Books and References about Cicadas

Cecily Cicada

A description from the author: As Brood XIX emerges this spring, children will fall in love with at least one cicada! Written by a mom who worried about her daughter's reaction to the cicadas, Cecily Cicada is the story of a lonely, but hopeful, cicada, who is eager to escape her dreary hole and emerge into the world. Her message of patience and hope is relevant to the cicada cycle, and is a timeless message as well.

Reading Level: Amazon says 4 to 8

Get Cecily Cicada

Cicadas!: Strange and Wonderful by Larry Pringle

This books is definitely the best cicada book for kids. Adults will appreciate it as well, as it is well written, factually accurate and beautifully illustrated.

Reading Level: Amazon says 4 to 8, but this book is nice enough that I think anyone would appreciate it.

Get Cicadas!: Strange and Wonderful.

Cicadas

Cicadas by Helen Frost is short but sweet. It features color photographs and language very appropriate for the youngest cicada fans.

Reading Level: Amazon says 4 to 8

Get Cicadas (Insects).

Cicadas

Cicadas by Margaret Hall features BIG photos of cicadas, and basic language very appropriate for the youngest cicada fans.

Reading Level: Amazon says 4 to 8

Get Cicadas (Pebble Plus; Bugs, Bugs, Bugs).

Cicadas (True Books)

Cicadas (True Books) by Ann O. Squire is an excellent book for young entomologists. It features dozens of color photos, and basic information about key cicada topics.

Reading Level: Amazon says 4 to 8

Get Cicadas (True Books).

Cicada: Exotic Views

Cicada: Exotic Views is an 85 page, color comic book about cicadas. The goal of the book is to understand opinions of cicadas (sometimes negative), and then educate people so their views of cicadas will improve as they grow to understand and appreciate them. This book features both comic illustrations (more like comic strip than superhero style) and photographs. Very well done.

Reading Level: Tweens and up

Get Cicada: Exotic Views from the author.

The Songs of Insects

This book is truly exceptional. It combines glossy photos of singing insects (not just cicadas), information as to where you can find them, and a CD of insect songs so you can learn their songs and identify them in your own back yard. The insects covered in the book can be found primarily east of the Rocky Mountains.

Reading Level: Teen and up. Good for kids as well with adult supervision.

Get The Songs of Insects on Amazon.

In Ohio's Backyard--Periodical Cicadas (Ohio Biological Survey Backyard Series)

A great book about Periodical Cicadas from cicada expert Gene Kritsky. It might be out of print, but it's worth picking up, especially if you're in Ohio.

Reading Level: Teen and up.

Get In Ohio's Backyard--Periodical Cicadas (Ohio Biological Survey Backyard Series) on Amazon.

Periodical Cicadas: The Plague and the Puzzle

Periodical Cicadas: The Plague and the Puzzle is a fantastic book about Periodical Cicadas by Gene Kritsky. It features dozens of color photos and illustrations, and it is dense with information about Periodical cicadas, covering topics like Broods, the different species, their life cycle and how to locate them. It is the best book about Periodical cicadas available.

Reading Level: Teen and up.

Get Periodical Cicadas: The Plague and the Puzzle on Amazon.

You can also get Gene's books by contacting him via his website. The price might be cheaper than Amazon.

Order The Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea: Cicadidae) of North America North of Mexico

The Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea: Cicadidae) of North America North of Mexico

The Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea: Cicadidae) of North America North of Mexico by Allen F. Sanborn and Maxine S. Heath is "comprehensive review of the North American cicada fauna that provides information on synonymies, type localities, and type material. There are 170 species and 21 subspecies found in continental North America north of Mexico. The book has 211 figures with each species photographed in color."

Allen F. Sanborn and Maxine S. Heath’s book focuses on identifying all species of cicada fauna in North America, north of Mexico, as the title says. It also identifies species that were reported to exist in this location, but do not. The book provides maps and common attributes of each genus of cicada, including illustrations and disagnostic information. The book provides photos of the holotype (and the location of the holotype) for each species.

Reading Level: College and up.

Bug Music: How Insects Gave Us Rhythm and Noise by David Rothenberg

About the book:

In the spring of 2013 the cicadas in the Northeastern United States will yet again emerge from their seventeen-year cycle—the longest gestation period of any animal. Those who experience this great sonic invasion compare their sense of wonder to the arrival of a comet or a solar eclipse. This unending rhythmic cycle is just one unique example of how the pulse and noise of insects has taught humans the meaning of rhythm, from the whirr of a cricket’s wings to this unfathomable and exact seventeen-year beat.

In listening to cicadas, as well as other humming, clicking, and thrumming insects, Bug Music is the first book to consider the radical notion that we humans got our idea of rhythm, synchronization, and dance from the world of insect sounds that surrounded our species over the millions of years over which we evolved. Completing the trilogy he began with Why Birds Sing and Thousand Mile Song, David Rothenberg explores a unique part of our relationship with nature and sound—the music of insects that has provided a soundtrack for humanity throughout the history of our species. Bug Music continues Rothenberg’s in-depth research and spirited writing on the relationship between human and animal music, and it follows him as he explores insect influences in classical and modern music, plays his saxophone with crickets and other insects, and confers with researchers and scientists nationwide.

This engaging and thought-provoking book challenges our understanding of our place in nature and our relationship to the creatures surrounding us, and makes a passionate case for the interconnectedness of species.

Get Bug Music: How Insects Gave Us Rhythm and Noise

A Guide to Australian Cicadas

A Guide to Australian Cicadas by Max Moulds features 24 pages of color photographs, many illustrations and 200 pages dense with cicada information. Includes maps for each cicada species to help you find them. A must have book for cicada maniacs.

Reading Level: College and up.

Get A Guide to Australian Cicadas on Amazon.

Cicadas of Thailand: General and Particular Characteristics. Volume 1 (Pt. 1)

Cicadas of Thailand: General and Particular Characteristics. Volume 1 (Pt. 1) features 48 pages of color photos and 53 black and white photos and illustrations. 100 pages, dense with excellent cicada information. Compact size - ideal for taking with you on expeditions.

Reading Level: College and up.

Get Cicadas of Thailand: General and Particular Characteristics. Volume 1 (Pt. 1).

The Cicadas of the Fiji, Samoa and Tonga Islands, Their Taxonomy and Biogeography

The Cicadas of the Fiji, Samoa and Tonga Islands, Their Taxonomy and Biogeography: Their Taxonomy and Biogeography (Entomonograph, Vol 10) [Hardcover] by J. P. Duffels & A. Ewart features over black & white 200 photos and illustrations, and 108 pages of information.

Reading Level: College and up.

Get The Cicadas of the Fiji, Samoa and Tonga Islands, Their Taxonomy and Biogeography on Amazon.

The book is currently available from Amazon.co.jp.

The Cicadidae of Japan

By Dr. M. Haysashi and Dr. Yasumasa Saisho (of the incredible Cicadidae of Japan website), and it includes many photos and a CD of cicada song.

Hello. I inform you that “The Cicadidae of Japan” by Dr. M.Hayashi and myself is published. This book consists of taxonomic exposition, ecological information, distribution, acoustic attribute of calling songs, morphological features of Japanese cicadidae with many photos and CD (including all songs of Japanese species, about 70min). ———- M. Hayashi and Y. Saisho (2011). The Cicadidae of Japan, 224 pp., Seibundo-shinkosha, Tokyo. ISBN978-4-416-81114-6 4,600yen

Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms

A great book for figuring out the meaning of genus and species names of cicadas (or any animal or plant).

By Donald J. Borror