Categories
Australia Cyclochila Cyclochilini David Emery

Ozzie Cicadas: Blue Moon

More Ozzie Cicada photos have come in. Here is an incredible Blue Moon taken by David Emery (found by his daughter). The Blue Moon is the same species as the Green Grocer (Cyclochila australasiae).

Cyclochila australasiae, Blue Moon, by David Emery

Categories
Paul Krombholz Tibicen

Late cicada season in the U.S.

Cicada Mania contributor Paul Krombholz heard a cicada just a few days ago.

On Nov. 21st the temperature got up to 80 and I heard a T. figuratus [formerly T. figurata] singing. This is by far the latest cicada song I have heard in the Jackson, MS and surrounding area. We have already had several frosts. Usually I hear the last song the first week of November.

Cicadas in late November in the U.S.A. — that’s remarkable.

Categories
Australia Kevin Lee Thopha

Double Drummer photos by Kevin Lee

Double Drummer (Thopha saccata) photos by Kevin Lee:

Abdomen

This is a double drummer who got stuck whilst emerging so he never got to fly and sing.. but he still saw the light of day and was in the room with the other cicadas and had a bit of company. But if I had left it on the tree he would have been eaten alive by ants.

double drummer

Categories
Australia Cyclochila Kevin Lee Thopha

Cicada photos from Australia

I’m happy to announce that we received our first Australian cicada photos of this season!!! The photos were taken by Kevin Lee, Australia’s biggest cicada maniac.

According to Kevin:

This is the season for cicadas and this year they are more proliferating that usual. Some would call it a plague but I love it.

The birds (kookaburras and magpies) are having a feast!

Double Drummer (Thopha saccata):

Double Drummer (Thopha saccata)

The Double Drummer can be found in parts of eastern Queensland and Eastern NSW, from November to early March. (Moulds, M.S.. Australian Cicadas Kennsignton: New South Wales Press, 1990, p.55)

rare green yellow Green Grocer (Cyclochila australasiae) and others:

Green Grocer (Cyclochila australasiae)

rare green yellow Green Grocer:

Green Grocer (Cyclochila australasiae)

Cyclochila australasiae can be found in eastern Queensland, NSW and Victoria, and most emerge in October and November (Moulds, M.S.. Australian Cicadas Kennsignton: New South Wales Press, 1990, p. 61.).

More: Previous posts about Australia’s cicadas.

See all of Kevin’s cicada photos.

Categories
Magicicada

Magicicadas in the Fall? Experts say it’s possible

We received a report of Magicicadas being heard in the fall. Normally Magicicadas appear in the spring of course, but they might be tricked into emerging later if a dormant tree is revived.

My speculation: maybe the warm fall weather has tricked them into thinking it is spring.

I have no visual or audio evidence for you.

Categories
Tibicen

Cicada Slowdown

It’s September in the USA. The cicadas are done singing in my state (Jersey), and most of the USA. More fun next year for sure.

Thanks to Jaime for this pic of two cicadas mating:

cicada mating

Categories
Tibicen

Another Tibicen ID Request

This one I can’t figure out, mostly because it’s well dead. Sheri T. took the photo.

The yellow eyes might be due to its postmortem condition, but they do make the specimen interesting.

Mystery Tibicen

Categories
Megatibicen Neotibicen Tibicen

ID the Tibicen

Brian Baldwin sent over some cicada photos for an ID. Here’s my guesses (below). If you have a more accurate guess, post it in the Comments.

Megatibicen dorsatus (formerly T. dorsata):

Megatibicen dorsatus by Brian Baldwin

At first I thought T. walkeri, but now I’m leaning towards Brain’s guess of N. superbus. This would be the first superbus with a brown mesonotum that I’ve ever seen.:

Brian Baldwin's Neotibicen superbus

Megatibicen dealbatus (formerly dealbata):

Megatibicen dealbatus by Brian Baldwin

Categories
Neotibicen Tibicen

Tibicens

I snagged a couple of Tibicen today.

A colorful Tibicen tibicen (T. chloromerus, T. chloromera):

Neotibicen tibicen

and a, um… lyricen, maybe (I’ve never seen one quite like this):

Neotibicen lyricen

They were still moving a little when I took the photos.

Categories
Tibicen

Uninvited House Guest

Tom Lehmkuhl send us this photo of an uninvited house guest (Tibicen linnei):

Last night at about 9:30 PM I opened our back door to let our dog out and
thought I felt something brush against my leg while the door was open. Next
think I know my wife is screaming in the living room as a cicada is bombing
around the room like a drunk pilot! It’s amazing how big a cicada looks
when it is flying indoors, bouncing off of your walls, wings buzzing…

After several passes within a few inches of my wife’s head, he (she?) came
to rest on our kitchen floor. Carefully using a small glass and a post card
I was able to capture the cicada and set it free. The next morning he was
right where I left him the night before, sitting on our porch, so it seemed
like a good opportunity to snap a photo. See attached…

Tibicen linnei