Ryukyu Aburazemi

Japanese Name: リュウキュウアブラゼミ
Chinese Name: 琉球油蟬
English Name: Graptopsaltria bimaculata
Origin: Okinawa Island and surrounding islands, Amami Oshima, Kakeromajima, Tokunoshima

Reference：“Okinawa’s Cicadas” by Shinsei Publishing

In Japan, a different species of Aburazemi (G. nigrofuscata) is found north of Yakushima, while Ryukyu Aburazemi is endemic to the central Ryukyu Islands, including the Amami and Okinawa Islands. The patterns of the populations in the Okinawa and Amami regions show slight differences.

Ryukyu Aburazemi is the most easily recognizable cicada in Okinawa. If you see a cicada with brown wings in Okinawa, it is undoubtedly Ryukyu Aburazemi, as other cicadas have transparent wings.

You can hear its call from early June to October, which sounds like “kachi kachi kachi—shhh,” with a distinctive extended note. This sound is reminiscent of scrubbing a pot, which is why it is called “Na-bi kachi kachi” in the Okinawan dialect, with “Na-bi” meaning pot.

University of the Ryukyus Museum (Fūsūkan): Call sound

2022-09-09: Ryukyu Aburazemi emergence record

The wings of Ryukyu Aburazemi are white immediately after emergence but turn brown after some time. Unfortunately, this time I couldn’t wait for the color change, so I don’t know how long it takes.

If the round part at the end of the abdomen in its exuviae (shed skin) is large, it indicates a male. For females, the round part is smaller due to the presence of an ovipositor.