Cicadas 2024 Sound. These fascinating insects, known for their distinctive buzzing chorus, are set to emerge in large numbers across the south. The tymbal, a white membrane on a periodical cicada male’s midsection used to create sound, is displayed by jennifer rydzewski, an insect ecologist for the dupage forest preserve, wednesday, june 5, 2024, in wheaton, ill.

Each small tymbal contains a series of ribs that bend and make a clicking sound when the male flexes its muscles. Exposure to such levels for over 30 minutes can cause permanent hearing.