In midsummer, loud cicadas such as the Black Cicada and Korean Cicada dominate the soundscape. But as the weather begins to cool and many summer cicadas gradually disappear, another species starts becoming more noticeable.

This is Suisha coreana, a late-season cicada found in Korea and nearby regions.

Its Korean name literally refers to a “late hairy cicada,” reflecting two of its most distinctive features: it appears relatively late in the year, and its body is covered with noticeable hairs.

In central Korea, adults generally begin appearing from late August, become especially active during September and October, and may sometimes still be heard into early November.

It looks very similar to another hairy cicada species, but differences in seasonal timing, hindwing color, and song can help distinguish them.

In this article, we will explore the appearance, size, song, seasonal activity, habitat, diet, life cycle, and ecological role of Suisha coreana.

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What Is Suisha coreana?

Suisha coreana is a cicada belonging to the family Cicadidae.

Its scientific name is Suisha coreana.

Basic information includes:

• Scientific name: Suisha coreana
• Order: Hemiptera
• Family: Cicadidae
• Genus: Suisha
• Body length: About 22 mm
• Length including wings: About 35–45 mm
• Main adult season: Late August to early November
• Peak activity: September to October
• Habitat: Mainly lowland forests and wooded areas
• Distribution: Korea, Japan, and China
• Notable features: Long hairs on the body and legs, yellowish-brown hindwings, and late-season activity

It is a relatively small cicada compared with large species such as the Black Cicada.

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Why Is It Known as a “Late Hairy Cicada”?

The Korean name gives a good clue to its identity.

It can be understood as a hairy cicada that appears late in the season.

While many cicadas begin calling in early or midsummer, Suisha coreana typically becomes noticeable when summer is already coming to an end.

It is especially associated with September and October, making it one of Korea’s better-known autumn cicadas.

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Size

Suisha coreana is not a particularly large cicada.

Its body length is around 22 mm, while the total length including the folded wings is approximately 35–45 mm.

Because the wings extend well beyond the body, the insect may appear somewhat larger when resting on a tree trunk.

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Appearance

The body of Suisha coreana generally shows a mixture of dark greenish-brown, yellowish-brown, black, and brown tones.

Typical characteristics include:

• Relatively small body
• Yellowish-brown and dark markings
• Noticeable hairs on the head and body
• Hairs on the legs
• Patterned forewings
• Yellowish-brown hindwings
• Short antennae
• Large compound eyes

Freshly emerged adults may show the body hairs especially clearly.

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Does It Really Have Hair?

Yes.

As suggested by its Korean name, Suisha coreana has visible hairs on several parts of the body.

These can be seen around:

• The head
• Abdomen
• Legs
• Sides of the body

The hairs may become worn down or less noticeable as the adult ages, so they are easiest to see in recently emerged individuals.

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Distinctive Wings

The forewings are not simply clear and transparent.

They contain a complex mixture of transparent areas and pale, brown, and dark markings.

When the cicada rests on bark, these patterns help it blend into the background.

One especially useful identification feature is the yellowish-brown coloration of the hindwings.

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Suisha coreana vs. Platypleura kaempferi

Suisha coreana can look very similar to another Korean cicada, Platypleura kaempferi.

However, several differences help separate them.

Suisha coreana

• Scientific name: Suisha coreana
• Body length around 22 mm
• Begins appearing from late August
• Most active in September and October
• May remain until early November
• Hindwings are yellowish-brown
• Long body hairs are visible

Platypleura kaempferi

• Scientific name: Platypleura kaempferi
• Similar small body size
• Appears earlier in the season
• Mainly active during summer
• Hindwings are darker brown
• Also has a mottled, bark-like appearance

One of the easiest differences is therefore the combination of season and hindwing color.

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Their Seasons Are Different

Seasonal timing is one of the easiest ways to distinguish these two similar cicadas.

Platypleura kaempferi begins appearing in early summer.

By contrast, Suisha coreana becomes active when many summer cicadas are already disappearing.

So, if a similar-looking cicada is seen in June or July, it is more likely to be Platypleura kaempferi.

If it is seen in September or October, Suisha coreana becomes a much stronger possibility.

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When Does Suisha coreana Appear?

The late season is the most distinctive part of this cicada’s biology.

In central Korea, adults generally begin appearing in late August and become more active during September and October.

Numbers usually decline rapidly by late October, although some individuals may still be observed into early November.

This late seasonal appearance makes the species unusual compared with many familiar summer cicadas.

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When Does It Call?

A nationwide Korean bioacoustic survey recorded the reproductive calls of Suisha coreana from approximately mid-September through late October.

This was considerably later than many other cicada species recorded in the same study.

That pattern clearly shows why this species is associated with cooler autumn conditions.

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Does It Live in Cooler Conditions?

Yes, compared with many other cicadas, it is associated with relatively cooler seasonal conditions.

In one Korean survey, habitats where Suisha coreana was recorded had lower average temperatures than habitats of several other cicada species studied.

