Loud insects outside... any idea what they are? (Austin: shop, yard)

[PanTerra]

Originally Posted by nickasarbata

Have you guys ever actually seen a cicada? Listening to the sound bytes posted by IC_deLight reminded me of my childhood growing up in Iowa. I used to listen to that sound all evening, every evening, all summer long, and yes, it was LOUD. But seeing the picture posted in the first link, I realized I've never actually seen one of those noisy little guys! What about everyone else? Do you often see them, or just hear them? And how many of them does it take to make such a loud noise? I can't imagine just a few of them would be able to make so much noise every night, but since I've never seen even one, I don't know!

It's hard to spot them in the trees, even when they are sounding, because it can sound like it is coming from everywhere. However, I have often seen them flying around or on the ground after they die. They can be 2 inches long.

[Mike78613]

Originally Posted by JERiv

About a week or two ago, some really (and I mean REALLY) loud insects starting going nuts outside. They seem to really go all out after sunset.

Any idea what they are, and what, if anything, can be done about it?

Thanks!!

Bears & grasshoppers

Solution: Shoot'em and swat them!!

[G Grasshopper]

The cicadas are just singing their love songs. If you look around, sometimes you can see the little round holes where they have come up from the ground. They spend around 7 years in the ground, then become adults and emerge to mate. Rubbing their legs together to make that sound, they call to each other. Then after mating, and after the females lay eggs, they die. Its a very short - and loud - adult life.

[eichlerfan]

They were SO loud the other night that I was sure one was in my bedroom, but thankfully no, just really loud outside that night.

[nmnita]

We have the tree frogs here and they can be very noisy at night. They will start singing their love songs on a slow pace in a few weeks, by August you can hear them everywhere, but we are used to them...I kinda like the sound.

NIta

[PanTerra]

Originally Posted by G Grasshopper

The cicadas are just singing their love songs. If you look around, sometimes you can see the little round holes where they have come up from the ground. They spend around 7 years in the ground, then become adults and emerge to mate. Rubbing their legs together to make that sound, they call to each other. Then after mating, and after the females lay eggs, they die. Its a very short - and loud - adult life.

Here is a link about what is actually making the sound.

Songs of Insects - In Celebration of Our Singing Insects (http://www.musicofnature.com/songsofinsects/singinginsects.html - broken link)

The cicadas use an entirely different method to produce their incredibly loud songs. They have a pair of special sound producing organs called "tymbals," located at the base of the abdomen. Inside each tymbal are stiff but flexible ribs supporting a stout membrane. Muscles attached to the ribs pull the tymbal inward, causing it to pop. The tymbal pops again when the tension is released. Rapid contractions and relaxations of the tymbal muscles create the loud, buzzing songs of the cicadas, which are amplified further by a hollow area in the abdomen.

[calel]

When I was younger and worked at a summer camp, I liked to find cicadas and show them off to the campers. They make an amazing amount of noise, but they're pretty much harmless. Kids found them funny and it helped them realize that not all bugs are out to get them.

[JayBrown80]

One of my favorite childhood memories is lying under my grandpas plum trees at dusk, eating fresh plums and listening to the cicadas start up their singing. My cousins and I would just chat into the night. We were never allowed in the house during the summer nights because the grown ups didn't want 6 rowdy kids running around underfoot.

[thedogatemyhomework]

kattydids - they are going absolutely bonkers in our yard right now. louder than i can believe. we are in SW.

[G Grasshopper]

Good information, PanTerra. I think the old "rubbing their legs together" is a simplification for children. Its better to actually know the mechanism.