List of cicadas of Australia facts for kids

Cicadas are amazing insects known for their loud, buzzing songs. These sounds are made by male cicadas to attract females. Australia is home to many different kinds of cicadas, from tiny ones to some of the largest in the world. They live all over the country, including on its far-off islands like Christmas Island and Norfolk Island.

Scientists group cicadas into families, then subfamilies, tribes, and finally genera and species. This helps them understand how different cicadas are related. The way we classify them comes from the work of scientists like Moulds, Marshall, and Popple.

What are Cicadas?

Cicadas are insects with clear wings and strong bodies. They spend most of their lives underground as nymphs. Nymphs are young cicadas that look a bit like grubs. They feed on the sap from tree roots. After several years, they dig their way out of the ground.

Once above ground, the nymph sheds its skin one last time. It transforms into an adult cicada. Adult cicadas live for only a few weeks. Their main job is to mate and lay eggs. This short adult life is why you only hear them for a short time each year.

Cicada Sounds and Songs

Male cicadas are famous for their loud songs. They make these sounds using special organs called tymbals. These are ribbed membranes on their bodies that vibrate very quickly. The sound is amplified by their hollow bodies. Each type of cicada has its own unique song. This helps them find mates of the same species.

Some cicadas are so loud they can be heard from far away. Their songs can be a constant buzz or a series of clicks and whines. Different species sing at different times of the day or night. This helps them avoid singing over each other.

Main Cicada Families in Australia

In Australia, the cicadas belong to two main families: Cicadidae and Tettigarctidae. The Cicadidae family includes most of the cicadas you hear singing. The Tettigarctidae family has only a few species. These are often called "hairy cicadas" and are much quieter.

Family Cicadidae

This is the largest family of cicadas. It includes many well-known Australian cicadas. These cicadas have clear wings and make loud sounds. They are found in many different habitats, from forests to deserts.

Subfamily Cicadinae

This group includes some of the biggest and loudest cicadas. They are often brightly colored.

Tribe Burbungini

Genus Burbunga

• Burbunga albofasciata (Pale Bark Cicada)
• Burbunga aterrima (Western Bark Cicada)
• Burbunga gilmorei (Desert Screamer)
• Burbunga hillieri (Small Western Bark Cicada)
• Burbunga inornata (Mareeba Bark Cicada)
• Burbunga mouldsi (Charcoal Screamer)
• Burbunga nanda (Black-spot Screamer)
• Burbunga nigrosignata (South-western Whiner)
• Burbunga occidentalis (Small Northern Bark Cicada)
• Burbunga parva (Queensland Bark Cicada)
• Burbunga queenslandica

Tribe Cryptotympanini

This tribe has many interesting cicadas, often with unique colors and sounds.

Genus Anapsaltoda

• Anapsaltoda pulchra (Golden Emperor)

Genus Arenopsaltria (Sandgrinders)

• Arenopsaltria fullo (Sandgrinder)
• Arenopsaltria nubivena (Eastern Sandgrinder)
• Arenopsaltria pygmaea (Pygmy Sandgrinder)

Genus Henicopsaltria

• Henicopsaltria danielsi (McIvor River Grinder)
• Henicopsaltria eydouxii (Razor Grinder)
• Henicopsaltria kelsalli (Cape York Grinder)
• Henicopsaltria rufivelum (Jungle Grinder)

Genus Macrotristria

• Macrotristria angularis (Cherrynose)
• Macrotristria bindalia (Corroboree Cicada)
• Macrotristria doddi (Darwin Whiner)
• Macrotristria dorsalis (Little Whiner)
• Macrotristria douglasi (Kimberley Whiner)
• Macrotristria extrema (Western Whiner)
• Macrotristria frenchi (Northern Steamer)
• Macrotristria godingi (Tiger Cherrynose)
• Macrotristria hieroglyphicalis (Derby Whiner)
• Macrotristria intersecta (Corroboree Cicada)
• Macrotristria kabikabia (Black Cherrynose)
• Macrotristria kulungura (Coastal Whiner)
• Macrotristria lachlani (Far Northern Cherrynose)
• Macrotristria maculicollis (False Cherrynose)
• Macrotristria stevewilsoni (Shoalwater Cherrynose)
• Macrotristria sylvara (Green Cherrynose)
• Macrotristria thophoides (False Drummer)
• Macrotristria vittata (Cape York Cherrynose)
• Macrotristria worora (Kimberley Whiner)

