RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED CICADA

RED-NOSED CICADA AKA BLACK AND SCARLET CICADA AKA RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED CICADA (Huechys sanguinea). Information taken from my Book of Bugs of Hong Kong.

Sometimes I am lucky enough to see a largish, bright red insect fly past me, and I immediately give chase, hoping to photograph these lovely insects. However, they are quite shy and often stay high up in the canopy. A very distinctive, unmistakable insect. As the photograph shows, it has a bright red nose and abdomen which contrasts with the black wings. These cicadas are some of the last to emerge in the year and are mainly seen in August, September and October. This species is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

SEE THEM Look for large reddish creatures on the wing during sunny summer days. Seen mainly in spring and early summer.

QUICK FACTS 20–35 mm Uncommon Similar Amongst the loudest insects known to man, a swarm of cicadas can produce sounds up to a staggering 120 decibels (a rock concert in Hong Kong is about 115 decibels). Males produce this exceptionally loud “song", by rapidly vibrating drum-like “tymbals", and not through stridulation (rubbing body parts together), like other insects. By using their internal muscles, the cicada rapidly buckles the tymbals inwards, or outwards, producing continuous clicks, and this noise amplifies through their mostly hollow abdomens. The cicada can modulate its song by moving its abdomen, so each species produces its own distinctive mating songs and acoustic signals.