Illustration of a Cicada—Neotibicen canicularis (Dog-day Cicada). The male cicadas are the loudest sound-producing insects in the world. Each species has different mating songs to ensure they attract the appropriate mate. Cicadae are unique in sound-producing insects in that they have a musical drum in their abdomen. The organs that produce sound are ‘tymbals' which are paired membranes that are ribbed and located at the abdominal base. Contracting the internal tymbal muscles yield a pulse of sound as the tymbals buckle inwards. As these muscles relax, the tymbals return to their original position. The interior of the male abdomen is substantively hollow to amplify the resonance of the sound.
