Common name: Double drummer
Scientific name: Thopha saccata
In the summer parade of Australian cicadas, the double drummer is the noisy bloke at the back with a set of kettle drums. Often cited as the loudest insect in the world as well as the largest native cicada, with a wingspan of 13–15cm, the male double drummer carries two large sacs, one each side of its abdomen, that it uses to amplify its call.
En masse, the double drummers’ collective thrumming has been likened to high-pitched bagpipes droning at a comparable 120dB, a volume equal to that of a chainsaw or rock concert. It can be found clustered on the foliage of large eucalypts throughout eastern Australia from November through to March. Just follow the sound of the drums.…
You're reading a preview of
Good Organic Gardening (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue #13.4 - 2022