Why Do Cicadas Sing So Loudly?
It is mainly the males who sing. They vibrate a membrane on the abdomen to call the females.Cicadas sing loudly mainly because males are calling to females. A male vibrates a membrane called a tymbal near the base of its abdomen. Each species has its own song, and males may also use different calls for courtship, gathering, or alarm. The cicada thought to be the loudest insect is reported to produce sounds above 106 decibels.
Why males sing
More than 3,000 species of cicadas are thought to exist worldwide, and it is mainly the males that sing. A male vibrates a membrane called a tymbal near the base of its abdomen to make sound. Females do not have tymbals. Each species has its own song, and females are thought to use these songs to find a mate of the same species.
From one song to a chorus
When many males sing in the same place, their songs overlap and become a great chorus. Males call to females with a song typical of their species. This chorus is thought to help attract females.
Different calls for different moments
Male songs are not only for courtship. Cicadas are thought to use different calls for gathering, for courtship before mating, and as an alarm when they are caught or disturbed. One idea is that loud sounds may startle predators. Females may respond by clicking their wings.
The loudest voices and a short adult life
How loud a cicada can be varies by species. In Africa, Brevisana brevis, known in English as the shrill thorntree cicada, is thought to produce sounds above 106 decibels and is considered the loudest insect in the world. That is close to a chainsaw at about 110 decibels. Adult cicadas are thought to live only a few weeks, and in that short time they sing, find a mate, and lay eggs.
Want to know more?
- Cicadas range from about 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 inches) in size and have two pairs of transparent, membranous wings.
- Periodical cicadas (Magicicada) come above ground in spring only every 13 or 17 years.
- Cicadas do not bite or sting: they lack mandibles and the stinger organ.
Quick quiz: test yourself
What does a male cicada vibrate to make sound?
Show the answer
- A membrane near the base of the abdomen
- Its wings
- Its legs
A membrane near the base of the abdomen A male vibrates a membrane called a tymbal near the base of its abdomen. Females do not have tymbals.
A male vibrates a membrane called a tymbal near the base of its abdomen. Females do not have tymbals.
Next quiz ›Sources
- CicadaEncyclopaedia Britannica
- Cicadas, facts and photosNational Geographic
- Periodical cicadaEncyclopaedia Britannica
This article was written after checking the sources above as of 2026-10-03. Explanations may change as research progresses. Photo credits are shown below each photo.
