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July 7, 2021

Brood X Magicicada photos by Jim Occi taken in Princeton, set 6

Brood X Magicicada photos by Jim Occi taken in Princeton, set 6. 2021.

Teneral Magicicada:

Magicicada septendecim that failed to completely exit its exuvia before its body hardened:
Magicicada Jim Occi

A pair of Magicicada septendecim:
A pair of Magicicada Jim Occi

Brood X Magicicada photos by Jim Occi taken in Princeton, set 5

Filed under: Brood X | Jim Occi | Magicicada | Periodical — Dan @ 4:27 am

Brood X Magicicada photos by Jim Occi taken in Princeton, set 5. 2021.

Molting Magicicada:

Teneral Magicicada:

Teneral Magicicada expanding wings:

Adult Magicicada with crumpled wings:

Brood X Magicicada photos by Jim Occi taken in Princeton, set 4

Filed under: Brood X | Jim Occi | Magicicada | Periodical — Dan @ 4:22 am

Brood X Magicicada photos by Jim Occi taken in Princeton, set 4. 2021.

A Rutgers cap in Princeton (one day Rutgers needs to get that cannon back).

Magicicada septendecim with exposed tymbal:

A Magicicada with its abdomen wrecked by Massospora fungus.
Magicicada wrecked by Massospora

Magicicada exit holes:
Magicicada holes by Jim Occi

A pair of Magicicada septendecim:

Brood X Magicicada photos by Jim Occi taken in Princeton, set 3

Filed under: Brood X | Jim Occi | Magicicada | Periodical — Tags: M. septendecim — Dan @ 4:16 am

Brood X Magicicada photos by Jim Occi taken in Princeton, set 3. 2021.

Magicicada septendecim on finger:
Perched on finger

Teneral, newly molted Magicicada:
Teneral Magicicada

Magicicada septendecim perched on a plant stalk:
Magicicada on plant Jim Occi

A mass of Magicicada skins:
A mass of exuvia by Jim Occi

Magicicada septendecim on a leaf:
Magicicada on leaf

July 3, 2021

Magicicada cassinii photos from Brood X

Filed under: Brood X | Magicicada | Periodical — Tags: M. cassini, M. cassinii — Dan @ 10:47 pm

Here are some Magicicada cassinii photos from Brood X, 2021, Flemmington, New Jersey.

Magicicada cassinii ovipositing
Magicicada cassini ovipositing

M. cassinii taking a drink:
Taking a Drink Cassini

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Zombie Cicadas??!

Filed under: Magicicada — Dan @ 10:35 pm

M. septendecim missing the body

Magicicada cicadas are often the victims of bird attacks or fungus infestation, which results in the removal of the cicada’s abdomen. Sometimes a bird removes the cicadas head. In both cases, the cicada’s body keeps moving, and some people question whether or not the cicada then becomes a zombie. No, the cicada does not become a zombie.

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Examples of flagging from Brood X in Princeton

Filed under: Magicicada | Ovipositing | Periodical — Dan @ 10:13 pm

When Magicicada cicadas deposit eggs into a tree branch sometimes the branch dies, the leaves turn brown, and the branch droops like a flag. This is called flagging.

Here are some examples of flagging from the Brood X emergence in Princeton, NJ.

Typically flagging is more impactful to trees imported to North America, but it also impacts native species. The positive aspect is it prunes weaker branches, which helps the tree, and helps other plants in the shade of the tree.

If you want to learn whether eggs/larva survive flagging read FLAGGING: HOSTS DEFENCES VERSUS OVIPOSITION STRATEGIES IN PERIODICAL CICADAS (MAGICICADA SPP., CICADIDAE, HOMOPTERA) by JoAnn White. Hint: very few survive.

A small tree with flagging:
A small oak with flagging

Flagging up close:

Another small tree with flagging:

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Brood X Magicicada Photos from Princeton

Filed under: Brood X | Magicicada | Periodical — Tags: M. cassini, M. septendecim, M. septendecula — Dan @ 7:07 am

These are a set of Brood X Magicicada photos from Princeton, nearby a Burger King, an area with a large population of Magicicada septendecula. Taken in 2021 by Dan Mozgai.

Left to right: Magicicada cassini, Magicicada septendecula, Magicicada septendecim: