Neotibicen lyricen engelhardti aka Dark Lyric Cicada is a cicada that is distinguisable from the “Lighter” Lyric Cicada (Neotibicen lyricen lyricen) by what I call the “alien head” on its pronotum.
Once you see it, you cannot unsee it:
Quoting from BugGuide:
The dark form, engelhardti, has a more eastern, northern and upland distribution (very common in and along the eastern mountains & associated plateaus/fall-line hills). Perhaps the increased pigment seen in this color form serves a thermoregulatory function associated with cooler temps and greater day-night temp differentials seen in higher altitudes and latitudes.
