How do cicadas produce their loud male mating sounds?

Male cicadas produce their characteristic loud mating calls using a specialized structure known as the tymbal organ.12

Located on the back and sides of the first abdominal segment, each male possesses a pair of circular, ridged membranes called tymbals. The sound is generated through the following process:12

• Muscle Contraction: A large tymbal muscle attached to the membrane contracts, causing the tymbal to bend and produce a sharp click or pulse.12
• Elasticity: When the muscle relaxes, the tymbal springs back to its original position due to its own elasticity.12
• Rapid Repetition: These muscles contract and relax at a high frequency, ranging from 120 to 480 times per second, which creates a sound that is perceived by the human ear as a continuous buzz.12
• Amplification: Cicadas possess large air sacs that act as resonance chambers. These sacs have resonant frequencies that match the vibrations of the tymbals, significantly amplifying the sound to create the loud, high-pitched chorus associated with late summer.12