Adult Cicada

This is a picture of an adult Drummer Cicada drawn with Sketchbook. There are thousands of these flying amongst the River Red-gums along McIvor Creek. They make a loud sharp drumming noise as they fly. Almost deafening in the early morning or the late evening. They are amongst the larger of the Cicada Species in Australia with a head to tail wing tip length of 7.5cms (2.5 inches).

   Nymph                                                            Final Instar

This is a drawing of a Drummer Cicada Nymph. The nymphs start life as eggs laid in a slit just beneath the sappy bark of a River Red-gum. In autumn the eggs hatch into very small nymphs which fall to the wet earth where they burrow to build small dens next to the sappy tree roots. They stay underground for several years before emerging as adults in the spring. The final instar releases the flying version. It’s eerie to see the shed skins left behind on tree stumps after the last occupant has moved on.