Considering there would only be Periodical stragglers in 2023, it was a perfect year for an iNaturalist project focusing on cicadas that emerge annually: 2023 North American Annual Cicadas Location Project.
This project includes all of North America, which includes Mexico, the United States, and Canada. iNaturalist determines the geographical footprint. It seems like most of the folks using the iNaturalist app are in the United States.
Typically cicadas in the southernmost, warmest areas (Mexico, Texas) emerge first. Cicadas that have black bodies like Platypedia can tolerate colder temperatures because the sun warms them up, so they’ll emerge in northern areas before other types of cicadas.
As of June 30th, the top 5 cicadas are: The Superb Dog-day Cicada, the Resh Cicada, the Little Mesquite Cicada, Hieroglyphic Cicada, and Putnam’s Cicada (a Platypedia).
Annual cicada species are those that arrive every year (annually). In the U.S.A., each continental state has at least 4 species of cicadas. California as over 80.
Three other excellent resources include: iNaturalist (enter a cicada name, and find out when people find them), BugGuide (USA), and Insect Singers (for sounds).
Here are a small portion of the species that can be found in the USA:
Diceroprocta apache
Common Name: Citrus Cicada
Locations: AZ, CA, CO, NV, UT
When: June-September. Peaks in July.
Diceroprocta olympusa>
Common Name: Olympic Scrub Cicada
Locations: AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC
When: June-August. Peaks in August.
Neocicada hieroglyphica
Common Name: Hieroglyphic Cicada
Locations: AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MS, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA
When: May-August. Peaks in June.
Okanagana bella
Common Name: Mountain Cicada
Locations: AB, AZ, BC, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY
When: June-July. Peaks in June.
Okanagana rimosa
Common Name: Say’s Cicada
Locations: AB, BC, CA, CT, ID, IL, IN, IA, ME, MB, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NV, NB, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OH, ON, OR, PA, QC, SD, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY
When: May-July. Peak in June.
Neotibicen superbus
Common Name: Superb Dog-Day Cicada
Locations: AR, KS, LA, MO, NM, OK, TX
When: June-August. Peak in July.
Neotibicen dorsatus
Common Name: Bush Cicada or Grand Western or Giant Grassland Cicada
Locations: AR, CO, ID, IL, IA, KS, MO, MT, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX, WY
When: July-September. Peaks in August.
Cicadettana calliope
Common Name: Southern Grass Cicada
Locations: AL, AR, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MS, MO, NE, NC, OH, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA
When: May-August, peaking in July.
Neotibicen pruinosus
Common Name: Scissor(s) Grinder
Locations: AL, AR, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, WV, WI
When: June-October. Peak in August.
Dusk is the time of day between sunset and night. Many species of Megatibicen & Neotibicen (formerly Tibicen) sing at this time. I’m not sure why they sing at this time — perhaps it helps them avoid audio competition with other singing insects, or perhaps it helps them avoid predators by calling at this specific time of the day.
If you find yourself outdoors in the eastern half of the U.S. after sunset and hear a cicada call, it is likely one of the following Megatibicen or Neotibicen species:
Megatibicen
Megatibicen are LARGE and LOUD cicadas.
Megatibicen auletes aka the Northern Dusk Singing Cicada. This cicada can be found in these states: AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI. Season: July to Fall.
M. auletes Call*:
Megatibicen figuratus aka the Fall Southeastern Dusk-singing Cicada. Found in: AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA. Season: July to Fall.
M. figuratus Call*:
Megatibicen resh aka Resh Cicada aka Western Dusk Singing Cicada. Found in: AR, KS, LA, MS, NE, OK, SC, TN, TX. Season: July to Fall.
M. resh Call*:
Megatibicen resonans aka Southern Resonant/Great Pine Barrens Cicada aka Southern Dusk Singing Cicada. Found in AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA. Season: July to Fall.
M. resonans Call*:
Neotibicen
Medium-sized, green cicadas with calls that sound like the rhythmic grinding of a scissor on a sharpening wheel (not a common tool in the 21st century).
Neotibicen pruinosus pruinosus aka Scissor(s) Grinder. Found in AL, AR, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, OH, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI. Season: June – September. Neotibicen pruinosus fulvus aka Pale Scissor(s) Grinder Cicada. Found in: KS, OK. Season: June – September.
N. pruinosus Call*:
Neotibicen winnemanna aka Eastern Scissor(s) Grinder. Found in AL, DE, DC, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV. Season: June – Fall.
Mid-August is approaching, and the “Dog Days” of summer are almost here. Sirius (the Dog Star) and the constellation Canis Major will soon begin to appear in the early morning sky. Now is also the time that Tibicen canicularis, the Dog Day Day cicada, is also making its presence known in the U.S.A.
Edit: Dog-day cicadas (Neotibicen) are named for the time of year when the Dog-start Sirius first appears in the sky. Depending on where you are in the U.S., latitudinally speaking, Sirius should enter the pre-dawn sky between July 29th (Key West, FL) and August 15th (Bangor Maine) give or take a day.
This is a photo of a N. canicularis (Dog Day cicada) next to a T. davisi (Southern Dog Day cicada) by by Paul Krombholz:
N. canicularis has a green pronotal collar, green markings on its pronotum, and at least some, if not all, orange colors on its mesonotum (where the M is on the cicada’s back). N. canicularis sounds like (to me at least) a circular saw buzzing through a plank in wood in a neighbor’s garage.
Imagine that you are a farmer waking just before dawn and seeing the first signs of Sirius, the Dog Star, and then later in the day, hearing N. canicularis singing away in the trees surrounding your fields. Those two signs signal that summer is reaching its peak, and harvest will start soon enough.
N. canicularis can be found in the following states and provinces: AR, CT, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MB, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NB, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND, NS, OH, ON, PA, PE, QC, RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, VA, WV, WI.
Here is a screen capture of the computer app Stellarium, with Canis Major and Sirius rising above the horizon before dawn.
Here’s a Tibicen auletes found in Winston-Salem, North Carolina by my friend Erin Dickinson. The T. auletes is also known as Northern Dusk Singing cicada. It can be found in most Southern states, IL, IN, MI, OH, MD, DE, NJ and CT.
The Tibicen auletes is the largest species of the Tibicen cicadas (largest in terms of physical size). Visit Insect Singers to hear its song.
Roy Troutman sent us these amazing photos of a female Walker’s Cicada aka Megatibicen pronotalis (aka T. walkeri, T. marginalis) taken in Batavia, Ohio. As you can guess by the various akas (also known as), the Megatibicen pronotalis has been known by several species names in the past. Sometimes it takes cicada researchers a while to figure out that two different species are the same species (which is probably the case here). Tibicen pronotalis also sounds exactly like another species of Tibicen: Megatibicen dealbatus. The major difference between the M. pronotalis and the M. dealbatus is the M. dealbatus has more pruinose than the M. pronotalis. Pruinose is the white, chalky substance that appears on the bodies of cicadas.
Walker’s Cicada is found in 18 mid-western and southern states. Read more about this pretty cicada on Bug Guide, and listen to its song on Insect Singers.
The Brood XIX (and Brood IV stragglers) are all but gone, but annual species of cicadas are emerging around the United States right now. The various annual species of cicadas differ from periodical cicadas in many ways. Annual cicadas emerge in limited numbers every year, they are not organized into broods, they tend to be timid and camouflaged to match their environment, and while their life cycles are longer than a year, they are not as long as 13 or 17 years.
The most common annual cicada east of the Rockies is probably the various species of the Tibicen genus. There are also cicadas belonging to the Diceroprocta, Neocicada, and Okanagana genera out and about now.
Use the Insect Singers website to help match the species to their song.
I am interested in building a large cage, do you have any tips?
Comment by Rw — February 17, 2011 [AT] 3:49 pm
I know its early but I have a theory on this years emergence of Brood XIX in Missouri. After hearing about some 2010 stragglers from brood IV in eastern Kansas and witnessing a handful of stragglers in the Kansas City area myself, I am starting to wonder if we will see some of brood IV emerging 4 years early along with brood XIX. I’m curious to see if the Magicicadas in the areas of eastern kansas/western Missouri have changed their life cycle from 17 years to 13. It would be very interesting.
Comment by Steve — January 27, 2011 [AT] 1:14 pm
eBay.com is a good place to find cicadas. T
Comment by Dan — December 29, 2010 [AT] 5:27 pm
I am looking to buy about 10 cicadas(dead of corse) for my daughters science project.
Comment by missy — December 29, 2010 [AT] 4:59 pm
Hi, just found your great website while trying to identify a cicada I photographed recently in Central Queensland. Do you have any idea what this one is? I’ve had a look at the most common ones and quite a few more, but have not identified it as yet.
We’ve recently been inundated with them — a very large bunch have been serenading us (more probably the girl cicadas) from a tree next-door. They’re the loudest I’ve ever heard!
Anyway, here’s a link to my flicker page. I also have a head shot which I can provide if necessary. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5042/5260144027_b9b73e6d37_b.jpg
Comment by Vicki — December 14, 2010 [AT] 6:15 am
When did you take it? Sounds like it could be a Magicicada (Periodical Cicada). Please email the picture to Dan, the creator of this awesome website and he can help you further! cicadamania [AT] gmail.com
Comment by Elias — August 1, 2010 [AT] 8:43 pm
I have a wonderful picture of a cicada after it has ‘hatched’. It’s white with read eyes still hanging onto the husk of the pulpa. How can I post it here — I have NO idea what kind, etc.
Robin
Comment by Robin — July 29, 2010 [AT] 9:10 pm
Hello Suzanne,
I believe the white strands are connected to the spiracles, the cicada’s respiratory system. As far as the gel, there are two possibilities. One is that sometimes during eclosion (coming out of its shell) a cicada urinates. A second possibility is that it was damaged and some hemolymph (cicada blood) leaked out. This usually chabges to a black tarry substance and deforms the wings if it gets on there. The process of changing to an adult is a lot of work so it can definitely appear like a struggle. Lastly, if it came out during the morning, there is a high likely hood that a bird ate it.
Comment by Elias — July 28, 2010 [AT] 3:26 am
I found a cicada on the ground who had fallen from his perch. It seems as though his shell dried to much before he could get all the way out. Is there anything I can do to help?
Comment by cammie Wiggins — July 27, 2010 [AT] 5:40 pm
With the explosionn of cicada in SE Ohio this week (temps over 90 and heat index above 100) why do we not see birds with fat full tummies? What are the natural predators of cicada, and when can we expect to see them kick in? Songs are loud and long chorus at dusk around here now, up from just a few alternating songs last weekend at dusk.
Found a dead adult in our driveway today, and an empty nymph shell under a mailbox two days ago. What brood is this, and how can you tell they are periodic and not annual? thanks.
Comment by Kirk G — July 24, 2010 [AT] 6:26 pm
I saw a cicada this morning as it was emerging from it’s shell. I was fascinated. It pulled on it’s “tail” (don’t know the correct terms) and this gel looking stuff came out. Then his wings seemed to get bigger? I watched him for a long time. It seems like he was struggling and kept pulling on a long white appendage coming from his abdomen. Looked like some alien movie to me! Can you tell me what he was doing? I went inside for a while and when I went back outside and looked for him, all I found was his wings! I’m wondering if a bird ate him. Poor little guy. I felt sorry for him.
Comment by Suzanne Prince — July 17, 2010 [AT] 6:57 am
I live in Mississippi and pretty sure there is an Australian Green Grocer Circada hanging on my front door. He is unbelievably loud.
Comment by Steve — June 25, 2010 [AT] 10:10 pm
Okanagana cicadas are very interesting. Here in the North East we have two species, Okanagana rimosa and O. canadensis. This is O. rimosa http://www.musicofnature.com/songsofinsects/iframes/cicadas/popup_okanrimo.html
This is O. canadensis: http://www.musicofnature.com/songsofinsects/iframes/cicadas/popup_okancana.html
Thanks to SONGS OF INSECTS for their great website and book. This species is commonly overlooked as they sound like grasshoppers or katydids! Their nymphs have an interesting pattern of dark stripes. Are there any pictures of the New Jersey Specimens?? They should be peaking around now. Please listen for them and report them here.
Take care,
Elias
Comment by Elias — June 15, 2010 [AT] 9:11 pm
Possibly an Orientopsaltria species. Need a shot of the underside (opercula). See Duffels, J.P. and Zaidi, M. 2000. A revision of the cicada genus Orientopsaltria Kato (Homoptera, Cicadidae) from Southeast Asia. Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 142:195-297.
Comment by David E — June 12, 2010 [AT] 3:53 am
Hi!
I have an unidentified cicada seen in Gunung Mulu National Park, Malaysia in August 2009.
Here are the photos :
http://bit.ly/bYolcy
http://bit.ly/chPhD1
Could anyone point me to a family/genus?
Thank you
Comment by Sophie — June 11, 2010 [AT] 3:48 am
That’s actually cool news. I’ve lived in Jersey for most of the past 40 years, and I’ve never seen an Okanagana. There’s hope for me yet!
Comment by Dan — June 9, 2010 [AT] 9:30 am
CORRECTION!! the two 6/8 cicadas found in Jefferson, NJ were Genus Okanagana, and not Magicicada. Very sorry but glad to correct it! (Thanks to Dave Moskowitz)
Comment by Scott McDonnell — June 9, 2010 [AT] 9:24 am
[AT] Scott — in your location it would be Brood II.
Comment by Dan — June 9, 2010 [AT] 4:06 am
Found two magicicadas, (late XIV or early II?), mating in Jefferson Township, NJ on June 8, 2010.
Comment by Scott McDonnell — June 8, 2010 [AT] 10:09 pm
According to Marlatt’s maps, Kentucky is in Brood XIX territory. Please report your findings here and to magicicada.org.
Comment by Elias — June 3, 2010 [AT] 4:38 am
Walking in Red River Gorge in eastern KY today, we found a couple of fresh Magicicada wings with the unmistakable orange veins along the path to Auxier Ridge. We also heard just a few of them singing. These must either be stragglers or early appearing ones, as they were few and far between. Any ideas as to which brood they might belong to?
Comment by Roberta Burnes — May 29, 2010 [AT] 1:17 pm
Hello Lady
I posted pictures of hatchling nymphs on this site. i believe there are others who have contributed photographs too. They have legs and look like small clumsy termites to the naked eye. Most nymphs are usually whitish. Maybe you found a beetle grub which has small underdeveloped legs. Good luck!
Comment by Elias — May 24, 2010 [AT] 12:44 am
Hi. I was digging up a mulberry sapling today and found something that resembled a cicada larva. But it doesn’t have any legs. It was roughly the same size as a nymph, reddish-brown in color, but no legs. I could make out it’s eyes on the front of it. I was just wondering, does a nymph hatch with legs? this thing doesn’t have any.
It was about 4 to 6 inches down, in loose earth. i put it in a flowerpot with the sapling, about 6 inches down, but I’m worried about watering my plant now. will it be okay? if you can help, Thanks!
Comment by LadyStarscream — May 11, 2010 [AT] 12:22 pm
Looking for a few Brood X skins or specimens from the 2004 Indiana emergence. Already checked ebay. I’m doing an art piece and don’t really need beautifully displayed specimens, but I’ll be happy to find anything!
Comment by Courtenay — April 8, 2010 [AT] 7:48 pm
I wrote a story about a cicada, please let me know what you think of it.
http://bit.ly/b6VQFU
If you like it, please share the link with your friends.
Thank you.
: ^ )
Phantomimic
Comment by Phantomimic — March 7, 2010 [AT] 3:44 pm
Probably have about 200 cicada nymphal shells on hand from all different species. What types are you looking for?
Comment by Elias — February 2, 2010 [AT] 7:29 pm
Elizabeth,
Try ebay.
Comment by Dan — January 31, 2010 [AT] 5:33 pm
I am looking to acquire a rather large collection of cast-off cicada shells for a creative project with my 7 year old son. We’ve been collecting them for a few years, but are only upto about 20 and I’m hopeful to get 200+. Perhaps we’ll travel in 2012 to one of the 17-year sites? Figured I’d put the request out there though, in case someone has a large collection they are considering selling…
Comment by Elizabeth — January 31, 2010 [AT] 5:18 pm
It is 18 degrees Fahrenheit today. Wishing I was in Australia……..
Comment by Elias — January 30, 2010 [AT] 11:12 am
Hi Jay- the bottle exuviae are similar to the “floury Baker” (Aleeta curvicosta) and I shall try to post a picture. Max Mould’s book “Australian cicadas” has a picture. My daughter was at Hawk’s Nest last week and caught a few smaller species. One was black and about 12mm long (with wings)and has a different song to similar species around sydney here.
To Vhem,
Around 18C is about the temp for green grocers (GGs) to sing at night. I have noticed recently that our local bottle cicadas will sing on evenings that are around 16C. If the temp is hot, GGs will sing around every 4 hours during the night. Those bugs ain’t so small- I guess it depends what species are out in numbers around your place!
David
Comment by David Emery — December 17, 2009 [AT] 10:17 pm
Hi there
We live on the Central Coast of NSW and the cicada’s are out and going for it. Have noticed that alot of people mention how loud they are but maybe we are just use to it. My daughter spends her time searching for the spent cicada shells and now has quite a collection. While looking at these shells and listening to their song, my children and myself were discussing the why’s and how’s of cicada and my eldest mentioned that the cicada will only start to sing once the temperature has reached a certain degree, I agreed with him that I had once heard this too. We’ve tried some internet searching and have come up with no ansewer to our question.
So we now ask you budding cicada enthusiasts is this fact or myth. If it is fact what is the temperature that makes these cute little bugs sing for us all day.
ps: your site is great — we learnt alot about cicadas from your site.
cheers — vhem
(veronica, hayden, ethan, madison)
Comment by veronica — December 17, 2009 [AT] 5:34 pm
thanx David — I should have known there’ld be more than one “midget”. They are black, about one third your little finger in length. U probably know them well but if I can grab a pic, I will. Why is it I’ve not seen a Bottle casting? Would I know the diffrence if I saw one? Jay
Comment by Jay — December 16, 2009 [AT] 8:35 pm
Hi Jay,
Sydney bottles are isolated populations and there are certainly more on the central coast down to Avoca beach. What do you mean by “midget” as there are around 10 species from central coast? Would be useful to post a photo. The Blue mountains are heaving with the medium and smaller species as well at the moment, probably reflecting recent fires and recurrent showers.
David.
Comment by David E — December 9, 2009 [AT] 4:01 pm
g’day Cicada maniacs — how is it I didn’t even know about Bottle Cicadas, let alone see them, in all my years in Sydney. discovered them on the Central Coast, just 50ks north. And why are there some with both sets of wings and others with inner set only? The ones in my area have both.
It’s cicada Heaven here at the moment for green, black, midget and bottle. thanx, Jay
Comment by Jay — December 8, 2009 [AT] 2:12 am
Elias,
I can get you some exuviae here if you like. Contact Dan for my email.
David.
Comment by David E — November 27, 2009 [AT] 8:33 pm
Chris,
Definitely a Pauropsalta mneme- called the “alarm clock ticker” because of the shrill buzz. It has a huge range in NSW. They are emerging around Canberra now, along with about 6-8 other species.
David.
Comment by David E — November 27, 2009 [AT] 8:32 pm
Chris,
That looks like a Pauropsalta mneme.
Comment by Dan — November 24, 2009 [AT] 7:37 pm
Hi,
I managed to photograph a cicada at a site in the central tablelands on NSW Australia.last week, rather small about 35mm long. An image can be found at this link:
Hoping I can get an ID, seems to be hard to find references to cicadas on the net.
regards,
Chris Ross
Comment by Chris Ross — November 24, 2009 [AT] 6:24 pm
I am also very interested in exuvia (nymph shells). I was lucky to collect about 26 exuvia of Tibicen auletes, North America’s largest cicada. I have a specimen of Pomponia imperatoria as an adult. Really would like to get a nymphal exuvia. I checked the links Dan provided and couldn’t find any. Does anyone know where to find one?
Comment by Elias — November 21, 2009 [AT] 3:11 pm
In Center City Philadelphia, cicada singing is common in August. What species might this be?
Comment by Kenneth Frank — November 15, 2009 [AT] 7:06 pm
Can Cicadas loose a leg and survive?
I accidently hurt a cicada that I found when shaking the washing.
It is resting in a tree in shock as it had lost one leg from the knee, though has all other legs.
Hasn’t moved much all day, though walked up branch about 20 centremetres.
I havent ever seen one here and was not expecting to find one on washing. Will have to check dry clothes from now on.
xx ab
Comment by Alicia Bee — November 15, 2009 [AT] 4:13 am
Hi Dave J,
Will see what I can do- there are quite a few GGs out now and we caught 2 Thopha (DDs) emerging yesterday around Kempsey on the north coast- first of the season so far.You had best contact Dan for my email and then I can get your postal address.
cheers,
David.
Comment by David E — November 9, 2009 [AT] 3:02 am
Hello David Emery in Sydney I assume. Could you send me some green grocer & or Double drummer shells. I need about 20 or so….will be glad to pay shipping. Was in Sydney once, Farmer’s Cove, burned the crap out of my thigh collecting some sort of palm seeds (red furry little rascals) that I had put in my pocket!
Cheers, Dave
Comment by Dave J — November 5, 2009 [AT] 2:27 pm
To Dave J- depends where in the world you are. Most of the shells in the tropics will be degraded by now. In Sydney, we have some green grocer shells (2 weeks old) that are around 5cm long. If you wait a month you can secure some Double drummer shells that are larger!!
Comment by David Emery — November 2, 2009 [AT] 9:50 pm
Cicadas of the genus Pomponia are the largest.
Comment by Dan — November 2, 2009 [AT] 8:31 pm
I need the largest cicada shells available for an art project. Where can I get them?
Comment by Dave J — November 2, 2009 [AT] 10:21 am
Hi Elias,
Most emerge in the early evening to make the most of the bird-free zone. Some unfortunates (including me) run into some rather carnivorous tree crickets, huntsman (tarantula) spiders and nocturnal ants at night, but most emergences are uncomplicated. some cicadas get their times awry and maybe left coming out at sunrise.
We have several species that also emerge before dawn (Frogattoides pallida and F.typica in the desert) and if emergences are large, some like Thopha saccata (double drummer), Psaltoda plaga and Ps moerens (black prince and red-eye, respectively) and even small Urabunana verna, will emerge during the day- like your Magis! They’re all in Max’s book.
We have just had a week of wet weather with 75mm rain, so now things are heating up. I have noted 12 species out so far around Sydney.
Comment by David E — October 30, 2009 [AT] 5:04 pm
Hello David,
Do you notice any different times for nymphs to come above ground? Do some species prefer times other than 8-10PM?
Thanks for your replies.
Elias
Comment by Elias — October 25, 2009 [AT] 6:38 pm
I know that problem! One solution I found is I have small containers with completely flat surfaces and nothing to climb on. I place one newly captured, non eclosing nymph into each container. As long as the nymph remains in the prone position, they usually do not eclose (I have seen some exceptions, especially with T. cannicularis for some reason). Got this tip from Gerry Bunker and it works most of the time. Maybe the Green Grocers act differently? I love Australian Cicadas. I have been through Max Mould’s book many times. Please keep us posted!!
Comment by Elias — October 24, 2009 [AT] 7:05 am
Yeah Elias,
If you take them off the trees when emerging and don’t hook them (shells or exuviae) into a curtain or the inside of the “boot” (“trunk” to you in the USA) of the car, you will get loads of deformities as the larger ones can’t emerge correctly on their sides or backs. Nylon shirts are great to sink the claws into, but in the field, the boot of the car is great for transportation!!
Cheers,
David.
Comment by David E — October 21, 2009 [AT] 3:13 am
Awesome pictures, David. You found many Green Grocer nymphs that eclosed. Seems like many specimens were deformed by hemolymph. The cicadas of Australia are nice and big for the most part. We live vicariously through you. I wonder if its possible to post some videos of them calling. Hopefully this will be a fruitful summer for you. Here in NY, it’s is cold and rainy and the cicadas have been dead for over a month. Can’t complain however, I did manage to capture my first Tibicen auletes.
Comment by Elias — October 18, 2009 [AT] 6:28 am
Here’s some Green Grocers. Kevin’s photos.
Comment by Dan — October 13, 2009 [AT] 6:59 pm
Hi Dan,
As you northerners rue the passing of summer and dream about next season, I will just let you know that the Green Grocer cicadas (Cyclochila australasiae) have commenced emerging in the mountains west of Sydney. The Sydney city emergence should start in a couple of weeks.
David.
Comment by David Emery — October 13, 2009 [AT] 6:34 pm
Quesada gigas song:
Cicada metamorfosis:
Text PDF about brazilian cicadas, with photos:
http://www.acervodigital.ufrrj.br/insetos/insetos_do_brasil/conteudo/tomo_03/02_cicadoida.pdf
Comment by wenilton luÃs daltro — October 9, 2009 [AT] 6:52 am
Do cicadas normally live in WESTERN Oregon? We heard one there this summer, and while I grew up in W. Oregon, I don’t believe they normally occur there, and had never heard of it before. I’ve been trying to figure it out from the internet stuff, but all I could find was that they DO occur in EASTERN Oregon, which is a much dryer climate (sage brush & juniper as opposed to ferns, moss, and big trees in the W.) I was just curious, because we’ve also seen praying mantis in western OR and WA in the last few years, and they were never native here, either. Please e-mail me at ciscoshirlbw [AT] yahoo.com
Thanks
Comment by Shirley — October 3, 2009 [AT] 3:00 pm
Wow, it is not even Spring yet for Australia and cicadas are out already! Hope this is a great season for you David. Bladder cicadas have a very interesting morphology.
Comment by Elias — September 18, 2009 [AT] 4:08 am
Bladder cicadas (Cystostoma saundersi) are out in Sydney Australia. The Aussie cicada season is open for business!
