I was keen to learn about this interesting little fellow as we don't have them over here in the West although it is a common cicada in eastern Australia. It has a loud high pitched call and is one of the loudest insects in the world. The most common form is the yellow form (the Yellow Monday).
Less common colour variations are dark tan (Chocolate Solidier) and turquoise blue (Blue Moon). Most forms have red eyes. The Masked Devil is an orange-brown form with a black mask across the eyes that is more common at high altitudes.
The Green Grocer Cicada lays eggs in twigs using their sharp ovipositor to pierce the twig. The eggs hatch and the nymphs fall to the ground and burrow under the soil to feed on plant roots. The nymph remains underground for about 6 or 7 years, and when they are ready to hatch into the adult form, they dig their way out of the ground and climb a tree trunk or other nearby vertical surface. The nymph clasps the trunk of the tree and the sin spits down the back allowing the adult cicada to emerge. These cicadas usually grow to a length of about 4 cm with a wingspan of 11-13 cm.
The nymph skins remain on the tree as empty shells retaining the shape of the nymph that emerged.
The Green Grocer Cicada is found in coastal regions of south-eastern Australia from southern Queensland, along eastern New South Wales to Victoria and west to South Australia.
