Comments on: An interesting question about Tibicen idenitfication http://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/2006/09/05/an-interesting-question-about-tibicen-idenitfication/ Dedicated to cicadas, the most amazing insects in the world. Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:25:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gerry Bunker http://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/2006/09/05/an-interesting-question-about-tibicen-idenitfication/comment-page-1/#comment-3678 Gerry Bunker Thu, 07 Sep 2006 23:22:50 +0000 http://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/2006/09/05/an-interesting-question-about-tibicen-idenitfication/#comment-3678 Patterns of pruinosity and patterns of color on the mesothorax are not a reliable means of identifying cicada species. Pruinosity can vary in cicadas with age. Head width, wing length, body length, size of opercula and collar color seem to be the only reliable means of correctly identifying a cicada species from site. Personally, due to the variations in size of T. pruinosa and T. canicularis, I have a hard time distinguishing the two without hearing them call. That is why it is important to be familiar with the species of cicadas in your area as it would seem that regional variations in color can indeed occur. All that being said the reliable means of distinguishing T. davisi from T. canicularis is the thickness of the "W" on the forewings. T. davisi has a thicker "W" than T. canicularis. Patterns of pruinosity and patterns of color on the mesothorax are not a reliable means of
identifying cicada species. Pruinosity can vary in cicadas with age.

Head width, wing length, body length, size of opercula and collar color seem to be the only
reliable means of correctly identifying a cicada species from site.

Personally, due to the variations in size of T. pruinosa and T. canicularis, I have a hard time
distinguishing the two without hearing them call.

That is why it is important to be familiar with the species of cicadas in your area as it would
seem that regional variations in color can indeed occur.

All that being said the reliable means of distinguishing T. davisi from T. canicularis is the
thickness of the “W” on the forewings. T. davisi has a thicker “W” than T. canicularis.

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