Comment by David Emery — September 16, 2009 [AT] 4:18 pm
It’s September 15 in Frederick Maryland and the cicadas have stopped singing 🙁 Last night they were talking up storm. They had so much to say. Today it is so quiet. It’s sad. Every year, one day in the middle of September, they just stop. Fall is coming. I do love Fall, but I will miss the cicadas’ song until next July.
Comment by Alison — September 15, 2009 [AT] 7:52 am
I would assume they were house fly or blue/green bottle fly larva. Cicada killers seal the cicadas in a cell and lay an egg on them. It is not possible to come upon a cicada kiler larva by chance alone above ground.
Comment by Elias — September 9, 2009 [AT] 3:29 am
We found a dead cicada on our porch. My daughter was checking it out when a maggot started coming out of it. We put the cicada in a plastic cup and 3 more maggots eventually came out of the cicada. I read some about the cicada killer wasps but this doesn’t seem like a cicada killer. Does anyone know what the maggots could be?
Comment by Valerie — September 8, 2009 [AT] 7:59 pm
Hi Jennifer: Elias is correct that the “blood” is cicada blood or haemolymph. We have moved hundreds of emerging cicadas from local tress onto our house curtains so my kids could watch and photograph emergence. During eclosion or emergence, cicadas pump this around to initially “force’ open the shell, probably with the help of a few proteases (that means the shells are “medicinal” and anti-febrile for traditional medicine!!) and pump the head and thorax through the split followed by legs. Then they hang to harden the legs before extracting the rest of the body (abdomen) and ahnging from the shell (exuviae)- fantastic to watch!! They then pump haemolymph into the patent wing veins to expand the wings- these veins collapse when the wings harden and dry in the breeze and sun. If there is a lesion or malfunction causing “bleeding”, there is usually a casuality in the emergence or in wing expansion, making them as easy target for predators.
Comment by David Emery — September 1, 2009 [AT] 7:21 pm
Rachelle, I, too, live in NY. We have cicadas here and no need to report them! If you wish to send me the specimen I can identify it for you. i live in Queens County.
Jennifer, I have seen this phenomenon too. When there is less undergrowth, cicadas compete for sites to eclose. They can injury each other with their sharp forelegs or be injured by ants and spiders looking to feed on them. Also during the eclose process injuries can occur. The bluish jelly like material is “hemolymph”i.e. cicada blood ,and turns black when exposed to the air. When they “bleed” alot, they usually fail to eclose. I hope this helps.
Comment by Elias — September 1, 2009 [AT] 2:59 pm
thanks Dan — presumably therefore, it only takes one to start and within a second, they’re all at it. How it is that they all end at the same time remains a mystery. I’ll be listening more intently this summer.
Comment by Jay — September 1, 2009 [AT] 3:41 am
I’ve been “helping” our regular, 2 year cicadas for years when they come out of the ground and I’ve seen all kinds of conditions and problems. One problem really “bugs” me (pun intended). I come across a few each year that seem to have some sort of bleeding disorder. They rarely make it off the ground. The “blood” pools behind the shell and I can see the black through the shell and even seeping out through the shell. They have no sign of injury. They just keep bleeding from all over. Every now and then I will find one that has “eclosed” (borrowing a term from butterflies), but the adult ends up bleeding all over the tree and doesn’t survive. Has anyone else seen this and has anyone come across any research that describes something like this, assuming there is research about the physical workings of cicadas?
Comment by Jennifer — August 30, 2009 [AT] 8:19 pm
Help!
It’s 8.31.09, I’m in Brooklyn, NY and found one just like the blue/green one Dan has posted. I dont know how this poor thing came in, the screens are closed, he’s so big he scared the cats flittering and skittering himself all around and landed in a water filled soup pot that was soaking in sink. He’s deceased, but should I let anyone ‘official’ know? I never saw anything like this…in NY
Comment by Rachelle — August 30, 2009 [AT] 7:31 pm
Hello Jeff. The species of cicada is called Tibicen pruinosa. Here is a link to show what it looks like: http://www.musicofnature.com/songsofinsects/iframes/cicadas/popup_tibiprui.html
You are in a flat area that gets lots of sun and cicada killers will frequently make large mounds of dirt. See if you see the large female wasp entering and leaving the burrow. Sometimes she will bring paralyzed cicadas right in. This is the most comprehensive site on cicada killers I know of: http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~hollidac/cicadakillerhome.html
Other wasps also make burrows, but cicada killers make the largest.
Nice video — tell us what you find!
Comment by Elias — August 30, 2009 [AT] 5:47 am
are these cicada mounds I dont know
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbHL-POMTc0
Comment by jeff edwards — August 29, 2009 [AT] 8:24 pm
Jay,
All the males (the ones that sing) are competing for mates, so if one starts to sing the others don’t want to be left out, so they all start to sing.
Comment by Dan — August 28, 2009 [AT] 5:21 am
g’day fellow cicada people. I know sfa about cicadas — I just love em. Here’s a stupid question — how is it that dozens or hundreds begin and end their ‘singing’ at the same time?
let me know if the answer is already here somewhere. thanx, Jay
Comment by Jay — August 28, 2009 [AT] 4:50 am
Wow — this is still technically winter for Australia. That is awesome. Here in NY we have to wait at least 3 months after the end of winter. Hope this is a good season for “down under”.
Comment by Elias — August 21, 2009 [AT] 3:25 pm
Hi All,
After quite a warm winter, I am pleased to report the first song of a Cicadetta celis (“silver princess”) in the melaleucas around Sydney- roll on the southern hemisphere cicada season.
David.
Comment by David Emery — August 20, 2009 [AT] 9:51 pm
Does anyone in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut have any experience with hearing or finding Tibicen auletes? Here is a picture and call of this species for reference: http://www.musicofnature.com/songsofinsects/iframes/cicadas/popup_tibiaule.html
Comment by Elias — August 19, 2009 [AT] 5:27 pm
The observation of the loudness of cicadas with regard to temeprature has been studied. “Body Temeprature and the Acoustic Behavior of the Cicada Tibicen Winemanna” by Allen Sanboern published in the Journal of Insect Behavior
Comment by Elias — July 21, 2009 [AT] 10:14 am
Why do cicadas sound louder when its hot?
Comment by raevans — July 15, 2009 [AT] 11:45 am
to CeeCee,
Cicada songsa mean “summer” down under!
Comment by David E — July 11, 2009 [AT] 4:16 am
old wives tale says noise of cicadas signify something. Fogs, rain etc. what is it?
Comment by CeeCee — July 8, 2009 [AT] 9:27 am
Hello Dan,
Heard back from Max Moulds who was kind enough to reply to my email. The good news is a second edition of Australain Cicadas will be produced which will have a considerably expanded introductory chapter and an additional 100 species.
The bad news is we will have to wait at least 5 years!!
So here is our answer. Like anything with cicadas, we need patience. At least it’s not 17 years!!
Comment by Elias — July 5, 2009 [AT] 5:54 am
Hi Dan,
Max Moulds now lives in Kurandah near Cairns- he will be publishing a monograph on revised taxonomy of Australian Cicadettini soon, but don’t expect another edition of the book in the near future.
to Saeed; join the Yahoo Entomology-Cicadidae chat group and ask Fariba- she is a cicadaphile from Iran and works at the museum on plant pathogens
Comment by David E — July 5, 2009 [AT] 4:54 am
I am a Ph.D Student of Agricultural Entomology in University of Tehran, IRAN. I have caught some cicadas and cooked them by use of water-salt solution. Its taste is good, but i like to learn more recipes. Is there any person to help me?
Comment by Saeed Heidari — July 4, 2009 [AT] 8:53 am
Hello Dan,
The given email stated Dr. Moulds is no longer at that address. It then gives you another address to write too. I have asked our question and will patiently await a reply. I will keep you posted.
Take care,
Elias
Comment by Elias — July 2, 2009 [AT] 7:04 pm
Elias,
Let me know what you find out about the book.
Dan
Comment by Dan — June 30, 2009 [AT] 9:07 pm
Hello Dan,
Thank you very much! i have sent an email to Dr Moulds and I will keep you apprised as to its outcome.
Just got back from Las Vegas where I caught two Diceroprocta specimens just a block from the Las Vegas strip! They are currently alive in my little butterfly pavillion. I will see if they can call today.
Have a good day,
Elias
Comment by Elias — June 30, 2009 [AT] 8:01 am
Elias, have your tried contacting Max?
http://australianmuseum.net.au/staff/max-moulds/
Comment by Dan — June 24, 2009 [AT] 9:08 pm
Does anyone know if Max Moulds will write an updated edition? I have that book and it is excellent.
Comment by Elias — June 23, 2009 [AT] 3:09 pm
Hi Denis (April 6)- I think that Germany may be too far north for many cicadas. Try south of the Alps.
To Sonja (April 29)- Yeah, I live on the south coast in Oz and remember the seasons: especially the sand fairies (Cicadetta arenaria)landing on your towel at the beach. One year around 1968 there was a massive emergence of “double drummers’ (Thopha saccata) in the bush and a fierce northerly wind blew all day and blew them out to sea where thousands drowned. The following southerly change blew them back to shore and left a high tide line of cicadas about 20 per metre along the entire length of 7 mile beach!! That memory really sticks! Actually, I didn’t appreciate how many species of cicadas were in Australia until Max Moulds book came out in 1990- seems there’s 500+ species!
Comment by David E — June 15, 2009 [AT] 4:54 am
Reporting from Alto, New Mexico where my juniper and pinon are full of cicadas!! Carcasses all over my backyard. I’ve lived here three years- this is a first out here for me. I remember them growing up in Michigan.
Comment by M. Deward — May 31, 2009 [AT] 12:10 pm
Does anyone remember what it was like in the Sixties in Australia (East Coast), collecting and swapping cicadas, especially the “Black Prince”? Thank you. (c:
Comment by Sonja — April 29, 2009 [AT] 7:14 pm
Brood x 2004 is still affecting my trees. the “bug experts”
who come out of the woodwork for each cicada emergence will have to prove to me that splitting virtually every leaf bearing branch on a tree 5-20 inches will result in minimal damage to a mature tree
Comment by brian — April 22, 2009 [AT] 11:28 am
Mayme, try ebay or Craigs List. I see wings show up on ebay all the time.
Comment by Dan — April 20, 2009 [AT] 4:08 pm
Hi, I am looking for a source for cicada wings (only after they have lost their life) I am an artist and I need large quantities for a project I am working on and most specimens are too expensive. I have no problem with removing the wings myself.
Comment by Mayme Kratz — April 20, 2009 [AT] 12:14 pm
April 18, 2009
Hello, I live in Lansing Michigan. Those noisy critters are here in the park next to my house! Dang things woke me up from a peaceful sleep at 10:30 this evening. I wasn’t expecting them this year, what the heck is going on????????????
Comment by Lisa Morse — April 18, 2009 [AT] 8:04 pm
Kate — fantastic tattoo — as Flickr allows me too, I’m going to blog about it on the homepage as well.
Hi All, I found this website looking for pictures of cicadas to get a tattoo. My grandfather and I used to search for them in the backyard at his old house and get so excited to find the “shells” on the old red maple tree. I got a fantastic tattoo of one but have no idea how to load it to share with you all. Can someone help me? Thanks!
Comment by Kate — April 11, 2009 [AT] 5:53 am
Thanks! then looks like i’ve to find them here in germany. Does anyone knows where i might be able to find cicada in germany and when are they out?
Comment by Denis — April 6, 2009 [AT] 11:31 pm
Hi Denis,
Live cicadas are out around the Equatorial countires at present (SE Asia and Central America). Live cicadas won’t survive postage!!
Comment by David E — April 6, 2009 [AT] 8:07 pm
Heloo!
I was wondering if anyone in any part of the world has seen now in this time cicadas? I’m actually looking for alive cicada, which i would like to use for a project of mine before letting it go free.
Would anyone help me in finding on and send it to me in germany?
Best regards
Comment by Denis — April 6, 2009 [AT] 3:43 am
In response to the person who wants recipes: Try putting in a few terms at Amazon. Also, on this website there are some links with recipes, though I don’t know if there is anything before 1994. I was looking for this info to, and what’s here plus a few books on Amazon were all I found.
I’m working on a children’s novel(and I plan to make a curriculum to go along with it) that has a lot to do with cicadas. I need some information, if anyone can help me.
First, I want the setting to be where there are many different emergences, and I believe that this would be southern Illinois, but from my maps, can’t tell exactly. Are there any exact maps anywhere?
Second, at what time of year do cicadas emerge? I’ve heard early spring, but I’ve also hear in June. I suppose this has to do with how far north the emergence is taking place, but does anyone know this info exactly?
Third, If cicadas emerge in an area where there has been no spraying, are they safe to eat for animals? I would assume so, especially if they are caught and prepared before their exoskeletons harden. Have there been any reports from farmers about their livestock being adversly affected? (reports from those who farm organically would be especially interesting, as they wouldn’t have the ordinary pesticides.)
Thank you!
Comment by Jennifer Stasinopoulos — March 25, 2009 [AT] 8:07 am
Hellow, I am looking for cicada’s formal recipes. Does anybody knows any books published in U.S.A. before 1994 that has Cicada’s cooking recipe?
Comment by Kuo Liao — March 13, 2009 [AT] 5:19 pm
I just saw a really cute demonstration on a David Attenborough show about Life in the Undergrowth. Mr. A. showed that male periodical cicadas would respond to finger-snaps just as they would to the wing-clicks of a female. He led it about on a branch just by snapping his fingers. I wish I’d known this when the cicadas visited my park in 2004 — it would have been a cute trick to show the kids. You ought to put this on your website — it would fascinate kids — and that’s the first step in getting them interested in something! It’s a shame I’ll have to wait till 2021 to try this — (actually, I could travel to the next emergence area and try it, of course.)
Sarah Dalton
Senior Naturalist
Blendon Woods Metro Park
Comment by Sarah Dalton — March 12, 2009 [AT] 7:33 pm
Hello, I am from Singapore in South East Asia. We don’t have much cicadas in Singapore but I was in Brunei once and saw many cicadas for the first time. One day a local showed me a rare cicada that he caught. It had a distinct beautiful coloration. I believe it had a dark “metallic” blue body with a yellow band under its head with I believe red coloured wings. The local told me it was a “queen” cicada. I’ve tried to search for pictures of this and the only one I could find is on this website which has expired. But google still kept the picture. The link is
http://images.google.com.sg/imgres?imgurl=http://www.cicado.com/Cicada.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.cicado.com/old-cicado.html&usg=__BUTPWa-_R-9IX2hWiR-1QKKh7KY=&h=575&w=380&sz=85&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=-F-8G-_JBq2sIM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=89&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsite:www.cicado.com%2Bcicada%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26um%3D1
Sorry it’s so long, but that’s the only one I could find. Could anybody tell me is this really a “queen” cicada? Or is it a subspecies? Thank you very much!
Comment by Jem — March 12, 2009 [AT] 7:30 pm
There are some sites on the internet detailing Thai cicadas. Additionally there is a book called Cicadas of Thailand by Bouchard, Volume I. This is the best text with multiple illustrations and a CD on Cicada calls. Hope that helped
Comment by Elias — November 21, 2008 [AT] 7:51 am
when will both cicadas come out?
Comment by tyler — November 15, 2008 [AT] 2:23 pm
Hello,
I have seen very big cicadas in Thailand recently which make sounds like very very loud sirens. Do you know, what they are called?
I could send you a photo!
Greetings from Andrea, Germany
Comment by Andrea — November 5, 2008 [AT] 1:21 pm
Sounds like Katydids.
Comment by Dan — October 21, 2008 [AT] 8:08 am
COuld they be Katydids? Check the sounds of insects site from an earlier post of mine and listen to the calls. Hope that helps. I do not believe any cicadas in North America sing at night. A few speices will call at late dusk however.
Comment by Elias — October 21, 2008 [AT] 7:27 am
Hi!
I live in Wisconsin. I’ve been hearing strange clicking sounds coming from the trees this past summer, and they seem to last all day and into the night. I’ve not heard these clicking sounds before, so I’m curious as to what insect may be producing these noises.
Can someone tell me what i’m hearing?
Comment by Robert — October 12, 2008 [AT] 6:41 pm
Hello Mckenzie,
Do you have pictures of this cicada? Please send them to my email epb471 [AT] yahoo.com. I am not sure if you are the “librarian” or Nathan. I would like to see both specimens to help with the ID.
Here in NY we have temps 50-60′s. Katydids and crickets still singing at night albeit slowly. Cicadas are all gone.
Elias
Comment by Elias — October 6, 2008 [AT] 3:57 am
Quote:
I would think as an answer to both Librarian and Nathan that the highest likelihood is Tibicen canicularis. Click on the link for a picture and call. http://www.musicofnature.com/songsofinsects/iframes/cicadas/popup_tibicann.html
End quote
I haven’t heard this call in my backyard before…
Comment by McKenzie — September 30, 2008 [AT] 9:51 am
Wow, still hearing a lone cicada this late in the year.
Comment by McKenzie — September 30, 2008 [AT] 9:48 am
Not sure if anyone breeds or sells cicadas. They have a long subterranean life cycle and are quite difficult to rear in captivity.
Comment by Elias — September 24, 2008 [AT] 11:59 am
hey guys
just wondering where i could find a breeder/seller of cicadas in southwestern ontario
thanks
jim
Comment by JIM VLAHOS — September 23, 2008 [AT] 7:13 pm
The Tibicen species have a 2 — 9 year life cycle which has not been fully worked out yet. They are not periodical like the 17 year cicada as a brood of Tibicen emerges every year. It has been observed that some years they are more plentiful then others. This species emerges as far north as mid Canada so they are likely better able to handle the cold. You are probably seeing the end of the emergence. It is interesting that they were males because usually the females emerge most commonly later on.
Comment by Elias — September 12, 2008 [AT] 6:58 am
Thanks, Elias, this looks like what I found.
Any ideas why they emerged and molted so late in the fall? We are soon to have frost, so I don’t think that there will be time for mating, egg laying, hatching, etc.
Did these guys just miss their cycle? (they were both males).
Thanks.
Comment by Nathan — September 11, 2008 [AT] 6:42 am
I would think as an answer to both Librarian and Nathan that the highest likelihood is Tibicen canicularis. Click on the link for a picture and call. http://www.musicofnature.com/songsofinsects/iframes/cicadas/popup_tibicann.html
Comment by Elias — September 10, 2008 [AT] 9:45 am
Hello,
Yesterday my son found two very recently shed cicadas in Eastern South Dakota. They had just shed and their wings were still shriveled up and green. I didn’t know anything about them, so I have been doing some internet research. It doesn’t seem that these would be the 13 or 17 yr. species. It has been pretty cool for the last several weeks, into the 40s and 50s at nights and 60s during the day although yesterday was in the upper 70s. Any ideas as to why these emerged so late and what year they would have hatched? They are green and black like a frog and the leading edge of their wings is bright green. Thanks.
Comment by Nathan — September 10, 2008 [AT] 6:54 am
NEW YORK RANGE IDENTIFICATION
Can someone tell me what species of Tibicen would be in the Albany, NY (Niskayuna area specifically) locale?
Thanks.
Comment by Librarian — September 9, 2008 [AT] 6:06 am
Here’s a link to a story about cicadas that have landed in Buffalo!
I am looking for any information on the location of Tibicen auletes on Long Island or Staten Island, New York.
Please review this picture/call of T. auletes. They like sandy soil and oak trees and call mainly at dusk.
http://www.musicofnature.com/songsofinsects/iframes/cicadas/popup_tibiaule.html
Please tell me what town or nearby place you hear them or you can email me directly at epb471 [AT] yahoo.com. The goal is to update nearly 100 year old databases on this elusive species. Thank you!! ELIAS
Comment by Elias — September 7, 2008 [AT] 6:50 pm
Hello Darvin,
I would think that the larvae are probably the immature forms of another insect. The cicada undergoes an incomplete metamorphisis, sheds its shell and flies away. The eggs are laid in branches and they fall to the ground and burrow in. Cast of shells do not have any further role in a cicadas life cycle. I am sure in a very heavy periodical emergence, some new nymphs could by chance fall on to a cast off shell.
Take care and hope this helped
Elias
Comment by Elias — September 5, 2008 [AT] 3:04 pm
We live in Minnesota, and we have found alot of Cicada “shells” around our maple tree this summer. My daughter found two of these shells and put them in a container to take to school to show her class. After two or three days she brought them to me and said that there were worms in the shells. Sure enough — there were two small white larvae crawling out of the shell. I didn’t know that that was part of the life cycle. The next day there were larvae crawling in the second shell. Have you come across this situation before? Cicada are amazing!
Comment by Darvin Ische — September 5, 2008 [AT] 7:50 am
NEW!!! Joe Green: Tibicen resonans, Florida, 2007
The pictures here are most like the cicadas here. They’re mostly black with a little bit of green though. They’re wings are loooong and they fold behind them. They’re not as active at night as they were…my husband and I quit smoking though so we haven’t been outside much at night. We did go outside one night this past weekend and there was one still alive on the ground and one ran into the porch light and then tried to get me, another ran into the end of our house and flew above it. They sing all day here all year round. Since I moved to east Texas from south Texas I’ve heard them every day but I’ve only seen the shells left behind until I moved here to Winnsboro. There aren’t any more shells around than normal…I guess they’re just getting a bit more brave…or could clearing of the woods behind us stir them up??
Comment by Ashley — September 4, 2008 [AT] 8:57 pm
Yes, Steve, it would be very interesting to see your photos of cicadas in Israel!
Comment by Bob Jacobson — September 1, 2008 [AT] 7:37 pm
Someone told me that cicada’a in Austrailia sing at night. i saw your page that says that is generally not true. i told the person that they were hearing treetoads or crickets but not cicadas.
also i took close up photos of cicadas in israel. anyone interested?
please reply to:
listed [AT] bible.ca
Steve
Comment by steve — September 1, 2008 [AT] 6:05 pm
GREEN GROCER
JAPANESE TSUKU TSUKU BOSHI
Has anyone a recording of a green grocer cicada?
I can find many others on the web, but not that one.
Here, by the way, is a Japanese tsuku tsuku boshi cicada—>
AND MANY MORE
http://homepage2.nifty.com/saisho/cicadasongaac_e.html
Comment by Paul Arenson — August 31, 2008 [AT] 3:37 pm
It is atypical for the nymphs to shed in the daytime. I am not sure if this leads to a higher deformity rate. Also it may have been stuck during the molting process and you found it at a later time. If the emerging portion of the cicada was black already than this was the case.
Unfortunately alot can go wrong during that final molt! Once they are stuck there is nothing that can be done to help them.
Comment by Elias — August 31, 2008 [AT] 9:18 am
Hi! This morning as I was out walking, I saw a cicada nymph in the street. It was clinging to the pavement and had begun shedding, but I didn’t want it to get run over by a car, so I picked it up and carried it to a safe spot. I know it was alive, as I could feel little spasms or jerks from its body as it tried to get the old shell off. However, it never continued shedding after that point; it died soon after. Did it die because its shedding process was disturbed? Or perhaps it had already become overheated in the morning sun when I found it? I’m sad that the lil guy didn’t make it..
Comment by Colleen S. — August 30, 2008 [AT] 4:06 pm
I wish I could send pics, but I don’t have a camera. I can say that there have been a couple that fell from a high tree and hit the roof, then fell to the ground. The others all had sufficient climbing surfaces. Many, which I forgot to mention, were almost entirely black in coloration, the darkest ones tended to have the worst wing deformation..
Thank you, by the way, for responding to my inquiries. 🙂 They are Very much appreciated!
Comment by bugwhisperer — August 28, 2008 [AT] 7:39 pm
The less choices that periodicals have in terms of vertical surfaces, the higher the deformity rate. They trample and mash each other. Somehow enough usually survive. Also if there is undergrowth the deformed males can call and mate with deformed females. I have witnessed this on several occasions.
Comment by Elias — August 28, 2008 [AT] 7:01 pm
This seems reasonable to me. One can often find deformed periodical cicadas, too.
Comment by Bob Jacobson — August 28, 2008 [AT] 3:19 pm
There exists the possibility that the cicadas where injured during their shedding process. When this occurs, they may bleed (technically endolymph)and this creates dark blotches or spots. This can be seen if the nymph falls far onto a hard surface or if it is attacked by another insect/arachnid, or sometimes from other cicada nymphs trampling a shedding nymph on its way up a tree. Just a theory based on what you gave us. What does everyone else think. Please send pictures so we can see.
Comment by Elias — August 27, 2008 [AT] 4:33 am
Hi! I had no idea this website existed, this is so awesome!!! Question. I live in central Indiana and have noticed some type of epidemic with the population this year. I have found several with black spots whose wings will not fully develope, also covered in black spots. ALL of them have died. It’s almost as if their wings are stuck together. These friendly buggies are very dear to me, but I don’t know much, in fact I just saw my first attack by a ‘killer wasp’ yesterday. If anyone has an expaination I would appreciate it, because it breaks my heart everytime I find one.
Comment by bugwhisperer — August 24, 2008 [AT] 7:48 pm
That’s not true. Cicadas stop singing a dusk for the most part. Katydids and cicadas keep chirping into the night.
Comment by Dan — August 23, 2008 [AT] 8:35 pm
My sister swears that the cicadas stop singing at 2AM. Is that true? If yes, why?
Comment by Kathleen — August 23, 2008 [AT] 6:08 pm
Hello Cress,
I am postive the cicada killer venom lasts for the remaining life of the cicada. I have collected many specimens by gently tugging them away from female cicada killers when they are making their final approach to the burrow. I have never been stung in the process. All of my specimens never “woke up”. They will last approximately 5 — 8 days which is the lifespan of the cicada killer larva. If the cicada dies and spoils, so does the larva. Unfortunately, your friend wont come out of it, and I do not believe a known antidote has been developed.
