Insects that Can Make Screeching Noises

If you have been kept awake by a loud, rhythmic screeching or clicking from your garden on a warm Melbourne evening, you are almost certainly hearing insects rather than anything sinister.

What insect makes that loud droning sound?

Cicadas are the loudest noise-makers in an Australian summer. Males produce the distinctive droning or clicking call using membranes called tymbals on the abdomen, and they are harmless to homes and gardens.

What makes the chirping sound at night?

Crickets chirp by rubbing their wings together, a process called stridulation, and they are most active after dark. They hide in garden beds, under mulch or near foundations, and occasionally move indoors into damp areas like laundries or subfloors.

• Cicadas – loud droning or clicking, daytime and dusk, harmless
• Crickets – rhythmic chirping, mostly at night, occasionally indoors
• Katydids – softer clicking or buzzing, well camouflaged among leaves

Are these insects a problem for your home?

Cicadas and katydids are harmless and need no treatment at all. Crickets are also harmless in themselves, but large numbers close to a house can be a signal worth reading.

When does insect noise mean something else?

Persistent cricket activity indoors usually points to conditions that also suit other pests: damp mulch, leaf litter, or gaps around the foundation. If crickets keep getting inside, the entry points and moisture are worth checking properly.

4S Pest Control can inspect and treat general pest issues across Melbourne. Call 0412 412 139 if unwanted insect activity around your home needs attention.