Cicada (Chorus)(Amphipsalta zealandica)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Auchenorrhyncha
Infraorder: Cicadomorpha
Superfamily: Cicadoidea
Family: Cicadidae
Species: Amphipsalta zealandica
Common name: Chorus cicada,
The sound of the Amphipsalta zealandica (Thanks to Cicada Cental)
The adult male cicada possesses two ribbed membranes called tymbals, one on each side of its first abdominal segment. By contracting the tymbal muscle, the cicada buckles the membrane inward, producing a loud click. As the membrane snaps back, it clicks again. The two tymbals click alternately.
Air sacs in the hollow abdominal cavity amplify the clicking sounds. The vibration travels through the body to the tympani, which amplify the sound further.
Chorus cicadas are found all over the North Island.They are also found on coastal areas of the South Island except from Dunedin north to about Timaru and Stewart Island.
Photos below are of the Chorus cicada, Amphipsalta zealandica
An empty Cicada nymph skin
Previous page: Cicada Damage
Next page: Cicada (Clapping)(Amphipsalta cingulata)