See the tymbal organ of a Sulphogaeana cicada, in Laos

From the archive record

Sulphogaeana is a genus of cicadas found in Asia from the Himalayas east to Laos. They were earlier included in the genus Gaeana. Cicadas are able to produce these sounds because they possess an organ that is almost unique among insects, the tymbal organ. Each male cicada has a pair of these circular ridged membranes on the back and side surface of the first abdominal segment. Contraction of a tymbal muscle attached to the membrane causes it to bend, producing a clicking sound. The tymbal springs back when the muscle is relaxed. Source: Britannica Cicadas suck the sap of trees they live on. A Hill Barbet calls as this Cicada slowly clawls up an akhrot or walnut tree. The green colouration roughly matches the mosses on the tree trunk, giving it near perfect camouflage. In a rather rare and