Cicadas are thinner on the ground in parts of regional NSW this season, meaning a quieter summer. 

John Stanley has heard from cicada expert Dr Lindsay Popple the drop was likely caused by an explosion of cicadas last year and a deluge of rain this winter.

“That produces conditions that are rife for natural enemies of cicadas,” Dr Popple said.

An increase in soil pathogens due wet conditions can affect the number that survive to surface from the ground.

“A lot of people may not realise cicadas spend most of their life underground, so it’s only the last part of their life cycle they emerge and start making all that noise.

“Once they’ve emerged as adults – it depends on the weather and conditions – but they can one or two weeks, particularly the smaller ones.”

The summer of 2022 isn’t looking promising for a mass return either, Dr Popple says.

“I reckon around 2023 or 2024, it probably [won’t] be until then we get the big emergence.”

Press PLAY below to hear more on the lifecycle of cicadas 

Image: Getty