Cicada Insect
Ever wondered what that perpetual buzzing noise was during the days and evenings in the countryside of Ibiza? Sounds like the background noise in all those old westerns, doesn’t it?
Let me introduce you to the local noise-maker, our very own cicada.
These critters can grow to around three or even four inches in length (no matter what those blighters at wikipedia tell you, I’ve seen these things with my own eyes). Their chainsaw buzzing is, like much of the animal kingdom, a call to mate, although to be honest, the cicada mating season seems never to end. It’s either that or, and scientists have yet to prove this, the cicada version of facebook. All that constant buzzing and networking seems to back this theory up. But hey, who are we to attempt to unravel the mysteries of the insectoid mind?
Without delving into their psyche, however, what we can tell you of them is as follows:
That song they make? Well, unlike a lot of their cousins, they don’t go rubbing their legs together to generate noise. That buzzing sound comes from deep within the animal itself, created by rapid vibration of the membranes within their bodies. This is what gives them a deeper, richer sound than many of their counterparts from across the globe.
Harmless enough creatures, they don’t bite, but they can give you a tiny ‘kick’ which can make you jump if you’re not expecting it. I tried to shoo one little fella out of the window, put my hand a little too close and the tiny beast made me jump with his kick and a snapping sound. No danger to either of us whatsoever, but he made me take a step backward while he made good his escape, which I suppose was exactly the point, so good for him.
You’ll rarely hear them come the winter months – they seem to be fans of the warmer times, but let’s face it, don’t they make a terrific soundtrack to your break? Clint would have been proud to have them in the orchestra.
There are many species of Cicada across the world, and they all supposedly have their own soundtrack, but the Ibicenc version seem to have developed their very own relaxing harmonies. In Ibiza, they are considered the Barry White of the insect world – soulful, timeless and perfectly relaxing. If it’s a romantic atmosphere you require, then you couldn’t go far wrong with the Ibiza Cicada Backing Orchestra!