Have you noticed the sound of #cicadas in spring and summer? 🤔It is probably from the #Spotted_Black_Cicada (𝘎𝘢𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢 (Drury, 1773)) shown in the photos.
As suggested by its common name, this cicada has yellow spots on its dark-colored body and wings. Adults are mainly seen from March to May. It is one of the earliest cicadas in Hong Kong to start calling and mating in the year. And only males would call.
Actually male cicadas don't really "call"😶. They produce the call in a way similar to speakers. Inside the abdomen, there is a pair of tymbal muscles connecting to lateral tymbals. When the tymbal muscles contract rapidly, tymbals are pulled and vibrate continuously. Then the hollow abdomen acts as a resonant chamber to amplify the sound. Some cicada species can even produce sound which is over 100 db (which equals the sound of a motorcycle)!
In some species of cicadas, males and females may wait up to 17 years before to find each other as during many years the #nymphs of cicadas are slowly feeding on plant roots or other organic materials within the soil. Once they complete their nymphosis, or become adults if you prefer, then the males will start their loud calls for the females.📢
Tracks of this previous subterranean life can often be seen on vegetation where cicadas have left their previous skin (exuviae / exoskeleton) and can then be easily collected as you walk around the forest. So next time you go for a little walk, see if you can find some of these fragile envelopes.
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