This fits well with its tendency to remain active after midsummer temperatures begin to fall.

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Where Does It Live?

Suisha coreana occurs in several parts of East Asia.

Its distribution includes:

• Korea
• Japan
• China

In Korea, it is generally associated with lowland wooded areas and forests.

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Can It Live in the Mountains?

Although it is more commonly found in lower areas, it is not restricted entirely to lowlands.

It has occasionally been recorded from mountainous regions at elevations above 1,000 meters.

However, it is generally considered more common in flatter and lower-elevation habitats.

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Does It Prefer Sunny Areas?

The species does not appear equally common in every type of forest.

It is less frequently found in places where very little sunlight reaches the ground or on extremely steep, shaded slopes.

Wooded areas with moderate sunlight may therefore provide more suitable conditions.

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Does It Sit on Low Trees?

Yes.

Suisha coreana is not restricted to the tops of tall trees.

It can be found on both higher and lower parts of trees.

By following the sound during late summer and autumn, it may be possible to locate one resting on a trunk or branch.

However, its bark-like colors and patterned wings make it surprisingly difficult to spot.

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What Does Its Song Sound Like?

The song of Suisha coreana sounds quite different from the powerful summer calls of larger cicadas.

Its call has sometimes been described as sounding roughly like:

“Ssee-eek, ssik-ssik-ssik-ssik”

The song combines longer notes with repeated shorter sounds.

To some listeners, it may even resemble the call of a grasshopper or another autumn insect more than a typical summer cicada.

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Why Do Cicadas Sing?

In cicadas, it is mainly the males that produce loud calls.

Male cicadas have specialized sound-producing structures called tymbals on the abdomen.

These structures flex rapidly and generate the characteristic cicada sound.

The main purpose is to attract females for mating.

Different cicada species have distinctive rhythms and frequencies, helping individuals identify members of their own species even when several cicadas are calling in the same area.

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Does It Call on Cloudy Days?

One interesting characteristic of Suisha coreana is that it can continue calling under relatively cloudy conditions.

Some cicadas reduce their calling activity sharply depending on temperature and sunlight.

This species appears somewhat better adapted to the cooler and less consistently sunny weather of early autumn.

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Does It Call in the Evening?

Yes.

Suisha coreana is also known to begin calling from the early evening.

This is another reason its song can feel different from the intense daytime chorus associated with many midsummer cicadas.

If an unfamiliar cicada-like sound is heard during an evening walk in September or October, this species may be one possibility.

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What Does Suisha coreana Eat?

Like other cicadas, Suisha coreana feeds on plant fluids.

It does not chew leaves.

Instead, it has a specialized piercing-sucking mouthpart that penetrates plant tissue and allows it to drink sap.

Adults mainly feed from stems and woody plants, while underground nymphs obtain fluids from plant roots.

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Does It Bite Humans?

No.

Suisha coreana is not a blood-feeding insect.

It does not actively seek humans as food like a mosquito.

If handled roughly, a cicada may grip with its legs or possibly probe with its mouthparts if confused, but it does not normally attack people.

It is best observed without handling.

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Life Cycle

Like other cicadas, Suisha coreana develops through the following stages:

Egg → Nymph → Adult

Cicadas undergo incomplete metamorphosis.

This means they do not have a pupal stage like butterflies.

Females lay eggs in plant tissue, newly hatched nymphs drop to the ground, and the nymphs burrow into the soil.

They then spend much of their development underground before eventually emerging and molting into winged adults.

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What Do the Nymphs Do Underground?

After hatching, cicada nymphs enter the soil.

They use strong forelegs to move underground and reach plant roots.

There, they feed on fluids from the roots while growing through several developmental stages.

The winged adult we see above ground represents only the final stage of a much longer life cycle.

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What Is a Cicada Shell?

The brown empty shells often seen attached to tree trunks are not dead cicadas.

They are shed exoskeletons, also called exuviae.

A mature nymph climbs out of the soil, attaches itself to a tree or another surface, and molts one final time.

The adult emerges from the old skin, leaving the empty shell behind.

The shed skins of Suisha coreana may often have noticeable soil or mud attached to them.

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What Happens After It Becomes an Adult?

Once the nymph climbs above ground, it attaches itself to a suitable surface.

The adult then emerges during the final molt.

At first, the body and wings are soft.

Over time, the wings expand and harden, and the body becomes fully functional.

Males begin calling to attract females.

After mating, females lay eggs in plant tissue.

This begins the next generation.

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How Long Does It Live Underground?

Some cicadas, such as North American 13-year and 17-year periodical cicadas, have very well-known underground development periods.

The exact underground nymphal duration of Suisha coreana, however, is not as clearly established in commonly available references.

It should therefore not be assumed to spend 13 or 17 years underground.

Like many cicadas, it likely spends a substantial part of its life as an underground nymph, but the exact duration can vary by species.

