You say Cicada.......

I say Cicada. Both pronunciations are in Macquarie's, of course. What the cicada is saying is "Let's get friendly", or similar. And in cicada language, that's an ear-piercing screeching drumming noise, and it's being said a lot around Sydney this summer.








Here's one I came across in the bush the other day. It had just moulted, and had emerged from its pupa state. It's an Orange Drummer cicada (Thopha colorata). Another abandoned cicada shell appeared on the wall at home the other day too. And a few years ago I came across a veritable army of shells marching up a tree trunk. (Actually I have to admit I remember rearranging them a bit for effect.)