Cicada Mania

Dedicated to cicadas, the most amazing insects in the world.

April 30, 2008

The first adult Magicicada

Filed under: Brood XIV | Magicicada | Matt Berger | Periodical — Dan @ 9:28 pm

Matt Berger was able to coerce a cicada nymph to enter the adult phase (instar) by raising it indoors (where it is warmer). Congratulations to Matt!

I took a Brood XIV nymph i found under a rock about a week ago, put some soil in a pot, poked a cicada sized hole in the soil and let the cicada burrow in. I wanted to see if I could make them emerge early. I put it in my house where it is warm. It worked! I now have a male (im guessing M. cassini) that just emerged from that hole and shed his skin and is now drying. Probably the first Magicicada to emerge all year! Earliest emergence I have ever heard of (even if it was assisted). Thought it might be interesting for Cicadamania.
Here are some pictures!

Here’s the nymph:

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Here’s the adult leaving the nymph skin:

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Here’s the teneral adult, still white in color (I will turn black soon enough):

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