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It is the soundtrack of an Australian summer – a constant, sometimes deafening chorus that lets us know the warm weather has arrived.
But this year, the sound of cicadas could be even louder than usual as hundreds of thousands emerge from hibernation beneath the ground.
Cicada expert, David Emery, said 2020 is shaping up to be a big year for Australia's loudest insect, with large numbers already being noticed around the Blue Mountains in NSW.
Cyclochila australasiae, more commonly known as the green grocer cicada, sheds its nymph exoskeleton. The cicada spends seven years in nymph form drinking sap from plant roots underground before emerging from the earth as an adult. It is one of the loudest insects in the world recorded at up to 120db. (Wolter Peeters)
"It's just been spectacular this year, they're just everywhere," Mr Emery told nine.com.au.
"People are really up in arms because there's lots of them about.
"There's quite a few being spotted in Katoomba and Leura but it's really raging Hazelbrook and Wentworth Falls."
"And its crept all the way down near Bundanoon south east of Canberra. So, all along these high-altitude areas these guys have just exploded."
The last time cicadas appeared in such high numbers was seven years ago in 2013.
Two cicadas photographed mating in Katoomba, Blue Mountains. (Louise Smith)
Cicadas spend most of their life underground, however every few years, large swarms emerge – a phenomenon that has scientists largely stumped.
"You can get them in drips and drabs in the intervening years but these seven-year landmarks generally see a big spike in numbers."
"Either the cicadas know it's a great time to come out or they have an in-built clock that tells them to come out."
An intense bushfire season and increased rainfall in recent months could also be adding to the large swathes of cicadas popping this year.
"Funnily enough we see better emergence after a bushfire.
"The other thing that's linked which is probably the winter rainfall," he said.
"They feed the sap from trees so when you have rain fall, the sap flows into the ground so they may detected when its good to come out."
Mr Emery said anyone visiting the Blue Mountains area should keep their eyes out for the unique shells left behind by the cicadas on trees and fences.
"If you can find the shells, spray them with gold spray paint and stick them on the Christmas tree, they make for beautiful decorations."
www.9news.com.au
But this year, the sound of cicadas could be even louder than usual as hundreds of thousands emerge from hibernation beneath the ground.
Cicada expert, David Emery, said 2020 is shaping up to be a big year for Australia's loudest insect, with large numbers already being noticed around the Blue Mountains in NSW.
Cyclochila australasiae, more commonly known as the green grocer cicada, sheds its nymph exoskeleton. The cicada spends seven years in nymph form drinking sap from plant roots underground before emerging from the earth as an adult. It is one of the loudest insects in the world recorded at up to 120db. (Wolter Peeters)
"It's just been spectacular this year, they're just everywhere," Mr Emery told nine.com.au.
"People are really up in arms because there's lots of them about.
"There's quite a few being spotted in Katoomba and Leura but it's really raging Hazelbrook and Wentworth Falls."
"And its crept all the way down near Bundanoon south east of Canberra. So, all along these high-altitude areas these guys have just exploded."
The last time cicadas appeared in such high numbers was seven years ago in 2013.
Two cicadas photographed mating in Katoomba, Blue Mountains. (Louise Smith)
Cicadas spend most of their life underground, however every few years, large swarms emerge – a phenomenon that has scientists largely stumped.
"You can get them in drips and drabs in the intervening years but these seven-year landmarks generally see a big spike in numbers."
"Either the cicadas know it's a great time to come out or they have an in-built clock that tells them to come out."
An intense bushfire season and increased rainfall in recent months could also be adding to the large swathes of cicadas popping this year.
"Funnily enough we see better emergence after a bushfire.
"The other thing that's linked which is probably the winter rainfall," he said.
"They feed the sap from trees so when you have rain fall, the sap flows into the ground so they may detected when its good to come out."
Mr Emery said anyone visiting the Blue Mountains area should keep their eyes out for the unique shells left behind by the cicadas on trees and fences.
"If you can find the shells, spray them with gold spray paint and stick them on the Christmas tree, they make for beautiful decorations."
Why we can expect a Cicada 'blitz' this summer
It's the soundtrack of an Australian summer, but this year, the ear-splitting chorus of cicadas could be ev...
www.9news.com.au