I am also a huge admirer of Tibicen chloromera!
Comment by Elias — August 23, 2008 [AT] 6:14 am
Hey everyone,
I’m a *HUGE* fan of tibicen chloromera, I think of them as good friends. So imagine my shock and horror when I heard the sound of a distressed male as he landed to the ground being attacked by a cicada killer! I get that they’re beneficial and all but I took this as my one chance of being a cicada hero. I got the killer to leave without much effort and gently scooped my friend up to take home. He’s definitely paralyzed and has been chilling here for the better part of 6 hours. Concerned he was in pain and I was prolonging release I searched cicada killer venom to find it shouldn’t cause pain. But I can’t find any source that tells me how long the venom remains effective. Does anyone know how long my friend will be stuck like this?
Comment by Cress — August 22, 2008 [AT] 12:32 pm
Hello Mar,
Not much we can do except preserve woodlands and neighborhood trees. They are more often heard then seen so it will take a little diligence to find them. Trying to find a nymph at night and watching it emerge from its “shell” is the easiest way to acquire specimens. Good luck
Elias
Comment by Elias — August 22, 2008 [AT] 4:21 am
Hi, this is an awesome site!
I have Cicada singing in my garden, but, and I’m embarrassed to admit this, I can only find one so far to look at! (In the maple tree)
I have seen two Cicada killer wasps (I think; they’re large solitary wasps) they are pleasant, (like the Euro paper wasps who nest in the window well) and curious, (there might be more than two, but honestly the markings seem like the same two) but so far I haven’t seen any predation. I know it’s nature and the wasps have to eat, honestly I’m glad. Is there anything I can do that would help the Cicada (and his friends I can’t find) in my garden?
Comment by Mar — August 19, 2008 [AT] 6:52 pm
Does anyone out there collect cicadas, or is anyone interested in exchanging specimens? I’m trying to build a representative collection of as many different species as I can. Even specimens found dead on the ground would be of interest. (Ashley, I’d love to see what kinds are pestering you in Texas!)
I’m particularly interested in such species as Tibicen texana, robbinsoniana, similaris, resh, resonans, superba, figurata, bifidus and cultriformis, but they are all of interest, including other genera such as Okanagana and Diceroprocta. I’ll gladly pay postage for reasonably intact dead cicadas anyone is willing to send.
Thanks,
Bob Jacobson
jacobsonbob [AT] yahoo.com
Comment by Bob Jacobson — August 19, 2008 [AT] 4:18 pm
2 general questions, has anyone in New York heard T. auletes. I hear they are present in Staten Island and have confirmed them calling in Wading River (not large population however).
Second — anyone in NY seeing first instar Magicicada yet?
Comment by Elias — August 18, 2008 [AT] 4:03 am
Glad that worked out Ashley. It is strange for them to move around at night. They might have been freshly emerged from dusk and decided to take flight. The explanations are countless. Look forward to a picture and video this “bug dance” so all member could see a unique human — bug intereraction — ha ha! Keep us posted, and enjoy your weekend!
Elias
Comment by Elias — August 16, 2008 [AT] 4:15 am
Hello Elias,
I’m not scared of them persay, just don’t like bugs at all! I havent seen any in about a week so I think we may be fine. I still hear them in the trees. They just don’t come flying at us at night anymore. Thanks for your help! If I see one again I’ll try to take a picture of it while I’m dancing around doing the “bug dance”. 🙂
Comment by Ashley — August 15, 2008 [AT] 9:14 pm
Hello Ashley,
They fly randomly and will zig zag during their course. Nothing attracts them from a scent based perspective. Some cicadas are attracted to very bright lights at night, which is not your case.
You may just be experiencing a strong emergence which makes your probability of meeting them in flight much higher than average. When I saw the periodicals, I had 6 land on me at once. They are harmless and will not bite or sting you. The males will make a loud, screeching “alarm squawk”. Please send a picture if you can. Hope this helps. Knowledge always reduces fear 🙂
Comment by Elias — August 15, 2008 [AT] 8:43 am
Elias,
I just need to know what they’re attracted to so that I can minus that factor out and hopefully they won’t come get me! lol For some reason I just can’t stand the bugs!! When my husband had it’s wing, it had like a screaching, screaming kind of a sound.
Comment by Ashley — August 14, 2008 [AT] 9:34 pm
Hello Ashley,
Please do not murder the cicadas. They are harmless! You may be experiencing a particularly strong emergence. Can you describe the call they make. Also if you could send a picture to the site it would be interesting. Thanks and good luck
Comment by Elias — August 14, 2008 [AT] 4:29 pm
I live in east Texas, about 2 hours east of Dallas. I’m positive their cicadas. Everyone here calls them locust which I looked up and locust are actually like grasshopper things. I’m not sure why, but they’re definately cicadas. They look exactly like the pictures and they leave the little shells everywhere. They don’t necesarily “attack” me, they just fly into me a million times before they hit the ground. I’ve never in my life seen so many of these things!!! We were sitting outside this past weekend for about 2 hrs and my husband killed 6 of them! They make that awful clicking sound thing and everything. 🙁 They freak me out!
Comment by Ashley — August 14, 2008 [AT] 9:46 am
Ashley — what state do you live in and are you sure these are cicadas??? They rarely move about at night.
Comment by Elias — August 12, 2008 [AT] 7:33 pm
I have a million cicadas at my house and they “attack” me at night when I’m sitting outside. What are these horrible disgusting things attracted to?????? Is there any way that I can keep them away from me???? Help PLEASE!!!
Comment by Ashley — August 12, 2008 [AT] 1:21 pm
The drought probably is affecting them. Also some sepcies are proto periodical, meaning they experience larger numbers in some years as compared to others. Okanagana rimosa is known to have 4 year variations in emergence numbers. I hope they come soon. Last summer was like that here in NY. The numbers of the annual species were quite weak because of unusually cold weather we had.
Comment by Elias — August 7, 2008 [AT] 8:09 pm
I always look forward to the cicada’s song this time of year. It’s a sign of the changing seasons. However, this year, I have not heard it’s song?!! I live in South Minneapolis, MN. We are currently in a modest drought and I’m wondering if this may be the cause of the silence.
Comment by Jeanne — August 7, 2008 [AT] 5:26 pm
Hello Jo
Cicada Killers are large wasps that are actually quite harmless. You are probably on a lek which is a cicada killer colony. They will not bother you and only the females can sting. They will sting only if grabbed. I would be interested in seeing the cicada killer sites if you are inclined to tell me. I live in Queens county and am studying cicadas on Long Island. They bring in members of the local species and specimens can be taken for study.
They can paint a better picture of what species live in your area. As far as exterminating them, most exterminators do not have a good solution as each digs a burrow and they solitary. Hope this helps. Email epb471 [AT] yahoo.com if I can check out this colony. Thanks!
Comment by Elias — August 6, 2008 [AT] 4:36 pm
We are having a problem in Smithtown, NY with killer cicadas. They are ruining my lawn and my neighbors lawn. Who do I call about this nuisance?
Comment by Jo — August 6, 2008 [AT] 3:44 pm
Dan, Thanks for your help. I haven’t seen what ever it is making the noise just heard it. It was driving me nuts as I didn’t think cicada were to be found this far west. Again, thanks for you help.
Comment by Janice — August 4, 2008 [AT] 9:39 pm
Cicadas are definitely found in California. Locusts by the way are grasshoppers — not cicadas. People mistakenly call cicadas “locusts”, but they are not the same insect. This is a picture of a locust https://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/2007/03/18/when-is-a-locust-not-a-locust/
Here’s an example of a cicada from California: https://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/2006/06/02/okanagana-rimosa-from-carlsbad-ca/
Comment by Dan — August 4, 2008 [AT] 7:24 pm
Can anyone tell me if Cicadas or locust are found in California (norhtern Los Angeles area to be exact)? This summer I have been hearing a sound that that is very similar to the sounds I would hear growing up in SouthWest Louisiana during the summer…which were always Locust. I can’t recall hearing it previous to now in the five years I have lived here.
Comment by Janice — August 4, 2008 [AT] 3:24 pm
Hi, does anyone here have specimens of magicicada, they are willing to trade?
you can write me at:
c_raynault at hotmail.com
of course replace the at by [AT] .
I have been looking for specimens for a while. I Can’t find any. Only 2 dryed would do the thing but I can take more.
I prefer specimens in good conditions with their collecting data.
I am willing to do both buying and exchnaging.
This should come out better. I meant to say “PINCH” not “pich”
Comment by Elias — August 1, 2008 [AT] 3:37 pm
Hello Blaine.
Cicadas do not sting. The only time it may “pich” you if you let it rest on your hand for a long time and it will try to feed on your finger with its beak thinking you are a tree branch! They do not mean to do this.
Perfect site to ID your cicada is Cicadas of Michigan.http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/fauna/Michigan_Cicadas/Michigan/Index.html
Hope that helps,
Elias
Comment by Elias — August 1, 2008 [AT] 3:36 pm
Hi, I am new to the Cicada craze, but I have always been intrigued by insects and spiders. Today, I found a Cicada of the following description laying on the ground on its back motionless. When I tried to pick it up, it started buzzing. It has one torn large wing on its back. The underbelly is mostly white, with a large set of bumps on the front two legs. The top of the Cicada is a dark army green. The wings are also army green. OOOH, I let it out of its bottle and it lifted its rear and a stream of clearliquid squirted out. I have been handling it a lot, so it must be a male as I wasn’t stung at all. Bay City, Michigan 48708
Comment by BUGMAN BLAINE — July 31, 2008 [AT] 12:00 pm
Yes Cathy they look the same because they’re the same species.
Yes they broods are based on the years they emerge.
All this information is in the FAQs, throughout the site, or other cicada sites.
If you want good books, look at the books section along the left side of the homepage.
Comment by Dan — July 31, 2008 [AT] 4:11 am
In addition, the sounds of insects site that Elias recommended in his post on July 23 is really good. I heard a zapping sound tonight and I located it on that site as a kaydid, of which I have found several in my yard. I’ve also been hearing a really annoying sound and I found that one also on that site — it was listed as a type of cricket.
Comment by Cathy — July 30, 2008 [AT] 10:47 pm
I just looked at the pictures of Brood X and Brood XIII. They look exactly like Brood XIV. Are they named different broods because of the different years that they emerged or because of the different places they emerged? If so, what happened to Brood XI and Brood XII? This may be a silly question but I’m really curious — how do they determine what brood they are going to call it and, if there are differences in the broods — what are they? Also, I teach first grade and when I showed my students on the computer back in May and June the cicadas they were totally fascinated by them. Does anyone know of any good sites for teachers that would list books, videos, games, activities relating to cicadas — and for that matter, insects in general? Thanks for any info you can possibly give me. Cathy
Comment by Cathy — July 30, 2008 [AT] 10:39 pm
Hello Cathy,
You are definitely getting braver. Cicada killers are very docile despite their fierce appearance. Female cicada killers (generally much larger than the males) can deliver a sting if grabbed. Males (generally smaller) are incapable of stinging. In addition to size, the female has larger spurs on the hind legs. You can actually collect cicadas from a cicada killer by placing a stick into its burrow. When a female returns with a cicada, it cannot get in. The technique is to grab the cicada by its wings and pull quickly parallel to the ground. You asked…. LOL!
Comment by Elias — July 30, 2008 [AT] 10:21 am
I almost caught a cicada killer. I held it down with the skimmer pole net for a few minutes. But when I went to slip a container under it for it to go into, it escaped. Do these things sting you? If I am able to catch one, I’ll save it for you Elias.
Comment by Cathy — July 30, 2008 [AT] 9:22 am
Quick update — TIBICEN AULETES has been located. I think the last T. auletes updates were from Davis himself between 1917 — 1026. Wildwood state park in Wading River, eastern Long Island, between 8:05 — 8:30PM, admist an incredibly loud T. lyricen chorus, I heard T. auletes for the first time. I caught a nymph too but I think it will turn out to be lyricen. (dark eyes, medium sized). Anyone know if T. auletes prefers a certain tree to feed on as nymphs?? More to follow…..
P.S. Cathy, nice to finally meet you today. Welcome to the cicada enthusiast world!!
Comment by Elias — July 29, 2008 [AT] 8:51 pm
Hello Edward,
I checked the http://www.thaibugs.com/cicadas.htm site and the sound files dont work, but the pictures are still fantastic. Here are some sites that may help:
Thai cicadas at sunset.
Best site here: Songs of South East Asian Cicadas. Mostly Malaysian which is geographically close:
http://www2.arnes.si/~ljprirodm3/asian_cicadas.html
Best for Thai cicadas only is Michel Boulard’s Book http://www.selectbooks.com.sg/getTitle.cfm?SBNum=41772
It has a CD on all the acoustic characteristics of Thai Cicadas.
Hope that helps. Tot Ziens!!
Elias
Comment by Elias — July 29, 2008 [AT] 8:46 pm
L.S.,
I thought that there was a file of the singing of a tibicen out of Thailand. Very loud. Can not find it now. Were is it?
Regards
Edward Koldewijn
Amsterdam
Comment by edward koldewijn — July 29, 2008 [AT] 11:11 am
Just drove out to Riverhead and made my way west looking for signs of T. auletes. Heard T. lyricen and T. linnei call. Maybe its to early for auletes here, not sure.
I went back to Lilco Road where I thought I heard Okanagana and I heard the same noise. I thnk I was duped by the power lines. This was most likely not Okanagana.
In response to Cathy’s post, drove by Brookhaven (William Floyd Parkway) and the flagging is unbelievable. This was one of the densest emergences on Long island. Looking forward to seeing first instars soon.
Tomorrow should be warm and I am off from work. Lets see what we can find….
Comment by Elias — July 28, 2008 [AT] 8:47 pm
wcbstv.com also has an article and a video, both dated June 12th about the cicadas here in my town of Coram. They’re interviewing on the intersection of Penniquid and Winside Lane which is where I live. Although I didn’t see any cicadas on Penniquid — just on Winside. It’s a cool video — you can see them flying around and they’re even on the reporter and on her microphone.
Comment by Cathy — July 28, 2008 [AT] 6:27 pm
News12 Long Island did a segment tonight that included a representative from Brookhaven Labs and interviews with people from Ridge, Long Island about the tree damage from the cicadas in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Comment by Cathy — July 28, 2008 [AT] 6:20 pm
I found a light green bug on my patio table this morning. It was about the size of the cicada and the same thickness. It was laying on its side. A closer look showed long legs and two long what looked like antennas coming out of its head. I guess it was a praying mantis. Whatever it was, it was apparently dead because when I picked it up to put it in a container it didn’t move. On another note, I just looked up cicada killers. Those black and yellow markings are unforgetable. I have definitely seen one or two of them this summer.
Comment by Cathy — July 28, 2008 [AT] 6:44 am
Have snapped a photo of a cicada found floating in our pool last night. He’s worse for wear today. Can you ID what he is? The songs seem fainter tonight, though it is less hot & humid in SE Ohio today. Thanks!
Search photobucket for Cicada 1 and Cicada 2 and Cicada 3 which is a smaller cropped version of 1.
http://www.photobucket.com thanks
Comment by Kirk G — July 27, 2008 [AT] 5:56 pm
Hello all,
In my travels out to Riverhead and Wading river searching for T. auletes I think I may have stumbled upon Okanagana rimosa. It was calling along with T. linnei and T. lyricen. I did not know LI was in their range. More research will follow. Good night.
Comment by Elias — July 26, 2008 [AT] 10:44 pm
Hello Cathy,
Sound like a Tibicen cicada that you have seen. May be traveling out east to find some different species. The object of my search is Tibicen auletes. Here is a link to what the cicada looks like and you can hear its song. If anyone on LI hears this particular species, which usually calls at dusk, please respond.
http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/projects/cicada/sp_pages/NA_species/T_auletes.html
The closest I got was a huge nymphal shell (exuvia) that I found last year in Wading River.
Take care and see you soon
Elias
Comment by Elias — July 26, 2008 [AT] 5:56 am
One other thing — the belly of the newly emerged cicada I saw was bigger and rounder than that of the magicicada.
Comment by Cathy — July 25, 2008 [AT] 7:21 am
Hi Elias — I just heard them for a minute and then they stopped. Yesterday, a few hours after the rain finally stopped — at about 5:00 they started calling. The good thing is that its not a continuous all day thing like before. If you’d like to take some samples off of the tree leaves, email me and I’ll give you my address so you can stop by in your travels — cath1106 [AT] optonline.net
Comment by Cathy — July 25, 2008 [AT] 6:34 am
Hello Cathy,
That may be preying mantis. The young as well as the older mantids will hold there two front legs up in that characteristic “praying” position. They can also be katydids or young walking sticks. Please post a picture.
Periodical cicada nymph shells (exuvia) are lighter and more elongated than the annual variety (Tibicen). The annual ones are usually a little larger, squatter and darker tan in color.
I wonder if you hear the Dusk calling cicada (Tibicen Auletes). They call just before dusk with a very distinctive low pitched call. Please tell me what you hear. I am ready for a field trip this Saturday 🙂
Comment by Elias — July 24, 2008 [AT] 8:12 pm
OK—I’m getting a little braver here! I went to the tree where the leaves all turned brown from the magicicadas hanging out there. I saw about 10 shells hanging onto a few of the green leaves left. They are definitely not left over shells from the magicicadas. I have those by my fence and in the grass and those are all dried out. These are definitely new ones waiting to emerge. I’ll let you know if they’re bright light green like the one I found the other day.
Comment by Cathy — July 24, 2008 [AT] 2:11 pm
Come to think of it, I’ve been finding over the past week little green skinny insects in my pool skimmer and last night on my patio table there was a large (maybe3 to 4 inches) skinny green insect with long legs. Are those preying mantis or something else?
Comment by Cathy — July 24, 2008 [AT] 12:39 pm
Hi Elias — I can’t find the picture on the japanese site I found the other day. But, if you go to Cicada Mania Links, under Tibicen #2 Annual Cicadas of Arkansas and scroll down to the the picture of the bright, light green tibicen aulete newly emerged it looked like that. Also, under Cicada Mania Gallery by North America #8 Dan’s 2005 Tibicen Gallery if you scroll down to the bright light green one — that looks like it also. The one on my patio had that bright light green all over its body. If I knew you were going to be in the area I would have caught it and saved it. That day I also heard them. They were loud like the magicicadas but it wasn’t continuous. There were periods of silence. That was the only one I saw. The fact that we’ve been having torential rains the past two days might have something to do with it.
Comment by Cathy — July 24, 2008 [AT] 12:23 pm
Hello Cathy,
I am curious as to what type of cicadas you are seeing. Out in Coram you should have Tibicen lyricen and Tibicen canicularis. They have a whining call. Tibicen linnei and chloromera have an alternaitng call.
I am very interested in finding Tibicen auletes, the Northern Dusk calling cicada. I have data to suggest they are found in Coram (from 1926, hoever!) I will be making a trip out to your town possibly this weekend. I will also try to hit Farmingville, Selden, Wading River and Riverhead.
Please go to this website and play the calls for the various cicada speices. You can see their pictures too.
These cicadas are very loud, but emerge in much smaller numbers so the biblical swarms are over for you 🙂 Please tell me what you find.
Comment by Elias — July 23, 2008 [AT] 8:21 pm
Now that I’m aware of it, I’m hearing the sounds of them also but so far I’m not seeing masses of them like before…and I hope I don’t.
Comment by Cathy — July 22, 2008 [AT] 10:10 am
Oh my God!! I just looked up the japanese cicada and the pictures look exactly like what was on my patio. Am I going to have my fences covered with these things again and have them all over my grass again? I don’t think I can take another round of this.
Comment by Cathy — July 22, 2008 [AT] 9:54 am
Cathy — a different type yes, but they emerge in comparatively small numbers.
Zolton — that’s a Japanese cicada called a Cryptotympana yayeyamana.
Comment by Dan — July 22, 2008 [AT] 9:43 am
I just noticed on my patio today what looked very similiar to the cicadas that finally went away several weeks ago. This one was on its back and had a hint of green to it though. Not far away from it was the same kind of shell that the other cicadas came out of. Please tell me that we’re not in for another round of a different type!!!!
Comment by Cathy — July 22, 2008 [AT] 9:24 am
Hi everyone. I’m currently making a game with a heavy focus on the environment and am collecting sound effects for it.
Could someone identify the cicada in this video?
I love that lawn sprinkler sound they make and need to have that in my game. Thanks.
Comment by Zolton — July 11, 2008 [AT] 3:55 pm
Hello Cathy,
I was involved with the University of Conn. mapping project here in LI. I drove all across L.I. looking for these things.As I drove through Coram on 6/10/08, heard them on Wedgewood Drive, Wycomb Court,Wellsley Lane and Welling way. Also saw them in ManorvRidge, Brookhaven, Coram, Dix Hills, East Setauket and saw some dense emergences in Port Jeff as well. The emergence was very patchy. Reading through literature on LI cicadas they have traditionally been very patchy. You could drive a few blocks down and there is NOTHING! Then go back the other way and there is a deafening chorus. Definitely weird. I could see lots of people in Coram probably wondering what the excitement was about if there were not in that exact area. Down Pinnaquid, I saw absolutely nothing until I hit your part of the street.
Comment by Elias — July 8, 2008 [AT] 6:31 am
Hi Elias — Pinnaquid — so you do know the area! I’m on Winside and Winside was covered with those cicadas from where Winside begins by Wedgewood all the way down to the end of Winside. It was strange that they weren’t all over Coram. Port Jefferson also reported one street that had them. Other than that, I hadn’t heard of any other close by areas like Selden or Medford having any. Cathy
Comment by Cathy — July 4, 2008 [AT] 7:52 pm
Hello Cathy,
Thanks for writing back. I was also in Newsday regarding the cicadas. The article regarding Coram came out a few days later! I made a trip to your town but did not see the massive numbers reported. Also only a few blocks had some decent chorusing. It was strange how patchy the emergence was. One block would have nothing and another block would be covered! I was on the legendary Pinnaquid road for a while. It sounds like they have survived by you and we should see them again in 2025! Take care
Elias
Comment by Elias — July 4, 2008 [AT] 5:50 am
Hi Elias — The cicadas were in my town of Coram. We made the pages of Newsday as my street was covered with them.
Comment by Cathy — July 2, 2008 [AT] 7:25 pm
Here’s an update (Yes we do have a life, but this is the highlight of my daughter’s life right now!):
Our cicada nymph is balanced on just it’s two front legs that look like claws. All four of the longer legs are sticking straight out. Is it dead? Is it molting? Is is contemplating its future? How long do you think it will be before we know the answers to these burning questions? Daughter and I got to watch a cicada molt last Summer whilst it was stuck to a tree, so I know that the process of molting is a long, long, one. Just curious to know, if it is dead, when to know for sure so I can dispose of it properly. Thanks!! Great website, BTW!!!
Vicki
Comment by Vicki — July 1, 2008 [AT] 7:14 pm
Thanks for the reply! We have had the little fella in a plastic bug house that has screen on the two long sides. He’s been hanging out on about a 4" piece of tree bark that we placed in there too. He’s moving around here and there, not too much. Unfortunately, it appears that he has an injured or deformed back RT “leg” (don’t know cicada nymph anatomy) b/c it is staying bent and moving very little while he moves the other legs freely. He occasionally falls over on his back, in the direction of the bent leg. Thoughts??
Comment by Vicki — July 1, 2008 [AT] 1:55 pm
Vicki — keep it in warm place, but not in direct sunlight. A good idea is to put some netting around a branch (so birds can’t get it) and place it in there. If you can’t do that, place a branch in the cage for it to climb.
Comment by Dan — July 1, 2008 [AT] 12:20 pm
Vicki again… did more poking around on your website and learned that it was the nymph that we discovered, not the larva. It appears to be getting ready to molt.
Anyway, same question applies: Anything we can do to facilitate the molting process?
Thanks!
Comment by Vicki — July 1, 2008 [AT] 9:40 am
My daughter and I found a cicada still in its shell (is that a larva?)and brought it home to watch it move around, presumably getting ready to “hatch.” We placed in daughter’s well ventilated bug house and sat it on a piece of bark for it to stick to. Anything we can do to ease its transition into adulthood? It keeps falling upside down off the bark we placed in there for it, and daughter goes in and rights it.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Comment by Vicki — July 1, 2008 [AT] 9:28 am
I found what I believe is a Cicada. I let it crawl around my hands my orange cat found it but wasn’t sure what to make of it. It was bright green wings and more tan body than dark like most of the pictures on the web. I placed it in the bushes for safety and turn my head for a second. My new kitten came from nowhere and eat its wings but didn’t kill it. I put it in a wood pile for safety. will the wings grow back or is it doomed?
Comment by Greg — June 30, 2008 [AT] 5:29 pm
Hello Cathy,
What town did you observe the cicadas in? (Long Island)
Elias
Comment by Elias — June 27, 2008 [AT] 3:08 pm
I was outside of Big Bear California this past weekend and we saw (and heard) many cicadas flying around (one guy who didn’t know what they were named them orange lined bird bugs). One landed on me and began to walk around a bit while a friend took photos. After a few moments of walking around, I saw the mouth part come down and I felt a mild twinge of pain. But cicadas don’t bite! Well, I took some time to research more (which led me here) and I found a site that says “Basically, periodical cicadas can hurt you only if they mistake you for a tree branch and try to feed, something that can happen only if you hold a cicada in your hand for a very long time (eventually this makes the cicada hot and thirsty). Such rare mistakes feel like a brief pinprick and cause no damage.” I have to say that this guy was not on my hand for a very long time. Obviously I’m fine. We found the insect again after my involuntary hand flick of surprise and saw that the abdomen was gaping open in two place an we could see inside. Perhaps from a bird? Anyway, the point of all this is, here is a photo of a cicada trying to tap into human skin, taken an instant before I shook it off. http://www.xterrawolf.com/images/driversed/driving02.jpg
Comment by Vantid — June 26, 2008 [AT] 7:43 pm
I would keep an eye on them. Even though they seem to have taken a beating, I’d bet they will bounce back. I have seen some small trees really badly damaged last June, but seems they came back this spring.
