A newly described fossil cicada species, Eoplatypleura messelensis, offers insight into the early evolution of sound-producing cicadas in Europe. Preserved in remarkable detail, the fossils-found in Germany's Messel Pit and dating back 47 million years-represent the oldest known "true" singing cicadas in the family Cicadidae. Despite being female specimens, their placement within the cicada family tree suggests that the males likely produced loud songs similar to modern cicadas. This discovery pushes back the known fossil record of the Platypleurini tribe by about 20 million years.

The exceptional preservation of E. messelensis allowed scientists to assign it to the Platypleurini tribe, which today is mostly found in Africa and Asia. This suggests a much earlier dispersal and slower evolutionary timeline than previously assumed based on molecular data. The Messel Pit's unique fossilization conditions&mdashonce a deep volcanic lake devoid of oxygen&mdashhave yielded over 20,000 insect fossils, but E. messelensis stands out for its nearly complete structure and visible wing patterns, which likely served as camouflage.This reconstruction shows the newly described cicada species Eoplatypleura messelensis. Dinghua Yang

While we may never hear the exact sound this ancient cicada made, researchers hypothesize that its song could have been even louder than that of modern species. Its broader abdomen hints at a larger resonating cavity, possibly amplifying sound beyond today&rsquos cicada volume levels. Future studies comparing modern cicada morphology with sound production will help test these hypotheses and deepen understanding of cicada evolution and acoustic behavior.