SINGAPORE – Light traps which draw cicadas away from homes have proven effective in managing the insect swarms, with the devices responsible for most of the estimated 22,000 insects caught in the Tampines Changkat area since March.
Deployed across 18 Housing Board blocks, the traps were used to attract cicadas which had moulted – thus transforming into adults – and led to the insects’ capture at the affected blocks.
This was among a slew of measures trialled as part of a five-month initiative aimed at finding new ways to control the seasonal swarms of cicadas.
In 2026, the seasonal emergence of the orange-winged cicada (Asianopleura fulvigera) in Tampines Changkat – where complaints about their annual swarms have risen since 2018 – began in February.
While cicadas are harmless to humans, they can emerge by the hundreds and fly into people’s homes, with some species emitting calls at up to 120 decibels – equivalent to the noise from a chainsaw.
Contractors for Tampines Town Council setting up a light trap to catch cicadas next to Block 321 Tampines Street 33 on April 23.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
In a joint media release on July 5, the People’s Association, Tampines Town Council and the National Parks Board said the initiative had concluded with encouraging results, with residents observing less noise and fewer nuisances.
A task force studying the orange-winged species had also undertaken other efforts to manage the insects, they noted.
These measures included wrapping more than 500 trees with aluminium foil or plastic wrap, while laying tarpaulin or mats at the base of the trees.
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