Adele Parkinson, age 11, of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, for her question:

HOW DOES THE CICADA MAKE HIS NOISE?

The cicada, also called the harvest fly, is a heavy¬bodied insect with four thin wings that fold over his body like a roof. He’s known for the buzzing song which the males make. A thin sheath of skin on the abdomen is actually a drum like membrane which vibrates rapidly to produce the sound. The sound attracts females.

Male cicadas often assemble in large groups and produce a loud chorus of sounds. Most are also able to make a short protest noise if they are disturbed.

This isn’t the season for the cicada. He is active in July and August. It takes from two to five years for most cicadas to develop from eggs into adults. Some types take from 13 to 17 years to reach adulthood. Once adulthood is reached, the cicada lives only a few weeks.