Aussies have been exposed to a new soundtrack this summer, and one we can’t ignore. The “deafening” chorus of thousands of cicadas chirping at once has filled the air in what’s known to be a one-in-seven-year event.
While for most of us, the sound is reminiscent of our childhood, with days spent exploring the outdoors, it turns out there’s more to the insects than meets the eye. And the revelation has scores of Aussies in utter shock.
Walking through an area where there’s a large cicada population, you may have felt what could have easily been mistaken as droplets of rain. But the falling liquid coming from above is likely cicada urine, those in the know have revealed.
Speaking to Yahoo News, University of Sydney insect and parasite expert Professor David Emery said cicadas “congregate and sing in large numbers”. When they do, “the deafening noise reaching over 100 decibels deters predators”.
But this behaviour makes them thirsty and it takes a lot of energy.
“So they suck sap while cavorting and extract and digest the sugars from it to provide the energy for all their needs,” Emery explained. “And yes, they then excrete (pee out) the water (just like us a bit)”.
“So the ‘cicada rain’ is the excreted water, and it’s harmless to humans. But forget your soap; there’s not enough to get up a good lather or rinse,” he added.
Celebrity vet Dr Katrina Warren admitted she had no idea the liquid from trees is likely cicada pee. Source: TikTok/drkatrinawarren and turfandtools
Cicadas wee with ‘jet force’, spraying people below
Videos being shared on TikTok show the powerful, jet-like stream falling from the trees, with many admitting they had no idea it was coming from cicadas.
Rather than droplets, cicadas wee with a “jet force” celebrity vet Dr Katrina Warren explained in one video. She said they can urinate at about three metres per second, which is three times faster than the average man.
“So if you’re walking through the bush and you’re hearing cicadas chirping and you’re feeling what you think is droplets of rain or wondering what the liquid is, it’s likely cicada wee,” she said, calling it “crazy”.
Aussies shocked by cicada revelation: ‘This is nuts’
Others admitted they had “no idea” it was a thing. bush with the piercing sound of cicadas surrounding him. “There’s so many cicadas. It’s actually raining cicada p*ss. It’s foul,” he said, admitting the ground was “soaking wet”.
While others admitted they had “no idea” it was a thing. “This is NUTS! I had no idea,” said one online.
“I’m 43, been in Australia my whole life and never knew this,” another shared.
Others shared a time they thought they were rained on, despite clear blue skies overhead. Only now realising they were likely “peed on”.
“I am questioning every bushwalk I’ve ever been on where I got wet,” wrote one.
Another confessed, “when I ride my motorcycle under trees during cicada season”. “Feels like I am being spat on,” they added.
Masses of noisy cicadas emerge in Australia
Masses of green grocer cicadas were expected this year because they emerge from underground every seven years. But the sheer number of them has truly shocked the nation. They were seen in huge numbers in September across the NSW Blue Mountains region. Since then, surprisingly high numbers of other species of all shapes, sizes and colours have appeared and added to the chorus.
This year in the United States, the highest numbers of cicadas emerged in over two centuries. Trillions were reported across the country after the periodic cycles of three abundant species aligned.
These cycles have been intricately studied in the United States, but less is known about what causes cicadas to emerge in Australia. Good winter rains and an early start to the spring are believed to have instigated this year’s event.
Some have said the cicadas in Sydney are “next level”.
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