Genus Neopsaltoda

• Neopsaltoda crassa (Dark Knight)

Genus Psaltoda

• Psaltoda adonis (Forest Demon)
• Psaltoda antennetta (Clubbed Sage)
• Psaltoda aurora (Red Roarer)
• Psaltoda brachypennis (Phantom Knight)
• Psaltoda claripennis (Clanger)
• Psaltoda flavescens (Golden Knight)
• Psaltoda fumipennis (Smoky Sage)
• Psaltoda harrisii (Yellowbelly)
• Psaltoda insularis (Lord Howe Island Cicada)
• Psaltoda maccallumi (Dark Sage)
• Psaltoda magnifica (Green Baron)
• Psaltoda moerens (Redeye)
• Psaltoda mossi (Little Baron)
• Psaltoda pictibasis (Black Friday)
• Psaltoda plaga (Silver Knight)

Tribe Cyclochilini

Genus Cyclochila

• Cyclochila australasiae (Greengrocer/Masked Devil/Yellow Monday)
• Cyclochila virens (Northern Greengrocer)

Tribe Platypleurini

Genus Oxypleura

• Oxypleura calypso (Christmas Island Cicada)

Tribe Tamasini

Genus Parnkalla

• Parnkalla muelleri (Grass Faerie)

Genus Parnquila

• Parnquila hillieri (Cane Grass Buzzer)
• Parnquila magna (Goldfields Buzzer)
• Parnquila venosa (Spinifex Buzzer)
• Parnquila unicolor (Perth Buzzer)

Genus Tamasa

• Tamasa burgessi (Two-toned Bunyip)
• Tamasa caverna (Boulder Bunyip)
• Tamasa doddi (Dodd's Bunyip)
• Tamasa rainbowi (Green Bunyip)
• Tamasa tristigma (Eastern Bunyip)

Tribe Thophini

Genus Arunta

• Arunta interclusa (Mangrove Drummer)
• Arunta perulata (White Drummer)

Genus Thopha

• Thopha colorata (Orange Drummer)
• Thopha emmotti (Desert Double Drummer)
• Thopha hutchinsoni (North-western Double Drummer)
• Thopha saccata (Eastern Double Drummer)
• Thopha sessiliba (Northern Double Drummer)

Subfamily Cicadettinae

This subfamily includes many smaller cicadas. They often have more delicate bodies and different types of songs.

Tribe Cicadettini

Genus Adelia

• Adelia borealis (Broad-winged Tiger)

Genus Atrapsalta

• Atrapsalta collina (Sandstone Squeaker)
• Atrapsalta corticina (Bark Squeaker)
• Atrapsalta dolens (South-western Bark Squeaker)
• Atrapsalta emmotti (Channel Country Squeaker)
• Atrapsalta encaustica (Black Squeaker)
• Atrapsalta furcilla (Southern Mountain Squeaker)
• Atrapsalta fuscata (Small Bark Squeaker)
• Atrapsalta siccana (Bulloak Squeaker)
• Atrapsalta vinea (Clare Valley Squeaker)
• Pauropsalta rubra (Sale Squeaker)

Genus Auscala

• Auscala spinosa (Creaking Branch Cicada)

Genus Birrima

• Birrima castanea (Red Tree-ticker)
• Birrima varians (Black Tree-ticker)

Genus Caliginopsalta

• Caliginopsalta percola (Royal Casuarina Ticker)

Genus Chelapsalta

• Chelapsalta puer (Cassinia Cicada)
• Chelapsalta myoporae (Copper Shrub-buzzer)

Genus Clinata

• Clinata nodicosta (Western Bent-winged Clicker)

