COLUMBUS, Ohio — We all know the sound of the famous chirp of the cicadas, but there are several songs that they sing. There are many species of cicadas and each of these species communicates differently.
Some cicadas use their wings to produce sounds while others use tymbals, which are membranes that vibrate when pulled by tiny muscles. Each type of sound also has a different purpose like for distress or mating calls. To hear some of the other cicada sounds, check out Cicada Mania.
While the sound can be described as deafening, there is no immediate impact to their sound on your hearing.
The song of a cicada has an average frequency of about 9KHz. As described by experts, it's like listening to a lawnmower for 20 hours.
Dr. Oliver Adunka, the Director of Division of Otology at Wexner Medical Center, explained that the only way there would be any impact is if you held a cicada at your ear for hours on end.
“So the risk the practical risk is extraordinary low but certainly we are lucky they only come out every 17 years," Adunka said.