The mountain cicada.
Cicada nymphs have a subterranean nature. The eggs are laid on branches above ground where they remain until hatching. The young fall to the ground where they burrow into the soil looking for tree roots to nourish growth and development. Found about twelve inches beneath the soil, the young grow to maturity then exit their underground refuge. They will shed the last molt, usually at the base of a tree, and climb to a position where the wings can be inflated and prepared for flying.
Male cicadas are the crooners in the family as a rule of thumb. In some species, the female may also "sing". They produce sound by vibrating a pair of organs at the base of the abdomen. These tymbals are made to vibrate and produce the loud buzzing noise you hear. To hear and see a cicada producing its characteristic sound, click here. Pay attention to the insect's abdomen; you can see it vibrate when it calls out. Cicadas create the sound to attract females.
I caught and photographed this specimen somewhere in central Washington state. As a child, I used to find the cast ecdysis, the final molt before becoming an adult, at the bottom of aspen trees. They usually climb into the canopy where they proclaim their presence to any females that may be listening. Although some of them are fairly large, robust insects, they are hard to spot because of their airy seclusion. I found this one near the ground; it was the only live cicada I have ever seen.
Although cicadas take sap from the tree as juveniles they are not considered pests. The impact they have is relatively small. Huge numbers of adults can be disturbing due to the noise they make. The females cut stems and lay eggs inside them; this is where the damage is mostly found. Cicadas are not typically thought of as a destructive species. They are, in fact, another wonderful example of diversity on our planet.
Thanks for reading. Ericspix Eric Svendsen
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