Genus Clinopsalta

• Clinopsalta adelaida (Murray Acacia Cicada)
• Clinopsalta autumna (Ferny Acacia Cicada)
• Clinopsalta tigris (Small Acacia Cicada)
• Clinopsalta semilunata (Semilunata Cicada)

Genus Crotopsalta

• Crotopsalta fronsecetes (Eastern Ticker)
• Crotopsalta plexis (Wilga Ticker)
• Crotopsalta strenulum (Rapid Ticker)
• Crotopsalta poaecetes (Cloncurry Ticker)
• Crotopsalta leptotigris (Cravens Peak Ticker)

Genus Diemeniana

• Diemeniana cincta (Tasman Twanger)
• Diemeniana euronotiana (Golden Twanger)
• Diemeniana frenchi (Crop Duster)
• Diemeniana hirsuta (Black Twanger)
• Diemeniana neboissi (Auburn Crop Duster)

Genus Dipsopsalta

• Dipsopsalta signata (Desert Grass-buzzer)

Genus Drymopsalta

• Drymopsalta acrotela (Top End Heath-buzzer)
• Drymopsalta crepitum (Cape York Heath-buzzer)
• Drymopsalta daemeli (Brown Heath-buzzer)
• Drymopsalta hobsoni (Inglewood Heath-buzzer)
• Drymopsalta wallumi (Wallum Heath-buzzer)

Genus Erempsalta

• Erempsalta hermannsbergensis (Turkey Bush Cicada)

Genus Ewartia

• Ewartia brevis (Varnished Cicada)
• Ewartia carina (Cape York Wattle Cicada)
• Ewartia cuensis (Western Wattle Cicada)
• Ewartia etesia (Northern Wattle Cicada)
• Ewartia lapidosa (Inland Wattle Cicada)
• Ewartia oldfieldi (Wattle Cicada)
• Ewartia roberti (Thin-striped Wattle Cicada)
• Ewartia thamna (Shrub Wattle Cicada)

Genus Falcatpsalta

• Falcatpsalta aquilus (Sooty Squeaker)

Genus Froggattoides

• Froggattoides pallidus (Western Bent-wing)
• Froggattodies typicus (Eastern Bent-wing)

Genus Gagatopsalta

• Gagatopsalta obscura (Clip-clop Cicada)
• Gagatopsalta auranti (Painted Brigalow Ticker)

Genus Galanga

• Galanga labeculata (Double-spotted Cicada)

Genus Gelidea

• Gelidea torrida (Southern Spotted Cicada)

Genus Graminitigrina

• Graminitigrina aurora (Emerald Grass-ticker)
• Graminitigrina bolloni (Southern Grass-clicker)
• Graminitigrina bowensis (Northern Grass-clicker)
• Graminitigrina carnarvonensis (Maranoa Grass-clicker)
• Graminitigrina einasleighi (Ornamental Grass-clicker)
• Graminitigrina flindensis (Hughenden Grass-clicker)
• Graminitigrina karumbae (Far Northern Grass-clicker)
• Graminitigrina selwynensis (Selwyn Range Grass-clicker)
• Graminitigrina triodiae (Central Grass-clicker)
• Graminitigrina uluruensis (Uluru Grass-clicker)

Genus Gudanga

• Gudanga adamsi (Northern Brigalow Blackwing)
• Gudanga aurea (Golden Blackwing)
• Gudanga boulayi (Red Blackwing)
• Gudanga browni (Orange Blackwing)
• Gudanga emmotti (Noonbah Blackwing)
• Gudanga kalgoorliensis (Kalgoorlie Blackwing)
• Gudanga lithgowae (Southern Brigalow Blackwing)
• Gudanga nowlandi (Mulga Blackwing)
• Gudanga pterolongata (Croydon Blackwing)
• Gudanga solata (Dark Red Blackwing)

Genus Haemopsalta

• Haemopsalta aktites (Beach Squeaker)
• Haemopsalta flammeata (Sunray Squeaker)
• Haemopsalta georgina (Tasmanian Squeaker)
• Haemopsalta rubea (Red Squeaker)

