Why Are Cicadas So loud?

Male cicadas primarily make sound to attract females during the summer mating season. Males emit a distinctive song that can be heard over a mile away, allowing them to effectively compete for the attention of females. Each species has a distinctive song, making it easier for different species of cicada to coexist in the same habitat. Female cicadas do not make this same characteristic sound.

The noise of cicadas not only serves the function of attracting females in summer, but also serves as a defense strategy. The loud noise helps repel predatory birds, hindering their ability to hunt.

The song of the cicada has certain interesting variations. When a female approaches, the male adjusts his song to a softer, more seductive one. This change not only guides the female towards him, but also highlights the adaptability of these insects in their interactions. Some species even emit warning sounds in situations of danger, showing a complexity in their communication beyond simple mate attraction.

The diversity of sounds among the different species of cicadas is comparable to a rich musical repertoire. Each one plays its own melody in concert. This creates a very recognizable summer song which is very evocative when you hear it.

The song of cicadas becomes a vital element of their life cycle. Not only does it facilitate reproduction, but it also ensures their survival against predators. In this sense, their song is a beacon that guides both females and males in the complex game of life.

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Male cicadas have a structure known as a tymbal, part of the exoskeleton of these insects. It is a corrugated membrane which is located on the membrane of male cicadas. Some insects make similar sounds by rubbing parts of their body together to create noise via friction, such as the related grasshopper. This is a process known as stridulation.

The main way cicadas create this song is not by stridulation. Their noise is mainly created by vibrating a pair of tymbals so fast thanks to the contracting and subsequent release of muscles which, in turn, vibrates the membrane and creates the noise. Some cicadas also have the ability to produce stridulation. Some females can do so, but no females have tymbals.

The sound emitted by the tymbals of male cicadas is among the loudest of any record insect species. The abdomen of the male has large hollow chambers within it which acts as a resonator. When the tymbals vibrate at such high speeds, the sound turns into a continuous song which is further amplified by resonance chambers in the tracheae. These are similar to the lungs of vertebrates and are used for respiration.

Cicadas do not always sing loudly. They can modify the volume of their song by moving their abdomen and adjusting the membrane. Since many cicadas can be present at the same time, the collective noise can be incredibly louds during summer.

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Cicadas begin singing when the air temperature reaches approximately 75°F (24.8°C). It has been documented that making this sound usually beings in June and may extend into August or September. This will depend on weather conditions such as storms and a drops in temperature at the end of summer.

There has been an earlier onset of their song observed in recent years, with records indicating that some cicadas have begun to sing as early as late May. This change is significant, as it represents an 18-day advance on the historical average. Researchers suggest that this phenomenon may be related to rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall during spring. The behavior of cicadas is influenced by weather conditions, affecting not only their song, but also their life cycle.

Cicadas prefer to sing in sunny and warm conditions, although extreme temperatures can inhibit their activity. Not only is this song essential for attracting females, it can also deter predators. Cicadas are often loudest when they emerge in large numbers. In this way, cicada song becomes a vital manifestation of their adaptation and survival in a changing environment.

The cicada's song resembles a continuous hum. As explained the sound originates in the tymbals on the abdomen of the insect. The vibration frequency of cicada tymbals can reach between 120 and 480 beats per second, allowing the sound to be heard continuously, creating an atmosphere of typical of hot summer days in areas where cicadas are known to live.

Each species of cicada has a distinctive call, allowing males to attract females of their own species. Although the sound may seem monotonous to the human ear, it is actually quite varied. Males not only sing to mate, but also use their song to gather other males or scare away predators.

Although female cicadas do not produce noise through tymbals, they have specialized hearing organs which act as eardrums to detect these calls. Their eardrums are larger than those of males, helping them to better hear the song in an environment which can be full of other noises.

Now that you know why cicadas sing so loud, you may want to know more about the biodiversity of insects with our article explaining the different types of wasps from Spain.

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