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Natural Predators

Like other cicadas, Suisha coreana can be eaten by many predators.

Possible predators include:

• Birds
• Spiders
• Mantises
• Wasps
• Frogs
• Lizards
• Other predatory insects

Because calling males reveal their location through sound, remaining alert to predators is important.

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Why Does It Look Like Tree Bark?

The colors of Suisha coreana are mostly:

• Yellowish-brown
• Dark greenish-brown
• Black
• Brown

These colors break up the outline of the body when the cicada rests on bark.

This camouflage can make it more difficult for birds and other predators to detect.

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Ecological Role

Cicadas are more than just noisy insects.

Suisha coreana also plays several roles in the ecosystem.

Nymphs live underground and feed on plant fluids.

Adults provide food for birds, spiders, and other predators.

After adults die, nutrients from their bodies return to the soil.

A simplified ecological relationship can be shown as:

Plants → Suisha coreana → Birds, Spiders, and Other Predators → Soil

It is therefore part of both the food web and nutrient cycle.

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Is It an Agricultural Pest?

Cicadas feed on plant fluids and females may cut small slits into twigs when laying eggs.

Under certain conditions, this can cause some damage to young branches.

However, cicadas are not generally considered major agricultural pests in the same way as many other insects.

Healthy mature trees usually tolerate moderate cicada activity well.

Therefore, Suisha coreana should not automatically be considered harmful simply because it feeds on plant sap.

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Is Suisha coreana Rare?

Suisha coreana is a native cicada in Korea and has been recorded from multiple regions.

Nationwide surveys have found it in a variety of protected areas.

Its abundance, however, can differ depending on region and habitat.

Some local governments may give it additional protection.

For example, it has been included among locally protected wildlife in Incheon.

This local designation should not be confused with being nationally listed as an endangered species.

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Suisha coreana vs. Korean Cicada

Suisha coreana

• Body length around 22 mm
• Relatively small
• Noticeable body hairs
• Appears from late August
• Most active in September and October
• Distinctive repeated autumn call

Korean Cicada

• Generally larger
• Typical summer cicada
• Active from July
• Familiar repetitive midsummer song

If the Korean Cicada represents the sound of midsummer, Suisha coreana can be thought of as one of the cicadas that signals the arrival of autumn.

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Suisha coreana vs. Black Cicada

Suisha coreana

• Small
• Active from late summer into autumn
• More subtle repeated call
• Hairy and mottled appearance

Black Cicada

• Much larger
• Mainly active in midsummer
• Extremely loud call
• Large, dark-colored body

The size difference is immediately noticeable when the two are compared directly.

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Best Time to Observe Suisha coreana

If you want to observe this cicada, mid-September to mid-October is often a good period.

The exact timing can vary depending on region and yearly temperature.

Listen carefully in lowland forests, wooded walking trails, and areas with mature trees.

During the early evening, a repeated cicada-like call may guide you toward a resting individual.

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Observation Tips

There is no need to capture the insect.

Photographing it and listening to its song from a short distance is usually enough.

In areas where it has local protection, capturing it should be avoided.

Approaching too closely may also cause the cicada to stop calling or fly away.

Quiet observation is therefore the best approach.

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Interesting Facts About Suisha coreana

Suisha coreana has several fascinating characteristics.

First, it becomes most noticeable in autumn, after many other cicadas have already declined.

Second, its body is only about 22 mm long, making it relatively small.

Third, it has long hairs on the body and legs.

Fourth, it closely resembles Platypleura kaempferi, but seasonal timing and hindwing color help separate them.

Fifth, adults may appear from late August and sometimes remain into early November.

Sixth, it can continue calling even under cloudy conditions.

Seventh, it may begin calling from the early evening.

Eighth, its reproductive song has been recorded from mid-September through late October in Korean surveys.

Ninth, it is associated with relatively cool seasonal conditions compared with many other cicadas.

Tenth, it has been designated as locally protected wildlife in some regions, including Incheon.

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Suisha coreana is a distinctive late-season cicada found in Korea and other parts of East Asia.

Its body is about 22 mm long, while the total length including the wings can reach roughly 35–45 mm.

It has a dark greenish-brown to yellowish-brown body, noticeable hairs, patterned wings, and yellowish-brown hindwings.

Its most remarkable feature is its seasonal timing.

Unlike many cicadas that become active in midsummer, Suisha coreana begins appearing from late August and is most active during September and October.

Some individuals may even remain into early November.

It also sounds different from familiar summer cicadas, producing a more restrained and repetitive call that can sometimes be heard from early evening.

Like other cicadas, the nymphs live underground and feed on fluids from plant roots.

When fully developed, they emerge from the soil, climb trees or other surfaces, and undergo a final molt into winged adults.

Males then call to attract females, and the next generation begins when females lay eggs.

For this reason, Suisha coreana is more than simply “a cicada that appears late.”

It is a distinctive autumn cicada that signals the changing season after the loud chorus of summer cicadas begins to fade.