Genus Heliopsalta

• Heliopsalta polita (Enamel Cicada)

Genus Heremusina

• Heremusina pipatio (Cloncurry Watch-winder)
• Heremusina udeoecetes (Alice Springs Watch-winder)

Genus Kikihia

• Kikihia convicta (Norfolk Island Cicada)

Genus Kobonga

• Kobonga apicans (Northern Robust Clicker)
• Kobonga apicata (Western Clicker)
• Kobonga froggatti (Maroon Clicker)
• Kobonga fuscomarginata (Slow Dinger)
• Kobonga godingi (Southern Robust Clicker)
• Kobonga oxleyi (Moree Dinger)
• Kobonga umbrimargo (Orange Clicker)

Genus Limnopsalta

• Limnopsalta stradbrokensis (Wallum Sedge-clicker)

Genus Marteena

• Marteena rubricincta (Mallee Chirper)

Genus Mugadina

• Mugadina emma (Amber Grass-ticker)
• Mugadina marshalli (Yellow Grass-ticker)

Genus Myopsalta

• Myopsalta albiventris (Pale-bellied Grass Buzzer)
• Myopsalta atrata (Orange-bellied Buzzer)
• Myopsalta bassiana (Bassian Buzzer)
• Myopsalta binotata (Robust Smoky Buzzer)
• Myopsalta chrysopedia (Black Sandplain Buzzer)
• Myopsalta coolahensis (Coolah Grass Buzzer)
• Myopsalta crucifera (Brown Buzzer)
• Myopsalta gordoni (Black Acacia Buzzer)
• Myopsalta leona (Black Brigalow Buzzer)
• Myopsalta longicauda (Wavering Buzzer)
• Myopsalta riverina (Eastern Mallee Buzzer)
• Myopsalta septa (Warwick Grass Buzzer)
• Myopsalta lactea (Dark Smoky Buzzer)
• Myopsalta libritor (Coolah Repeater)
• Myopsalta mackinlayi (Fence Buzzer)
• Myopsalta majurae (Mt Ainslie Buzzer)
• Myopsalta melanobasis (Broad-winged Buzzer)
• Myopsalta parvula (Black Mountain Tinkler)
• Myopsalta platyptera (Theodore Chirper)
• Myopsalta umbra (Olive Vine Buzzer)
• Myopsalta waterhousei (Smoky Buzzer)
• Myopsalta wollomombii (New England Grass Buzzer)
• Myopsalta xerograsidia (Fishing Reel Buzzer)

Genus Nanopsalta

• Nanopsalta basalis (Paperbark Tree-buzzer)

Genus Neopunia

• Neopunia graminis (Fluoro Grass Pixie)

Genus Noongara

• Noongara issoides (Perth Stubby-wing)

Genus Palapsalta

• Palapsalta belli (Pilbara Tree-buzzer)
• Palapsalta circumdata (Bronze Tree-buzzer)
• Palapsalta eyrei (Yellow Tree-buzzer)
• Palapsalta ligneocauda (Lime Tree-buzzer)
• Palapsalta palaga (Northern River Tree-buzzer)
• Palapsalta serpens (Pale-sided Tree-buzzer)
• Palapsalta virgulata (Striped Tree-buzzer)
• Palapsalta vitellina (Eastern River Tree-buzzer)

Genus Paradina

• Paradina leichardti (Black Grass-ticker)

