Ash Cicada

Fascinating facts about the Ash Cicada

• Cicada orni is the type species that defines the genus Cicada, anchoring the taxonomic framework of the group. It belongs to the family Cicadidae and the subfamily Cicadinae, placing it firmly within the true cicadas. The genus name itself comes from the Latin word for "buzzer", reflecting the insect's characteristic sound. As one of the most common cicadas in southern and central Europe, it exemplifies the typical features of its lineage.
• The specific epithet orni is thought to be taken from the Manna Ash, Fraxinus ornus, a tree on which the cicada frequently deposits its eggs deep within the branches. This naming link highlights the close ecological association between the insect and that particular ash species.
• Only male ash cicadas produce the species' characteristic calling song, a sharp clicking generated by rapid contraction and relaxation of abdominal membranes called tymbals. The sound functions to attract females for mating, guiding them to the singing males on tree branches. Males typically gather in large, sunny aggregations, each individual adding its rhythm to a communal chorus that can fill the summer air.
• Adult ash cicadas deposit their eggs in the summer months, often inserting them deep into the branches of ash trees where the insects are closely associated with the host. The eggs remain within the woody tissue until they hatch later in the summer or during autumn, completing the first stage of development.
• An adult ash cicada lives only about a month and a half, just long enough to feed on tree sap in summer and find a mate. During this brief period it engages in the characteristic male calling song and courtship before laying eggs. Afterward, the larvae descend to the ground and remain underground for several years, feeding on the juices of plant roots before emerging as adults.

Sources

Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.

• Wikipedia

At a glance

About the Ash Cicada

In the sweltering heat of summer, the ash cicada emerges, its delicate wings unfolding like intricate lace as it takes to the air with a soft, whispery hum. As it moves through the world, its slender body glints with a subtle, ashen sheen, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the dappled shade of its woodland habitat, where it weaves a complex tapestry of sound and motion. With its haunting, melodic song, the ash cicada is a masterful orchestrator of the forest's symphony, its ethereal voice echoing through the trees like a ghostly whisper.

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