The East Asian Cicada (Hyalessa maculaticollis) is one of the most familiar insects of summer in Korea. Its loud, distinctive calls echo through forests, parks, and tree-lined streets, making it a symbolic sound of the season. With its sturdy body and transparent wings, this cicada spends most of its life underground as a nymph before emerging as an adult for a brief period dedicated to reproduction.

The characteristic song of the East Asian Cicada is often regarded as a natural sign that summer has arrived. Beyond its iconic sound, it also plays an important ecological role by feeding on tree sap and serving as prey for numerous animals. In this article, we’ll explore its characteristics, diet, habitat, life cycle, and ecological importance.

---

What Is the East Asian Cicada?

The East Asian Cicada (Hyalessa maculaticollis) is an insect belonging to the family Cicadidae in the order Hemiptera.

It is widely distributed throughout South Korea, China, and Japan, where it can be found in habitats ranging from urban parks to dense forests.

Adults typically measure 3.5–4.5 cm (1.4–1.8 inches) in body length, with a wingspan of approximately 8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 inches).

---

Characteristics of the East Asian Cicada

1. Loud and Powerful Song

The most distinctive feature of the East Asian Cicada is its loud, resonant call.

Only males produce these sounds, using specialized organs called tymbals located on the sides of the abdomen.

The song serves to attract females and establish the male’s presence within its territory.

---

2. Transparent Wings and Robust Body

The East Asian Cicada has two pairs of broad, transparent wings.

Its body is typically patterned in shades of brown and green, allowing it to blend in with tree bark and surrounding vegetation.

Its strong flight muscles enable it to move quickly between trees.

---

3. A Long Underground Nymph Stage

The East Asian Cicada spends the majority of its life underground.

The nymph feeds on sap from tree roots for approximately three to five years before emerging during the summer.

After climbing a tree, it undergoes its final molt and transforms into an adult.

Adult cicadas live for only about three to five weeks, focusing primarily on reproduction.

---

Diet

The East Asian Cicada’s diet changes throughout its life cycle.

Nymphs feed on:

• Sap from tree roots

Adults feed on:

• Sap from tree trunks
• Sap from young branches

Using their specialized piercing-sucking mouthparts, they extract nutrient-rich sap directly from trees.

---

Habitat and Lifestyle

The East Asian Cicada prefers habitats with abundant trees.

Its common habitats include:

• Forests
• Woodlands
• Parks
• Tree-lined streets
• Gardens

It is diurnal, becoming most active during the hottest and sunniest hours of the day, when males produce their characteristic songs.

---

Reproduction and Growth

Females use their ovipositors to cut small slits into tree branches, where they deposit their eggs.

After hatching, the young nymphs fall to the ground and burrow into the soil, feeding on tree-root sap for several years.

Once fully developed, they emerge from the soil, climb nearby trees, molt one final time, and become adults.

---

Role in the Ecosystem

The East Asian Cicada plays several important roles in forest ecosystems.

Its contributions include:

• Providing food for numerous animals
• Improving soil structure through underground nymph activity
• Supporting nutrient cycling
• Maintaining biodiversity

As nymphs tunnel through the soil, they help improve soil aeration, benefiting plant roots and overall ecosystem health.

---

Natural Predators

The East Asian Cicada has many natural predators, including:

• Birds
• Praying mantises
• Spiders
• Wasps
• Lizards

Both adults and nymphs are vulnerable to predation, with underground nymphs also being eaten by moles and other small mammals.

---

Relationship with Humans

The East Asian Cicada is one of the most recognizable insects of the Korean summer.

Although it feeds on tree sap, it generally causes little lasting damage to healthy trees.

Its familiar calls make it a popular subject for nature observation and environmental education.

Researchers are also studying how urbanization and climate change may influence the timing of its emergence and its geographical distribution.

---

The East Asian Cicada is an iconic summer insect known for its powerful song, lengthy underground development, and fascinating life cycle. Spending most of its life beneath the soil before emerging as an adult for only a few weeks, it plays an important role in nutrient cycling, soil health, and forest food webs.

Each summer, the unmistakable chorus of the East Asian Cicada not only signals the arrival of the season but also reflects the vitality and health of the forests where it lives.