Ciacadas at The Spit

My first Netted Cicada at The Spit, Main Beach Qld: January 4, 2016  

G. R. A. Ebel, Sanctuary Cove Qld

I know nothing of cicadas but I am fascinated by their summer presences and the noise they admit screaming, rattling or drumming, for what I suspect is, display of power, wealth and ultimately, sex.   Power could be equated with the clear loud persistent drumming; wealth perhaps territory or at least the spot where the drumming occurs, and (not knowing the cicada's sex act) if female cicada is attracted to male cicada there will be a release of genetic material. And so life goes on.

What I thought was a Razor Grinder Cicada (you gotta love that name) might well turn out to be a White Drummer (Arunda perulata). The one in the video is in all likelihood a male since the large white tymbals covers are visible and very obvious. The single drum beat is evident; just imagine the single beat repeated several hundred times a second; its one deafening sound to be sure but carries a long way. Apparently, the females do not have the drum or tymbal.

This species is found along coastal south east Queensland and apparently quite common in Banksias and Casuarinas on the Spit and appear in December and January. Female cicadas lay eggs exclusively on live branches. Thanks to David B for introducing me to this rather charming insect.

There will be future updates as more information becomes available.