The Hyalessa Cicada (Hyalessa maculaticollis) is one of the most common cicada species found in South Korea and other parts of East Asia. It is well known for its loud, distinctive calls that fill forests, parks, and tree-lined streets during the summer months. Belonging to the family Cicadidae, this species is recognized for its black body, transparent wings, and the powerful songs produced by males. As one of the signature insects of summer, the Hyalessa Cicada plays an important role in forest ecosystems and serves as a natural symbol of the changing seasons.

In this article, we’ll explore the Hyalessa Cicada’s characteristics, habitat, behavior, diet, reproduction, and ecological importance.

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What Is the Hyalessa Cicada?

The Hyalessa Cicada belongs to the order Hemiptera and the family Cicadidae.

It is distributed throughout South Korea, China, Japan, and the Russian Far East, inhabiting deciduous forests, mixed woodlands, parks, urban streets lined with trees, and other wooded environments.

Adult Hyalessa Cicadas typically measure:

• Body Length: Approximately 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 inches)
• Wingspan: Approximately 70–90 mm (2.8–3.5 inches)
• Weight: Approximately 1–2 g (0.04–0.07 ounces)

Adult cicadas live for only 2–4 weeks, while the nymphs spend 3–5 years or more underground before emerging as adults.

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Characteristics of the Hyalessa Cicada

1. Loud and Powerful Song

The Hyalessa Cicada is best known for its loud, rhythmic song that dominates the soundscape of Korean summers.

Male cicadas produce these calls by rapidly vibrating specialized organs called tymbals located on the abdomen. The songs serve primarily to attract females and establish breeding territories.

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2. Transparent Wings and Strong Body

The Hyalessa Cicada has two pairs of broad, transparent wings supported by strong wing muscles.

Its body is primarily black with brown markings, allowing it to blend into tree bark while remaining an agile and capable flyer.

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3. Long Underground Nymph Stage

Most of the cicada’s life is spent underground.

Nymphs feed on tree root sap for several years before emerging during summer. After climbing onto a tree trunk or other vertical surface, they molt one final time and transform into winged adults.

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Behavior

The Hyalessa Cicada is a diurnal insect that is most active during daylight hours.

Its typical behaviors include:

• Living primarily on trees
• Singing actively during the daytime
• Only males producing mating calls
• Molting into adults after emerging from the soil
• Mating and laying eggs shortly afterward
• Being most abundant during the summer season

Females use their ovipositors to make small slits in tree branches where they deposit their eggs. After hatching, the young nymphs fall to the ground and burrow into the soil to begin their underground life cycle.

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Diet and Habitat

The Hyalessa Cicada is a herbivorous insect that feeds exclusively on plant sap.

Its primary food sources include:

• Tree sap
• Sap from deciduous trees
• Oak tree sap
• Willow tree sap
• Maple tree sap

Both nymphs and adults feed by piercing plant tissues and extracting nutrient-rich sap.

Preferred habitats include:

• Deciduous forests
• Mixed forests
• Parks
• Urban tree-lined streets
• Mountain forests
• Gardens

The species thrives in environments with abundant mature trees and healthy soil suitable for underground development.

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Ecological Importance

The Hyalessa Cicada plays an important role in forest ecosystems.

Underground nymphs help improve soil structure and aeration as they tunnel through the earth. Adult cicadas serve as an important food source for birds, spiders, mantises, and many other predators, contributing to the stability of the food web.

Even the shed exoskeletons left behind after molting provide shelter and nutrients for various small organisms within the ecosystem.

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Relationship with Humans

The Hyalessa Cicada is completely harmless to humans.

It is one of the insects most closely associated with the sounds of summer and is a popular subject for environmental education and insect observation.

Although its loud chorus may be considered noisy in areas with dense populations, its presence is generally viewed as a sign of a healthy and thriving natural environment.

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The Hyalessa Cicada is one of Korea’s most iconic summer insects, admired for its powerful song, fascinating life cycle, and remarkable transformation from an underground nymph to a winged adult. Spending years beneath the soil before living only a few weeks above ground, it has one of the most extraordinary life histories among insects.

With continued conservation of forests, urban green spaces, and healthy ecosystems, the Hyalessa Cicada will continue to announce the arrival of summer with its unmistakable chorus for generations to come.