layers fold separately. Zero-thickness teaching geometry; paper thickness and contact are not simulated. Real-paper folding has not been tested.