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Cicada Song


Cicada Song
Photo Information
Copyright: Haraprasan Nayak (haraprasan) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 98 N: 3647] (13332)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-10-16
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix E5600
Exposure: f/5.7, 1/60 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-03-31 2:56
Viewed: 532
Points: 68
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The CicadaSONG Click on the link and download the sound. It could be a very nice ringtone for cellphones ;>.

Cicadas are between 2 and 5 cm (1 to 2 inches) long. Cicadas have prominent eyes set wide apart on the sides of the head, short antennae protruding between or in front of the eyes, and membranous front wings. Some cicadas produce sounds louder than 100 dB! They modulate their noise by wiggling their abdomens toward and away from the tree that they are on. Some species have 17 year life cycles.

Male cicadas have loud noisemakers called "timbals" on the sides of the abdominal base. Their "singing" is not the stridulation (where two structures are rubbed against one another) of many other familiar sound-producing insects like crickets: the timbals are regions of the exoskeleton that are modified to form a complex membrane with thin, membranous portions and thickened "ribs". Contracting the internal timbal muscles produces a clicking sound as the timbals buckle inwards. As these muscles relax, the timbals return to their original position producing another click. The interior of the male abdomen is substantially hollow to amplify the resonance of the sound. A cicada rapidly vibrates these membranes, and enlarged chambers derived from the tracheae make its body serve as a resonance chamber, greatly amplifying the sound. They modulate their noise by wiggling their abdomens toward and away from the tree that they are on. Additionally, each species has its own distinctive song.

Although only males produce the cicadas' distinctive sound, both sexes have tympana, which are membranous structures used to detect sounds and thus the cicadas' equivalent of ears. Males can disable their own tympana while calling. Adult cicadas have a sideways-ridged plate where the mouth is in normal insects.

Some cicadas produce sounds up to 120 dB (SPL) "at close range", among the loudest of all insect-produced sounds. Conversely, some small species have songs so high in pitch that the noise is inaudible to humans. Species have different mating songs to ensure they attract the appropriate mate. The song intensity of the louder cicadas acts as an effective bird repellent. Males of many species tend to gather which creates a greater sound intensity and protects against avian predators. It can be difficult to determine which direction(s) cicada song is coming from, because the low pitch carries well and because it may, in fact, be coming from many directions at once, as cicadas in various trees all make noise at once.

In addition to the mating song, many species also have a distinct distress call, usually a somewhat broken and erratic sound emitted when an individual is seized. A number of species also have a courtship song, which is often a quieter call and is produced after a female has been drawn by the calling song.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Auchenorrhyncha
Infraorder: Cicadomorpha
Superfamily: Cicadoidea
Family: Cicadidae

I didn't found any proper ID for this species. Hope somebody will help.
pekkavalo1, nkasot, ramthakur, mariki, marhowie, bahadir, rousettus, Alex99, jaycee, Necipp, zulfu, matatur, boreocypriensis, jusninasirun, Argus, uleko, fartash, goldyrs, cataclysta, parthasarathi, eqshannon, xTauruSx, flashpoint has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To pekkavalo1: Thank youharaprasan 1 03-31 04:32
To nkasot: Thank youharaprasan 1 03-31 04:32
To jignasi: Thank youharaprasan 1 03-31 04:31
To ramthakur: Thank youharaprasan 1 03-31 04:31
To mariki: Thank youharaprasan 1 03-31 04:30
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Haraprasan,

Very good shot of Cicada. I like the very pleasant natural colours and sharp details.

TFS

Pekka

Hi Haraprasan, What a strange cicada whish i have not seen before. Green ones. Splendid shot! TFS. Regards,
Greetings from Cyprus,
Nazım

Hola , días ya sin ver tu galería Hara y se van pasando tomas interesantes. Bonita cigarra (Cícada) la que nos presentas, que desgraciadamente cada vez es menos común en nuestras tierras por las cuestiones industriales. Buen color y excelente luz, "pillada" además en su ambiente nocturno.
Saludos: J. Ignasi

I have never seen fill flash used so effectively in a macro shot, HP.
I know of Cicadas because we have them in plenty in my native hills in Himachal Pradesh.
We used to catch Cicadas in my childhood and devise games with them. However, we never killed or harmed them.
The focus on the subject, especially on its green eye, is out of this world.
Great shot and thanks for sharing it.
Ram

Hello Haraprasan,

Superb picture of this cicada. Excellent sharpness and nice detail, particularly of the wing. Good lighting and beautiful colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hi Haraprasan,
I like the DOF, detail, color, and it's composed well on the diagonal. Good use of flash, excellent notes on this also :)
Well done,
Howard

Hi Haraprasan,
Splendid and perfect shot of this green cicadas. TFS. Regards,
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1058 W: 26 N: 3154] (11345)
  • [2008-03-31 7:33]

Hi Haraprasan,
very well composed with excellent use of flash. Details and colours are very well reproduced here, well done my friend!
Paul

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1824 W: 243 N: 6007] (21398)
  • [2008-03-31 7:42]

Very, very sharp shot of this Cicada!
The clarity and detail is amazing!
Very nice colours too.
Superb composition and POV.
Great DOF.
What a weird sound too! A bit like an aeroplane :-)
Cheers Haraprasan,

