RESERVE REPORT
November 2015
Introduction
The summer shrill of the cicada is in full swing. This month our Conservation Intern, Paige Ezzey, enlightens us about
these fantastic creatures, drawing attention to the interesting facts and endearments that effect the life of a cicada.
2015 is drawing to a close, I wish to thank Paige for her contributions to the Reserve Report, and other, over the past
10 months, continuing to build up an informative reference of educational articles that highlight a particular aspect of
the environment during the reporting month.
Paige leaves our employment shortly in pursuit of studying her Higher Diploma in Nature Conservation. We wish
Paige all the best with her post graduate studies.
The Cicada, the Summer Screamer
As you walk beneath the Mopani trees in camp in the early summer (November – December), you will experience the
air piercing shrills that make your ears and head buzz. If you’ve ever wondered what the mysteriously hidden creature
is that makes this sound, you have found your answer here. The vocalist is the cicada, the bug that screams.
What are they?
The cicada looks like a strange mix of cricket, fly and moth, with some thinking it is a beetle, but the truth is that it is
none of these. The cicada is in fact a bug, belonging to the Hemiptera family (true bugs) which are insects.
In particular, it belongs to the suborder, Auchenorrhyncha, which means they are in the same group as aphids,
leafhoppers and spittlebugs.
There are about 1300 cicada species worldwide, 150 occur in South Africa. Here are a few species found in South
Africa:
Picture 1: The Axe Head Cicada that is
common on Ingwelala and in other
parts of Limpopo. It appears that this
species is an annual type, repeating its
cycle every year. It produces a
sustained high pitched call alternating
between a smooth note and a trill.
Picture 2: The Cape Emerald Cicada
endemic to the Afromontane forests and
fynbos. Makes a characteristic intermittent
clicking call while flying.
Picture 3: Giant Forest
Cicada which also
occurs in the Lowveld.
Very loud, continuous
calls, almost pure tone.
Picture 4: Orange Wing Cicada endemic to the
western and Eastern capes. Produces a
continuous high pitched call on one note, almost
smooth but changing to a trill.
Picture 5: Green Wing Cicada found in Lowveld.
Produces clicks and “churr” sounds.
Picture 6: Bladder
Cicada endemic to
Eastern Cape. Produces
a repetitive, grating call
that is frog-like.
Cicadas are NOT “Christmas Beetles”!
Picture 8: This
is a Christmas
Beetle
Picture 9: This is a
Cicada
There are two groups that fall under the super family Cicadoidea (cicadas). These are Cicadidae and Tettigarctidae.
The tymbal organs (the organs that produce the cicada’s loud sound) in the Tettigarctidae are not as well developed
as in the Cicadidae.
Picture 10: The well-known
Cicadidae family
Picture 11: A member of the
Tettigarctidae subfamily, these are
known as hairy cicadas and are a
more primitive form than the more
well-known Cicadidae species.
Tettigarctidae species are mostly
extinct and restricted to Australia.
Where do Cicadas live?
Cicadas are found on every continent in the world, except for Antarctica, as they prefer warmer climates. Many
species occur within specific biogeographical regions, giving this insect a high degree of local endemism. Cicadas
spend most of their lives developing as nymphs in the soil before they emerge as adults. They then live in trees where
they feed on plant sap with their mouth parts (proboscis) adapted for sucking.
Cicada proboscis mouth part. It
sucks up plant sap like humans drink
through a straw.
Interesting facts
Life cycle:
The cicada is known for its synchronised life cycle, with some species taking two to seventeen years as nymphs
before reaching adulthood. This potentially classifies the cicada as the insect with the longest larval development
stage in the world.
The breeding cycle begins when adults mate after the males lure the females with their attractive cicada songs.
Mating
Gender comparison: Male left, female right.
