Get yourself a free book about the cicadas of Brazil: Cigarras do Brasil. Visit this link and download the PDF!
The books was made by:
Vera L. Nunes
Tatiana P. Ruschel
Douglas B. H. Maccagnan
Paula C. Simões
Ruler C. Acosta
February 28, 2023
Free book about the cicadas of Brazil: Cigarras do Brasil
December 31, 2022
2023 Cicada Forecast
This is the Cicada Forecast for 2023.
Periodical cicadas: No periodical cicadas in the United States, India, or Fiji are expected to emerge in 2023.
There is a chance of Brood XXII Magicicada stragglers emerging 4 years early in parts of Ohio, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Read the paper Evolution and Geographic Extent of a Surprising Northern Disjunct Population of 13-Year Cicada Brood XXII (Hemiptera: Cicadidae, Magicicada). Spurious (small, unmapped) broods of Magicicada are possible.
Protoperiodical cicadas: Emergences of protoperiodical cicadas depend on multiple factors including species, location, and cumulative rainfall. Protoperiodical species belonging to the genera Okanagana and Platypedia have years of great abundance but are not as predictable as Periodical cicadas like Magciciada. We can’t say exactly when they’ll emerge in your location.
Scientists like Tim McNary track Platypedia putnami looking for a pattern in their emergences. Certain Okanagana emerge depending on factors like proximity to other species and rainfall accumulations (read Chatfield-Taylor 2020).
Both Periodical and Protoperiodical lifecycles appear to help these cicadas avoid total consumption by above-ground predators by overwhelming them in great numbers (too many to eat them all, so some always survive).
Annual cicadas: Most cicadas appear annually, so we expect most cicadas that emerged in 2022 to emerge in 2023.
We can expect to see Cacama, Diceroprocta, Hadoa, Megatibicen, Neocicada, Neotibicen, and Quesada in North Amercia. Europe can expect Cicada orni, Lyristes, and Many other species. Japan can expect Auritibicen, Hyalessa, and many other species.
Countries in the southern hemisphere experience cicada-friendly weather September-March, so most locations in South America, Africa, southern Asia, Australia, and New Zealand that experience cicadas are in the midst of their cicada seasons at the start of 2023. Keep an eye on the latest cicada observations on iNaturalist.
While there are highs and lows in abundance, at least some annual emerge every year. Looking at how often people in Australia search for cicadas & cicada gives us a hint at how abundant cicadas are each year. Do you see a pattern?
Google Trends searches for Cicada & Cicadas in Australia:
The future of cicadas on Earth: with each year the number of cicadas grows less and less. Cutting forests for giant warehouses, new neighborhoods, and even solar farms destroys cicada habitat. Spraying pesticides for invasive and nuisance insects eliminates cicadas as well as less desirable insects. Splitting woodland and meadows with new roads sub-divides cicada habitats and reduces their chance to meet and reproduce. If you see and hear fewer cicadas with each passing year, you know why.
December 21, 2022
An excellent video about different species of cicadas in Japan
This is an excellent video about different species of cicadas in Japan:
日本のセミ 鳴き声集『16種のセミ』【2022年バージョン】
The video was made by @SumatoragohanCicada.
I’m going to take some time and add time stamps and species names for English watchers.
December 20, 2022
Video of a Mogannia minuta cicada
Enjoy this video of a Mogannia minuta by saku dainaman2 on YouTube:
A video of a Meimuna kuroiwae cicada
Enjoy this video of a Meimuna kuroiwae by saku dainaman2 on YouTube:
December 8, 2022
Unusual Cicada Merchandise, part 2
This is part two of my search for unusual cicada merchandise. Here’s part 1.
These I found on eBay, so they might be gone by the time you read this. I might have bought them all.
Kaiyodo Kabaya Large brown cicada (Graptopsaltria nigrofuscata) Insect Figure
This is a model of a molting Graptopsaltria nigrofuscata aka aburazemi cicada. Very nice!
Cicada Man “Ultra Q” M-Ichigo 1991 Japan rare figure
This is an action figure of Cicada Man aka Semi-Ningen from the Japanese TV show Ultraman. I own a green, orange and brown version of this. The price of the current eBay auction is good! I’ve paid close to $100 for Cicada Man in the past.
Bandai 1:1 Japan Exclusive Cicada Molt Shell Beetle Insect Bug Prize E Figure
This is a model of a cicada nymph. Looks like it comes with the original box. Nice!
Cicada Man Cicadaman I’m Baaaaack Bobblehead 2004 RARE
I own one of these. It’s amazing! The bobblehead celebrates the 2004 emergence of Brood X, I believe in the Cincinnati area.
Weekly Japanese Natural Monument Mini Figure #41 Himeharu-Zemi Cicada Kaiyodo
This is another impressive model of an actual cicada: Himeharu-Zemi (aka Euterpnosia chibensis).
TOMY INSECT CAGE GALLERY CICADA PLASTIC TOY LIGHT & SOUND
This one is neato. It’s a model of a cicada with its own enclosure. It also lights up and makes a sound. I might have to buy it.
December 7, 2022
Unusual Cicada Merchandise, part 1
Search online auctions and marketplaces like eBay or Aliexpress and you’ll find many cicada products, but mostly fishing lures, jade carvings, jewelry, and cicada specimens from Southeast Asia. That’s fine, but what if you want something different, rare, or unusual?
I’ve been looking for unusual cicada merch all week long. Here’s what I found:
A giant animatronic cicada
Wow! When I win the lottery, I’m getting this. A massive robotic cicada.
Visit the website where it is sold: Adventure Park Display Big Bugs Cicadidae Animatronic Insects Animal Insect Statue Customize.
Another giant animatronic cicada
Amazing! Another giant cicada for my robot cicada army.
Visit the website where it is sold: Insect Museum Specimen Animal Model Simulation Cicada.
And another giant animatronic cicada
Wonderful! More robotic cicadas for my… cicada air force.
Visit the website where it is sold: Blue Lizard Amusement Park Decoration Artificial Animatronic Insects Cicada Model.
An electronic cicada kit
You assemble the parts and you have something that looks like a cicada but is also a work of art and an electronic kit project.
Visit the website where it is sold: Wholesale Educational Toys For Kids Adults Handmade Chirping Insects Light Up Toys Handmade Diy Kit Electronic Cicada.
A golden cicada that replaces a key on your keyboard
This item might be the most unsual. I never imagined replacing a keyboard key with a custom key.
Visit the website where it is sold: ZOMO PLUS Fantastic Beasts Series – Golden Cicada Translucent Aluminum Artisan Keycap Mechanical Keyboard Keycap.
November 5, 2022
Halloween decoration that uses cicada sounds
Back in the 2000’s I purchased this Halloween decoration that uses cicada sounds (Magicicada septendecim Court #2, I think) to create a spooky audio vibe. It’s a dark cloud with spiders hanging from it. Press a button and the whole thing shakes, green lights illuminate the spiders, and cicada sounds play. Gemmy.com made it, but I got it from Target.
October 29, 2022
Spirit Halloween Cicada Costume
Who knew Spirit Halloween stores (yes, in America we have large stores dedicated to Halloween costumes and party supplies) had Cicada Costumes!?
(yes, this is a meme, sorry to say)
Wow! Spirit Halloween Stores have a costume for everyone! #cicadas #SpiritHallowmeme pic.twitter.com/gPk8m2Bkza
— Cicada Mania (@cicadamania) October 29, 2022
October 16, 2022
Platypleura arabica stamp from the State of Qatar
Platypleura arabica, the Arabian Cicada, stamp from the State of Qatar:
