If you've ever lived where there are cicadas, you know that these
extremely noisy insects make the most racket when it's blistering
hot. How do they keep cool while remaining so active in the hot sun?
The secret is that cicadas sweat. These finger-long, winged insects
have pores through which they secrete a watery liquid derived from
the tree sap they drink. While they sing (by vibrating ridged
membranes against their bodies), they sweat profusely, thus
dissipating the heat of their efforts.
Those efforts result in the loudest sounds made by any insect. In
Missouri in the summer of 1999, the din reached 85 decibels at some
locations, louder than a large diesel truck at full power. Outdoor
cafes had to close because the noise was too much for the customers.
Anonymous
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