Only the male sings in the Cicadidae family
group
Egg slits on a branch
After mating the female lands in a tree, and uses her saw-like, egg laying organ (ovipositor) to fashion a slit into the
bark. This is where she lays her eggs, some females lay up to 400 eggs at a time. These eggs hatch and the nymphs
drop to the ground where they burrow down to depths of 2.5 meters deep into the soil. Cicada nymphs excavate
chambers close to plant roots where they feed on sap. The nymphs continue to develop until they reach the final stage
known as instar, when they tunnel to the surface and exit the soil.
Emergent cicadas land on plants where they shed their skins for the final time, morphing into adulthood.
Abandoned nymph skin left on plant
Cicada nymph burrowing to
surface
Freshly emerged adult cicada on the left and
abandoned nymph skin on the right
The males die after mating and the females die after laying their eggs.
The magic cicada die in their thousands when finished breeding. Its South African counterparts
suffer the same fate.
Picture 7: The “Double Drummer” cicada species found in Australia.
According to scientists, this is the loudest insect in the world!
The Cicada Song:
Unlike similar insects, such as crickets, the male cicada does not use stridulation or the rubbing together of body parts
to make their loud sound. Instead, they have a unique noise making organ, called a tymbal, located on the front side
of the hollow body of the male that acts as a sound box.
The noise is made with the contraction of muscles acting against the tymbals, which produces clicks which are
combined into continuous notes. The cicada actually has the ability to manipulate the sound by changing its position in
relation to a surface.
Each species has its own distinctive mating songs and acoustic signals that ensure only appropriate mates are
attracted to the sound. The sound and singing strategy of males differs between species, and often it is more than one
male species singing at one time. Cicada experts are able to distinguish between the different songs of the males,
with one species imitating the sound of a sizzling skillet, another sounding like a high pitched lawn mower and a third
with a song that sounds like its repeating the word “pharaoh” in a droning tone.
Some male species prefer to sing alone, while others, like the ones on Ingwelala, prefer to sing in chorus,
congregated in one particular location. But whether these little guys sing alone or together, to sit beneath them on a
bench will surely leave you with a buzzing head!
Cicadas singing in chorus, congregated in one spot on
a tree. Ingwelala’s cicadas seem to adopt this singing
strategy
Some cicada species produce sounds that measure up to 120 decibels, which is among the loudest of all insectproduced sounds. The song is loud enough to cause permanent hearing damage in humans should the cicada sing
too close to the ear. In contrast, some of the smaller cicada species have such high pitched songs, they are inaudible
to humans. So it pays to keep your distance!
In addition to the mating song, many species have a distinct distress call, usually a broken and erratic sound emitted
when the insect is seized or panicked. Males also produce “encounter calls”, whether in courtship or to maintain
personal space within choruses.
Only the males sing, which attracts the females, which are lured by the sound to his position. A female responds to a
male with a flick of her wings. The two gradually draw close to one another until they meet for mating.
Other Interesting Cicada Facts:
In China male cicadas are kept in cages in people's homes so that the homeowners can enjoy the cicadas' songs.
Cicadas give away their pending emergence by building thousands of "chimneys" or "stovepipes" on the
ground, especially near trees. They will emerge through these structures when they leave the ground and crawl up
trees and shrubs.
Cicada emergence holes
Stove pipe created by emerging cicada
nymphs
The transparent wings of cicadas are said to filter out ultraviolet light. People who have placed a cicada wing on their
skin prior to exposure to the sun have noticed that they do not tan under the wing.
Cicadas are said to make good eating because they are low in fat and high in protein. They are considered a delicacy
by many people around the world.
Cicada Anti-Predator Tactics:
These insects have excellent camouflage. You may have noticed the cicadas on your windows look like bark, with
disruptive patterns on their body that allow them to blend in with the trees. Have you ever been able to look into a tree
and successfully spot an African cicada singing? Try it when next you visit the Reserve.
Cicadas possess wings that do not reflect light, therefore preventing the typical insect cuticle shine.
Cicadas can be extremely difficult to see on trees
Cicadas are very strong fliers, who are able to fly at high speeds escaping their predators.
