{"id":5005,"date":"2014-10-05T07:58:28","date_gmt":"2014-10-05T14:58:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cicadamania.com\/cicadas\/?p=5005"},"modified":"2022-01-30T12:46:05","modified_gmt":"2022-01-30T19:46:05","slug":"what-is-the-loudest-cicada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cicadamania.com\/cicadas\/what-is-the-loudest-cicada\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the loudest cicada?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa is home to the Loudest cicada<\/h3>\n

A recent BBC article<\/a> says researcher John Petti<\/strong> as found the answer: Brevisana brevis<\/strong>, an African cicada, reaches 106.7 decibels<\/strong> — with the loudest North American cicada, Megatibicen pronotalis walkeri<\/strong> at 105.9 decibels<\/strong>. Their sound was measured at a distance of 50cm<\/strong> (approximately 20 inches). Specifics about the equipment used and calibration of said equipment is not mentioned.<\/p>\n

There are over 3500 types of cicadas in the world, and for now, Brevisana brevisis the king of the insect noisemakers. More information on Petti’s study can be found here<\/a>. Sound files of Brevisiana brevis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In North America<\/h3>\n

The article does introduce room for skepticism and debate, by noting that other species come very close (Diceroprocta apache), that the Megatibicen pronotalis walkeri<\/strong> alarm call reaches 108.9 decibels and a North American study that suggests decibels are correlated to body mass (and Brevisana brevis is not the most massive cicada).
\n\"Megatibicen
Megatibicen pronotalis photo by Roy Troutman, taken in Batavia, Ohio.<\/small><\/p>\n

In Australia<\/h3>\n

According to the book Australian Cicadas by M.S. Moulds (New South Wales University Press, 1990) Cyclochila australasiae<\/strong> and Thopha saccata<\/strong> reach nearly 120db<\/strong> at close range. The “at close range” might be the key difference in measuring the sound, as Petti measured at a distance of 50cm.
\n\"Double
Double Drummer (Thopha saccata), a cicada found in Australia, can reach 120db at close range. Photo by Kevin Lee.<\/small><\/p>\n

What about Magicicada in the U.S.?<\/h3>\n

Personally, I’ve observed Magicicada cassini<\/strong> choruses achieve between 85 & 86 decibels (link to video<\/a>), and M. cassini responding to fingersnaps (mimics female wing flicks) at as high as 116 decibels<\/strong> (link to video<\/a>) 35s in). The 116 decibels level was recorded with the insect standing on the microphone of my Extech 407730. Magicicada choruses have been documented to reach 100 decibels <\/p>\n

Magicicada chorus at around 80db:<\/p>\n