Joe

Hello Haraprasan
today is a different object from Cicadas. They are loudy insects, but it looks like very lovely with large green eyes and brillant coloration. You presented it with a great macro with sharp focus, superb colors, nice POV and composition. good notes to read. TFS, well done
Ahmet

uhhhhhhh
ugly insect but good shot^^
good pov nice details and good colours
well done
Toba

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3139 W: 148 N: 4732] (15289)
  • [2008-03-31 9:01]

Hi Haraprasan.
What a superb macro picture. I am impressed with details and sharpness of the insect image, excellent flash work and amazing rich colours. May be only shot is cropped strongly a bit on the top left corner (an only for my taste). Great job and my compliments.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1865 W: 8 N: 4848] (15703)
  • [2008-03-31 9:29]

Hi Haraprasan,

Amazing macro of this Cicada. Beautiful colors and excellent details. It really is a pretty insect and that green eye is wonderful. I've heard them more often than seen them. We used to go to an outdoor theater and the cicadas drowned out the performers.

Jane

Hello Haraprasan, superfine focusing, with excellent dof, a good quality image. Although I don't like flash, it seems to have worked out well to get the sharp detail. tfs rgds Necip

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 569 W: 0 N: 100] (609)
  • [2008-03-31 11:07]

Hello Haraprasan,
Wonderful close up shot of this cicada. TFS. Regards,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1021 W: 285 N: 3408] (11286)
  • [2008-03-31 11:39]

Hello Haraprasan,
a perfect picture of the cicada. Exact focus, great sharpness and beautiful natural colours.
A very clear and distinct presentation of the species.
Best wishes, Peter

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1315 W: 72 N: 2778] (9211)
  • [2008-03-31 11:51]

Hello Haraprasan,
Very beautiful photo of this Cicada with excellent sharp details and contrasting colours. I've only seen (and heard!!!) brown-ones.
Regards,
Peter

A fine and colorful cicada captured expertly in great detail Haraprasan, but not one of the species we have here around İzmir. The flash's effect on the right wing is so nice, showing the sculpturings perfectly. Some of these insects have quite a long larval stage, you know...
Mehmet

Hello My dear friend Haraprasan,
I was a little late in entering the TN today since I have so many educational-editorial obligations my friend. Sorry for the delaying in feedbacking my friend. Your capture is superb -as usual- with superb clarity, wonderful details, DOF and POV. TFS.
Cheers,
Bayram

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1086 W: 6 N: 3013] (11160)
  • [2008-03-31 16:43]

Hi Hara,this is great,i haven't words,the pic talk alone,wonderfull work under all corners of view,my best compliments for the note too,have a nice day,Luciano

Hello Haraprasan. Excellent shot at this Cicada with pin sharp clarity and vibrant in colors. Stunning perch and useful notes too. Well done and best regards. Jusni

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2707 W: 139 N: 7809] (24333)
  • [2008-03-31 22:48]

This is a superb macro of a Cicada, Haraprasan!
The details, lighting, POV, colours and sharpness are all perfect and the diagonal composition is pretty good.
Thanks for sharing this great shot,
Ivan

Very cool close-up! Great details, wonderful colors, interesting subject. (I'm running out of time! ha ha)

Good stuff!

Hi Haraprasan, superb Cicara with amazing details, I can hear her song, beautiful colors and splendid sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2543 W: 170 N: 7734] (24475)
  • [2008-04-01 8:08]

Hello Haraprasan,
Your capture of this beautiful Cikada is most impressive! Excellent sharp details and beautiful patterns and colours. Your flash worked really well here. Many thanks, Ulla

Hello Haraprasan
Wonderful shot of this Cicada,
Perfect use of flash ,exposure and compo.Superb shot my friend.

Regards
Fartash

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 985 W: 4 N: 2523] (11717)
  • [2008-04-01 10:42]

HP Bhai, Superb shot and what a great lovely eye catch you have gothere. Splendid work. Ganesh

Hi HP,
An awesome shot!Perfect sharpness and exposure!
Very well done!
Cheers!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1761 W: 29 N: 5136] (16820)
  • [2008-04-02 9:38]

Hi Haraprasan,
Wonderful shot of this Cicada with amazing colours and details. Very skilfull use of flash lighting and a fine pose captured. I particularly like that 'glass ball' eye. Excellent POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Superb picture .

I am sorry to be so late....I feel like old absent professor sometimes...as if I were loosing my mind in this time and yet still trying like heck to catch up or keep up one... A fine image of course...otherwise I would not be here...or maybe...

It is a good image of an insect which with I am somewhat familiar...and although they did not bother me as creepy crawly as spiders...they have this "way" or look about them that makes them as a gentle giant...Very good sir!
Bob

Hi Haraprasan,
Wonderful shot! Excellent in all criteria! TFS. Regards,
Deniz

Hi Haraprasan
Great colorful big cicada. Perfect sharpness, very good compo with main object on the left side. Also interesting POV
Best wishes
Krzysztof

hello Haraprasan,
great capture and fine details
thanks for sharing

have a nice day sERGIO

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