Scientists say that the reason behind the cicada’s long period of nymph stage is to “outsmart” their predators by
having a life cycle that is out of sync with specialized cicada killers, such as the cicada killer wasp and the praying
mantis.
Diet:
Cicada nymphs suck sap from the xylem of various species of trees. While it is common folklore that adults do not eat,
this is not true because adults do drink plant sap utilizing their sucking mouthparts.
Should you be concerned about Cicadas?
Cicadas are purely herbivore, feeding entirely on plant sap, and are harmless to humans; they do not bite or sting, but
can occasionally mistake a person's arm for a plant limb and attempt to feed.
The Cicada’s Value to Animals:
The explosion of cicadas in the summer time is like nature’s Christmas treat to the multitudes of different life forms
that occur in the bush veld and other ecosystems in South Africa. They provide an important energy source for birds,
reptiles, mammals, other insects and even fungi. The cicada’s presence means that smaller animal viewing around
your bungalow will likely boom. Just this morning I woke up to observe a dozen birds on the patio feasting on the
cicada bodies failing to return to their roost from the night before.
Therefore, the great abundance of cicadas in the summer is probably a major contributor to the breeding and survival
success of other species, which have an important ecological role to fulfil. Cicadas help to keep the natural ecosystem
functioning.
The Cicada’s Value to Trees:
Since cicadas parasitize on trees, they contribute to biodiversity by preventing their host tree populations from out
competing other tree species.
Cicadas provide trees a service by pruning the weak branches of a tree, the tree benefits by not having to waste
energy supporting a weak or diseased branch.
Cicadas provide natural fertilizer for trees through their decaying mass, recycling much needed nutrients into the soils.
The Cicada’s Value to People:
Cicadas are an important food source to humans as well as animals. In some places, these insects are people’s
staple diet.
Facts researched off various internet sites on cicadas. Words by Paige Ezzey.
The Field Guide to Insects of South Africa, 2004 by Picker, Griffiths and Weaving was also consulted for information
on the different South African cicada species.
Pictures courtesy of Google Images.
From the Board
The next Members Information Evening (Bird Evening) will take place on 02 March 2016 at 18h00 at Country Club
Johannesburg; Woodmead.
Ingwelala Director of Environmental Management, Dr Chris Henderson, will be speaking about conservation
objectives and management on Ingwelala, how this complies with the APNR Management Plan, and what projects are
currently being undertaken.
General feedback will be provided from recent Board Meetings regarding current topics of interest.
Climate and rainfall (summary)
Rainfall:
Minimum temperature:
Maximum temperature:
49.5 mm
16 degrees Celsius.
42 degrees Celsius.
The following graph summarises total rainfall recorded at Ingwelala for the month of November over the past 32 years.
(Note: November 2015: 49.5 mm rainfall is below the November monthly average of 60.1 mm)
Staff complement
Reserve Manager (1)
Conservation Manager and 2iC (1)
Camp and Systems Manageress (1)
Front Desk Manageress (1)
Accounts Manageress (1)
Workshop Manager (1)
Maintenance Manager (1)
Reception and Housekeeping (1)
Field Assistants (7)
Grounds staff (2)
Domestics (14)
Maintenance Assistants (5)
Workshop Assistants (5)
Petrol and Stores Attendant (1)
Shop assistants (2)
Sibon (2)
Conservation Intern (x1)
Staff Movement
Nil
Bungalows for sale
Bungalow # 183, a 50% share of six shares for R4.0 million.
Conservation
Alien plant eradication
Conservation staff targeted mature Opuntia (prickly pear) stands and treated with herbicide four plants on Argyle, four
plants on Buffelsbed and one plant in Camp.
Veld Rehabilitation
X 46000 bundles of old thatch grass spread on bare soil on Buffelsbed between Southern Boundary Road and Argyle
Road.
Selective bush thinning by mechanical means of tractor and chains (pulling) recommenced on Buffelsbed on Eastern
River Road (opposite the Platform).
In addition two new trial methods on Grewia spp. control commenced, namely foliar spray and cut stump treatment.
