CicadaCicada Index Desert Screamer (Burbunga hillieri) Double Drummer (Thopha saccata) Floury Baker (Aleeta curvicosta) Masked Devil (Cyclochila australasiae) Orange Drummer (Thopha colorata) Razor Grinder (Henicopsaltria eydouxii) White Drummer (Arunta perulata)
The Razor Grinder (Henicopsaltria eydouxii) is a large cicada species, with forewings that measure 50-55 mm in length. The male and female of the species are similar in colour and markings, dark brown to reddish brown, with black markings. There are dark zigzag patterns on the the front wings veins, with the veins near the edges of the wings also dark in colour. The bottom side of the abdomen is orange and dark brown in colours.
The call of the male Razor Grinder lasts for a few seconds, increasing in volume, then will suddenly stop, and suddenly start again. The sound they produceis said to resemble metal grinding. Usually feeding silently during the afternoon, they then make their call in a group around dusk.
The Razor Grinders can also emit a distress call, a fragmented irregular noise, when seized by a predator.
Henicopsaltria eydouxii is native to eastern Australia, from Central Queensland to southern New South Wales, and inland to Toowoomba, Inverell, Tamworth and the Capertee Valley. They are common in Brisbane, but uncommon in Sydney. Habitat is dry and wet sclerophyll forest and margin areas of rainforest. They usually appear during December to January, but in some years can be seen in November.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Informal: Pterygotes
- Order: Hemiptera
- Suborder: Auchenorrhyncha
- Infraorder: Cicadomorpha
- Superfamily: Cicadoidea
- Family: Cicadidae
- Subfamily: Cicadinae
- Tribe: Arenopsaltriini
- Genus: Henicopsaltria
- Species: Henicopsaltria eydouxii
Footnote & References
- Razor Grinder (Henicopsaltria eydouxii), Emerald Beach NSW © Norm Farmer
- Henicopsaltria eydouxii (Guérin-Méneville, 1838), Razor Grinder, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Henicopsaltria eydouxii
CicadaCicada Index Desert Screamer (Burbunga hillieri) Double Drummer (Thopha saccata) Floury Baker (Aleeta curvicosta) Masked Devil (Cyclochila australasiae) Orange Drummer (Thopha colorata) Razor Grinder (Henicopsaltria eydouxii) White Drummer (Arunta perulata)
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