Not much you can do about them though. Hope for the best. Check my website seventeenyearcicada.com for some images of trees that took the hit.
Comment by John — June 25, 2008 [AT] 9:48 pm
I figured that the cicadas would instinctively avoid killing trees, but that didn’t happen in my case. If there was ever a situation where Cicadas have infested anything, it’s right here at my house. Five of my trees were nearly completely shredded by the females. All of my these were maple trees. My cherry, apple, and pear trees will probably survive with only damage to the top third of the trees. One of my dogwood trees also took a beating.
Comment by Leslie — June 25, 2008 [AT] 4:18 am
The cicadas don’t generally kill trees…you should understand they lay eggs so that the next brood will survive, and a dead tree won’t help their cause. Somehow, they KNOW this and control their egg laying to minimize tree limb damage. By next season, the trees will have recovered just fine. They will last maybe four or five weeks and then be gone completely. Just enjoy them…they don’t bite and don’t do anything except make noise and mate.
Comment by John — June 24, 2008 [AT] 7:57 pm
I planted a regular cherry tree and a weeping cherry tree the last week of April. The cicadas came around May 18. I couldn’t figure out why the regular cherry tree hasn’t bloomed somewhat — just a couple of brown leaves on top. The weeping cherry was doing good until I noticed a few days ago that all of its leaves were turning brown along with the old trees near it. I snipped the branches of the regular cherry tree to see if there was any life in them but there’s not. Should I get rid of it or wait it out? If the weeping cherry was doing good until now, is it still worth holding onto?
Comment by Cathy — June 21, 2008 [AT] 7:42 am
The female cicadas have killed the tops of all of my small trees. My trees have hundreds of half-inch rips in the branches where they deposited their eggs. The tops have all turned brown and broken off. I had about 10 5 to 8 foot trees. Now they are about 3 to 5 feet tall. I know it’s too late now, but what could I have done to prevent this? I occasionally walked around and shook the cicadas off the trees, but I couldn’t do that all the time.
Comment by Leslie — June 20, 2008 [AT] 4:45 am
I came home yesterday to quiet. Not a single cicada was flying. It’s been exactly one month since the invasion hit my block here on Long Island, New York. Now I just have the clean up — wings, shells, and dead cicadas. I can say without a doubt — I SURVIVED A CIRCADA INVASION!
Comment by Cathy — June 18, 2008 [AT] 6:18 pm
How can i keep them from flying on me? Wgat do they avoid…try to stay away from?
Comment by DB — June 10, 2008 [AT] 7:59 pm
I think the cicadas are awesome to listen to. I am fearful however of them getting on me. Do they bite? I can rest easier if I know that they do not bite.
Comment by christy — June 9, 2008 [AT] 10:45 am
We live in Central PA around Huntingdon, we have so many cicada’s that my daughter and I can not go outside because of the loud high-pitch sounds they are making. How long will they continue their singing? I loved to sit outside to hear all the beautiful birds chirping, but can’t hear them because of the loud noise of these cicada’s. We drown out the sound of the cicada’s with our air conditioner. P.S. My husband doesn’t mind the sound!
Comment by Donna Brubaker — June 8, 2008 [AT] 4:29 pm
Deb — I’ve called 6 exterminating places. They all said there was nothing they could do. One said you needed a special license and I should call a lawn care place. I called 2 of them. I got the same response — there’s nothing they can do that will control or eliminate them. I’ve sprayed the ones on my front porch with bug spray (which does work) just so I can get out the door.
Comment by Cathy — June 7, 2008 [AT] 7:54 pm
My pool is surrounded on 3 sides by woods — which are INFESTED with these brood 14 noise-makers! I can hardly keep up with keeping the pool filters clear — is there any way to get rid of them (e.g., spray, noise, etc.)? I can’t imagine dealing with these for another 3-4 weeks….
Comment by Deb Hileman — June 7, 2008 [AT] 4:30 pm
My husband was at our local hardware store, and heard it mentioned that cicadas eat gypsy moth catapillars. Of course the adult cicada doesn’t, but I was wondering if the juveniles eat them. Is there any truth to this at all? I live in Bellefonte, PA and the gypsy moth catapillars were descending upon/munching on our trees about 3 weeks before a VERY LARGE brood of cicadas emerged. I know the emergence of the brood isn’t related to the gypsy moth. Any info is greatly appreciated!
Comment by Leslie — June 7, 2008 [AT] 3:22 pm
From my understanding, cicadas make holes in branches to lay their eggs. I have cicadas that have moved onto the posts around my above ground swimming pool. Are they or will they make holes in the metal of the posts and destroy my swimming pool?
Comment by Cathy — June 7, 2008 [AT] 7:45 am
Diane — depending on how hot and dry it is, it should take 3 to 7 days for the males to sing.
Comment by Dan — June 3, 2008 [AT] 9:08 am
They arrived here in my backyard on Long Island (Suffolk County) about a week ago. My dog was bringing them in — about one a day. I decided to look around and see what he was eating and where he was getting them from. There were hundreds on my fence, in the trees, in the grass. I called five exterminating companies but they said there was nothing that could be done — just wait it out. I can understand the fascination with them but they’re still disgusting when there’s so many of them in one place!
Comment by Cathy — June 1, 2008 [AT] 10:08 am
Diane — they should be chorusing in a week.
Tina — the chorusing should end within 3 to 4 weeks.
Josh — maybe not 17 year cicadas, but there are many annual cicadas emerging in Georgia.
Scared-y-cat — they should be emerging now (5/18).
Mary — the cicadas are definitely less noisy in the evening, but they will continue to make noise if there’s a light source.
Comment by Dan — May 18, 2008 [AT] 6:42 am
When will they go away. The noise at my house is killing my ears and head. I seem to be the only one in my family affected by the sound. My kids love to find and carry them around. I don’t mind them, but the noise is awful.
Comment by Tina — May 17, 2008 [AT] 11:05 am
The Cicadas have arrived in our trees. We are 30 miles northwest of Nashville, TN. They seem to like our sycamore trees. So far, they are drying out. No noise yet. It looks like a pretty good crop of them. Does anyone know how long it takes from coming out of their shell to singing their “songs”?
Comment by Diane — May 16, 2008 [AT] 4:03 pm
I just moved from the west coast to Statham, GA (a small town between Atlanta and Athens, Georgia, It didn’t look like from the map that the cicadas would reach this far south, will I see any cicadas this summer?
Comment by Josh — May 16, 2008 [AT] 7:37 am
Does anyone know if this brood is to invade Nashville, TN. I can’t tell, from the map. Thanks.
Comment by scared-y-cat — May 7, 2008 [AT] 1:29 pm
We’re planning a graduation for my niece and would like to know if cicadas are less active in the evening — especially Brood XIV — which are already emerging at my sister’s house in Loveland OH.
Comment by Mary — May 7, 2008 [AT] 7:42 am
Tim,
I know the American species usually last 4 to 6 weeks. Rain won’t kill them, but it will silence them. And Australia doesn’t have 17 year cicadas — you’re just having a particularly hearty crop this year.
Comment by Dan — December 3, 2007 [AT] 9:05 pm
hi,
cicadas have invaded all of our gum trees on our property, it started about 5 days ago they just started up it’s strange because we have never had them before, The sound is horrific and they only stop at night then start up again about 9 am.
I live in Victoria, Australia in the north east and was wondering when will these things die ?
Does rain kill them ?
Am i experiencing a 17 yr cycle thing ?
thank you for your time
Comment by tim — December 3, 2007 [AT] 1:11 am
Hi.
I really new to the realm of cicadas and am really here just to ask a single question (though I have had fun perusing piccies).
I’m in Adelaide, South Australia, to the south of the Adelaide Plain, at the base of the foothills of the Adelaide Hills. For the first time in my memory, this year, we have had an abundance of cicadas of one particular type in the area. Calling from the tree tops in suburbia are these loud single click calls. And there are plenty of them. We’ve even seen a few flying around. The clicks occur all day during warm weather, but increase at dusk during those lovely warm summery evenings we get here.
I tend to associate the sound with coastal sand dunes and tend to think that this is where I’ve heard them before…just never near my house. (I live approximately 3 to 4 miles from the beach).
Now I can give you a pretty lousy description from a chance sighting one afternoon. The cicada we saw was black with orange or red eyes and an orange stripe on its abdomen. Sorry for the vagueness, but it was a chance sighting. If I had anything between my ears I would have grabbed the camera, because the identity of these insects have been bugging me ever since.
Now I’m hoping that someone can poke me in the right direction to identifying this cicada. As far as I can see online, there are very few cicadas in South Australia compared to the other states (Queensland seems to be a noisy place cicada-wise) so I’m hoping the search can be fairly narrow (in a huge family such as this one).
Any help greatly appreciated.
Best wishes,
Gumnut
(determined to discover that bug’s identity)
Comment by Gumnut — November 24, 2007 [AT] 6:29 pm
Sure it is okay for your kid to keep a cicada as a pet, though it won’t last long in captivity.
Comment by Dan — November 21, 2007 [AT] 6:02 am
Is it ok for my mature 12 year old daughter to have a cicada as a pet?
Comment by BJ — November 21, 2007 [AT] 1:31 am
Cicadas and Moonlight—
I too am an observer. Tell me if anyone else noticed that the Cicadas gravitate toward the moonlight when they come out of the ground for their first walk on the surface. The moment they emered from the ground, there was a uniformity, almost like soldiers, when the walked up our hill. The cicadas found on the trees and telephone poles were on the moomlit side…always. Anyone notice this as a pattern?
Comment by lynn — October 12, 2007 [AT] 4:54 pm
Lauren: red this FAQ https://www.cicadamania.com/faq.html#a15
Comment by Dan — September 5, 2007 [AT] 5:17 am
NYC has killed so many insects spraying for “west nile”!
It’s a total scam!
Comment by Billy — September 4, 2007 [AT] 11:42 am
Today I noticed that this is the first year I have not heard one cicada… and I strongly believe that NYC has killed them & alot of other vital insects necessary to our eco system… how can we stop this destructive spraying which is mainly to make money!
Comment by Billy — September 4, 2007 [AT] 11:41 am
My daughter would like to know how the cacada make it’s noise. Thanks
Comment by Lauren — September 4, 2007 [AT] 8:08 am
andyru712: yes, it’s called the New Forest cicada. http://www.ukbap.org.uk/ukplans.aspx?ID=216
Comment by Dan — September 3, 2007 [AT] 8:13 am
please can anyone tell me if england has cicada. i am having trouble finding any info!
Comment by andyru712 — September 3, 2007 [AT] 6:29 am
Travel Search Engines
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
Trackback by Travel Search Engines — August 31, 2007 [AT] 4:52 pm
Some co-workers and I have been marvelling at the buzzing of the cicadas in the small forested area outside of our workplace. We hadn’t actually seen one until the other day when one appeared on the outside of the building. It did not move however and stayed there for three days. I figured it probably died so i nudged it gently with a stick. It fell to the ground where I gave it another poke and it moved its leg. Okay, so it is not dead but probably dying. A day later it was back on the wall. It had traveled about two feet on the ground and three feet up the building. What is it doing? Is it going into some sort of hibernation? For reference it is late August in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Thanks
Comment by Ben — August 20, 2007 [AT] 11:23 am
I am noticing a steady decline in the amount of cicada calls I hear daily. Recently they did aerial spraying of pesticides to kill the mosquitoes that carry the West Nile Virus. Is it possible that the pesticide is killing the cicadas, or is it normal for them to start dying off in August?
I live in Sacramento, California. Our cicadas seem to be Okanagana-something(rimosa?).
Comment by Phoebe — August 19, 2007 [AT] 1:23 pm
our litte buddies are gonme 🙁 🙁 what an incredible natural event….what a ethereal sound and so harmless…..I will miss them until next time…
Comment by Bill — August 16, 2007 [AT] 9:58 pm
The Cicadas have invaded NJ early according to the charts. These past few weeks we’ve noticed them and also holes in our yard (which we didn’t realize were from them-we thought they might have been moles or the like.) We’ve had enough problems trying to grow grass lately, and now we have these holes…what a mess! We had trees removed last year and I guess they’re feeding on the roots that are left.Looks like we’ll be having a project in the spring fixing up the damage. My dog & I have already hurt ourselves in the ruts. Glad they won’t be around for much longer.
Comment by Carmel — August 15, 2007 [AT] 8:09 am
Debbie — no they won’t hurt your house plants — cicadas like trees.
Comment by Dan — August 15, 2007 [AT] 5:02 am
A cicada landed on my leg on my back porch. I caught it and brought it inside to be able to show my grandkids, but it got away. Will it hurt my house plants? Will it lay eggs in them? I can’t find it anywhere.
Thank you, if you reply. I’ve been searching for someone who may be able to tell me.
Sincerely,
Debbie Nickerson
Comment by Debbie Nickerson — August 14, 2007 [AT] 10:37 pm
Hello, first I’d like to say, I never knew so many people liked Cicada’s. My question is this:
“Are there any rumors or legends about Cicadas?”
In times could they be seen as a bad omen? a good omen?
Comment by Nymph — August 8, 2007 [AT] 8:58 pm
Why hasen’t the editor of this site seen fit to post the news article (submitted & received by editor)that included a photo of the Cicada powered airplane my son & I built & tested?
Also, you might want to read an Internet site on Grasshopper Glacier in Montana & the giant gresshoppers that are found frozen into it!
Dick
Comment by Dick Bolt — August 2, 2007 [AT] 9:21 am
Hey Scott,
The photo on the front page are individual eggs taken from a small eggnest in an ash tree branch. Apparently cicada eggs get moisture from the live branches because these took about a week to dry up after being removed.
Thanks,
Roy
Comment by Roy troutman — July 28, 2007 [AT] 5:18 am
Are the eggs in the photo shown on your website indivdiaul egges, or is each one a sac/cluster of eggs?
Thanks for a great website!
Comment by Scott Williams — July 24, 2007 [AT] 1:00 pm
Hey…i have one of these little gems …i have the shell…and the bug…I live in Ontario Canada….Hamilton…
I am 45 years old…and have never seen one…im thrilled to finaly see what all the fuss is about!!
Comment by Nancy — July 21, 2007 [AT] 6:45 pm
Cicada Mania: I just wanted to say thanks and ask you one question is the magicicadas the cicadas that only come to north america?
– Thanks in advance,
Courtney.
Comment by Courtney — July 16, 2007 [AT] 10:31 am
Alex:
You found a magicicada over there? I could hear but not see any and didn’t find any exit holes; nothing. Just heard the singing, re-re-re-re-re-reeeeeee.
I live not too far from there and we have had the same type for about a week or two now. I’m enjoying the singing! =O)
Comment by Caerann — July 13, 2007 [AT] 9:46 am
Hey John,
What you ae seeing is the damage done by cicada females that have laid their eggs into each branch. They use a sharp needle like appendage called an ovipositor that will cut into a twig & deposit eggs. The act of piercing a branch will weaken the structure & sometimes stop the flow of sap causing broken branches & browned leaves.
Hope this helps, Roy T.
Comment by Roy Troutman — July 10, 2007 [AT] 1:40 pm
All the trees in our area, and we are next to a forest preserve, have large tips turned brown and are dead. The large dead branches fall from the trees onto the street and lawns, this especially during the storm of yesterday.
Some say the cicada have sucked the sap from these tips. What, in fact, is causing the tips to die like this?
Comment by John Powers — July 10, 2007 [AT] 8:41 am
Seems like the Kimball/Elston area is a late bloomer, huh. I found a lone one on the sidewalk near Kimball and Montrose today. Scurried up my arm looking for a place to emerge from it’s shell.
Put it in a fish tank with climbing twigs, and just as I finished it’s home the little thing checked out the branches and found one to settle on. It immediately began emerging.
Wow. I spent the last couple of hours watching it’s transformation.
Nature is wonderful. This is what life is about!
Now I must find a safe place with other cicadas so the cycle can continue.
Who still have some in their yard? Want another?
Comment by Alex — July 7, 2007 [AT] 8:59 pm
They are still plentiful and very active in Blue Star Memorial Forest Preserves on Lake Avenue in Glenview as of today, July 3rd. They seem to be a later group than those in Schiller Woods as there are barely any dead bodies in the Glenview preserve. Hurray!!!! Had much fun playing with the little darlings. =0)
Comment by Caerann — July 3, 2007 [AT] 2:21 pm
Is it possible our 17 Year friends are just emerging in the city near Kimball and Elston? I heard but didn’t see some kind of cicadas today, July 2nd in 3 or 4 very tall trees.
Cheerio then.
Comment by Caerann — July 2, 2007 [AT] 7:44 pm
I found a bug on the sidewalk in my backyard this evening, and it caught my attention b/c it looked just like a cicada. I thought they only came out every 17 years, stayed for a while, then died off. He was huge! Bigger than the average bettle and he was just slowly walking around. He seemed to be following the flashlight as we stared at him in aww. He looked very old didn’t appear to have any wings. Is it normal for them to still be around since the last time they were here? And if so, do they loose their wings and just walk around?
Comment by Briana — June 29, 2007 [AT] 9:15 pm
hey i am a student going into 9th grade and i have to find 6 legged bugs and if i get a rare one i will get an A+ and i think they will be around for a lil while longer
Comment by randie potter — June 29, 2007 [AT] 4:34 pm
I’m in Oak lawn and have only spotted a small handful of cicada’s by my house and it was only for one day.We had a storm that was blowing in from the south all day last week on tuesday the 20th and that’s the only time they were here.I took pictures,held them,and was just excited to see them again.I was only 4 years old the first time I experienced them way back in 1973 at Brookfield Zoo and at that time I was horrified of them.Now at 38 I’m fascinated by them but have to travel to other areas to find them.Does anyone know if more will emerge in Oak Lawn before they are gone?
Comment by Bob — June 28, 2007 [AT] 7:36 pm
I was surprized to see an cicada in Lillooet British Columbia this year, I never seen one before but maybe they could have been here all the time…. I would think i would have noticed them before as it was pretty big 26mm long. I have pictures and I will try and post at least one on this site.
Comment by Randy James — June 27, 2007 [AT] 10:43 am
I live in central Oak Park. I walked around the neighborhood on Memorial Day weekend several times in order to determine whether the nymphs were emerging. I saw one newly emerged adult cicada on 25 May on 200 block of N. Kenilworth-and then nothing for a couple of weeks. Now, in the past two weeks, I’ve seen quite a few cicadas-mostly confined to the parks, though-just a few in the neighborhoods. I wonder why the late-emergence here in Oak Park? River Forest and Maywood lie immediately to the west and they’ve had them for some time-now rapidly dying off. I think cicadas are fascinating as bugs go but I can empathize with folks who have to deal with that constant buzzing.
Comment by Rick — June 27, 2007 [AT] 8:44 am
Cathy,
Do a Google Image search “Cicadas Eggs”. There are a bunch of photos.
Comment by Lucy — June 26, 2007 [AT] 8:39 am
Many of the trees near me have brown leaves. I have read it’s because the females have laid eggs in those branches but why would the leaves turn brown? Do the eggs kill the tree branches? I would love to see a picture of the eggs in a branch but can’t seem to find one.
Comment by Cathy — June 23, 2007 [AT] 4:45 pm
Are all of the cicadas out or are there any areas that are still waiting for them to come out?
Comment by Peggy — June 20, 2007 [AT] 3:35 pm
Some of you will be happy. I just came back from the Lagrange woods. As I turned from joliet rd onto Lagrange rd, there was nothing but silence. I drove through the entrance into the woods, and to my surprise, there were only a few pockets in the woods, where the cicadas were still singing. There were many on the ground that were dying. I actually had 1 cicada drop on the hood of my car backwards on his back. I did try to turn him over on his feet so he could fly away, but he could not even stand. But the whole time he was watching me as if to say thanks for trying. Remember,we are ALL Gods creatures.
Comment by rob — June 20, 2007 [AT] 12:37 pm
Jill — Gerry Bunker says “An aggregation of cicadas.”
Comment by Dan — June 19, 2007 [AT] 1:42 pm
I know this group of cicadas are known as Brood XIII, but do groups of cicadas have a name like “gaggle of geese”, “murder of crows”, “pack of dogs”, etc.?
Comment by Jill — June 19, 2007 [AT] 12:34 pm
Living in the western suburbs near Lombard, cicada heaven. Work near Elmhurst, more cicado heaven.
Any idea when they will be gone? I am tired of running to the car and avoiding outside. I’ve had them landing in my food, on my shoulders, hit me in the eyes. I don’t mind the yearly ones, since they seem to stay in the trees.
Any idea? I know they are a wonder of nature, but enough already.
Comment by LL — June 18, 2007 [AT] 11:25 pm
In most places, the cicadas will die off by early July. The southernmost Illinois populations are already beginning to wane.
Comment by Dave Marshall — June 18, 2007 [AT] 8:52 pm
Is there any way I can get rid of these things? I own a 16 acre area in Wisconsin, and nearly all of it but our large yard is trees. Swarms of them make noises so loud I find it impossible to go outside because I get horrible headaches, and they swarm all over when I am out. How long until they naturally leave the aera (south WI)?
Comment by frank — June 18, 2007 [AT] 12:54 pm
I was amazed when a 17 year cicada landed on my leg. I have not seen any cicada’s in St. John until today, June 17, 2007
Comment by Sherry G. — June 17, 2007 [AT] 5:17 pm
At our Cub Scout Webelos overnighter, my son decided to spear, roast and eat a cicada. He told the other boys that it tasted like peanut butter. This encouraged other scouts to try them, including one boy who put one on a smore and ate it.
Comment by Colleen Gammon — June 17, 2007 [AT] 12:45 pm
Are female cicada’s bigger then male’s?
Comment by Diane — June 15, 2007 [AT] 5:08 pm
how long have the 17 year cicada been around northern illinois doing their ‘cycling’?
Comment by mike t — June 15, 2007 [AT] 1:20 pm
Just Arrived I live in Berwyn,il. There were none at all until today June 14 flag day. I travel these roads everyday,but today I was surpised when driving right by mcneal hospital,I saw several fly past. Then you could hear them. They are not as loud as in other areas, but I think they got a late start because it was so quiet.So this may extend their welcome far past july 1st.If Svengoulie reads these messages, then maybe he will do a show on Cicadas in Berwyn.
Comment by rob — June 14, 2007 [AT] 2:16 pm
WHEN WILL THEY BE GONE? So many people have asked and no answers. I’ve heard everything from 3 weeks to 10 weeks. It’s a total nightmare where I live and causes me great anxiety.
Comment by Cathy — June 14, 2007 [AT] 6:47 am
Patty,
Try this link. It shows maps where they’ve been sighted:
I am in Aurora IL and have not seen a single cicada! I’m looking for an emergence map that shows abundant sightings as close to home as possible … Any suggestions?
Comment by Patty — June 13, 2007 [AT] 8:18 pm
When will they stop flying?!? I am fine with them cozied up in their trees but I can’t wear a windbreaker, hood pulled tight, for another 90 degree day. I think they’re cool and I like looking at them and learning about them, but… how many more days someone give me a countdown for my own state of mind. By the way… I live in Lombard (emerged May 21 in force in my yard) and I work in Hinsdale (cicada mecca) I need a break. Thanks and buzz on boys, buzz on.
Comment by Jenny — June 13, 2007 [AT] 4:42 pm
Perhaps with so many cicadas overcrowding certain trees, they move away from the competition to have a chance to get noticed and get the girl, so to speak. Who knows?
Comment by Lucy — June 13, 2007 [AT] 4:37 pm
Thanks Lucy. That’s what I was thinking too. It’s just weird. It seems more than just wind-blown randomness. There’s a lot, but not hordes. Almost like they’re purposely migrating. And I’m noticing increasing amounts everyday. At a time where I expected them to be dying, they seem pretty lively overhere all of the sudden. Thanks for responding.
Comment by Dan — June 13, 2007 [AT] 4:28 pm
I watched the “Return of the Cicadas” documentary a few weeks ago, and it said they can be blown around by strong winds/rain. We had a couple of really windy days a week of so ago; maybe some ended up in trees away from where they were “born? Or maybe they move to trees that are not so conjested. Just a guess.
Comment by Lucy — June 13, 2007 [AT] 4:12 pm
I work in Wheaton and live in Aurora. Both locations are ‘newer’ developments, where I didn’t expect to see Cicadas. Only since June 11th, have I started seeing/hearing Cicadas. I now see them constantly at work and they are buzzing in the trees all over by my house, and everywhere in between. I know they did not ’emerge’ here, but alas, here they are. I thought they didn’t fly very far. I’m wondering if anyone has any thoughts as to how/why they’ve arrived seemingly everywhere I go now. Any know?
P.S. I will miss them when they’re gone.
Comment by Dan — June 13, 2007 [AT] 3:59 pm
I just came back from the lagrange ill forest preserves. While I was driving down lagrange rd, I decided to turn in to the forest preserves. Although while driving in the area it was very loud,it was almost like a horror movie on tv when I turned into the woods.There must be millons in the woods.I plan on going back several times to hear and see this part of nature.I suggest if you can,go see and hear for yourself.It is truly a remakable part of nature and earth.PS dont be afraid because they are not.
Comment by rob — June 13, 2007 [AT] 1:05 pm
When is the madness going to end?? I have dead cicadas all over my patio and sidewalks yet there seem to be three times as many flying around then before. Everytime I leave my house and walk, more like run to my car I have to go through swarms of cicadas. For those of you who keep complaining about not seeing any you would have a different viewpoint if you had to live with it everyday and have fly into your face, hair, grocery bags, car, etc..