Results will be monitored to ascertain best effectiveness for our local environment.
Erosion Control
Nil.
Roads and Tracks
100% of the mitre drains on Argyle, Goedehoop, Buffelsbed and Sibon serviced and completed.
Airstrip
The airstrip surface continues to be inspected on a weekly basis and general condition recorded in a register. Any
identified hazards are removed. The surface was compacted with an industrial roller immediately after 16mm of
rainfall.
All airstrip users are reminded to complete (once off) an Ingwelala Airstrip Indemnity Form before landing.
Indemnity forms are obtainable from [email protected] Guest pilots must also complete the form.
Fencing
Four breaches by elephants during the reporting period.
Hides, Bomas and Picnic Sites
Nil.
Game sightings
The month of November was unusually “quiet” as far as game sightings go. Indicative of this was a period of six days
when no sightings were recorded in the register. In the whole month there was only one lion sighting and one buffalo
sighting mentioned on Ingwelala. Elephant sightings were also fewer than expected. Four leopard sightings. It seemed
the tar road early mornings produced far better sightings.
The wild dogs brought some hope for frequent predator sightings, their pack numbers varying between 10 and 25 with
several sub adults in tow. Good photographs of wild dogs for research ID purposes are always well received.
General sightings included giraffe, blue wildebeest, zebra, waterbuck, kudu, nyala, impala, bushbuck, Sharpe’s
grysbok, grey duiker, warthog, African wild cat, honey badger, civet, genet, banded mongoose, dwarf mongoose,
spotted hyena and black-backed jackal. At the time of writing, impalas had finally commenced lambing, as much as
two weeks later than expected.
Bird sightings noted in the sightings register; Fish Eagle, African Jacana, Spotted Flycatcher, Bronze-winged Courser,
Rattling Cisticola, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Masked Weaver, Jacobin Cuckoo, White-throated Robin-Chat, African
Paradise Flycatcher and Dwarf Bittern. The first Woodland Kingfisher was first heard early morning on 21 November.
Thank you to those Members who continue to write up their sightings in the register.
Security
No incidents on Ingwelala during the reporting period.
The current property loss insurer, Thatch Risk Acceptances, very kindly sponsored Ingwelala a new security dog. The
three year old female Malinois, Stormy, is highly trained to detect firearm, ammunition and animal products. Stormy is
also trained to track humans. Mark Shaw is the handler (who also received plenty of obedience training!) and Mark
appeals strongly to everyone not to touch or greet Stormy if he is not present, i.e. if Stormy is alone on the back of his
Land Cruiser, please don’t walk up to the dog and try patting her!
A sincere thank you to Natasja Blok and her team from Thatch Risk Acceptances for supporting our conservation
efforts and fight against wildlife crime. Their understanding, support and generosity cannot be underestimated.
Stormy in a reflective mood.
Road Kills
X1 Squirrel
X1 Spurfowl
X1 Scrub Hare
X1 Nightjar
General Fire Risk Management
All fire-fighting equipment checked on a weekly basis and on stand-by for any emergencies.
Fire tender (LDV F1) driven on a weekly basis.
Two tractors available again to assist with fire-fighting (water drawn carts).
X 20 fire beaters in good working order.
Umbabat
One successful legal land owner hunt on one buffalo carried out in the Umbabat Wilderness Conservation Area.
Water reticulation
Yield data for the boreholes is reflected in the following table, comparative with previous months.
BOREHOLE
BH NO 1
BH NO 2
BH NO 3
BH NO 4
BH NO 5
BH NO 6
BH NO 7
BH NO 9
J.B
GOODEHOOP
NOV
15
249
551
860
417
260
566
324
Solar
21
1079
OCT
15
20
330
335
560
252
642
508
Solar
134
1122
SEP
15
0
599
128
262
113
1000
483
Solar
213
837
AUG
15
*
957
430
741
378
986
577
Solar
234
0
JUL
15
*
875
272
929
406
1176
523
Solar
112
0
JUN
15
0
899
360
820
229
1332
739
Solar
382
0
MAY
15
0
955
211
614
92
1004
717
Solar
205
270
APR
15
0
850
164
787
324
662
686
Solar
176
342
MAR
15
8
749
319
781
251
1156
693
Solar
236
438
FEB
15
0
812
283
163
265
1063
765
Solar
188
373
Eskom Usage
The following graph shows the monthly Eskom Usage (Kwh) for Ingwelala.
