What Do Cicadas Sound Like?

Cicadas produce loud buzzing and droning calls that are unmistakable in the summer landscape. The sound is often described as an electric buzzing, similar to a cicada call sometimes written as a long, rapid vibrating buzz that rises and falls. Different species have different sounds. Some produce a high-pitched whine, while others create a lower, pulsing buzz. The loudest calls can reach 80 to 90 decibels, comparable to heavy traffic noise. This extreme loudness is remarkable for an insect. The sound is produced by the tymbals, specialized ribbed structures on the abdomen. Muscles vibrate the tymbals extremely rapidly, creating the buzzing sound. Only male cicadas produce the loud mating call. Females are mostly silent but may produce clicking or chirping sounds. Young cicadas, still in nymphal stages underground, produce no sound at all. The call is not from the mouth but from these specialized sound-producing organs. When you learn about cicada biology, understanding sound production reveals remarkable anatomical specialization. The continuous buzzing or rhythmic pulsing of the call can last for hours during peak calling periods.

The primary purpose of cicada calls is attraction and mating. Males gather in trees and bushes, each singing their species-specific song. Females listen for these calls and respond by moving toward males that sing the correct pattern. The species-specific pattern ensures that only females of the same species approach. This prevents wasted energy on mating attempts with incompatible partners. The intensity and persistence of the call may also signal male quality or vigor. Females may prefer males with louder or longer-lasting calls. The buzzing and droning patterns vary by species and sometimes by region. Some calls include multiple tonal changes within a single call sequence. A few cicada species have two distinct call types. The aggressive call is louder and more intense, used when males are competing with other males nearby. The quiet call is softer and occurs when males are isolated. Females recognize and respond preferentially to the appropriate male call for their species. The constant droning chorus in summer is essentially a large mating aggregation communicating through sound.

Timing depends on the cicada species. Annual cicadas appear every summer and are heard from mid-July through September, with peak activity in August. They are most vocal during the hottest parts of the day, typically between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Periodical cicadas, which emerge in large numbers every 13 or 17 years, create deafening choruses during their brief above-ground phase lasting just a few weeks. When exploring cicadas in Texas, expect summer activity in oak and pecan trees, particularly in areas with older trees. In Illinois, annual cicadas are common from midsummer onward in wooded areas. Periodical emergences vary by location and year. Maryland cicadas include both annual and periodical species with different emergence times. Habitat matters significantly. Cicadas congregate in trees and shrubs, so wooded areas produce more noise than open grasslands. Urban parks and neighborhoods with mature trees hear cicada calls frequently. The loudest areas are often near dense forest patches where many males gather. Cicadas become quiet at night and when temperatures drop below about 65 degrees Fahrenheit. They resume calling when conditions warm again.

Katydids produce sounds similar to cicadas but with key differences. Katydids call primarily at night with a more rhythmic pattern, often sounding like a raspy buzz or electric saw. Their calls change temperature-based timing more dramatically. Crickets produce chirping calls, distinctly different from cicada buzzing. Cricket sounds are usually intermittent and come from male crickets rubbing wings together. Grasshoppers produce loud buzzing but with shorter duration bursts, not the sustained droning of cicadas. Locust calls sound like cicadas but locusts are grasshoppers with different body structure and behavior. Both annual and periodical cicadas have species-specific calls. The main eastern periodical species, the 17-year cicada, produces a distinct ascending buzz sound sometimes described as if a power tool. Different cicada species have recognizable call differences when you listen carefully. Some sound like a pulsing buzz, others like a continuous whine. Recording cicada calls and comparing them helps identify species. In areas where multiple species coexist, the chorus is a mix of different buzzing pitches and patterns. Learning these differences improves appreciation of the unique acoustic landscape cicadas create.

Only adult male cicadas produce the loud buzzing mating call. Females lack the specialized tymbals needed for sound production. Young cicadas, called nymphs, spend years underground feeding on plant sap through root penetration. These underground nymphs produce no audible sounds to humans. When nymphs are ready to transform into adults, they emerge from the ground. At this point, they are not yet calling. Newly emerged adults are soft-bodied and vulnerable. It takes a few days for their exoskeletons to harden and their sound-producing organs to become functional. During this time, they make no calls. Once maturation is complete, male cicadas begin calling. The intensity of calling increases with age and maturation. Younger adult males may call with less vigor than established territorial males. As males age, their calls remain strong, but overall lifespan above ground is short, usually only a few weeks. Female cicadas sometimes make quiet clicking or chirping sounds, particularly when they are responding to males or during mating behavior. These female sounds are not the loud buzzing of males and are rarely heard by humans. The sex difference in sound production is one of the most dramatic sexual differences in cicada biology.

Cicada sounds near your home are completely harmless and indicate the presence of mature insects. There is no threat from the sound itself. The noise can be loud and persistent, but cicadas do not attack people or damage homes through sound production. If the noise is bothersome, closing windows provides some sound dampening. White noise machines, fans, or air conditioning can mask cicada sounds. The buzzing is temporary. Annual cicadas disappear by late fall. Periodical cicadas are present for only a few weeks during emergence years. Pesticide spraying is not recommended and would kill beneficial insect life. Cicadas serve as food for birds and other wildlife. They do not bite or sting. They cannot enter homes. They do not attack pets or people. Some people find the cicada chorus pleasing and enjoy listening to it as part of the summer soundscape. The sound is a sign of healthy insect populations and active ecosystems. Enjoying cicadas as part of nature, rather than treating them as pests, is the best approach. For those sensitive to loud noise, temporary retreat to quieter indoor spaces during peak calling hours is the simplest solution.

Recording cicada sounds requires basic audio equipment. A standard smartphone voice recorder captures the essence of the cicada chorus, though high-quality results require a dedicated microphone. Place the recording device outside during peak calling times and let it run. Many nature recordings include cicada calls as part of environmental soundscapes. If you want to attract cicadas to your property, maintain healthy trees and shrubs. Cicadas lay eggs in small branches and twigs. The egg-laying process causes minor branch damage but rarely kills trees. Cicadas spend years underground as nymphs before emerging. Planting trees creates future cicada habitat. Providing water sources like shallow puddles or birdbaths gives emerging cicadas a place to drink. Avoid pesticides, which kill cicadas and other beneficial insects. Never attempt to capture cicadas for the purpose of making them call. Cicadas are more likely to call in their natural aggregations with other males. Isolated or captured cicadas produce quieter or no calls. Photography and recording should be done without disturbing the insects. If you want to learn more about cicada behavior, observe from a distance and allow them to continue their natural activities. Responsible wildlife enjoyment means appreciating cicadas as they are in their natural state.