Most, if not all cicadas sing during the day, but what time of day they sing depends on the species and the weather. There are over 3,000 species of cicadas, and each has its own unique behavior.
Typically, cicadas do not sing at night, but there are exceptions. Most of the time when you hear an insect at night, it’s a cricket or katydid.
Most cicadas love the sun, so rain and cloudy skies will decrease the likelihood they will sing. Temperature also affects whether or not they will sing. If it is too cold, or too hot cicadas won’t sing. Tolerance for temperature depends on the species.
Cicadas, depending on the species, will sing depending on the number and proximity of other cicadas in their area. Periodical cicadas, when there are enough in a given area, will synchronize their songs forming a chorus (a group effort to attract females).
When they sing during the day, under perfect conditions, depends on the species. Each species has its favorite time to sing, for example, in North America:
- Neotibicen tibicen, also known as Morning Cicadas, typically sing before noon.
- Neotibicen latifasciatus, aka Coastal Scissor Grinder Cicada, seem to sing throughout the day, taking breaks during the most brutal sunlight and temperatures.
- Megatibicen auletes, also know as the Northern Dusk-Singing Cicada, sings for about a half hour around sunset.
- Periodical cicadas, like Magicicada septendecim, typically sing between 10am and 5pm.
Recapping, when cicadas sing depends on:
- The species
- The amount of light (sun or artificial)
- The amount of cicadas in a given area
- Rain, clouds, and other “bad weather”
- The temperature
Cicadas can be surprising “rule breakers” so don’t be surprised to hear them when least expected.
More examples and references to come…
