CicadaCicada Index Desert Screamer (Burbunga hillieri) Double Drummer (Thopha saccata) Floury Baker (Aleeta curvicosta) Masked Devil (Cyclochila australasiae) Orange Drummer (Thopha colorata)

The cicada Double Drummer (Thopha saccata) is one of the larger cicadas in Australia, it is also one of the loudest of all cicadas.

The adults are usually seen from November to March, gathering on the larger eucalypt trees. The adult cicada often emerge together, evidence being the cluster of empty nymph skins (called exuviae) that can be seen around the base and lower trunks of the eucalypts.

The Double Drummer have been found in urban areas, forests and woodlands throughout eastern Australia.

There are five species that are recognised:

  • Desert Double Dummer (Thopha emmotti)
  • Double Drummer (Thopha saccata)
  • Golden Drummer (Thopha colorata)
  • Northern Double Drummer (Thopha sessiliba)
  • Pilbara Double Dummer (Thopha hutchinsoni)
Double Drummer (Thopha saccata), Cicada
Double Drummer (Thopha saccata) © Katrina Leel

  • Scientific classification
  • Domain: Eukaryota
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Hemiptera
  • Family: Cicadidae
  • Genus: Thopha
  • Species: Thopha saccata

Footnote & References

  1. Thopha saccata, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 1 November 2020, 19:15 UTC, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thopha_saccata [accessed 13 November 2020]

CicadaCicada Index Desert Screamer (Burbunga hillieri) Double Drummer (Thopha saccata) Floury Baker (Aleeta curvicosta) Masked Devil (Cyclochila australasiae) Orange Drummer (Thopha colorata)

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub