Cicadas in Blue Mountains, Australia | Sydney Private Tours
Australia is home to some of the loudest and most fascinating insects—cicadas. These unique creatures are known for their vibrant chorus during the warmer months. With over 200 species across the country, cicadas thrive in various environments, including forests, urban areas, and especially in the picturesque Blue Mountains of New South Wales.
Types of Cicadas in the Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains region is home to several species of cicadas, each with distinct characteristics. One of the most common is the Greengrocer (Cyclochila australasiae), famous for its bright green color and loud song. This species is one of the loudest insects in the world, with males producing a noise that can reach up to 120 decibels. Another well-known species is the Yellow Monday cicada, a variant of the Greengrocer, but with a yellow body. Both these types dominate the Blue Mountains’ lush forests during summer.
The Double Drummer (Thopha saccata) is another large species in the region, identifiable by its black and brown body with striking white markings. Known for their intense sound, these cicadas are most common in the drier parts of the Blue Mountains. The Black Prince (Psaltoda plaga) is less frequently seen but just as fascinating. It has a deep black colouring and is typically found in shady, wooded areas.
Each species has its own unique call, and the collective buzzing of these different cicadas fills the Blue Mountains’ atmosphere with a distinct soundscape during their active months.
Life Cycle of Cicadas in Blue Mountains
The cicada life cycle is remarkable and involves two distinct phases: underground and aboveground. Most of their lives are spent as nymphs beneath the soil. These nymphs feed on the sap of tree roots, which can sustain them for anywhere from two to 17 years, depending on the species. This long period underground is largely a survival strategy, allowing them to emerge when environmental conditions are most favourable.
Once ready to surface, the nymphs tunnel upward and moult, shedding their exoskeleton to become winged adults. This transformation usually occurs at night to avoid predators. After moulting, the cicada’s soft, pale body hardens and darkens, taking on the distinct colours of its species. The adult cicada’s primary goal is to reproduce, and they live for only a few weeks to months in this phase.
During their short adult life, male cicadas produce the characteristic loud noise to attract females. After mating, the females lay eggs in tree branches. When the eggs hatch, the tiny nymphs fall to the ground, burrowing into the soil to begin the cycle once again.
When Do Cicadas Come Out from the Ground in the Blue Mountains
Cicadas emerge from the ground during the warmer months, typically in late spring and summer. Temperature and rainfall heavily influence their emergence in the Blue Mountains. The increased warmth of the soil signals to the nymphs that it’s time to come out, usually after a particularly wet season, which makes the ground easier to tunnel through.
The timing of their emergence varies depending on the species, but most cicadas come out after 2 to 10 years underground. The long, synchronized emergence ensures there are enough cicadas above ground to overwhelm predators, increasing the chances of survival for each individual.
Mel (#melsworldnsw) captured this video of cicada nymphs coming out from the shell. What an amazing video.
Where Do Cicadas Live?
Cicadas are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats. In the Blue Mountains, they prefer areas with plenty of trees, as they rely on sap from the roots during their nymph stage. Once they emerge as adults, they live on the branches and leaves of trees and shrubs. Native eucalyptus trees are particularly popular among cicadas in this region.
Cicadas tend to inhabit dense forests, woodlands, and even suburban areas. They are often found near rivers or moist areas, as these provide a more favourable environment for laying eggs. Their presence in the Blue Mountains is most noticeable in forested regions, where the trees amplify their loud calls.
Why Cicadas Make a Loud Noise in Blue Mountains?
The distinctive and sometimes deafening sound of cicadas is produced by males as part of their mating ritual. They make this sound using specialized structures called tymbals, located on their abdomen. By rapidly contracting and relaxing muscles around the tymbals, cicadas create a clicking noise, which is then amplified by their hollow bodies, producing the familiar buzz.
The purpose of this noise is to attract females, and the louder the sound, the better the male’s chances of finding a mate. Different species have unique songs, and females can identify the call of their species amid the cacophony. The sound also serves as a deterrent to predators by confusing them or signalling the cicada’s large size, making it less appealing as prey.