Genus Pauropsalta

• Pauropsalta accola (Subcoastal Squawker)
• Pauropsalta adelphe (Top End Frog Squawker)
• Pauropsalta agasta (Kimberley Frog Squawker)
• Pauropsalta borealis (Little Orange Squawker)
• Pauropsalta castanea (Flinders Squawker)
• Pauropsalta confinis (Seismic Squawker)
• Pauropsalta conflua (Small Mallee Squawker)
• Pauropsalta contigua (Oven Squawker)
• Pauropsalta elgneri (Cape York Galloper)
• Pauropsalta ewarti (Herberton Squawker)
• Pauropsalta extensa (Slender Squawker)
• Pauropsalta extrema (Typewriter)
• Pauropsalta herveyensis (Herveys Range Squawker)
• Pauropsalta infrasila (Tropical Orange Squawker)
• Pauropsalta infuscata (Large Mallee Squawker)
• Pauropsalta juncta (Stirling Squawker)
• Pauropsalta katherina (Kathy's Squawker)
• Pauropsalta kriki (River Galloper)
• Pauropsalta melanopygia (Strident Sqawker)
• Pauropsalta mneme (Alarm Clock Squawker)
• Pauropsalta opaca (Fairy Dust Squawker)
• Pauropsalta prolongata (Slender Squawker)
• Pauropsalta similis (Kimberley Squawker)
• Pauropsalta sinavilla (Pilbara Squawker)
• Pauropsalta walkeri (Normanton Squawker)

Genus Physeema

• Physeema bellatrix (Esperance Ticker)
• Physeema convergens (Duke)
• Physeema labyrinthica (Southern Coastal Ticker)
• Physeema latorea (Northern Sandplain Ticker)
• Physeema quadricincta (Tick-tock)

Genus Pipilopsalta

• Pipilopsalta ceuthoviridis (Green Desert Ticker)

Genus Platypsalta

• Platypsalta dubia (Black Scrub-buzzer)
• Platypsalta mixta (Black Scrub-buzzer)

Genus Plerapsalta

• Plerapsalta incipiens (Tiny Ambertail)
• Plerapsalta multifascia (Neon Ambertail)

Genus Popplepsalta

• Popplepsalta aeroides (Blue-banded Scratcher)
• Popplepsalta annulata (Sprinkler Squeaker)
• Popplepsalta ayrensis (Ephemeral Squeaker)
• Popplepsalta blackdownensis (Blackdown Squeaker)
• Popplepsalta corymbiae (Western Red-eyed Squeaker)
• Popplepsalta decora (Static Squeaker)
• Popplepsalta granitica (Northern Red-eyed Squeaker)
• Popplepsalta inversa (Retro Squeaker)
• Popplepsalta kobongoides (Mimic Squeaker)
• Popplepsalta notialis incitata (Inland Sprinkler Squeaker)
• Popplepsalta notialis notialis (Southern Red-eyed Squeaker)
• Popplepsalta rubristrigata (Red Scratcher)
• Popplepsalta simplex (Atherton Squeaker)
• Popplepsalta subtropica (Subtropical Red-eyed Squeaker)
• Popplepsalta torrensis (Hughenden Red-eyed Squeaker)
• Popplepsalta tremula (Maraca Squeaker)
• Pauropsalta stigmatica (Small Adelaide Squeaker)

Genus Punia

• Punia minima (Grass Pygmy)

Genus Pyropsalta

• Pyropsalta melete (Red Bandit)

Genus Relictapsalta

• Relictapsalta nigristriga (Dusty Squawker)

Genus Samaecicada

• Samaecicada subolivacea (Red-eyed Fairy)

Genus Simona

• Simona erema (Roaring Senna Cicada)
• Simona retracta (Charleville Eremophila Cicada)
• Simona sancta (Western Eremophila Cicada)

Genus Sylphoides

• Sylphoides arenaria (Sand Fairy)

Genus Taurella

• Taurella forresti (Hibiscus Cicada)
• Taurella froggatti (Red Fairy)
• Taurella viridis (Emerald Fairy)

Genus Telmapsalta

• Telmapsalta hackeri (Paperbark Cicada)

Genus Terepsalta

• Terepsalta infans (Southern Stubby Grass-ticker)
• Terepsalta leichhardti (Northern Stubby Grass-ticker)

Genus Toxala

• Toxala verna (Bent-winged Grass-buzzer)
• Toxala mckinnonae (Herberton Grass-buzzer)

Genus Urabunana

• Urabunana sericeivitta (Eastern Grass-buzzer)