Comment by Kelli — June 13, 2007 [AT] 9:07 am
i just finally saw some cicadas in my neighborhood not to many but the sound was loud from what i heard i did not see them come out of the ground are they just flying near my house or are they getting a late start on it cause i heard they should be starting to die off soon
Comment by kev — June 12, 2007 [AT] 7:48 pm
I live on the North Side of Ottawa, Illinois, and I’ve seen only one cicada! He [or she] was on the ground on the side of my house. Marseilles, on the other hand, is full of them! I am so jealous. Where are they? Will we even get them here, or what? I’m not completely sure if there are cicadas on the other sides of Ottawa, though. I’ve heard the answer is no. Anyone enlighten me?
Comment by Courtney — June 12, 2007 [AT] 9:50 am
hey this rebecca i just wanted to know how long do cicadas live?
Comment by rebecca — June 11, 2007 [AT] 10:35 pm
I am so jealous of all the folks that have cicadas in their town. Wheaton has virtually none. I feel so left out. We actually went to Glen Ellyn to import some to our trees. I’m so sad…
Comment by Kirsten — June 11, 2007 [AT] 8:39 pm
at camp i saw a bout 1 thousang ciadas on one tree, it’s crasy
Comment by megan — June 11, 2007 [AT] 6:42 pm
at camp i saw a bout 1 thousang ciadas on one tree, it;s crasy
Comment by megan — June 11, 2007 [AT] 6:42 pm
Can Cicadas be born, well, mutaded like siamese twins? like a 2 headed cicada? or born without wings or somthin. or 15 legs??
Comment by Elijah — June 9, 2007 [AT] 8:16 pm
Jordan — I keep hearing they should be gone by July 4th.
Comment by Andie — June 9, 2007 [AT] 9:42 am
A couple more weeks.
Comment by Dan — June 9, 2007 [AT] 9:39 am
i live in illinois. how long will the cicadas be around?
Comment by jordan cin — June 9, 2007 [AT] 9:37 am
I have a bunch of dead cicadas on my patio. Are these cicadas dead from other causes or are they the ones who have already mated? How long does it take for a cicada to die after it mates? I really, really hate these things but on the other hand I feel they should really live it up since it’s the last few weeks of their lives!
Comment by Andie — June 9, 2007 [AT] 6:09 am
Patti — they certainly don’t like cold, and torrential rains pouring into their holes. I hope they make it up to Milwaukee.
Comment by Dan — June 8, 2007 [AT] 10:10 am
Hey Cicada Guy — Love the website. I check it daily here at my corporate headquarters. We are so anxious for the cicadas to hit our town (Milwaukee). We had wicked weather last night. Heavy rains, winds and tornados all around us in the suburbs. Do you think this will keep the cicadas from visiting us? Is is possible they can die off before they ever get a chance to live?
Comment by Patti — June 8, 2007 [AT] 6:23 am
Put them up on Flickr!
Comment by Dan — June 8, 2007 [AT] 4:48 am
i have great pictures about cicada, i want to share them, how can i do that here?
Comment by Merci Yangco — June 7, 2007 [AT] 9:05 pm
It is just past dusk and I just returned from inspecting the fence pickets in my back yard. In years past the annual cicadas have used the pickets as much as the trees to pop out of their shells. But, alas, still no activity in northeast Oak Park. All the conditions for emergence have been met including temperature, moisture and expediency (time is running out). Does anyone know if the subterranean nymphs sometimes bump into one another down there and actually communicate? Might they be saying “two more days to D-Day” (actually yesterday June 6) or “the big break is tonight, pack your bags”?
Comment by Joseph Brady — June 7, 2007 [AT] 7:04 pm
I need to record the sound of cicadas somewhere near New York City, ideally somewhere accessible from public transportation. Any suggestions on where to do this?
Thanks.
Comment by Tom — June 7, 2007 [AT] 6:51 pm
I LIVE IN AN OLDER WOODED AREA IN ALGONQUIN IL…HAVENT SEEN 1 CICADA YET…WHATS THE DEAL ?
Comment by JAMES — June 7, 2007 [AT] 3:08 pm
We had a great emergence of Cicadas on our property in Midlothian on 5/23-24, but today 6/7, there appears to be a second emergence greater than the first! Scads of them on the trees and VERY active in the air. I know they are affected by tempurature and it’s hot today, but there are more cicadas today than in the last 3 weeks. Does anyone know what’s up?
Comment by Colleen — June 7, 2007 [AT] 2:21 pm
I too am terrified of them. I have daily panic attacks becuase they are EVERYWHERE. I live in Brookfield where they seem to live too. Can you tell me when this madness will end? Also, when will I stop seeing new ones? I cant handle it much longer. Though I found out if my fiance turns the sprinkler on….I can run to my car and I havnet been nailed yet.
Please, when will they stop?
Comment by Sue — June 7, 2007 [AT] 8:54 am
Do we have an end date for these little buggers? I’m terrified of this whole “phenomenon.” I live in a wooded area and there are massive amounts. They are all over the sidewalks, the trees right outside my door, my car etc. They fly and land on me, I’m having anxiety attacks, this is a nightmare.
Comment by Andie — June 7, 2007 [AT] 8:12 am
This morning on my way to work, i was driving with my window half way open, when all of a sudden i feel something hit me on the head. I looked to the backseat and happened to find a Cicada. The little fracker hit me on da head! lol….
Comment by Miguel A. Beltran — June 6, 2007 [AT] 4:22 pm
Depends on how old the plumb tree is. Older trees do just fine — in fact fruit trees are know to produce more fruit the following year after a cicada emergence.
Comment by Dan Mozgai — June 6, 2007 [AT] 3:17 pm
Texas, and most states, get annual cicadas every year. Texas has plenty of cicadas.
Comment by Dan Mozgai — June 6, 2007 [AT] 3:16 pm
In my Mothers’ purple leave plum tree there are little holes in straight lines going around the trunk and up several of the larger branches, are these cicadas, and will they kill the tree, if so how can we stop them? My Mother and Father planted that tree when we were small, now he’s gone and we are grown, she would hate to lose the tree
Comment by cassandra riddell — June 6, 2007 [AT] 3:03 pm
Here in South Texas, we comment about cicadas every summer. I saw what I thought was one a couple of days ago, but it doesn’t look like the cicadas I’ve seen on this site, and since they arrive every summer without fail, I am wondering whether or not they truly are cicadas. What can you tell me about their occurrence in South Texas, specifically San Antonio?
Comment by Christine — June 6, 2007 [AT] 1:57 pm
I BELIEVE IF THEY ARE NOT OUT YET I THINK THEY ARE NOT COMING
Comment by JOE PEPETONE — June 6, 2007 [AT] 8:51 am
As of June 5, I have only seen one cicada shell on my daily run throughout Northeast Oak Park. I mistakenly thought the full moon would pull them out, but I was wrong. In the last few days it has been either too cold or too rainy. Why OP is two weeks behind the western burbs and one week behind the north shore, I do not know. Maybe it is the collective concentration of people in Oak Park trying to will them into action. Then again, it may be Oak Park’s heavy clay soil that I suspect may be providing a cooler than ideal 64 degree emergence trigger. These are all just guesses.
Comment by Joseph Brady — June 5, 2007 [AT] 7:04 pm
THe cicadas emerged Sunday evening May 27th in our backyard in Glenview. We could see them come out of the grass and watch as the grass moved with them. We watched them crawl up anything including my leg as they began their ascent. It was truly amazing to see them crack their shells an transform before our eyes. THe next morning HUNDREDS were on hostas, tree trunks, fence posts, our deck. They crawled and practiced short flights. This ritual continues even tonight, eight nights later. The numbers may be slightly fewer but all in all, we can’t believe SO many keep appearing!!!!!!!
Comment by Sharon TIerney — June 4, 2007 [AT] 8:11 pm
Cicadas are prone to fungal infections. Sometimes the fungus expands until the abdomen falls off. I’ve seen walking cicada heads quite a few times. Male abdomens are also pretty much hollow, so that makes the situation more likely.
Comment by Dan Mozgai — June 4, 2007 [AT] 7:48 am
We were at The Grove in Glenview this past Saturday with our kids. We found about a dozen cicadas in the same location without bodies, just heads. They were alive and walking, and they were fully coordinated. I’m not talking about muscle twitches after an insect it killed, I’m talking fully alive cicadas walking with full motor coordination. They might have been able to fly, too, although I didn’t see them fly. They looked perfectly healthy and their wings were flawless, but they had no abdoman or thorax at all. We asked the experts at The Grove. They said that they had never seen cicadas like that, and said it must be a mutation of some sort. To me it didn’t look like they were born without bodies, and it didn’t look like an animal or insect ripped the bodies off because the wings were not torn up. It looked like they had simply dropped their bodies. You could see into their heads through their necks. There was dried light brown stuff that sealed the neck hole. The hole looked identical in all of the cicadas we found. Does anyone know if this is indeed a mutation or something else…perhaps a disease or parasite that makes the bodies fall off?
Comment by Amy Warlick — June 4, 2007 [AT] 6:27 am
Sugar Grove Il here,
about 40 miles west of Chicago. I have not seen a single cicada as of yet. Even went to the forest preserve [bliss woods] not a darn cicada in sight. Are they not coming? I was planning on serving them to my inlaws for dinner this weekend, hee.. hee!
Comment by Deb — June 1, 2007 [AT] 11:43 am
Hey…um….Buster, just wait until the cicadas die off in a few weeks. You will get plenty of stinky “cicada mulch” then. BTW if anyone on the board fishes the nymphs are great fish bait. The kids & I caught a few dozen catfish with them several years back.
Comment by Roy troutman — June 1, 2007 [AT] 11:18 am
IF THEY ARE NOT AROUND BY NOW DOES THAT MEAN THEY ARE NOT COMING TO MY AREA
Comment by JOE PEPETONE — June 1, 2007 [AT] 9:36 am
Dan:
I wrote a couple of days ago, thanks for your comment regarding cicadas in Texas. You said Texas does not have 13/17-year, can you tell what species (Dallas), problem being our condo has an open (wrought iron gate) facing a creek, one can literally hear right through the garage area up 2-3 levels, sounds coming through walls, earphones do not work. My reposed question, isn’t it unusual to hear 24/7? Also, how long before these non-13/17-hear species cease noise (most always hot, as you know, in Texas)…thanks again.
Comment by Pat — June 1, 2007 [AT] 7:19 am
I don’t get it. I live in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. The neighborhood is loaded with Cicadas. I went to the Forest Preserve (untouched for 40 years) and not one. Why?
Comment by Mitch — June 1, 2007 [AT] 7:15 am
I live in Roscoe (on the Wisconsin border, north of Rockford) and we have thousands and thousands of cicadas. We do live in the woods with many older oak trees. There is probably a 2 to 3 inch ring of “cicada mulch” around most of the trees, not to mention the driveway will need to be shoveled soon. The kids & dog are having a blast.
BH
Comment by Buster Hymen — May 31, 2007 [AT] 2:24 pm
I live in the south end of Glenview Illinois and there are 10′s of thousands of ciadias around our house. Not as many on the east side of our street as on the west side and even a few blocks away there are very few. It’s worse for us this time than last. The neighbors tree has so many at the base, that you could shovel them up into a small bucket. They are crawling up anything mostly dark… but even lighter objects, too. They seem to be selective where they choose to sit. Our two evergreen shrubs in front have few, while the small baby evergreen tree only 10 feet away is packed with the bugs on every spare spot. They started popping out a few days ago. So, I think they’ll be other reports coming soon from northern Illinois.
Comment by diane — May 31, 2007 [AT] 11:38 am
My blog below is about Cicada Powered air planes, not paper cicada look-ah-like planes!
Comment by Dick Bolt — May 31, 2007 [AT] 9:51 am
I like Cicadas. We had them here (Eastern MD) in 2004.None reported in Western MD as I remember.
I & my son built cicada powered air planes & got into the local newspapers with photo. I did engine tests (throwing cicadas forward to see if they flew & how hard)first & had kids collecting for me and working as if a science fair was going on. As I remember, females flew down & males flew up when released. So I chose only male engines. I built several 1 engine & two engine planes. Planes were from dollar store balsa cheep.I super glued the engines to the wings! I never got much out of flights. I guess if your but was glued to a board, you would not want to fly either! As I will not be alive next time around in 15 yrs, it might be another to hitch them correctly to fly! It was done with house flys, so why not cicadas.
*** in Bowie MD
PS, I have photos stored from 2004 somewhere.
Comment by Dick Bolt — May 31, 2007 [AT] 9:29 am
cicads are some wired creatuures!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Myarra — May 30, 2007 [AT] 11:23 am
I wish cicadas were flooding my front porch! I haven’t seen one yet!
Comment by Anna in plainfield — May 30, 2007 [AT] 8:22 am
As of 5-29 at 12 noon no sightings yet on ten hundred block of Mapleton. Not many in the general area either, but pockets in River Forest.
Wednesday and Thursday will be the big days. The attraction of the moon, big right now, but full as can be on Thursday (5-31)may play a big part, but also may be a coincidence.
What do you think?
Have counted 2 to 3 mud patch holes per sq ft in between bricks on patio. But maybe these are from real big worms.
Comment by joseph brady — May 29, 2007 [AT] 10:43 am
Is it true that there are no cicadas, annual or otherwise, native to the Pacific Northwest?
Comment by Melanie Wilson — May 29, 2007 [AT] 9:24 am
I live in Huntley, IL and I have not seen one cicada yet!!
I am very sad becasue my daughter is 2.5 years old — the same age I was at my first Cicada year in 1973ish — Does any one know if they will be coming to McHenry Co??
Comment by Karen L — May 29, 2007 [AT] 8:11 am
Cicadas are flooding my front porch. Can anyone tell me of their dislikes. Something I can use to prevent them from infesting my home.
Comment by Cheryl Ferguson — May 29, 2007 [AT] 5:40 am
Wildlife should be seen, heard, but not fed by humans.
Comment by Dan — May 28, 2007 [AT] 9:07 am
Actually, Lake Michigan is probably cleaner than it used to be. In the past few years the gulls have moved inland. They can probably find more food in parking lots and garbage dumps than by Lake Michigan. I’ve even seen people feeding them in the parking lots. That’s probably why they are more abundant in the neighborhoods this year than 17 years ago.
Comment by Sue — May 28, 2007 [AT] 8:52 am
Texas doesn’t have periodic/17/13 year cicadas, but you do have other species. They should be making their presence heard soon enough if the weather stays hot.
Comment by Dan — May 28, 2007 [AT] 12:07 am
Are cicadas hitting Texas this year? If so, are these the 13-year or 17-year brood? Have never heard them here before. The noise has been truly incessant today, especially (hot, muggy) after recent storm. Have heard for the past two weeks (24/7), please advise your prediction how much longer before noise may cease, and isn’t it unusual to hear 24/7? Thanks.
Comment by Pat — May 27, 2007 [AT] 11:39 pm
I wonder why the gulls aren’t haging out by the lake? Maybe the lake is so polluted now, that they have to go inland for food — unfortunately for the cicadas.
Comment by Dan — May 27, 2007 [AT] 10:38 pm
The cicadas have been out in my neighborhood for a week now. We have had an enormous number of seagulls coming and eating them. Flocks of sometimes 50 gulls and more come down the street stopping to devour whatever they can. I know there were not this many gulls 17 years ago. Will this increase in the gull population affect the number of cicadas 17 years from now?
Comment by Sue — May 27, 2007 [AT] 5:57 pm
That’s a good question. They lay their eggs in the branches of trees. The females have an instrument called a terebra that that they use to dig out a slit in the branch and that’s where they lay their eggs. The eggs hatch and the cicada larvae flop to the ground, and start burrowing. They don’t die from the fall because they have a low terminal velocity — like cats and other small creatures.
The egg laying in the branches is what kills the branches.
Comment by Dan — May 26, 2007 [AT] 3:56 pm
You have a great site. I found it very informative.
I have been trying to find out where they lay their eggs? Do they climb trees to eat, then return to the ground to bury their eggs? Or are the eggs left in the trees and the larvae crawl down and into the ground?
I aplogize if you answered this question already. I looked and looked and looked and didn’t see anything about this.
Thank you.
Von
Comment by Von — May 26, 2007 [AT] 3:36 pm
kgmoney1 [AT] aol.com
Please don’t kill cicadas in order to find out if they’re sick. There’s plenty of dead ones lying around, you could dissect those instead.
Comment by Mike — May 25, 2007 [AT] 12:12 pm
I went out to my car and found a baby cicada sitting on the trunk. So i let it crawl on my finger and brought in side.
Comment by anita — May 25, 2007 [AT] 8:45 am
My husband and I were in Lombard a couple of days ago and saw many Cicada holes and a couple of live ones. I am out in Carol Stream and live behind a park and pond with many old tree, but not a single Cicada or even a hole yet from what I have seen. I am starting to doubt if we are going to get them in Carol Stream at all. I hope we do, I have been telling my daughter about it for weeks. Anyone know of an emeregence in Carol Stream or if they even emerge here at all?
Comment by Jess — May 24, 2007 [AT] 2:36 pm
Hi everybody,
I am a college student doing research on the 17 year cicada. I am trying to find out if the cicadas are parasitized by anything like pin worms, nematodes, or anything like that. I have collected some nymphs and dissected them to see if I can find any parasites. I have not found anything yet, but I plan to catch some adults as soon as they emerge. I was wondering if anyone knows anything about cicadas and parasites. If you do anything that may be able to help my research please send me an e-mail at kgmoney1 [AT] aol.com Thanks to all and have fun with the cicadas.
Comment by Kenny Glassman — May 24, 2007 [AT] 1:53 pm
I live in deerfield Illinois. I was walking around looking for cicada shells (in my yard) to look at in my microscope when I heard a buzzing noise. I looked over and saw a upside down cicada flapping its wings like crazy. I picked it up on a stick and took it over to a tree. Immediately, it started crawling up the tree until I couldn’t see it, so I climbed up myself (I made sure not to step on any other cicadas). Then, I saw it stop at nearly the top of the tree and then started laying its eggs! It was so cool!
Comment by Ethan — May 23, 2007 [AT] 6:15 pm
why do they come into certain areas? I haven’t seen any yet in my niegborhood but I know they are there.
Comment by Katie — May 23, 2007 [AT] 5:58 pm
why do they come into certain areas? I haven’t seen any yet in my niegborhood but I know they are there.
Comment by Katie — May 23, 2007 [AT] 5:58 pm
We’re aware of cicada in Arizona, but people rarely ask about them or contribute content, so there isn’t much mention on the site. You might disagree, but they aren’t as exciting as periodic cicadas. There is some Arizona info buried on the site, including this link http://bugs.bio.nau.edu/Homoptera/azhomoptera.htm
that lists dozens of species with pictures.
Comment by Dan — May 23, 2007 [AT] 4:49 am
I live west of Phoenix in Arizona in the desert. There is no mention of cicadas here even though we definately have the cicada visits. Annually.
Can you tell me why they don’t mention any in Arizona?
Their verticle burrow holes are very noticeable. Along with their music.
Our trees did suffer quite a bit of damage the last couple of years from them. My brother lost a number of small ones, where ours were larger ones. There are many trees here in the desert(palo verdes) for them.
I do not wish the cicadas any harm, but it you have a tree you would like to save from harm, I found a method that works. At the area where the bark is disturbed and sap is flowing, I use a stick to scrape of as much as possible. I then spray the area with a spray paint. The cicadas or other insects do not return to the spot and the tree is saved.
Thank you!
Comment by Lisa Bilinski — May 23, 2007 [AT] 12:09 am
I’ve never heard of them damaging conifers, but if they’re desperate enough, they might.
It’s safe to mow. The emergence in Michigan should be minimal.
Comment by Dan — May 22, 2007 [AT] 5:47 pm
Maybe 100 decibels or so.
Comment by Dan — May 22, 2007 [AT] 5:46 pm
how loud are they? like all of them together not just one?
Comment by Jenna — May 22, 2007 [AT] 4:26 pm
i live in the corner of southwest michigan, but have been out of state for a week. when i go home, the lawn is going to need tending- is it safe for me to mow? will i disturb 17 year cicadas beneath my lawn? will i harm them or start a swarm? when is it safest to mow?
Comment by kayla — May 21, 2007 [AT] 9:28 pm
Can Cicadas damage smaller conifers, or is it only small deciduous trees that we need to protect?
Comment by Angie — May 21, 2007 [AT] 7:42 pm
Cicadas drink tree fluids, and they do metamorphize. The final stage (instar) of their metamorphosis is called imagination, which is when the nymph becomes the adult (imago).
Comment by Dan — May 21, 2007 [AT] 5:31 pm
What do cicadas eat?
Do they have metamorphisis?
Comment by hailey — May 21, 2007 [AT] 4:32 pm
Hello Kristina,
I have a decent sound byte you can use of a Magicicada cassini. I also have cicadas chorusing but don’t have good recordings of the other 2 species. e-mail me [AT] sbpstudios [AT] gmail.com.
Comment by Roy Troutman — May 15, 2007 [AT] 1:20 pm
My 7 year old is doing a project on cicadas for his 1st grade class. Is there a good sound byte of the cicada “songs” that he can play?
Comment by Kristina — May 15, 2007 [AT] 11:51 am
Hi Matt –
The key words in that text are “serious noise”. There will still be cicada sound after the choruses start to decline, perhaps still loud by many standards. It will be more like a month (after things first get loud) before things seem normal again. Those words are only a rough estimate.
It really depends on where you are too, in part because the chorusing centers tend to slowly shift location. If you get stuck with a really dense Magicicada cassini chorus in your backyard, in a tree right outside your favorite window, it will be longer than average before things seem quiet again.
Comment by David Marshall — May 14, 2007 [AT] 8:45 am
I’ve seen one specific reference about how long the cicada Brood XIII noise will last only 2 weeks (even though the cicadas may be around for longer than that). Can someone confirm? I’d like to know if the noise lasts longer or shorter so I can make travel plans, because the noise will drive me nuts after the novelty of it wears off.
“How long will the cicadas be out in my yard/neighborhood/city?
About 4-6 weeks after they first start emerging. Most individual cicadas live only a few weeks, but since they emerge over a period of two weeks or so the whole event lasts longer. The serious noise will get going about a week and half after you first notice them and will last about two weeks more. After that things get a lot quieter.”
Comment by Matt — May 11, 2007 [AT] 5:14 pm
Do you know exactly the next emmergence or brood of magicicada in Illinois? Is it about 25 of May or later..
Thanks a lot for your answer
Comment by Gerard — May 3, 2007 [AT] 7:39 am
are you supposed to paint the exterior of your home during the cicadas? Will they spoil the paint job by attaching to the house? I would so appreciate an answer to this question!
Comment by iz reidy — April 30, 2007 [AT] 3:37 pm
They’ll aerate the areas around the trees, so you could still have the non-shaded areas done.
Comment by Dan — April 25, 2007 [AT] 2:13 pm
I was thinking of having my yard aerated this year, but since this is the year for cicada’s in my area, I wonder if I still need to. Will they do a good job of aerating the soil or should I hire someone to do this for me? Will this damage them if I do decide to aerate?
Comment by Beth in Chicago — April 25, 2007 [AT] 1:45 pm
My 10-year-old daughter has chosen the periodic cicadas as her school project subject. What she plans to do is attempt to calculate the number of cicadas that will emerge in our town. I am helping her with her math model, but she/we need a little help.
She needs to find the average number of cicadas that live under a single tree and a single bush. Also, the survival rates during the 17-year dormancy.
Any information source for this would be greatly appreciated.
Comment by scott johnson — April 24, 2007 [AT] 12:16 pm
Sir,
We intend to visit Chicago during June 2007. Please let us know whether we can joy our stay there? Whither Cicadas affect our stay & feel discomfort?
r.srinivasaraaghavan
Comment by R.SRINIVASARAAGHAVAN — April 17, 2007 [AT] 6:05 pm
the cicada is a japanes bug.
Comment by khalid — April 17, 2007 [AT] 8:53 am
I had a large tree removed down to the roots about 8 years ago. Will the cicadas still come out of the ground and, if so, where will they go?
Comment by Joe — April 10, 2007 [AT] 10:41 am
It’s 2 months away…we’re about to be hit in June with the 17 year breed here in the Chicago area. I plan to take many pictures and post them on http://www.seventeenyearcicada.com
This will be the third time I can remember seeing these creatures (I was four years old the first time and can’t recall 🙂
So stay tuned.
Comment by John — March 31, 2007 [AT] 3:55 pm
False alarm on cicadas in Fayetteville,NC. I went over to see what I could find, and it turned out to be thousands of frogs mating.
Comment by Laura — March 25, 2007 [AT] 9:51 am
March 25, 2007
I am in Fayetteville, NC and last night the buzz/chirping started across the lake. I’m walking over today to see if I can spot some cicadas.
Comment by Laura — March 25, 2007 [AT] 7:52 am
I have found in March 2007 a died couple (M & F) of cicada from the root of plant in desert of Thar(Pakistan)
http://www.colourthrophy.8m.com
rehman_azeemi [AT] yahoo.com
Comment by Anjum — March 22, 2007 [AT] 3:22 pm
hello all 5 pieces cicadas of 2 speces are avail able for reserchers contect rehman_azeemi [AT] yahoo.com
Anjum
Comment by Anjum — March 22, 2007 [AT] 3:15 pm
Cold blooded. All insects are cold blooded.
Comment by Dan — March 12, 2007 [AT] 7:59 pm
I have a question and answer sheet that i have to do for science and i was wondering if Cicadas are cold or warm blooded
Comment by Ari — March 12, 2007 [AT] 7:19 pm
The same questions on the life cycle and lifespan. please check FAQs on this website for ALL the answers
Comment by david — March 8, 2007 [AT] 6:52 pm
How long do cicadas live and what’s there lifecycle?
