Are there any bug/ insect experts on this site, specifically cicadas.

Status
Not open for further replies.

Matt_01

Established Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2016
Posts
4,899
A completely OT question and in no way related to travel or flying, prior to 2020 over the past 10 years I spent little time at home and have not really noticed this in the past. Also as background as a kid in NSW I used to pick cicada shells from the trees, now some 40 years later I now live in SA. Recently it seems every evening the cicadas start chirping in my front yard, I quite like the noise they make and find it relaxing, however each night at roughly the same time they just stop as if the orchestra conductor has waved the batton and there is silence. The trees we have in the front yard are established x1 coughe myrtle, x3 ornamental plums, x1 native frangipani, and a couple of pine type plants.
 
A completely OT question and in no way related to travel or flying, prior to 2020 over the past 10 years I spent little time at home and have not really noticed this in the past. Also as background as a kid in NSW I used to pick cicada shells from the trees, now some 40 years later I now live in SA. Recently it seems every evening the cicadas start chirping in my front yard, I quite like the noise they makerovided th and find it relaxing, however each night at roughly the same time they just stop as if the orchestra conductor has waved the batton and there is silence. The trees we have in the front yard are established x1 coughe myrtle, x3 ornamental plums, x1 native frangipani, and a couple of pine type plants.
I missed the question. Is it to do with why they all go quiet at the same time?

I know little about cicadas, however googling provided this, although not sure of its accuracy:

“... these bugs usually cease their racket by sundown. The cicada's group chorus also repels birds that hunt by day, so when these insects stop singing, there's a good chance the birds have gone to bed”
 
Last edited:
This is good information: Cicada - Superfamily Cicadoidea

The noise is the males singing to attract mates, which they do at sunset.

I would like to think that the reason it stops is that each fella has found what he was looking for is busy doing the next step - and they can't do two things at once.. 😜

They have a very long lifecycle underground as non-adults and can emerge sporadically after many years; hence often only being noticeable every few years.
 
I missed the question. Is it to do with why they all go quiet at the same time?
That was part of the question, they have been chirping recently starting in evening and then when it is also most dark they just all stop at once as if on queue. I am not sure if this happens every year or if it is something that I have noticed since I am at home more. I have not paid that much attention however they seem to start when watering the front lawn and for the next couple of days while there is some moisture in the ground.
 
That was part of the question, they have been chirping recently starting in evening and then when it is also most dark they just all stop at once as if on queue. I am not sure if this happens every year or if it is something that I have noticed since I am at home more. I have not paid that much attention however they seem to start when watering the front lawn and for the next couple of days while there is some moisture in the ground.

Not an expert but they also start what feels like randomly during the day. Based on absolutely no evidence I believe it may be temperature related.
 
Based on absolutely no evidence I believe it may be temperature related.
Thanks to all for the feedback and @JohnM and @RB I did read the links you provided. It has been warm in ADL over the past couple days and this evening I was outside and the chipping started from under the pines. It was almost like a few were starting to call the others to join in and then they got in tune.
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

@JohnM thanks for bumping, it is currently 7:53pm in ADL at the time of writing it has been hot here for a few days and I have been watering on Wed and Thur evening. It has cooled down to day and the windows are open so I noticed about 5 minutes before stating this post (it is still light outside) the little buggers starting to fire up - 1 then a few and now the whole choir is singing to the the same chorus. I suspect that when the sun finally goes to bed they will go silent on mass. Do they actually emerge from the ground at any point or what is required for this to happen. From memory a few years back I found heaps of shells on Myrtle but nothing in a while.
 
It has just ticked over 8:28 pm and as if on queue silence.

Edit: with the windows open open I can still hear chirps however the pitch is lower.
 
Last edited:
@JohnM thanks for bumping, it is currently 7:53pm in ADL at the time of writing it has been hot here for a few days and I have been watering on Wed and Thur evening. It has cooled down to day and the windows are open so I noticed about 5 minutes before stating this post (it is still light outside) the little buggers starting to fire up - 1 then a few and now the whole choir is singing to the the same chorus. I suspect that when the sun finally goes to bed they will go silent on mass. Do they actually emerge from the ground at any point or what is required for this to happen. From memory a few years back I found heaps of shells on Myrtle but nothing in a while.

I suspect that it is crickets or katydids that you are hearing. They do not emerge en masse from underground or leave their moulted exosekeleton stuck to stems like cicadas.

Cicadas tend to 'sing' in the heat of the day and can often be found fairly easily on stems of plants, while crickets and katydids 'chirp' with much more intensity at night and can be difficult to locate. Sometimes they can be confused with frogs - in terms of the deeper sound frequency and individuals' intensity.

All that said, if you have seen cicada 'shells', I think that it's evident that both occur in your locality.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Enhance your AFF viewing experience!!

From just $6 we'll remove all advertisements so that you can enjoy a cleaner and uninterupted viewing experience.

And you'll be supporting us so that we can continue to provide this valuable resource :)


Sample AFF with no advertisements? More..

Recent Posts

Back
Top