Sophisticated system: Cicadas have come out en masse this year,
as seen by the number of insects and empty shells on this tree
in Church Point. Photo: Nick Moir  The male cicada's mating call
is as romantic as an AC/DC concert. It's more a slap in the face
than sweet serenade. This summer's bumper crop is so
overwhelming some National Parks rangers have taken to wearing
earplugs.  The insect's racket - as lovely as hugging a
jackhammer or jet engine - turns the head of friend and foe
alike. The louder it bellows, the more potential partners and
predators it attracts.  ''It's a pretty risky business sitting
up in a tree calling for a mate,'' says Australian Museum
entomologist Dave Britton.  Cicadas are the suicidal lovers of
the insect world, risking death for several weeks of singing and
sex. ''It's a compromise: like a lot of sexual behaviour in
animals, the males perform dangerous behaviour to advertise they
are strong and virile and represent the best chance of producing
lots of children,'' Dr Britton say