Comment by bob — March 5, 2007 [AT] 4:12 pm
That question again… Cicadas are cicadas and locusts are grasshopper. They are not the same.
Comment by Dan — March 1, 2007 [AT] 9:40 am
Are cicadas and locust the same or are they different and if they are how so?
Comment by billy — February 28, 2007 [AT] 5:57 pm
The advantage is predators don’t have time to adapt to their behavior.
Comment by Dan — February 25, 2007 [AT] 3:13 pm
What possible survival advantage can a 17 year life cycle have?
Comment by Chris Gladstone — February 25, 2007 [AT] 1:31 pm
hi all cicada lovers do you need any audio vedio or dry cicada of many speces for resersh only reserchers will be oblized
rehmany2k64 [AT] yahoo.com
Comment by Anjum — January 17, 2007 [AT] 1:10 pm
hi all cicada lovers do you need any audio vedio or dry cicada of many speces for resersh only reserchers will be oblized
Comment by Anjum — January 17, 2007 [AT] 1:08 pm
Hi all Cicada Lovers, I myself love all insects. I have always been interested in insects. I have a website with insect links and photos. Enjoy
Comment by Bill D. — November 17, 2006 [AT] 9:18 am
I live in the Western subs of IL. I have an above ground pool. Will these little guys be a burden? When exactly do they come out and for how long? ew
Comment by Joyce — November 13, 2006 [AT] 8:56 pm
What are the different types of cicades??
Comment by hawill — November 11, 2006 [AT] 9:17 pm
I found this site when searching for cicadas.
http://www.magicicada.com
There music kind of sounds like cicadas buzzing, at time.
Comment by Amazed — November 1, 2006 [AT] 7:18 am
I want to know what sounds a cicada makes. And do they make sounds 24 hours a day? How long will they make the sounds? I live in Georgia and I keep hearing the high pitch sounds.
Comment by Larry Gunnels — October 26, 2006 [AT] 8:06 pm
I´m posting again to publish my messenger ok…
brunomontanhez [AT] hotmail.com
Comment by Montanhez — October 12, 2006 [AT] 10:23 pm
im a biology student that was seeking for Quesada gigas pictures and then found this place! it´s looks really nice…congratulations
and….there´s any brasilian on this forum?
Comment by Montanhez — October 12, 2006 [AT] 10:21 pm
With these things it’s really the luck of the draw — they might be a no show, or they could make things miserable. It might pay to ask the owners of the property what happened 17 years earlier.
Comment by Dan — October 3, 2006 [AT] 7:57 pm
The wedding ceremony only will be in Willowbrook, IL, southwest of Chicago about 25 miles in our backyard which has trees and shrubs (but house and yard about 6 years old) and surrounded by property that has lots of trees and undisturbed (undeveloped) land. Based on reading the Wedding Planner which I found after posting my question, sounds like you need a sense of humor if you don’t reschedule. Seems it would be very distracting and take away the focus from the ceremony.
Comment by Yola — October 2, 2006 [AT] 2:28 pm
Depends on where the wedding is going to be.
Comment by Dan — October 1, 2006 [AT] 9:39 am
My daughter has planned an outdoor wedding in our backyear for 6/16/07. I think we should reschedule. Any comments?
Comment by Yola — October 1, 2006 [AT] 6:25 am
Chicago’s breed is due in June 2007. They will emerge around June 9 and will last about four weeks.
You can set your clock to that.
Comment by John — September 14, 2006 [AT] 2:19 am
Hi Anjum- your email address does not seem to be correct. Please correct for contact or email to >
David.
Comment by david — September 12, 2006 [AT] 3:03 am
for reserch purpes if need cicada i can provide you onlowest rates from Pakistan about 16 veraities are avail able contect rehmany2k64 at yahoo
Comment by Anjum — September 10, 2006 [AT] 5:28 am
Which month and approximately which week will the brood xiii cicada’s hatch their final molt in Chicago, Illinois?
Comment by Dario — September 4, 2006 [AT] 8:25 am
i didnt know what what outside but it was huge and then we caught it with its prey and there both still alive the the cicada is paralized, my daughter wants to bring it to school to show her science teacher and my question is how can i keep them alive and when with the cicada become un paralized?
thank you
angie
lake charles,louisiana
Comment by angie — September 2, 2006 [AT] 2:47 pm
We were having breakfast this morning on our screen porch and a large, strange bug was sitting on the outside of the screen. I suspected a cicada and a quick web search led me to this site. Sure enough, it’s a magicicada!
The kids and I enjoyed learning about cicada habits, although we’re curious about this particular cicada because it’s so late in the summer and we aren’t due for our cicada cycle until next year (we’re in Hartford, WI). We’ve decided that this one must be a scout.
Comment by The Ohm Family — August 26, 2006 [AT] 8:38 am
I wonder, if I can find frequency distribution of cicada songs.
Thanks for any hints.
Comment by Serge — August 24, 2006 [AT] 8:30 am
I am an insect collector and recently obtained two male cicadas of the same species in Las Vegas. Based on my extensive travels throughout southern Nevada and the Las Vegas area, it literally sounds as if there is only one local cicada species in the area-I only hear one that sounds like a constant buzz saw and no other “songs” of distinctive species. Can anyone out there list the prevalent cicada-genus and species-of the Las Vegas area?
Comment by Jeff Clark — August 23, 2006 [AT] 5:19 pm
I absolutely love the sound of cicadas. I still do, though I’m watching a very creepy “Higurashi no Naku Koro ni” (When the Cicadas Cry). It’s a Japanese horror anime with a deceptively cutesy art style, and cicadas are prominant in the closing credits. The distinctive sounds appear in the soundtrack and now we get a delicious little shiver when evening falls and the cicadas begin their symphony.
But they *are* summer nights (and days) to me!
Comment by Laura — August 23, 2006 [AT] 10:40 am
okay so I KNOW these insects are called cicadas, and I love them dearly — my mother tells me she could hear them singing when I was born (july 25), so for me, hearing them is something akin to the primal scream….
But WHY did we call them “locusts” in Cleveland where I grew up? I don’t think I learned to call them cicadas until I moved to NJ in 10970.
second question: my own personal rule of thumb, based on observation, is that cicadas don’t “sing” unless the temperature outside is 70 F or above — is that true?
Kathy Harsany
cicada (and katydid) fan
Greenwich, CT
Comment by kathy harsany — August 22, 2006 [AT] 12:50 pm
Hi there
i have a diana maple it one year old,two weeks ago the leaves were brown and wilted they were flexable now their crispy and falling.I was told that there could be a fungus.Could there be a fungus,the tree is kept watered.
Comment by Joan Bowers — August 19, 2006 [AT] 9:05 pm
I live in Indianapolis, IN. Why do we have so many cicadas this year? I don’t remember the cicadas being this loud except for a couple of years ago.
Comment by William H — August 19, 2006 [AT] 5:40 pm
I’m so happy to find a site dedicated to this creature! Living in New York City, the cicada has become the sound of summer (along with ice cream truck bells and the drone of air-conditioners.) However, this summer, I’m sad to say, the sound has been absent. Is this part of the 17-year cycle? I can’t remember a summer without the sound of the cicadas each morning and evening. On the hottest days they could even be heard during midday. I’ve lived in NYC 39 years and I’m hoping that no environmental factors have led to their elimination from this area. Please advise.
Comment by Joseph Scrivani — August 9, 2006 [AT] 6:49 am
How do you say this insects name.
Comment by Judy — August 9, 2006 [AT] 1:50 am
We live in upstate New York, just east of Albany. On returning from a seaside vacation the end of July, we noticed a very loud insect sound at dusk, continuing through the wee hours. We have not heard this before, and it is keeping us up all night. My husband thought it might be locusts, so I searched the web and now we think we have them. He said he found a dead one in our yard. Can anyone tell us how long to expect this racket? It is very disruptive. We are new to this.
Comment by Cassandra — July 31, 2006 [AT] 4:33 pm
I need to get a Cicada for Biology and I have no idea where to look. Where might I find one? And when should I look for one?
Comment by Elizabeth — July 18, 2006 [AT] 12:02 am
I found a cicada grub in it’s last instar (I think), where it’s emerged from hte ground as a bronze kind of pupae on legs. It was lost groping around aimlessly on the pavement in the baking sun.
I thought it should be moved into the foliage where it could take to a leaf….so I did just that, but I noticed it had white eyes unlike any others I’d seen (usually having brown or black eyes.
It also seemed very weak. Is it unusual for cicadas in this stage of development, to have white eyes? If so why?
Comment by dan — July 10, 2006 [AT] 12:10 am
Does anyone have any tips for preserving cicadas? I find our local Tibicens rather attractive and would like to “shellac” one. (An already dead one; I’d never kill one! It’s not at all hard to find corpses once summer gets into full swing here in VA.) Do you think I could just use clear-coat enamel, or would that damage the wings?
Comment by Khate — July 2, 2006 [AT] 9:08 am
My girlfriend is from England, and had never had any experience with cicadas, she calls them “screaming bugs”. We are here in missouri, and I never knew that there was a 17 year cycle. Thanks for the site, and info.
Comment by Josh — July 1, 2006 [AT] 7:44 pm
Hi Connor,
There are many different types of Cicadas in the United States. At least 150 different species. Other names that can also mean “cicada” that people say are as follows:
Locust
Dog Day Cicada
Harvest fly
Heat Bug
And even some species of cicadas can have their own nick-names. For instance:
Tibicen chloromera — “The Swamp Cicada”
Tibicen auletes — “The Scissor Grinder”
Tibicen lyricen — “The lyric Cicada”
Magicicada — “17 year locusts”
Hope that helps.
Gerry Bunker
Massachusetts Cicadas
http://www.mechaworx.com/cicada/masscic1.asp
Comment by Gerry — June 29, 2006 [AT] 9:05 pm
I have been asked by my teacher at school to find out another name for cicada. What are cicadas also known as?
Comment by Connor James — June 21, 2006 [AT] 10:40 pm
Hi Dan, Looks as though some useless spam did get through with mesage 66!! To Debbie (67), cicadas do not bite, they suck sap through a “rostrum” (straw) like mozzies. They are quite magnificently constructed and coloured with each species having a distinct song- not too ugly once you get to know them!! Just watch one emerging and you’ll be hooked!
Comment by david — May 30, 2006 [AT] 7:05 pm
do these UGLY creatures bite and if so what needs to be done for treatment. I am in texas
Comment by Debbie — May 28, 2006 [AT] 5:59 pm
Does anyone have information regarding where in Pennsylvania Brood XIV of Magicicada has emerged in the past? I know they’re due back in 2008 and I’d really like to see them. Please email me at BigEdK7 [AT] aol.com if you have any information.
Thank you,
Ed
Comment by Ed — May 22, 2006 [AT] 11:39 am
In school we are studing about the rain forest and Im serching for people to help the rain forest from being burnt and cut down. I know this coment probebly dosen’t mean any thing to you, but it means the world to me. One forth of our rain forest are gone, and they say all the medicans in the world are in the rain forset so we are destorying medicans that we need. Now I bet you don’t care, but seens you like insects I decided to write this letter to you. Thank you for reading it.
Comment by Emily — May 15, 2006 [AT] 2:24 am
Starting a new site, dedicated to the cause. Here in the Chicago area we will be seeing our little friends next June, 2007 and will be putting up images and videos. Until then, the website
http://www.seventeenyearcicada.com
will be up and running.
John
Comment by John — May 12, 2006 [AT] 11:48 pm
Cicadas seem to be pretty rare here in Nova Scotia. I’m looking for a source of cicada “remains” which are intact and in good condition. I am hoping to find 10-20 at least. This is for an arts project.
Only Cicadas who have “ceased to bee” please!
Kevin
Comment by Kevin — April 19, 2006 [AT] 3:47 am
I would have to say they were disturbed under the the trash box. I would think it would be very very unusual to see them this early. you are right, you probibly would not see any until at least late june-july
Comment by Matt — April 14, 2006 [AT] 3:10 pm
I live in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, and we are just barely breaking into spring (snow last weekend, this week 20 degrees C in the day, nights around 0). No leaves on trees yet, and grass just barely poking out of the ground.
Today we found about 3 or 4 adult cicadas scattered in the parking lot — most of them squished, but one still feebly moving its legs. I’m assuming they are adults: about 1 1/2 inches long, a dark drab brown, almost looking a bit moldy. There was signs of a large trash box moved in the area, so perhaps they were under it, and were disturbed.
We usually only get cicadas in the hot part of July & August… any ideas what might be going on here?
thanks for helping with the mystery.
jeannine
Comment by jeannine — April 12, 2006 [AT] 8:25 am
What is it about the cicada’s that places them in the classification?
Comment by Chrissy — April 3, 2006 [AT] 12:39 pm
You must be suffering the Amphipsalta zealandica chorus in Feb. someone from Auckland complained on this site last year about thier niose. On hot nights, cicadas can sing at intervals during the night, which drives you crazy. The Aussie greengrocers will sing at about 4hour intervals (dusk, 10pm, 2am and 6am) just in case you want to listen. By the way, many cicadas are attracted to UV lights, especially on warm humid nights.
Comment by david — March 7, 2006 [AT] 2:30 am
btw Im in NZ and that would be understood not understoof sorry!! Im used to cicadas but not this many and they have never done this before, I cant find much info on this kinda thing, there are hundreds of them and driving me crazy at times like 3am :/
Comment by salacity — February 21, 2006 [AT] 4:56 am
Okay so I understoof that cicadas were not attracted to light? however tonight the first night of the couple of weeks they have been around this year they started attacking the windows and they were all over my deck its midnight here and I dont understand whats going on Ive never seen anything like it before, is this normal?
Comment by salacity — February 21, 2006 [AT] 4:54 am
Hi Marty,
The “green grocer” in Australia sings when the temp reaches around 18C, but many small species will not sing unless the sun is shining (no matter what the ambient temp).
David.
Comment by david — February 16, 2006 [AT] 10:43 pm
Does a Cicada start chirping at a certain air temperature? if so what is it?
Comment by Marty — February 12, 2006 [AT] 4:55 pm
You can tell by looking at their abdomens. The females abdomen ends with a sharp point, like a sharpened pencil. The male is more stubby, like the top of a house.
Comment by Dan Mozgai — November 14, 2005 [AT] 6:08 am
How do you tell if cicada’s are male or female?
Comment by annika — November 13, 2005 [AT] 10:22 pm
To Julianna,
Messages 48-50. Cicadas suck sap from trees and grasses during development underground and after emergence. They, in turn are “eaten” by higher predators , especially spiders, tree crickets and birds, as well as preyed upon by wasps (“cicada-killer” wasp)and cicada collecting humans, dogs and cats. The shell “exuviae” simply degenerates and gets recycled after emergence, becomes a spider’s temporary home, or gets collected and ground up for some traditional (especially Chinese) medicines.
Underground, cicada nymphs can be attacked by “entomophagic” (insect eating) fungus that kills the cicadas at some stage, but life above ground is pretty short and infection-free. Prolonged rain may promote bacterial disease.
Comment by david — October 9, 2005 [AT] 5:28 pm
Is it true that cicadas have a deathly disease?
Comment by Julianna Wojtowicz — October 7, 2005 [AT] 7:09 pm
What happens to a cicada shell when it’s left there?
Comment by Julianna Wojtowicz — October 7, 2005 [AT] 7:08 pm
what do cicadas eat and what eats them?
Comment by Julianna Wojtowicz — October 7, 2005 [AT] 7:04 pm
What do they eat and what eats them?
Comment by Julianna Wojtowicz — October 7, 2005 [AT] 7:02 pm
Hello I found a Cicada in a spider web (No spider in web) and rescued it.But it can’t fly it’s wings are messed up what do I do?
[Moderator: try to pick the web off its wing and then leave it in a bush. Maybe it will recover.]
Comment by Jennifer — September 17, 2005 [AT] 3:39 pm
do they have to sleep ? can they hurt u
[moderator: Sort of and no.]
Comment by caitlin — September 6, 2005 [AT] 4:57 pm
I live in Northern Virginia, and I’ve seen a few dead cicadas on the ground these past few weeks. They are black like the 17-year cicadas that we had last year, but they have white/greenish eyes. I’ve been hearing them singing in the trees all summer, but I thought they were the regular cicadas that we have every summer. Those are green though, aren’t they? These ones are black, and they look almost the same as the ones we had last year, only they don’t have red eyes. Are they regular annual cicadas or some special brood? Could they be Brood X and have emerged this year instead of last year? But why don’t they have red eyes, then?
Comment by Ashley — September 2, 2005 [AT] 5:20 pm
Hello,I am collecting cicada bodies and would gladly pay for shipping them if you have any. The area I am living in (Haverford, PA) does not have many this year. Please write and let me know. Thank you.
Anne
[Moderator: those are Tibicen, which are an annual species of cicada. Thanks too the massive emergence of Magicicadas, people have become “cicada aware”, and a now, finally noticing the annual species.]
Comment by Anne M — September 1, 2005 [AT] 12:52 pm
Fred,
For a great photo of Tibicen dorsata (Grand western cicada) and some locations, get Boris Kondratieff’s book “Cicadas of Colorado” CSU Press- it’s great.
Comment by david — August 29, 2005 [AT] 10:24 pm
OK, cicada professionals:
What is the ‘Grand Western Cicada? Looking through various websites, I have seen three different ‘grand western cicadas’ One series of photos clearly shows tibicen auletes, definately NOT the GW. Next series of photos from mid, upper western states, like Illinois, Iowa, etc, show a brightly yellow-marked black tibicen-type cicada. And another set, including the one on this site, shows a very un-tibicen like cicada, with a huge, oversized thorax, and a funny, undersized, narrow head. So just who/what/where is the “GRAND WESTERN CICADA, TIBICEN DORSATA?”
Fred
[Moderator: It’s this: Tibicen dorsata.]
Comment by Fred Berry — August 23, 2005 [AT] 6:01 pm
I have so many cicada in my trees that the trees are now getting rot and are dying. is there anyway i can save my 8 trees with out killing all the cicada? They are a childhood favorite and I wouldnt want to kill them but i just bought my home and the 8 trees have been there forever and id like to keep them too. please help! 2 trees are dead and need to be removed before they fall….please dont let more dye too.
Comment by April Nowell — August 23, 2005 [AT] 8:35 am
Wile on our deck today (August 21, 2005) I spotted and took a picture of this insect that I THINK might be a Tibicen Cicada? I don’t know, I have never seen a Cicada before. Of the pictures I found online, that seemed to be the closest match. Could someone confirm if it is a Cicada, and if so what kind it is? After reading the message here I went back out to take a photo with a newspaper, but it was gone. I have posted 4 pictures on my web site at
http://www.softechvt.com/cicada/cicada.htm.
Thanks!
Steve
[Moderator: it’s definitely a Tibicen, and probably a Tibicen pruinosa.]
Comment by Steve Smith — August 21, 2005 [AT] 11:25 am
Can anyone explain to me why I have been seeing cicada on my trees? I live in SC and this is the first time in the 20 years I have lived here that I have noticed these nasty insects. We used to have them in Northern VA about every 7 years but I though by moving down here they wouldn’t be here. I heard a bunch of them in the pine trees last night when I was in my backyard.
Comment by kim — August 16, 2005 [AT] 1:39 pm
My son found a cicada in the driveway today. It has been extremely hot outside so we brought it inside and made a little habitat for it which includes a pine branch, pine straw, dirt, and water on one end. It immediately grabbed ahold of the pine branch where it remains motionless. I prepared him it will likely have a very limited life span. No loud noises yet. Looks like he may mault and I know the kids will enjoy watching.
PS. I operate a municipal ULV insecticide fogging truck and I felt a little guilty leaving it outside. Plus as slow moving as this guy is, he would no doubt ended up as somebodys lunch.
[Moderator: Well, it could be a female — the females don’t make noise.]
Comment by Russ — August 15, 2005 [AT] 6:18 pm
Hi my son and I are trying to find out some info on cicada’s in our area. We live in Freehold, NJ and have been hearing them at night for weeks now. Tonight there is one perched on our screen door. From the websites I’ve read it says that there would’nt be any emerging in ’05, and that they only live for 2 weeks. They’ve definitly been out there more than 2 weeks.Or am I not getting the right info??
Thanks
Donna
[Moderator: in Jersey you have two basic types of cicadas: 1) the annual type, and 2) the periodical type which arrive every 17 years. Right now you’re seeing the annual type, which belong to the Genus Tibicen]
Comment by Donna D. — August 14, 2005 [AT] 10:39 pm
The Cicadas are here in the Upstate of South Carolina. I live in a little town southwest of Greenville SC called Honea Path. We have Oak and Chesnut Trees and the are singing wonderfully all day like I used to hear them in Southern France.
Now here I need an expert for answers? I heard the same noise last year. Not quite as prominent then this year but still I could hear them well every day.
This year I have been looking around and found some dead Magicicadas.
I am a little lost about this 17 year cicle. How could I have heard some last year and this year.
Are they other types of cicadas that live every year and make a similar noise?
Also as I go about enjoying these wonderful creatures of nature I hear being closer some high pitch singing less loud and frequent?
I would be thankful if anybody can give me more information. Suggestions of site with information and an excellent book about cicadas.
I feel in heaven, romantic and this wonderful noise while reading a book under a tree is an awesome feeling.
Edmond Schafeitel
Honea Path SC
Message by Edmond Schafeitel — August 14, 2005 [AT] 8:38 am
Comment by Edmond Schafeitel — August 14, 2005 [AT] 8:53 am
Yesterday I was at a picnic with my family and spotted what seemed to be a large dragonfly buried in the grass dead. So I kind of kicked at it and it started buzzing. Come to find out it was two cicadas apparently mating. Since my daughter was with me and she likes to collect bugs of all sorts, we put it in a container with leaves and twigs and a catipillar that she had found earlier. How rare is it to find them in the grass like that? Port Huron, MI
Comment by Todd Taylor — August 14, 2005 [AT] 7:53 am
[Moderator: that’s a Tibicen, not a Magicicada, but go on…]
For the last few nights I have had the opportunity to observe the behavior of the Magicicada in my back yard. I live in Marlboro, NJ and this year the air is filled with the sound of the percing buzzing calls of the male cicada and the approving clicks of the females.
I have been painting an official size NBA basketball half court on my driveway. My family is anxious for me to finish so I have been painting into the night with two flood lights. The first night I stayed out late painting (till 2:30 AM) I immediately became aware that this was not going to be a normal night in Marlboro. As night fell, the intensity of the buzzing calls increased and the cicada began gathering in the tree above me (a towering 150 year old red maple tree). As I painted, I noticed that fresh leaves from the tree where slowly raining down around me often accompanied by what appeared to be shoots of dead grass, with their tiny dry rootlets attached. The grass appeared to have been coated with a sticky substance and teased so that the roots and leaves looked like they had been curled.
The leaves also appeared to have been altered. Sections of the leaf to the right and left of the mid-line had been removed in a roughly symetrical pattern, often punctuated by holes on either side. The substance coating the leaves had an acrid musky unpleasant smell (at least to me). It also seamed to be tuning the fresh green leaves a yellow to orange to brown color.
As I continued to paint, the cicadas in the tree above me seemed to be agrivated by my presence. They continued to gather above and the raining down of leaves increased, some landing on me directly. When ever I repositioned the flood lights their calls rose in intensity.
Finally, a particularly large cicada flew down out of the tree and aimed itself directly at my head causing me to duck to avoid a collision. I quickly set the light down and darted away from the spot light, and into the dark shadows of my yard, to avoid a second aireal assault by the cicada. The giant insect touched down directly in the spotlight created by the lamp and took up position as close to the light as possible, It was then that I noticed the bright red glowing eyes of this cicada as it peered into the light and beyond it into the night. I quickly learned the rules of this relationship. Don’t touch the light and don’t block the light. If you do, the arial assaults resume. I finally reached an uneasy peace with the cicada. I could slowly move the light, without prompting aggressive behavior from the cicada, if I made sure to keep the insect in the most prominent position under the spotlight.
All kidding aside, the events I recorded here did happen to me in the middle of the night when I entered the cicada’s space under that old tree. On the succeding three nights it took me to finish the basketball court I encountered the same behavior. I feel I have a deeper understanding of these cicada behaviors now although it contradicts the official excepted version of their behavior.
Has anyone out there had a similar experience with cicadas in their area or witnessed any other unusual behaviors by cicadas? If so I’d love to read about them.
Comment by Daniel Ross — August 13, 2005 [AT] 11:35 pm
Here in Albion my brother and I found a cicada under our outdore table umbrella we don’t know why it was there.We had it in a container but we let it go at night when we were done looking at it it was kewl but we were scared to hold it so we looked up on this website if they bite. And it told us they dont but we did’nt want to take a chance of it laying eggs in us so we decided to show our mom and when we did she freaked out so then we showed our step father and he yelled at us for having it so then like I said we let it free and it didn’t fly cuz it was too cold out and it was raining so then we decided to put it back on our umbrella so it didn’t get wet so it could fly away the next morning and we didnt take it abdomin off like dum rejected people do just for their entertainment. have a nice day c ya bye.
Comment by Heather — August 11, 2005 [AT] 5:56 pm
will there be any more big emergences of magicicada near the baltimore area anytime soon? I’m not expecting any news making hatchings near my home but i would like to drive to a close by place with a fairly large brood brood x was huge in martinsberg wv last year for example.