WORKSHOP
NOV
15
OCT
15
SEP
15
AUG
15
JUL
15
JUN
15
MAY
15
APR
15
MAR
15
FEB
15
41
59
53
72
56
42
60
59
34
JOB CARDS OPENED
30
JOB CARDS CLOSED
23
57
50
58
55
40
31
56
58
45
GENERATOR HOURS
31.6
11.1
5.3
4.2
17.8
11.8
23.6
16.3
9.6
32.8
DIESEL TANK (L)
425
775
900
950
500
725
850
675
420
550
Vehicles and Workshop
The general fleet and static plant maintenance is 100% compliant with the servicing schedule.
Building projects
Current (major) building projects are listed below:
Bung
No
Name
Work requested
Approval
%
Complete
Builder
186
John Hawkins
Re-thatch
Approved July 15
Not selected
0%
196
Chris Knight
Approved May 15
Not selected
95%
205
Gary Jordan
Bathroom Ext, Re-thatch
Gazebo, patio & interior
revamp
Approved August 15
Chameleon
85%
Bungalows (known) working towards Building Committee approval for various scopes of work include #9, #44, #94
and #161.
Reception Statistics
GATE STATISTICS
NOV
15
OCT
15
SEP
15
AUG
15
JUL
15
JUN
15
MAY
15
APR
15
MAR
15
FEB
15
VEHICLES
150
195
259
321
313
279
176
393
184
133
MEMBERS GUESTS
416
543
745
944
960
869
446
1186
499
371
UNACCOMP GUESTS
0
26
13
25
38
32
29
40
24
5
UNITS OCCUPIED
92
115
166
172
177
165
138
222
116
90
AIRBORNE VISITORS
13
7
12
26
26
2
6
6
6
1
COTTAGE NIGHTS
NOV
15
OCT
15
SEP
15
AUG
15
JUL
15
JUN
15
MAY
15
APR
15
MAR
15
FEB
15
HORNBILL
0
7
12
16
19
16
7
20
12
5
FRANCOLIN
9
3
14
21
22
12
3
13
6
8
GUINEAFOWL
10
3
11
18
14
8
2
12
14
3
General
1.
Our sincerest condolences to the Fox family in Bungalow # 142 over the recent passing away of a close family
member.
2.
Remember to join us at the Members Area for the New Year Bash. This year’s theme is “Beach in the Bush”
with a ravenous menu to be enjoyed under the African sky. Book early with Reception to avoid disappointment.
ANNEXURE1: GRAPHS
No. of Vehicles (per month)
450
400
350
300
250
2013
2014
200
2015
150
100
50
0
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
No. of Bungalows Occupied (per month)
250
200
150
2013
2014
2015
100
50
0
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
No. of Guests (per month)
1400
1200
1000
800
2013
2014
2015
600
400
200
0
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Hornbill Occupancy (nights per month)
30
25
20
2013
2014
15
2015
10
5
0
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Francolin Occupancy (nights per month)
30
25
20
2013
2014
15
2015
10
5
0
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Guineafowl Occupancy (nights per month)
30
25
20
2013
2014
15
2015
10
5
0
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
No. of job cards opened (per month)
100
90
80
70
60
2013
2014
50
2015
40
30
20
10
0
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Generator Hours (per month)
50
45
40
35
30
2013
2014
25
2015
20
15
10
5
0
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Ground Water Extraction m3
(combined boreholes per month)
6000
5000
4000
2013
2014
3000
2015
2000
1000
0
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC