Bug FAQRedeye Cicada
Psaltoda moerens · Order: Hemiptera · Family: Cicadidae
Also called: red-eyed cicada
Redeye cicadas have a shiny black back, brown hairy underside, and striking deep-red eyes, though pink or brown eyes also occur. Adults are about 110 to 120 mm across, settle on smooth bark of eucalyptus and Angophora trees, and are heard from November to February with a distinctive revving and rattling call. They feed on tree sap, puncturing bark and expelling clear waste droplets, which can create a constant shower when many gather.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The adult’s upper side is a glossy black, while the underside is brown and covered in fine hairs. Their eyes are a vivid red, though some individuals show pinkish or brownish eyes.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan typically measures between 110 and 120 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
When many are present, the expelled waste fluid can fall like a constant shower.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
They feed mainly on eucalyptus sap but will also use Angophora trees. While feeding, they release small droplets of clear waste fluid.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Females lay eggs only in dead or dying plant tissue. Population numbers can swing dramatically from year to year, with some years seeing huge swarms and others none at all.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are present from November through February. Their call can be heard any time of day, consisting of 2 to 12 revving sounds followed by a continuous rattling noise.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Redeye cicadas are native to southeastern Australia, from southern Queensland through South Australia and Tasmania.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Nocturnal birds such as the noisy friarbird eat redeye cicadas whole. Cicada-killer wasps sting and paralyze redeyes before storing them with their eggs.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
When are redeye cicadas active?
You’ll see them from November to February, and they can be heard any time of day.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I identify a redeye cicada?
Look for a shiny black back, brown hairy underside, and bright red eyes; they are about 110 to 120 mm wide.
Source: Wikipedia
Do they damage my house or garden?
They puncture tree bark to feed and can spray waste fluid, which may be messy when many gather.
Source: Wikipedia
What trees do they prefer?
They mainly feed on eucalyptus and also on Angophora trees.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Cicadidae)
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Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psaltoda_moerens
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.