Comment by Vince Matson — August 10, 2005 [AT] 8:58 pm
hi, i am just curious if what i’ve been seeing on my tree in my yard are cicadas!!! I have found several body casingswhich are brown in color and from the middle of the back of the head to the middle of their back or open with embelicalcords or some kind of feeding line inside I saved four that I found because I found them very interesting and was determined to find out what they were! Well, I will tell you!!!!!!!!!!! I went outside to let my dogs out around eleven thirty pm one evening last week and saw the same brown insect attacted to the tree with it’s front claws several hours later this amazing huge insect was on top of it!! It was about 4 inches long from head to end of body ( body was a tanish color) but the wings on this creature were amazing!! they were theabout 2 to 3 inches long and irridesant green, blue, pink pearly looking. The head was tan/light green in color with black eyes. Was i scared you ask you bettcha!!! because the are so huge!!!!!!!! But i was also intreged an so astonished that this big creature came out of that excoskeleton(is that what they are called I am new to this) i deal with dogs all day i am a dog groomer!!!! So anyway last night at eleven thirty pm I found another one on my tree so i made my boyfriend come out to confirm my findings!!!! Because i really don’t think he beleived me on how big they are! Boy was he amazed and it made him a little nervous we both walked right up to the tree it seemed to be looking right at us it was upon the casing it must have just shed its skin!! Because at first it looks as if they are feeding on another insect until they walk off the body casing and you can see the inside with the embilical cords inside. I came to the conclusion that after they leave their skin they dry their wings rest for a few minutes about 20 minutes or so and they fly away leaving the casing behind!! I have one that i found on the ground it wasn’t injured and so i put in an aquarium and i am patently waiting for it to shed its skin ! once it comes out i will set iot free I believe in that !!! If any one has any information on this creature please let me now………………sincerely, amy the bug lady!!!!
Comment by amy gentile — August 8, 2005 [AT] 4:23 pm
CICADAS ATTACKING GRAPES IN ASIA (Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria)
We are working on a project to assist grape growers in Asia to better manage cicadas that have been found on grape roots. Goals are to: (1) Determine the species of cicada, (2) create bio-control tactics to limit the damage done by the nymphs to grapevines.We would be interested in cicada projects which are being conducted to manage cicadas by any means (bio-control, cultural, and even chemical). Please respond to email Millern [AT] wooster.edu
Thank you
Comment by Nathaniel Miller — August 7, 2005 [AT] 6:56 pm
In Seattle, Aug 6, 2:30 pm, 80+ degreees (Thats quite hot for up here). I cam out of mygarage following a sound that reminded me of an air hose leak or a water hose still left on. I followed it past the house, and cupping my ears, followed the sound to a spot on a doug fir about 100′ high in my front yard. It was coming from what looks to be a squirrel’s nest aobut 30′ up. I had to ask my wife what it was, i have not ever heard these things before. It ended up being a sort of high pitched buzzing noise.
Comment by lloyd — August 7, 2005 [AT] 8:31 am
Well, they are driving me crazy here in eastern Iowa. Very Very loud in our partially wooded backyard. I know they have not been this loud for several years. When I was pumping gas nearby our home there was a cicada (the largest I have ever seen) climbing up the gas pump. It really startled me ( I swear it was staring at me! ) Ha! Anyway, is it possible this is the 17th year here in Cedar Rapids , Iowa? They have been everywhere and the sound at night is almost deafening.
Comment by sara — August 5, 2005 [AT] 10:05 pm
How come t.chloromera sometimes has a black thorax and neon green wings and sometimes doesn’t? My theory is that when they were in molt they were exposed to too much light, or there evolving iton another species.
Also whats the difference in color between t.lyricen and t.robinsonianus? And also when your identifing a cicada does the same species all look pretty much exactlly alike or does it very alot? And if you found one t.pruinosa in north carolina and another in florda would there proportion change any or just the color?
Comment by justin — August 3, 2005 [AT] 4:08 pm
Dear sirs,
In the last few days, that awful sound of the cicada has returned, unexpected in this portion of SE Ohio (Athens). This last weekend, we happened to drive to Canaan Valley, WV (near Davis) and stayed two days… NO NOISE! I assume from this that the current brood hatch is in SE Ohio, but not expansive to the east. Two questions: #1: I can’t find any map or prediction for a brood hatch (of the 17 year nor 13 year cycles) that match this year (looked on the UofMich website). What is the distribution for this year supposed to be? Could this be the 2004 brood running late? #2: Could a cicada “hitch a ride” on our car, transported to a new, virgin teritory like Canaan valley, and start a new infestation in 18 years? Alright, what if a PAIR of them hitched a ride under the hood of my car and dropped off there? I shudder to think what I have done to that paradise if this is true.
Thanks for any help you can supply me… I will share this with our TV viewers. -Kirk G, WTAP TV Weatherman
Comment by Kirk Greenfield — August 1, 2005 [AT] 7:47 am
When I went out for a smoke at about 3am in southern Ontario area, I saw a Cicada on the road, I caught it and I have it in a jar in my room. I thought my cat might get some fun out of viewing it from outside the jar… but as soon as my cat got in my room it went into killing mode. I couldnt go near my cat it was so agitated. Do Cicadas give off a scent that would scare off or perhaps entice predators?
(P.S, the next morning I let the Cicada go about its business back outside, unharmed by my cat)
Comment by Evan — July 29, 2005 [AT] 3:22 am
There is a cicada parked on the outside of my window right now. I live in South Nyack, NY. I happen to have a very deep phobia of bugs, especially flying ones, and the thought of having to deal with a cicada hatching… I didn’t think they came to Nyack!!!
Can someone please verify for me whether or not a brood is hatching right now? In Rockland county New York? I am shaking as I write this. Please let me know if I have to spend the summer elsewhere!!
I know they are hamless. Phobias are irrational. I just am terrified of them. I hope this is a fluke….
Comment by MzOuiser — July 26, 2005 [AT] 12:10 pm
These bugs are scary and it seems that I have a million of them in my yard, can someone tell me when are they going to go away.
Comment by Angelika — July 25, 2005 [AT] 11:14 pm
I have a green and black Cicada and I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Are they usually something that lives this far north?
Comment by Johnny — July 25, 2005 [AT] 8:47 am
Okay, I’m sorry if this is a Cicada loving site, but these things are DRIVING ME CRAZY! I live in Atlanta, GA — 2005. Please, please, please someone tell me that I will not have to deal with this here for another 17 years?
Comment by Heather — July 25, 2005 [AT] 7:13 am
hi ronald. i’m shay from south carolina. i “googled” cicadas florida. you should visit http://www.floridanature.org. yes, cicadas do thrive in florida. happy searching!!
Comment by Shay C — July 22, 2005 [AT] 8:45 am
I live and work here in NE Philadelphia. I am from Seattle and this is the first time I have seen this bug. We found one outside our office here at Naval Station NAVICP Philadelphia. I thought it was a giant fly at first, figured he was trying to escape the hurricane season down there. However, I found the pictures of a cicada on your site through yahoo and it was a direct match with the green one I saw. I Just wanted to let you know they were here. John
Comment by John Reynolds — July 22, 2005 [AT] 7:04 am
I found a cicada here in tampa at alafia state park along a bike trail that a ride frequently. I would like to know if this is just an abnormal finding? I kept the insect for proof. I grew up in DC and didnt think that a cicada could or would grow here? Can anyone give me some answers or direction on the possibility or cicadas in Tampa Florida? rcarkhuff [AT] hotmail.com
thanks
Comment by ronald carkhuff — July 21, 2005 [AT] 7:01 pm
O.K. I’M COMPLETELY HOOKED ON CICADAS NOW. I’M FROM THE SOUTH (ENOREE,SC) SO MY SUMMER NIGHTS, ALL MY LIFE, HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH THE BEAUTIFUL SONG OF THESE CREATURES (IT’S ALMOST DEAFENING/BUT LOVELY). BUT SINCE MY SIGHTING LAST NIGHT (I WATCHED ONE EMERGE!) I CAN’T GET ENOUGH INFORMATION!! MY SON AND I WENT OUT THIS AFTERNOON AND SAW SCUDS OF SHELLS UNDER TWO WILD CHERRY TREES. MY QUESTION IS…HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF CICADAS YOU ARE HEARING, OR WHAT KIND ARE IN MY AREA? (PS — LOVED COLLIN’S BAD JOKE COMMENT — HA! HA!)
Comment by Shay C — July 21, 2005 [AT] 6:48 pm
YES…I’VE WITNESSED IT TWICE MYSELF (IN UPSTATE SC). IT’S REALLY KINDA SAD. THE WHOLE COMMOTION OF IT IS HORRIBLE. DON’T REALLY KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT THOUGH.
Comment by Shay C — July 20, 2005 [AT] 9:14 pm
have you ever heard of a cicada killer it looks like a bee part wasp insect i saw one one time carring a cicada
Comment by holly — July 15, 2005 [AT] 1:43 am
Edward,
If you really want to keep a Cicada something like a terrarium would be more suitable. Cicadas have mouth sucking parts known as a beak and they actually suck the Xylem of plants. So what would be good is to get a branch from a tree and stick it in some water then put the cicada on the branch, if you’re lucky you will see it start to feed. They like to feed for about an hour.
Also, Cicadas don’t really live long in captivity maybe about a week to 10 days.
Gerry
Comment by Gerry — July 6, 2005 [AT] 9:34 pm
I just realized that in my excitement I didn’t tell anyone where it was that I found it. I’m in Elmont, N.Y. which is just over the border from Queens, NY.
Comment by edward b ford — July 4, 2005 [AT] 6:46 pm
July 4, 2005
I just found one attached to the louverd window of my basement. It was brown and in pre-emergence mode. I told my kids what it was and that we’d check it out in the morning to see if it had come out. A half an hour later I happend to be going out to the car and took a look at it and low and behold it was half way out. I waited another half hour taking photos before deciding to capture it. I now have it in a tupperware container about 5in deep by 8in wide and 14in long. I put some large wood chips for it to crawl on and some grass and some of the hedge. I also put some “honeysuckle” in there because I’m not sure what they eat. Any how I’d like any and all advice as to what I should do from here. I know that the Chinese keep them as pets. I’m sure that my girls would love that although they are very noisey.
Comment by edward b ford — July 4, 2005 [AT] 6:44 pm
I wanted to write that on june 28, 2005 in The Pas Manitoba Canada, i was out taking a walk and found a bug of the likes I have never seen before. I went home and looked it up and it was a cicada. I was surprised as it does not seem to be native to the north. I feel quite lucky to have found one- it was so big and beautiful (in its own way)
Brandy Stener
Comment by Brandy Stener — June 28, 2005 [AT] 7:34 pm
I wanted to write that on june 28, 2005 in The Pas Manitoba Canada, i was out taking a walk and found a bug of the likes I have never seen before. I went home and looked it up and it was a cicada. I was surprised as it does not seem to be native to the north. I feel quite lucky to have found one- it was so big and beautiful (in its own way)
Brandy Stener
Comment by Brandy Stener — June 28, 2005 [AT] 7:34 pm
Hi, I just wanted to say that on June 28 while out for a walk, I found a cicada. This is the first i have ever seen in my life! I did not even know what it was until i came home home and looked it up. Beautiful and interesting… So far as I know- they are not native to these areas so I feel lucky to have seen one. Brandy S.
Comment by Brandy Stener — June 28, 2005 [AT] 7:26 pm
When do the cicadas usually come out in Michigan? It is hot and muggy here and I am waiting for them.
Comment by Britta — June 24, 2005 [AT] 6:00 am
I found a cicada here in Central Texas in the track of my sliding glass door a few days ago, and it’s the smallest one I’ve ever seen in my life. I guess it never occured to me that they might come in different sizes. It’s small and brown (might have been green when alive), and about 3/4 inch from eyes to wing tip. I have an image I scanned of it with a ruler measuring it. I was actually pretty excited about it. Its always exciting to discover creatures you’ve never seen before, and Texas is full of those kinds of things. (I’m not from Texas) I’d also like to mention it occurred to me that the cicada sounds here are much different, more pleasant, less shrill than in Mississippi or North Carolina, and I also find that interesting. My parents and grammy mentioned the cicadas have not yet come out where they live in Mississippi, which is very unusual. They haven’t heard any this summer yet.
Comment by Mara — June 20, 2005 [AT] 7:38 am
Lately there has been a noise right outside my window at night that sounds just like a cicada. I’m fairly familiar with the sound cicadas make from my travels around the world. The thing is that I live in Western Washington State on the rainy side of the mountains, and I didn’t think that cicadas could live in this area because of the climate. Am I wrong? Can cicadas live in the wet and cold Pacific NW? If not, what sounds just like a cicada and lives in the Pacific NW (that sounds just liket he start to a bad joke)?
Comment by Collin — May 22, 2005 [AT] 1:39 pm
The American writer and naturalist Henry D. Thoreau mentions in his journal “a sort of black eyed septendecim” that began its call (at Concord, Massachusetts) around the first of June in 1854. Would you care to guess what particular species he might have referred to?
Thoreau sent a specimen to Harvard librarian and entomologist Thaddeus William Harris, who responded (apparently referring by “C. 17" to a print or a description in his own book on insects) thus: “The Cicada seems to be a female, and of course when living could not make the noise peculiar to the other sex. It differs from my specimens of Cicada septemdecim (& indeed still more from all the other species in my collection). It is not so large as the C. 17; it has more orange about its thorax; the wing-veins are not so vividly stained with orange, and the dusky zigzag on the anterior or upper wings, which is very distinct in the C. 17, is hardly visible in this specimen. It has much the same form as the female C. 17; but I must see the male in order to determine positively whether it be merely a variety or a different species.”
Comment by Bradley P. Dean — May 17, 2005 [AT] 3:31 pm
You might see some stagglers in the DC area. Nothing like last years emergence, but a few here and there.
Comment by Administrator — May 11, 2005 [AT] 7:33 am
Im curious will or when there be Cicada sight seeing in wash Dc area?
Comment by Merritt — May 10, 2005 [AT] 11:27 pm
Long Island’s Brood X disappointment.
Is it possible that the small emergence last year was simply an early emergence of Brood XIV four years early? Brood XIV is the dominant brood in this area and 4 year early emergences have been noted in many areas in the past. I suspect that previous appearances of Brood X on Long Island may have actually been actually members of Brood XIV.
Archive of General Cicada Questions 2005-2011
Archive of General Cicada Questions
I am interested in building a large cage, do you have any tips?
Comment by Rw — February 17, 2011 [AT] 3:49 pm
I know its early but I have a theory on this years emergence of Brood XIX in Missouri. After hearing about some 2010 stragglers from brood IV in eastern Kansas and witnessing a handful of stragglers in the Kansas City area myself, I am starting to wonder if we will see some of brood IV emerging 4 years early along with brood XIX. I’m curious to see if the Magicicadas in the areas of eastern kansas/western Missouri have changed their life cycle from 17 years to 13. It would be very interesting.
Comment by Steve — January 27, 2011 [AT] 1:14 pm
eBay.com is a good place to find cicadas. T
Comment by Dan — December 29, 2010 [AT] 5:27 pm
I am looking to buy about 10 cicadas(dead of corse) for my daughters science project.
Comment by missy — December 29, 2010 [AT] 4:59 pm
Hi, just found your great website while trying to identify a cicada I photographed recently in Central Queensland. Do you have any idea what this one is? I’ve had a look at the most common ones and quite a few more, but have not identified it as yet.
We’ve recently been inundated with them — a very large bunch have been serenading us (more probably the girl cicadas) from a tree next-door. They’re the loudest I’ve ever heard!
Anyway, here’s a link to my flicker page. I also have a head shot which I can provide if necessary. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5042/5260144027_b9b73e6d37_b.jpg
Comment by Vicki — December 14, 2010 [AT] 6:15 am
When did you take it? Sounds like it could be a Magicicada (Periodical Cicada). Please email the picture to Dan, the creator of this awesome website and he can help you further! cicadamania [AT] gmail.com
Comment by Elias — August 1, 2010 [AT] 8:43 pm
I have a wonderful picture of a cicada after it has ‘hatched’. It’s white with read eyes still hanging onto the husk of the pulpa. How can I post it here — I have NO idea what kind, etc.
Robin
Comment by Robin — July 29, 2010 [AT] 9:10 pm
Hello Suzanne,
I believe the white strands are connected to the spiracles, the cicada’s respiratory system. As far as the gel, there are two possibilities. One is that sometimes during eclosion (coming out of its shell) a cicada urinates. A second possibility is that it was damaged and some hemolymph (cicada blood) leaked out. This usually chabges to a black tarry substance and deforms the wings if it gets on there. The process of changing to an adult is a lot of work so it can definitely appear like a struggle. Lastly, if it came out during the morning, there is a high likely hood that a bird ate it.
Comment by Elias — July 28, 2010 [AT] 3:26 am
I found a cicada on the ground who had fallen from his perch. It seems as though his shell dried to much before he could get all the way out. Is there anything I can do to help?
Comment by cammie Wiggins — July 27, 2010 [AT] 5:40 pm
With the explosionn of cicada in SE Ohio this week (temps over 90 and heat index above 100) why do we not see birds with fat full tummies? What are the natural predators of cicada, and when can we expect to see them kick in? Songs are loud and long chorus at dusk around here now, up from just a few alternating songs last weekend at dusk.
Found a dead adult in our driveway today, and an empty nymph shell under a mailbox two days ago. What brood is this, and how can you tell they are periodic and not annual? thanks.
Comment by Kirk G — July 24, 2010 [AT] 6:26 pm
I saw a cicada this morning as it was emerging from it’s shell. I was fascinated. It pulled on it’s “tail” (don’t know the correct terms) and this gel looking stuff came out. Then his wings seemed to get bigger? I watched him for a long time. It seems like he was struggling and kept pulling on a long white appendage coming from his abdomen. Looked like some alien movie to me! Can you tell me what he was doing? I went inside for a while and when I went back outside and looked for him, all I found was his wings! I’m wondering if a bird ate him. Poor little guy. I felt sorry for him.
Comment by Suzanne Prince — July 17, 2010 [AT] 6:57 am
I live in Mississippi and pretty sure there is an Australian Green Grocer Circada hanging on my front door. He is unbelievably loud.
Comment by Steve — June 25, 2010 [AT] 10:10 pm
Okanagana cicadas are very interesting. Here in the North East we have two species, Okanagana rimosa and O. canadensis. This is O. rimosa http://www.musicofnature.com/songsofinsects/iframes/cicadas/popup_okanrimo.html
This is O. canadensis: http://www.musicofnature.com/songsofinsects/iframes/cicadas/popup_okancana.html
Thanks to SONGS OF INSECTS for their great website and book. This species is commonly overlooked as they sound like grasshoppers or katydids! Their nymphs have an interesting pattern of dark stripes. Are there any pictures of the New Jersey Specimens?? They should be peaking around now. Please listen for them and report them here.
Take care,
Elias
Comment by Elias — June 15, 2010 [AT] 9:11 pm
Possibly an Orientopsaltria species. Need a shot of the underside (opercula). See Duffels, J.P. and Zaidi, M. 2000. A revision of the cicada genus Orientopsaltria Kato (Homoptera, Cicadidae) from Southeast Asia. Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 142:195-297.
Comment by David E — June 12, 2010 [AT] 3:53 am
Hi!
I have an unidentified cicada seen in Gunung Mulu National Park, Malaysia in August 2009.
Here are the photos :
http://bit.ly/bYolcy
http://bit.ly/chPhD1
Could anyone point me to a family/genus?
Thank you
Comment by Sophie — June 11, 2010 [AT] 3:48 am
That’s actually cool news. I’ve lived in Jersey for most of the past 40 years, and I’ve never seen an Okanagana. There’s hope for me yet!
Comment by Dan — June 9, 2010 [AT] 9:30 am
CORRECTION!! the two 6/8 cicadas found in Jefferson, NJ were Genus Okanagana, and not Magicicada. Very sorry but glad to correct it! (Thanks to Dave Moskowitz)
Comment by Scott McDonnell — June 9, 2010 [AT] 9:24 am
[AT] Scott — in your location it would be Brood II.
Comment by Dan — June 9, 2010 [AT] 4:06 am
Found two magicicadas, (late XIV or early II?), mating in Jefferson Township, NJ on June 8, 2010.
Comment by Scott McDonnell — June 8, 2010 [AT] 10:09 pm
According to Marlatt’s maps, Kentucky is in Brood XIX territory. Please report your findings here and to magicicada.org.
Comment by Elias — June 3, 2010 [AT] 4:38 am
Walking in Red River Gorge in eastern KY today, we found a couple of fresh Magicicada wings with the unmistakable orange veins along the path to Auxier Ridge. We also heard just a few of them singing. These must either be stragglers or early appearing ones, as they were few and far between. Any ideas as to which brood they might belong to?
Comment by Roberta Burnes — May 29, 2010 [AT] 1:17 pm
Hello Lady
I posted pictures of hatchling nymphs on this site. i believe there are others who have contributed photographs too. They have legs and look like small clumsy termites to the naked eye. Most nymphs are usually whitish. Maybe you found a beetle grub which has small underdeveloped legs. Good luck!
Comment by Elias — May 24, 2010 [AT] 12:44 am
Hi. I was digging up a mulberry sapling today and found something that resembled a cicada larva. But it doesn’t have any legs. It was roughly the same size as a nymph, reddish-brown in color, but no legs. I could make out it’s eyes on the front of it. I was just wondering, does a nymph hatch with legs? this thing doesn’t have any.
It was about 4 to 6 inches down, in loose earth. i put it in a flowerpot with the sapling, about 6 inches down, but I’m worried about watering my plant now. will it be okay? if you can help, Thanks!
Comment by LadyStarscream — May 11, 2010 [AT] 12:22 pm
Looking for a few Brood X skins or specimens from the 2004 Indiana emergence. Already checked ebay. I’m doing an art piece and don’t really need beautifully displayed specimens, but I’ll be happy to find anything!
Comment by Courtenay — April 8, 2010 [AT] 7:48 pm
I wrote a story about a cicada, please let me know what you think of it.
http://bit.ly/b6VQFU
If you like it, please share the link with your friends.
Thank you.
: ^ )
Phantomimic
Comment by Phantomimic — March 7, 2010 [AT] 3:44 pm
Probably have about 200 cicada nymphal shells on hand from all different species. What types are you looking for?
Comment by Elias — February 2, 2010 [AT] 7:29 pm
Elizabeth,
Try ebay.
Comment by Dan — January 31, 2010 [AT] 5:33 pm
I am looking to acquire a rather large collection of cast-off cicada shells for a creative project with my 7 year old son. We’ve been collecting them for a few years, but are only upto about 20 and I’m hopeful to get 200+. Perhaps we’ll travel in 2012 to one of the 17-year sites? Figured I’d put the request out there though, in case someone has a large collection they are considering selling…
Comment by Elizabeth — January 31, 2010 [AT] 5:18 pm
It is 18 degrees Fahrenheit today. Wishing I was in Australia……..
Comment by Elias — January 30, 2010 [AT] 11:12 am
Hi Jay- the bottle exuviae are similar to the “floury Baker” (Aleeta curvicosta) and I shall try to post a picture. Max Mould’s book “Australian cicadas” has a picture. My daughter was at Hawk’s Nest last week and caught a few smaller species. One was black and about 12mm long (with wings)and has a different song to similar species around sydney here.
To Vhem,
Around 18C is about the temp for green grocers (GGs) to sing at night. I have noticed recently that our local bottle cicadas will sing on evenings that are around 16C. If the temp is hot, GGs will sing around every 4 hours during the night. Those bugs ain’t so small- I guess it depends what species are out in numbers around your place!
David
Comment by David Emery — December 17, 2009 [AT] 10:17 pm
Hi there
We live on the Central Coast of NSW and the cicada’s are out and going for it. Have noticed that alot of people mention how loud they are but maybe we are just use to it. My daughter spends her time searching for the spent cicada shells and now has quite a collection. While looking at these shells and listening to their song, my children and myself were discussing the why’s and how’s of cicada and my eldest mentioned that the cicada will only start to sing once the temperature has reached a certain degree, I agreed with him that I had once heard this too. We’ve tried some internet searching and have come up with no ansewer to our question.
So we now ask you budding cicada enthusiasts is this fact or myth. If it is fact what is the temperature that makes these cute little bugs sing for us all day.
ps: your site is great — we learnt alot about cicadas from your site.
cheers — vhem
(veronica, hayden, ethan, madison)
Comment by veronica — December 17, 2009 [AT] 5:34 pm
thanx David — I should have known there’ld be more than one “midget”. They are black, about one third your little finger in length. U probably know them well but if I can grab a pic, I will. Why is it I’ve not seen a Bottle casting? Would I know the diffrence if I saw one? Jay
Comment by Jay — December 16, 2009 [AT] 8:35 pm
Hi Jay,
Sydney bottles are isolated populations and there are certainly more on the central coast down to Avoca beach. What do you mean by “midget” as there are around 10 species from central coast? Would be useful to post a photo. The Blue mountains are heaving with the medium and smaller species as well at the moment, probably reflecting recent fires and recurrent showers.
David.
Comment by David E — December 9, 2009 [AT] 4:01 pm
g’day Cicada maniacs — how is it I didn’t even know about Bottle Cicadas, let alone see them, in all my years in Sydney. discovered them on the Central Coast, just 50ks north. And why are there some with both sets of wings and others with inner set only? The ones in my area have both.
It’s cicada Heaven here at the moment for green, black, midget and bottle. thanx, Jay
Comment by Jay — December 8, 2009 [AT] 2:12 am
Elias,
I can get you some exuviae here if you like. Contact Dan for my email.
David.
Comment by David E — November 27, 2009 [AT] 8:33 pm
Chris,
Definitely a Pauropsalta mneme- called the “alarm clock ticker” because of the shrill buzz. It has a huge range in NSW. They are emerging around Canberra now, along with about 6-8 other species.
David.
Comment by David E — November 27, 2009 [AT] 8:32 pm
Chris,
That looks like a Pauropsalta mneme.
