Other than the continuous wash of the waves on the sandy beach, the Sandgrinder (Arenopsaltria fullo) is the overriding summer sound of Silver Sands, Mandurah. The sandgrinder is also known as the white-banded cicada. During daylight, the sound is continuous and high-pitched (shrill).

credit: Photo of male

This is the largest cicada to be seen down south, in the south-west of Western Australia.

The nymphs (larvae) feed on the roots of trees at a shallow depth in the sand, typically less than 0.5 metre. You can find the the empty nymph exoskeletons clinging lifelessly to the branches of shrubs and trees.

I saw a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike catch and eat one (1 Jan 2004).

They call while stationary on the bark of small trees, such as Banksia, wattle, and Jacksonia.

When threatened, they make a distress call as they fly from the tree.

They can be caught by hand because they sometimes rest on the bark less than 3 metres from the ground. Their screaming call makes it easy to locate their tree, and the white band makes them clearly visible.

Distribution: Where there’s sand! In Western Australia, coastal sand dunes (especially 100 km N and S of Perth), Bassendean Sands, Quindalup Dunes, Spearwood Dunes.

This is one of 50 different cicadas that occur in WA.

The Sandgrinder in endemic to WA.

The Meaning of Arenopsaltria fullo (in reverse: “the white chantress from the sands”)

areno: probably L., fr. arena sand. cf. arenaceous: sandy or consisting largely of sand; of the nature of sand; easily disintegrating into sand; friable; as, arenaceous limestone. Credit.

psaltria (from Greek): derivitave of “psallo” meaning to chant; (like “psalmos” meaning psalm); “psaltria” meaning chantress. Credit. Ironically, it is only the male that “sings”. The female “chantress” is silent! [Thinks: “Hmmmm! This is not the place to think aloud!”]

fullo (from Latin): to whiten. Credit.