Cicadas Begin Their Summer Song
The first cicada calls of summer mark a clear phenological shift. What to listen for and what it tells us about the season's progress.
The cicada’s song is the soundtrack of high summer. When the first cicadas begin to call, usually during Minor Heat (小暑), it signals that the season has reached a threshold — the soil is warm enough, the days are long enough, and the biological clock of these insects says it’s time.
What to Listen For
Annual cicadas (genus Tibicen) produce a distinctive buzzing or whining call that rises and falls in pitch. Unlike the synchronized emergences of periodical cicadas, annual cicadas appear every summer, with staggered life cycles that ensure some adults are always present.
- Morning chorus: Cicadas are most active during the hottest part of the day
- Evening calls: As temperatures cool, the rhythm changes
- Species variation: Different species sing at different times and frequencies
Phenological Significance
The first cicada song is a reliable phenological indicator. It tells us:
- Soil temperature has reached at least 18°C (65°F)
- The season has moved past the summer solstice’s peak light
- Other insects and birds that prey on cicadas will follow this signal