Higurashi cicada (Tanna japonensis). Image from Wikimedia.

Cicadas are the sound of Japanese summer. Whether it's out in the countryside or in the middle of the city, the insects are so much a part of everyday life in Japan that many Japanese people can identify different species just by their calls.

A variety of species of cicada appear at the beginning of each summer. As larvae, cicadas live underground, where they feed on tree roots, and in their adult, winged stage of life the harmless insects spend their days singing in hopes of attracting a mate.

セミが大量発生するのは理由があった！？　「素数ゼミ」の謎を解き明かした１人の日本人研究者 #grape https://t.co/wFVsBdtnXL pic.twitter.com/pVKl9SM2d4

— grape (@grapeejp) August 19, 2016

Is there a reason why cicadas emerge in such high numbers each year? One Japanese scientist has solved the riddle of the the mass appearance of cicadas.

Cicadas typically emerge in huge numbers. Defenseless and unable to fly particularly fast, the insects are an easy target for predators. Safety in numbers means a small number of cicadas will survive long enough to mate before being eaten.

Cicadas, known in Japanese as “semi,” are such a part of summer in Japan that some people have uploaded videos of different varieties and their distinctive calls to Twitter.

Minmin-zemi

Writing for English-language newspaper Japan Today, Philip Kendall notes:

There are some 30 different types of cicada in Japan, and each one’s song sounds that little bit different to the last. The cicada song most often used in TV and anime, though, has to be that of the “minmin-zemi.”

So here is the call of the minmin-zemi:

ミンミンゼミの鳴き声は
聞いてても暑くない

…気がする。(´∇｀) pic.twitter.com/1P5MGdrM7t

— ひげ？ (@madoka_rt) August 15, 2016

When I hear the minmin-zemi I feel cooler… (´∇｀)

Abura-zemi

The abura-zemi is famed for its buzzing sound:

アブラゼミ♂
もちろんすぐにリリース。#セミ#蝉#アブラゼミ pic.twitter.com/aD5xTVsin2

— 8(ハチ (@hachikatananori) August 23, 2016

An abura-zemi. Yes, I released it right after this.

Kuma-zemi

庭にクマゼミ来たーーー！
町田でクマゼミの声聞いたん初めて！ pic.twitter.com/XYZjLbqzRe

— いまいずみ (@sumi_nee) August 26, 2016

The kumza-zemis are back in our garden! First time this year I have heard them!

Tsukutsukuboushi

This small cicada with a long name is named after its own distinctive call: “tsuku-tsuku boushi, tsuku-tsuku boushi”:

ツクツクボウシ( ^ω^ )
・・・ウギャ〜(´ε｀ ) pic.twitter.com/OASTL53Kl4

— 伊勢日曜木工 (@watakin007) August 25, 2016

A tsukutsukuboushi!! ( ^ω^ )

Higurashi-zemi

The plaintive call of the higurashi-zemi generally occurs in late August and early September, heralding the dying days of summer and the beginning of fall:

夕方のヒグラシの清涼感のある哀愁溢れる鳴き声を聞くともう夏も終わりで秋が近いなぁと感傷に浸る #ヒグラシ #cicada #relaxation #japan https://t.co/FRJhOpE04q

— Kazuki Takishima (@damakaz27) August 23, 2016

When I hear the baleful cry of the higurashi-zemi, with its hint of cooler temperatures, I know that summer is near over and fall is approaching.

A cacophony of cicadas

Of course, different species of cicada will appear together, resulting in a cacophony of different calls. Here's the minmin-zemi and the tsukutsukuboushi singing together:

みなさん、おはようございます(^^)
今日の横浜は良いお天気
木陰は過ごしやすいですね
動画はミンミン蝉とツクツクボウシの鳴き声です(^^)
本日も良い1日をpic.twitter.com/VWvmD8Ie4e

— タモレ☆釣り女部 (@tsurijobu) August 26, 2016

Good morning everyone! It's nice weather today in Yokohama, a good day to pass by under the shade of a tree. Here's the minmin-zemi and the tsukutsukuboushi singing together. May we all enjoy another wonderful day!