The cicadaswell known for their distinctive summer song, possess an extraordinary ability that makes them unique in the animal kingdom: the ability to expel liquids with impressive force and speed. This phenomenon, known as “rain of cicadas”, occurs when large groups of these insects release jets of honeydewa sugary substance derived from the sap they consume.
The result is a sort of sticky rain that can surprise those who find themselves under the trees populated by these animals. Unlike other small insects, cicadas expel liquid through powerful jets, capable of reaching a distance of 3 meters in one second.
This incredible ability is linked to their diet. Cicadas feed exclusively on xylem sapa substance poor in nutrients that they must ingest in large quantities to obtain the energy necessary for survival. As a result their organism produces a considerable quantity of waste liquidswhich is eliminated with an efficient method to save energy.
The “Cicadageddon” of 2024
What makes the phenomenon even more interesting is the physics behind it. While in large mammals such as elephants urination is influenced by the force of gravity, in small animals such as cicadas the surface tension and friction. This mechanism, combined with their small size and the specific structure of the orifices, allows for extraordinary efficiency in the expulsion of the liquid.
During periods of increased activity, such as at the end of spring, the cicadas they emerge en masseespecially in tropical countries and the United States, giving rise to real “cicada rain” events. In 2024, for example, an event called “Cicadageddon” involved trillions of cicadas gathering in trees, amplifying the effect of this curious activity.
These insects, in addition to their ability to eliminate liquids in a unique way, also have extraordinarily resistant wings which, thanks to special properties, they can independently remove microbes from their surface. These peculiarities make cicadas not only a symbol of summer, but also a fascinating subject of study for scientists and naturalists.
