Why is it that small insects, despite their size, can be so loud when they fly? That, and how crickets and cicadas can be so loud with their mating calls.

Question

Why is it that small insects, despite their size, can be so loud when they fly? That, and how crickets and cicadas can be so loud with their mating calls.

In: Biology

Answer 1

Cicadas have a unique organ called a tymbal that rapidly rattles chitinous ribs together via muscle contractions. It’s basically an organic percussion instrument.