Listen to the Cassini periodical cicada
Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.
About the Cassini periodical cicada
The Cassini periodical cicada is a insect in the family Cicadidae (order Hemiptera). Wikidata describes it as “17-year periodic cicada”. Its conservation status on the IUCN Red List is “near threatened”.
What does the Cassini periodical cicada sound like?
Insects make sound mechanically: crickets and grasshoppers rub a scraper against a file (stridulation), cicadas buckle ribbed membranes called tymbals, and bees and mosquitoes hum with their wingbeats.
From Wikipedia
Magicicada cassini (originally spelled cassinii ), known as the 17-year cicada, Cassin's periodical cicada or the dwarf periodical cicada, is a species of periodical cicada. It is endemic to North America. It has a 17-year life cycle but is otherwise indistinguishable from the 13-year periodical cicada Magicicada tredecassini. The two species are usually discussed together as "cassini periodical cicadas" or "cassini-type periodical cicadas." Unlike other periodical cicadas, cassini-type males may synchronize their courting behavior so that tens of thousands of males sing and fly in unison. The species was first reported to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia by Margaretta Morris in 1846. In 1852, the species was formally described by J. C. Fisher and given the specific name cassini in honour of John Cassin, an American ornithologist, whose own report was included by Fisher in his publication.
Related insects in the genus Magicicada
More from the family Cicadidae
Tanna japonensis
Tanna japonensis
Cicada orni
Cicada orni
Graptopsaltria nigrofuscata
Graptopsaltria nigrofuscata
Sinfonia opalifera
Meimuna opalifera
Chorus cicada
Amphipsalta zelandica
Platypleura haglundi
Platypleura haglundi
Platypleura divisa
Platypleura divisa
Psaltoda plaga
Psaltoda plaga
Cystosoma saundersii
Cystosoma saundersii
Platypleura mijburghi
Platypleura mijburghi
Frequently asked questions
What does a Cassini periodical cicada sound like?
You can hear 1 recording of the Cassini periodical cicada on this page. Insects make sound mechanically: crickets and grasshoppers rub a scraper against a file (stridulation), cicadas buckle ribbed membranes called tymbals, and bees and mosquitoes hum with their wingbeats.
Is the Cassini periodical cicada endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the Cassini periodical cicada as “near threatened”.
What family does the Cassini periodical cicada belong to?
The Cassini periodical cicada (Magicicada cassini) belongs to the family Cicadidae in the order Hemiptera.
Sources & credits
- Calling song of Magicicada cassini - pone.0000892.s002 by Fontaine K, Cooley J, Simon C – CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
- Wikidata Q234354 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Magicicada cassini – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo by Fontaine K, Cooley J, Simon C (2007) – CC BY 2.5