Genus Uradolichos

• Uradolichos longipennis (Candy Tiger-squawker)
• Uradolichos rotunda (Dark Tiger-squawker)

Genus Xeropsalta

• Xeropsalta aridula (Simpson Desert Grass-shaker)
• Mugadina festiva (Bee Gleeper)
• Xeropsalta rattrayi (Green Grass-shaker)
• Xeropsalta thomsoni (Birdsville Grass-ticker)

Genus Yoyetta

• Yoyetta aaede (Red-eyed Firetail)
• Yoyetta abdominalis (Golden-haired Firetail)
• Yoyetta celis (Silver Princess)
• Yoyetta cumberlandi (Cumberland Ambertail)
• Yoyetta denisoni (Black Firetail)
• Yoyetta fluviatilis (River Ambertail)
• Yoyetta humphreyae (Varied Ambertail)
• Yoyetta hunterorum (Sydney Treetop Ticker)
• Yoyetta incepta (False Ambertail)
• Yoyetta landsboroughi (Small Bassian Ambertail)
• Yoyetta nigrimontana (Small Southern Ambertail)
• Yoyetta repetens (Zipping Ambertail)
• Yoyetta toowoombae (Small Bassian Ambertail)
• Yoyetta tristrigata (Tropical Ambertail)

Tribe Chlorocystini

This group includes cicadas with unique, often clear or bottle-shaped bodies.

Genus Chlorocysta

• Chlorocysta congrua (Small Bottle Cicada)
• Chlorocysta fumea (McIllwraith Range Bottle Cicada)
• Chlorocysta suffusa (Marbled Bottle Cicada)
• Chlorocysta vitripennis (Lesser Bottle Cicada)

Genus Cystopsaltria

• Cystopsaltria immaculata (Rare Bladder Cicada)

Genus Cystosoma

• Cystosoma saundersii (Bladder Cicada)
• Cystosoma schmeltzi (Small Bladder Cicada)

Genus Euthemopsaltria

• Euthemopsaltria laeta (Reticulate Bottle Cicada)

Genus Glaucopsaltria

• Glaucopsaltria viridis (Bottle Cicada)

Genus Guineapsaltria

• Guineapsaltria flava (Green Fairy)

Genus Gymnotympana

• Gymnotympana rufa (Crimson Fairy)
• Gymnotympana varicolor (Red Belly)

Genus Owra

• Owra insignis (Green Ghost)

Genus Thaumastopsaltria

• Thaumastopsaltria globosa (Slender Green Growler)
• Thaumastopsaltria smithersi (Robust Green Growler)

Genus Venustria

• Venustria superba (Frog Cicada)

Tribe Taphurini

Genus Aleeta

• Aleeta curvicosta (Floury Baker)

Genus Tryella

• Tryella adela (Small Maroon Bullet)
• Tryella burnsi (Brown Bullet)
• Tryella castanea (Small Rusty Bullet)
• Tryella crassa (Dusky Bullet)
• Tryella graminea (Grass Bullet)
• Tryella infuscata (Large Maroon Bullet)
• Tryella kauma (Silver-striped Bullet)
• Tryella lachlani (Golden Black Bullet)
• Tryella noctua (Chocolate Bullet)
• Tryella occidens (Dusty Brown Bullet)
• Tryella ochra (Golden Brown Bullet)
• Tryella rubra (Large Rusty Bullet)
• Tryella stalkeri (Honey Bullet)
• Tryella willsi (Black Bullet)

Genus Chrysocicada

• Chrysocicada franceaustralae (Western Gold Cicada)

Genus Pictila

• Pictila occidentalis (Green Mallee Cicada)

Family Tettigarctidae

This family is much smaller and includes the "hairy cicadas." They are quite different from the Cicadidae family.

Subfamily Tettigarctinae

Tribe Tettigarctini

Genus Tettigarcta

• Tettigarcta crinita (Alpine Hairy Cicada)
• Tettigarcta tomentosa (Tasmanian Hairy Cicada)

See also

• An article in the Sydney Morning Herald describing Australian cicadas.