When I heard about cicadas being used as biological loudspeakers I thought it was a joke. I was very wrong. At the University of Tsukuba, Japan, seven unfortunate cicadas of the species graptopsaltria nigrofuscata they became the protagonists of an absurd experiment: researchers inserted electrodes into their abdomens to stimulate the tymbal muscles, responsible for their characteristic singing, transforming them into bionic devices capable of singing controlled musical scales.
And now, the chirping insects that have provided the soundtrack to generations of summers can play Pachelbelโs Canon on command. A hybrid insect-computer system that raises troubling questions about our relationship with nature and the future of bioelectronic technology.
Bioelectric cicadas and controlled pulses
Japanese researchers have really exceeded all expectations. Cicadas (strictly male, due to their size and muscular structure) have received an โunsolicited upgradeโ that has radically changed their communication system. How does this system work? They described it in their study published on ArXiv, but I'm telling you too.
A sort of interface sends calibrated electrical impulses, from 0 to 1 volt, to generate different sound frequencies. This is how they managed to make these cicadas โsingโ with different tones, even following predefined musical scales. What was โCicaleโ, the legendary piece by Heather Parisi? Well, here we are talking about a completely different musical genre.
The control is so precise that they were able to make these insects perform structured pieces such as Pachelbel's famous Canon. A microchip instead of a brain, an electrical impulse instead of instinct.
Four types of sound waves
The most fascinating (or disturbing, depending on your point of view) aspect is that the research has identified well four different types of sound waves produced by cicadas under electrical stimulation.
They have classified them with names that seem to come from an electroacoustics manual: Correct Frequency Waves (CFW), Half Frequency Waves (HFW), Dual Frequency Waves (DFW) and Irregular Frequency Waves (IFW). Each type of wave appears at different voltage levels, creating a sort of sound alphabet for cicadas.
The range of tones produced varies from specimen to specimen: some cicadas manage to produce higher pitched sounds, others lower pitched. Only one of the seven cicadas managed to produce a sound reaching A, while two reached C sharp. Not exactly virtuosos of singing, but considering that we are talking about electrically controlled insects, I would say that it is already a remarkable result.
Biobots and Future Scenarios for Cicadas
This technology is not just a game to make cicadas sing on command. Researchers are thinking about possible practical applications related to the natural mobility of insects and their energy efficiency.
Let's imagine cicadas biobot who infiltrate collapsed buildings to search for survivors, robotic bees that monitor air quality or pollination patterns, or even high-tech termites that test chemical contaminants in soil. Even surveillance scenarios, with insects carrying audio or video sensors in restricted areas. Chills.
Communication is the least explored aspect of biobot insects, but these cicada experiments pave the way for low-power emergency communications systems. Imagine a natural disaster where standard audio equipment or conventional robots would be limited by power demands or inaccessible terrain. An army of singing cicadas could make all the difference.
Looking to the future, I wonder where this fusion of biology and technology will take us. Are cicadas just the beginning of a new era of hybrid devices? And above all, are we ready to face the ethical questions that will inevitably arise? While waiting to hear the cicadas singing on a warm summer evening (if we had them), I can't help but wonder if that sound will still be natural or programmed by some artificial intelligence.
Apparently, we do care about cicadas.
