Clapping cicadas | Amphipsalta

Clapping cicada | Amphipsalta cingulata

These cicadas are often heard before they are seen, as they prefer to sing high in trees.

This cicada gets its name from the way it produces its song. This cicada (along with the other clapping cicada relatives) claps its wings while singing, making a song with rhythmic clicks.

Their underside is generally light brown with black markings. The edge of the wing is dark olive green and the base of the wing is grey.

Sitting on a branch against a blue background is a thick, olive-green and purple clapping cicada with black spots on its back. Its transparent, veined wings are closed and have a dark red outline.

Amphipsalta cingulata. Photo by Melvin Esson

Distribution and habitat

This cicada can be found throughout the North Island, although it is less common in the lower North Island.

A map of Aotearoa New Zealand with a blue background. The North Island is coloured green and the South Islands and other islands are white.

Time of year

A table with two rows and twelve columns each with the months of the year in them. Jan, Feb, Mar, and Dec have dark green underneath, Apr, May, Jun, Oct, Nov have lighter green underneath, July to September has no colour underneath.

This cicada can be found from October to June, although it is most common from December to March.

Song

This audio recording of the sound of the clapping cicada shows an oscillogram visualising a repeating slow, loud, high-pitched and steady clicking sound.

Chirping cicada | Amphipsalta strepitans

Sometimes called the “disco-beat cicada”. This cicada is particularly known for its quick, rhythmic chirps.

It is a dull olive colour and its wind edge is grey and it has an orange patch at the base of its wing.

A dark cicada with yellow markings on its back – it is sitting on a branch with a blue background.

Amphipsalta strepitans. Photo by Melvin Esson

Distribution

The chirping cicada lives in the lower Wellington region and the east coust of the South Island.

A map of Aotearoa New Zealand with a blue background. Most of the North Island is white with the lower Wellington area being green, and most of the South Islands and other islands are white, with the east coast shaded green.

Time of year

A table with two rows and twelve columns each with the months of the year in them. Jan, Feb, Nov, and Dec have dark green underneath, Mar and Oct have lighter green underneath, Apr to Sep has no colour underneath.

Song
This is a recording of the sound of a chirping cicada. It’s characterized by repetitive clicking sounds at medium intervals.

Chorus cicada or Kihikihi wawā | Amphipsalta zelandica

The largest and most widespread cicada in Aotearoa New Zealand. As its name suggests, this cicada likes to sing in large groups and can be very loud during the summer months. The Māori word for this species, kihikihi wawā, can be translated to “a loud roar or rumble like the sound of loud rain”, referring to the sound they make.

This green large chorus cicada captures the whole picture and sits on a denim material. The cicada has black and yellow spots on its back and its transparent, closed wings are coloured brown-green at the edges.

Amphipsalta zelandica. Photo by Melvin Esson

Distribution
These cicadas can be found throughout New Zealand except the Otago and South Canterbury regions.

Map of New Zealand on a blue background with most of the country coloured green except the Otago and South Canterbury regions on the lower east side of the south island..

Time of year

This cicada can be found from October to March, although it is most common from November to February.

Song
This is a recording of the sound of a chorus cicada. It’s a loud, high-pitched continuous clicking sound.