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LOCAL Friday 7 august 2020
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The Aruban Cicada a.k.a. ‘Yé ye’ in Papiamento Episode LXV - (65)

ORANJESTAD — These days of warm daytime weather and mild
nights, you may find yourself opening a window to enjoy some Aru-
ban air. However accompanying the fresh air we could be hearing
a sound whining -tune like those we used to hear of a SW radio. This
can only mean the cicadas are singing. Now in case your patio lights
are one, you may catch a ‘Yé ye’ who hits his head into the lamp, like
trying to get outside mistaking the lightbulb for sun light.

Cicadas are large, clear-winged insects with bulbous eyes, cicadas
spend most of their lives as immatures, called nymphs, living in the
soil and feeding on tree roots. The iconic brown husks of the cicada,
which can be found on trees and structures, are left behind as the
nymphs construct mud tubes to crawl out of the soil toward a high
place to molt for the last time. The transition from soil dwelling nymphs
to mature adults is synchronized based on the year and temperature
of the soil, allowing for all of a brood to emerge together to breed
and lay eggs.
You may hear them, find their cast skins on trees and walls, or even
see them congregating. Cicadas do not bite and are largely harm- Pic. 1 Cicada, our Yé ye in the garden
less, even to cats and dogs. Their lifecycles are quite long, 13 to 17
years. Cicadas of all other species are not synchronized, so some
adults mature each summer and emerge while the rest of the popu-
lation continues to develop underground.
Cicada lore and mythology is rich and varied as there are c. 2700
species of cicada throughout the world, many of which are unde-
scribed and remain a mystery to science. Cicada has been prized
as a delicacy, like many other edible insects they are very nutritious.
You will most likely find the soft cicadas in the morning hours. You
can still eat them once they harden, but you should expect a little
extra crunch. Cicadas are famed throughout the world for their song
especially to many native cultures. Their song announces the time
for personal change, renewal, rebirth and transformation. The eerie
sound these beautiful insects make in Aruban mythology means the
crying for rain.
Females and males of some species flick their wings to produce a
sound similar to the flick of a wall switch. Females use wing flicks to
respond to male courting calls, in the case of Magicicada periodical
cicadas. This type of sound is called a stridulation.q

Pic.2 A Cicada made out of a small garden shovel

Would you like to get to know more regarding Aruba and its origins,
its animals and culture, we highly recommend you to book your
visit to our cultural encounter center which has been enchanting
curious participants for decades. Mail us at etnianativa03@gmail.
Pic. 3. More Cicada art com for your participation.