In the forests of Morowali, the deafening cicada chorus doesn't start by chance; it begins with a single command from a matriarch.
The conductor of the chorus
In the dense rainforest of the Morowali Nature Reserve, sound is a physical presence. The air hums with a chorus of insects so loud it can be disorienting, with some accounts describing the sound of local cicadas as an intense, eerie siren. Most cicada choruses are the collective work of males, who use specialized, drum-like organs called tymbals to produce mating calls that can exceed 120 decibels, louder than a rock concert. The male abdomen is often mostly hollow, acting as a resonance chamber to amplify the sound. Females are typically silent participants, listening for the right species-specific call.
The acoustic behavior in Morowali, however, points to a deviation from this standard model. The chorus is said to begin only after a specific sound is produced by a single female, a matriarchal figure that seemingly directs thousands of males to begin their song. This form of female-initiated signaling is exceptionally rare in the cicada world. While females of some species produce quiet clicks or wing flicks to show interest in a courting male, they do not typically lead the performance. This unique acoustic trigger in the Morowali forest suggests a complex communication system that defies the common patterns of cicada behavior.
A hotspot of insect evolution
The island of Sulawesi is a hub for cicada diversity, making it a perfect location for unusual evolutionary traits to appear. The genus Dilobopyga alone contains 48 species, 43 of which are endemic to Sulawesi and its immediate surroundings. Many of these species are confined to very specific territories within the island, creating isolated populations where unique behaviors can develop. The extreme biodiversity forces species to evolve distinct communication strategies to avoid their signals being lost in the noise of a shared ecosystem. Some Southeast Asian cicadas accomplish this by singing only at specific times of day, occupying a narrow acoustic window at dawn or dusk.
While a female-led chorus is an anomaly, it is not without precedent. Research on the Chinese cicada Subpsaltria yangi has documented a complete role reversal where females produce songs and males are attracted to them. The existence of such systems shows cicada communication is more flexible than once thought. The specific species behind the Morowali phenomenon remains uncatalogued, potentially one of the many undiscovered organisms within the reserve's 200,000-hectare expanse. Further research here is important, but the region faces serious threats from deforestation and nickel mining, which endanger this unique acoustic habitat.
💡Fun Facts
Cicadas create their famous buzzing sound using ribbed membranes called tymbals, which they buckle in and out at speeds of 300 to 400 times per second.
The world's largest cicada species, *Megapomponia imperatoria*, is found in Indonesia and can have a wingspan of up to 20 cm (8 inches).
Sulawesi hosts a striking number of endemic species, including the babirusa (a "deer-pig") and the anoa, the world's smallest buffalo.
The Morowali Nature Reserve protects a vast range of ecosystems, from coastal mangroves and coral reefs to cloud forests on the 7,946-foot Mt. Tambusisi.
The Morowali Nature Reserve is a protected wilderness area, not a formal park with set hours. Access typically requires permits and arrangements with local guides or research organizations.
Admission
Access may require permits; costs vary and are arranged locally. It is not a typical tourist destination.
Accessibility
The terrain is rugged and consists of dense, mountainous rainforest. Travel within the reserve is by foot on undeveloped trails and requires a high level of physical fitness.
Morowali matriarchal cicada researchCentral Sulawesi, Indonesia