Spotting Cicadas in the Cote d’Azur, France is frustratingly difficult as they are so well disguised.
The shrill sound of cicadas is synonymous with the sound of summer in the south of France, the Cote d’Azur and Provence in particular. Look in the gift shops and you will see ceramic ones for sale all over the place, often you walk through the door and the imitation sound of cicadas begins.
Mainly you will hear them in woodland in the hills but you will often come across them trilling in the garden of your Cote d’Azur villa. At first they can be almost annoying but after a while you get used to them as part of the sound of summer.
Try spotting one and you will find yourself scratching your head as it’s nigh on impossible. How, you ask yourself, can such a loud sound, coming from so close to you be practically impossible to detect? The number of times I have seen people desperately seeking cicadas without success is a testament to the disguise and cunning of this large insect.
Despite the fact that the average cicada is about as big as your thumb they blend so well into the colours of the bark of the tree on which they rest that they seem part of the wood. When you approach close they also have a cunning ploy of switching off the sound making them even harder to locate.
The noise comes as a result of the insect cooling itself and it is noticeable when the temperatures in the south of France reach a certain level that the sound of cicadas kicks in. There becomes a comfortable association of cicadas sound and warmth, something my children brought to my attention.
One day I finally got a photograph (the one shown) of this illusive insect. Once you have spotted one you get the hang of it. Its fun trying. Good luck!
A south of France villa holiday allows you to discover a wealth of flora and fauna both on land and in the sea. It’s a great pleasure for adults and children alike.
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