Comment by Dan — November 24, 2009 [AT] 7:37 pm
Hi,
I managed to photograph a cicada at a site in the central tablelands on NSW Australia.last week, rather small about 35mm long. An image can be found at this link:
http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~chrisx2/images/BP_Cicada.jpg
Hoping I can get an ID, seems to be hard to find references to cicadas on the net.
regards,
Chris Ross
Comment by Chris Ross — November 24, 2009 [AT] 6:24 pm
I am also very interested in exuvia (nymph shells). I was lucky to collect about 26 exuvia of Tibicen auletes, North America’s largest cicada. I have a specimen of Pomponia imperatoria as an adult. Really would like to get a nymphal exuvia. I checked the links Dan provided and couldn’t find any. Does anyone know where to find one?
Comment by Elias — November 21, 2009 [AT] 3:11 pm
In Center City Philadelphia, cicada singing is common in August. What species might this be?
Comment by Kenneth Frank — November 15, 2009 [AT] 7:06 pm
Can Cicadas loose a leg and survive?
I accidently hurt a cicada that I found when shaking the washing.
It is resting in a tree in shock as it had lost one leg from the knee, though has all other legs.
Hasn’t moved much all day, though walked up branch about 20 centremetres.
I havent ever seen one here and was not expecting to find one on washing. Will have to check dry clothes from now on.
xx ab
Comment by Alicia Bee — November 15, 2009 [AT] 4:13 am
Hi Dave J,
Will see what I can do- there are quite a few GGs out now and we caught 2 Thopha (DDs) emerging yesterday around Kempsey on the north coast- first of the season so far.You had best contact Dan for my email and then I can get your postal address.
cheers,
David.
Comment by David E — November 9, 2009 [AT] 3:02 am
Hello David Emery in Sydney I assume. Could you send me some green grocer & or Double drummer shells. I need about 20 or so….will be glad to pay shipping. Was in Sydney once, Farmer’s Cove, burned the crap out of my thigh collecting some sort of palm seeds (red furry little rascals) that I had put in my pocket!
Cheers, Dave
Comment by Dave J — November 5, 2009 [AT] 2:27 pm
To Dave J- depends where in the world you are. Most of the shells in the tropics will be degraded by now. In Sydney, we have some green grocer shells (2 weeks old) that are around 5cm long. If you wait a month you can secure some Double drummer shells that are larger!!
Comment by David Emery — November 2, 2009 [AT] 9:50 pm
Cicadas of the genus Pomponia are the largest.
Comment by Dan — November 2, 2009 [AT] 8:31 pm
I need the largest cicada shells available for an art project. Where can I get them?
Comment by Dave J — November 2, 2009 [AT] 10:21 am
Hi Elias,
Most emerge in the early evening to make the most of the bird-free zone. Some unfortunates (including me) run into some rather carnivorous tree crickets, huntsman (tarantula) spiders and nocturnal ants at night, but most emergences are uncomplicated. some cicadas get their times awry and maybe left coming out at sunrise.
We have several species that also emerge before dawn (Frogattoides pallida and F.typica in the desert) and if emergences are large, some like Thopha saccata (double drummer), Psaltoda plaga and Ps moerens (black prince and red-eye, respectively) and even small Urabunana verna, will emerge during the day- like your Magis! They’re all in Max’s book.
We have just had a week of wet weather with 75mm rain, so now things are heating up. I have noted 12 species out so far around Sydney.
Comment by David E — October 30, 2009 [AT] 5:04 pm
Hello David,
Do you notice any different times for nymphs to come above ground? Do some species prefer times other than 8-10PM?
Thanks for your replies.
Elias
Comment by Elias — October 25, 2009 [AT] 6:38 pm
I know that problem! One solution I found is I have small containers with completely flat surfaces and nothing to climb on. I place one newly captured, non eclosing nymph into each container. As long as the nymph remains in the prone position, they usually do not eclose (I have seen some exceptions, especially with T. cannicularis for some reason). Got this tip from Gerry Bunker and it works most of the time. Maybe the Green Grocers act differently? I love Australian Cicadas. I have been through Max Mould’s book many times. Please keep us posted!!
Comment by Elias — October 24, 2009 [AT] 7:05 am
Yeah Elias,
If you take them off the trees when emerging and don’t hook them (shells or exuviae) into a curtain or the inside of the “boot” (“trunk” to you in the USA) of the car, you will get loads of deformities as the larger ones can’t emerge correctly on their sides or backs. Nylon shirts are great to sink the claws into, but in the field, the boot of the car is great for transportation!!
Cheers,
David.
Comment by David E — October 21, 2009 [AT] 3:13 am
Awesome pictures, David. You found many Green Grocer nymphs that eclosed. Seems like many specimens were deformed by hemolymph. The cicadas of Australia are nice and big for the most part. We live vicariously through you. I wonder if its possible to post some videos of them calling. Hopefully this will be a fruitful summer for you. Here in NY, it’s is cold and rainy and the cicadas have been dead for over a month. Can’t complain however, I did manage to capture my first Tibicen auletes.
Comment by Elias — October 18, 2009 [AT] 6:28 am
Here’s some Green Grocers. Kevin’s photos.
Comment by Dan — October 13, 2009 [AT] 6:59 pm
Hi Dan,
As you northerners rue the passing of summer and dream about next season, I will just let you know that the Green Grocer cicadas (Cyclochila australasiae) have commenced emerging in the mountains west of Sydney. The Sydney city emergence should start in a couple of weeks.
David.
Comment by David Emery — October 13, 2009 [AT] 6:34 pm
Quesada gigas song:
Cicada metamorfosis:
Text PDF about brazilian cicadas, with photos:
http://www.acervodigital.ufrrj.br/insetos/insetos_do_brasil/conteudo/tomo_03/02_cicadoida.pdf
Comment by wenilton luÃs daltro — October 9, 2009 [AT] 6:52 am
Do cicadas normally live in WESTERN Oregon? We heard one there this summer, and while I grew up in W. Oregon, I don’t believe they normally occur there, and had never heard of it before. I’ve been trying to figure it out from the internet stuff, but all I could find was that they DO occur in EASTERN Oregon, which is a much dryer climate (sage brush & juniper as opposed to ferns, moss, and big trees in the W.) I was just curious, because we’ve also seen praying mantis in western OR and WA in the last few years, and they were never native here, either. Please e-mail me at ciscoshirlbw [AT] yahoo.com
Thanks
Comment by Shirley — October 3, 2009 [AT] 3:00 pm
Wow, it is not even Spring yet for Australia and cicadas are out already! Hope this is a great season for you David. Bladder cicadas have a very interesting morphology.
Comment by Elias — September 18, 2009 [AT] 4:08 am
Bladder cicadas (Cystostoma saundersi) are out in Sydney Australia. The Aussie cicada season is open for business!
Comment by David Emery — September 16, 2009 [AT] 4:18 pm
It’s September 15 in Frederick Maryland and the cicadas have stopped singing 🙁 Last night they were talking up storm. They had so much to say. Today it is so quiet. It’s sad. Every year, one day in the middle of September, they just stop. Fall is coming. I do love Fall, but I will miss the cicadas’ song until next July.
Comment by Alison — September 15, 2009 [AT] 7:52 am
I would assume they were house fly or blue/green bottle fly larva. Cicada killers seal the cicadas in a cell and lay an egg on them. It is not possible to come upon a cicada kiler larva by chance alone above ground.
Comment by Elias — September 9, 2009 [AT] 3:29 am
We found a dead cicada on our porch. My daughter was checking it out when a maggot started coming out of it. We put the cicada in a plastic cup and 3 more maggots eventually came out of the cicada. I read some about the cicada killer wasps but this doesn’t seem like a cicada killer. Does anyone know what the maggots could be?
Comment by Valerie — September 8, 2009 [AT] 7:59 pm
Hi Jennifer: Elias is correct that the “blood” is cicada blood or haemolymph. We have moved hundreds of emerging cicadas from local tress onto our house curtains so my kids could watch and photograph emergence. During eclosion or emergence, cicadas pump this around to initially “force’ open the shell, probably with the help of a few proteases (that means the shells are “medicinal” and anti-febrile for traditional medicine!!) and pump the head and thorax through the split followed by legs. Then they hang to harden the legs before extracting the rest of the body (abdomen) and ahnging from the shell (exuviae)- fantastic to watch!! They then pump haemolymph into the patent wing veins to expand the wings- these veins collapse when the wings harden and dry in the breeze and sun. If there is a lesion or malfunction causing “bleeding”, there is usually a casuality in the emergence or in wing expansion, making them as easy target for predators.
Comment by David Emery — September 1, 2009 [AT] 7:21 pm
Rachelle, I, too, live in NY. We have cicadas here and no need to report them! If you wish to send me the specimen I can identify it for you. i live in Queens County.
Jennifer, I have seen this phenomenon too. When there is less undergrowth, cicadas compete for sites to eclose. They can injury each other with their sharp forelegs or be injured by ants and spiders looking to feed on them. Also during the eclose process injuries can occur. The bluish jelly like material is “hemolymph”i.e. cicada blood ,and turns black when exposed to the air. When they “bleed” alot, they usually fail to eclose. I hope this helps.
Comment by Elias — September 1, 2009 [AT] 2:59 pm
thanks Dan — presumably therefore, it only takes one to start and within a second, they’re all at it. How it is that they all end at the same time remains a mystery. I’ll be listening more intently this summer.
Comment by Jay — September 1, 2009 [AT] 3:41 am
I’ve been “helping” our regular, 2 year cicadas for years when they come out of the ground and I’ve seen all kinds of conditions and problems. One problem really “bugs” me (pun intended). I come across a few each year that seem to have some sort of bleeding disorder. They rarely make it off the ground. The “blood” pools behind the shell and I can see the black through the shell and even seeping out through the shell. They have no sign of injury. They just keep bleeding from all over. Every now and then I will find one that has “eclosed” (borrowing a term from butterflies), but the adult ends up bleeding all over the tree and doesn’t survive. Has anyone else seen this and has anyone come across any research that describes something like this, assuming there is research about the physical workings of cicadas?
Comment by Jennifer — August 30, 2009 [AT] 8:19 pm
Help!
It’s 8.31.09, I’m in Brooklyn, NY and found one just like the blue/green one Dan has posted. I dont know how this poor thing came in, the screens are closed, he’s so big he scared the cats flittering and skittering himself all around and landed in a water filled soup pot that was soaking in sink. He’s deceased, but should I let anyone ‘official’ know? I never saw anything like this…in NY
Comment by Rachelle — August 30, 2009 [AT] 7:31 pm
Hello Jeff. The species of cicada is called Tibicen pruinosa. Here is a link to show what it looks like: http://www.musicofnature.com/songsofinsects/iframes/cicadas/popup_tibiprui.html
You are in a flat area that gets lots of sun and cicada killers will frequently make large mounds of dirt. See if you see the large female wasp entering and leaving the burrow. Sometimes she will bring paralyzed cicadas right in. This is the most comprehensive site on cicada killers I know of: http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~hollidac/cicadakillerhome.html
Other wasps also make burrows, but cicada killers make the largest.
Nice video — tell us what you find!
Comment by Elias — August 30, 2009 [AT] 5:47 am
are these cicada mounds I dont know
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbHL-POMTc0
Comment by jeff edwards — August 29, 2009 [AT] 8:24 pm
Jay,
All the males (the ones that sing) are competing for mates, so if one starts to sing the others don’t want to be left out, so they all start to sing.
Comment by Dan — August 28, 2009 [AT] 5:21 am
g’day fellow cicada people. I know sfa about cicadas — I just love em. Here’s a stupid question — how is it that dozens or hundreds begin and end their ‘singing’ at the same time?
let me know if the answer is already here somewhere. thanx, Jay
Comment by Jay — August 28, 2009 [AT] 4:50 am
Wow — this is still technically winter for Australia. That is awesome. Here in NY we have to wait at least 3 months after the end of winter. Hope this is a good season for “down under”.
Comment by Elias — August 21, 2009 [AT] 3:25 pm
Hi All,
After quite a warm winter, I am pleased to report the first song of a Cicadetta celis (“silver princess”) in the melaleucas around Sydney- roll on the southern hemisphere cicada season.
David.
Comment by David Emery — August 20, 2009 [AT] 9:51 pm
Does anyone in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut have any experience with hearing or finding Tibicen auletes? Here is a picture and call of this species for reference: http://www.musicofnature.com/songsofinsects/iframes/cicadas/popup_tibiaule.html
Comment by Elias — August 19, 2009 [AT] 5:27 pm
The observation of the loudness of cicadas with regard to temeprature has been studied. “Body Temeprature and the Acoustic Behavior of the Cicada Tibicen Winemanna” by Allen Sanboern published in the Journal of Insect Behavior
Comment by Elias — July 21, 2009 [AT] 10:14 am
Why do cicadas sound louder when its hot?
Comment by raevans — July 15, 2009 [AT] 11:45 am
to CeeCee,
Cicada songsa mean “summer” down under!
Comment by David E — July 11, 2009 [AT] 4:16 am
old wives tale says noise of cicadas signify something. Fogs, rain etc. what is it?
Comment by CeeCee — July 8, 2009 [AT] 9:27 am
Hello Dan,
Heard back from Max Moulds who was kind enough to reply to my email. The good news is a second edition of Australain Cicadas will be produced which will have a considerably expanded introductory chapter and an additional 100 species.
The bad news is we will have to wait at least 5 years!!
So here is our answer. Like anything with cicadas, we need patience. At least it’s not 17 years!!
Comment by Elias — July 5, 2009 [AT] 5:54 am
Hi Dan,
Max Moulds now lives in Kurandah near Cairns- he will be publishing a monograph on revised taxonomy of Australian Cicadettini soon, but don’t expect another edition of the book in the near future.
to Saeed; join the Yahoo Entomology-Cicadidae chat group and ask Fariba- she is a cicadaphile from Iran and works at the museum on plant pathogens
Comment by David E — July 5, 2009 [AT] 4:54 am
I am a Ph.D Student of Agricultural Entomology in University of Tehran, IRAN. I have caught some cicadas and cooked them by use of water-salt solution. Its taste is good, but i like to learn more recipes. Is there any person to help me?
Comment by Saeed Heidari — July 4, 2009 [AT] 8:53 am
Hello Dan,
The given email stated Dr. Moulds is no longer at that address. It then gives you another address to write too. I have asked our question and will patiently await a reply. I will keep you posted.
Take care,
Elias
Comment by Elias — July 2, 2009 [AT] 7:04 pm
Elias,
Let me know what you find out about the book.
Dan
Comment by Dan — June 30, 2009 [AT] 9:07 pm
Hello Dan,
Thank you very much! i have sent an email to Dr Moulds and I will keep you apprised as to its outcome.
Just got back from Las Vegas where I caught two Diceroprocta specimens just a block from the Las Vegas strip! They are currently alive in my little butterfly pavillion. I will see if they can call today.
Have a good day,
Elias
Comment by Elias — June 30, 2009 [AT] 8:01 am
Elias, have your tried contacting Max?
http://australianmuseum.net.au/staff/max-moulds/
Comment by Dan — June 24, 2009 [AT] 9:08 pm
Does anyone know if Max Moulds will write an updated edition? I have that book and it is excellent.
Comment by Elias — June 23, 2009 [AT] 3:09 pm
Hi Denis (April 6)- I think that Germany may be too far north for many cicadas. Try south of the Alps.
To Sonja (April 29)- Yeah, I live on the south coast in Oz and remember the seasons: especially the sand fairies (Cicadetta arenaria)landing on your towel at the beach. One year around 1968 there was a massive emergence of “double drummers’ (Thopha saccata) in the bush and a fierce northerly wind blew all day and blew them out to sea where thousands drowned. The following southerly change blew them back to shore and left a high tide line of cicadas about 20 per metre along the entire length of 7 mile beach!! That memory really sticks! Actually, I didn’t appreciate how many species of cicadas were in Australia until Max Moulds book came out in 1990- seems there’s 500+ species!
Comment by David E — June 15, 2009 [AT] 4:54 am
Reporting from Alto, New Mexico where my juniper and pinon are full of cicadas!! Carcasses all over my backyard. I’ve lived here three years- this is a first out here for me. I remember them growing up in Michigan.
Comment by M. Deward — May 31, 2009 [AT] 12:10 pm
Does anyone remember what it was like in the Sixties in Australia (East Coast), collecting and swapping cicadas, especially the “Black Prince”? Thank you. (c:
Comment by Sonja — April 29, 2009 [AT] 7:14 pm
Brood x 2004 is still affecting my trees. the “bug experts”
who come out of the woodwork for each cicada emergence will have to prove to me that splitting virtually every leaf bearing branch on a tree 5-20 inches will result in minimal damage to a mature tree
Comment by brian — April 22, 2009 [AT] 11:28 am
Mayme, try ebay or Craigs List. I see wings show up on ebay all the time.
Comment by Dan — April 20, 2009 [AT] 4:08 pm
Hi, I am looking for a source for cicada wings (only after they have lost their life) I am an artist and I need large quantities for a project I am working on and most specimens are too expensive. I have no problem with removing the wings myself.
Comment by Mayme Kratz — April 20, 2009 [AT] 12:14 pm
April 18, 2009
Hello, I live in Lansing Michigan. Those noisy critters are here in the park next to my house! Dang things woke me up from a peaceful sleep at 10:30 this evening. I wasn’t expecting them this year, what the heck is going on????????????
Comment by Lisa Morse — April 18, 2009 [AT] 8:04 pm
Kate — fantastic tattoo — as Flickr allows me too, I’m going to blog about it on the homepage as well.
Comment by Dan — April 11, 2009 [AT] 7:48 am
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37290005 [AT] N07/3431631308/
I think this might work? Click on above link?
Comment by Kate — April 11, 2009 [AT] 6:17 am
Hi All, I found this website looking for pictures of cicadas to get a tattoo. My grandfather and I used to search for them in the backyard at his old house and get so excited to find the “shells” on the old red maple tree. I got a fantastic tattoo of one but have no idea how to load it to share with you all. Can someone help me? Thanks!
Comment by Kate — April 11, 2009 [AT] 5:53 am
Thanks! then looks like i’ve to find them here in germany. Does anyone knows where i might be able to find cicada in germany and when are they out?
Comment by Denis — April 6, 2009 [AT] 11:31 pm
Hi Denis,
Live cicadas are out around the Equatorial countires at present (SE Asia and Central America). Live cicadas won’t survive postage!!
Comment by David E — April 6, 2009 [AT] 8:07 pm
Heloo!
I was wondering if anyone in any part of the world has seen now in this time cicadas? I’m actually looking for alive cicada, which i would like to use for a project of mine before letting it go free.
Would anyone help me in finding on and send it to me in germany?
Best regards
Comment by Denis — April 6, 2009 [AT] 3:43 am
In response to the person who wants recipes: Try putting in a few terms at Amazon. Also, on this website there are some links with recipes, though I don’t know if there is anything before 1994. I was looking for this info to, and what’s here plus a few books on Amazon were all I found.
I’m working on a children’s novel(and I plan to make a curriculum to go along with it) that has a lot to do with cicadas. I need some information, if anyone can help me.
First, I want the setting to be where there are many different emergences, and I believe that this would be southern Illinois, but from my maps, can’t tell exactly. Are there any exact maps anywhere?
Second, at what time of year do cicadas emerge? I’ve heard early spring, but I’ve also hear in June. I suppose this has to do with how far north the emergence is taking place, but does anyone know this info exactly?
Third, If cicadas emerge in an area where there has been no spraying, are they safe to eat for animals? I would assume so, especially if they are caught and prepared before their exoskeletons harden. Have there been any reports from farmers about their livestock being adversly affected? (reports from those who farm organically would be especially interesting, as they wouldn’t have the ordinary pesticides.)
Thank you!
Comment by Jennifer Stasinopoulos — March 25, 2009 [AT] 8:07 am
Hellow, I am looking for cicada’s formal recipes. Does anybody knows any books published in U.S.A. before 1994 that has Cicada’s cooking recipe?
Comment by Kuo Liao — March 13, 2009 [AT] 5:19 pm
I just saw a really cute demonstration on a David Attenborough show about Life in the Undergrowth. Mr. A. showed that male periodical cicadas would respond to finger-snaps just as they would to the wing-clicks of a female. He led it about on a branch just by snapping his fingers. I wish I’d known this when the cicadas visited my park in 2004 — it would have been a cute trick to show the kids. You ought to put this on your website — it would fascinate kids — and that’s the first step in getting them interested in something! It’s a shame I’ll have to wait till 2021 to try this — (actually, I could travel to the next emergence area and try it, of course.)
Sarah Dalton
Senior Naturalist
Blendon Woods Metro Park
Comment by Sarah Dalton — March 12, 2009 [AT] 7:33 pm
Hello, I am from Singapore in South East Asia. We don’t have much cicadas in Singapore but I was in Brunei once and saw many cicadas for the first time. One day a local showed me a rare cicada that he caught. It had a distinct beautiful coloration. I believe it had a dark “metallic” blue body with a yellow band under its head with I believe red coloured wings. The local told me it was a “queen” cicada. I’ve tried to search for pictures of this and the only one I could find is on this website which has expired. But google still kept the picture. The link is
http://images.google.com.sg/imgres?imgurl=http://www.cicado.com/Cicada.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.cicado.com/old-cicado.html&usg=__BUTPWa-_R-9IX2hWiR-1QKKh7KY=&h=575&w=380&sz=85&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=-F-8G-_JBq2sIM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=89&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsite:www.cicado.com%2Bcicada%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26um%3D1
Sorry it’s so long, but that’s the only one I could find. Could anybody tell me is this really a “queen” cicada? Or is it a subspecies? Thank you very much!
Comment by Jem — March 12, 2009 [AT] 7:30 pm
There are some sites on the internet detailing Thai cicadas. Additionally there is a book called Cicadas of Thailand by Bouchard, Volume I. This is the best text with multiple illustrations and a CD on Cicada calls. Hope that helped
Comment by Elias — November 21, 2008 [AT] 7:51 am
when will both cicadas come out?
Comment by tyler — November 15, 2008 [AT] 2:23 pm
Hello,
I have seen very big cicadas in Thailand recently which make sounds like very very loud sirens. Do you know, what they are called?
I could send you a photo!
Greetings from Andrea, Germany
Comment by Andrea — November 5, 2008 [AT] 1:21 pm
Sounds like Katydids.
Comment by Dan — October 21, 2008 [AT] 8:08 am
COuld they be Katydids? Check the sounds of insects site from an earlier post of mine and listen to the calls. Hope that helps. I do not believe any cicadas in North America sing at night. A few speices will call at late dusk however.
Comment by Elias — October 21, 2008 [AT] 7:27 am
Hi!
I live in Wisconsin. I’ve been hearing strange clicking sounds coming from the trees this past summer, and they seem to last all day and into the night. I’ve not heard these clicking sounds before, so I’m curious as to what insect may be producing these noises.
Can someone tell me what i’m hearing?
Comment by Robert — October 12, 2008 [AT] 6:41 pm
Hello Mckenzie,
Do you have pictures of this cicada? Please send them to my email epb471 [AT] yahoo.com. I am not sure if you are the “librarian” or Nathan. I would like to see both specimens to help with the ID.
Here in NY we have temps 50-60′s. Katydids and crickets still singing at night albeit slowly. Cicadas are all gone.
Elias
Comment by Elias — October 6, 2008 [AT] 3:57 am
Quote:
I would think as an answer to both Librarian and Nathan that the highest likelihood is Tibicen canicularis. Click on the link for a picture and call. http://www.musicofnature.com/songsofinsects/iframes/cicadas/popup_tibicann.html
End quote
I haven’t heard this call in my backyard before…
Comment by McKenzie — September 30, 2008 [AT] 9:51 am
Wow, still hearing a lone cicada this late in the year.
Comment by McKenzie — September 30, 2008 [AT] 9:48 am
Not sure if anyone breeds or sells cicadas. They have a long subterranean life cycle and are quite difficult to rear in captivity.
Comment by Elias — September 24, 2008 [AT] 11:59 am
hey guys
just wondering where i could find a breeder/seller of cicadas in southwestern ontario
thanks
jim
Comment by JIM VLAHOS — September 23, 2008 [AT] 7:13 pm
The Tibicen species have a 2 — 9 year life cycle which has not been fully worked out yet. They are not periodical like the 17 year cicada as a brood of Tibicen emerges every year. It has been observed that some years they are more plentiful then others. This species emerges as far north as mid Canada so they are likely better able to handle the cold. You are probably seeing the end of the emergence. It is interesting that they were males because usually the females emerge most commonly later on.
Comment by Elias — September 12, 2008 [AT] 6:58 am
Thanks, Elias, this looks like what I found.
Any ideas why they emerged and molted so late in the fall? We are soon to have frost, so I don’t think that there will be time for mating, egg laying, hatching, etc.
Did these guys just miss their cycle? (they were both males).
Thanks.
Comment by Nathan — September 11, 2008 [AT] 6:42 am
I would think as an answer to both Librarian and Nathan that the highest likelihood is Tibicen canicularis. Click on the link for a picture and call. http://www.musicofnature.com/songsofinsects/iframes/cicadas/popup_tibicann.html
Comment by Elias — September 10, 2008 [AT] 9:45 am
Hello,
Yesterday my son found two very recently shed cicadas in Eastern South Dakota. They had just shed and their wings were still shriveled up and green. I didn’t know anything about them, so I have been doing some internet research. It doesn’t seem that these would be the 13 or 17 yr. species. It has been pretty cool for the last several weeks, into the 40s and 50s at nights and 60s during the day although yesterday was in the upper 70s. Any ideas as to why these emerged so late and what year they would have hatched? They are green and black like a frog and the leading edge of their wings is bright green. Thanks.
Comment by Nathan — September 10, 2008 [AT] 6:54 am
NEW YORK RANGE IDENTIFICATION
Can someone tell me what species of Tibicen would be in the Albany, NY (Niskayuna area specifically) locale?
Thanks.
Comment by Librarian — September 9, 2008 [AT] 6:06 am
Here’s a link to a story about cicadas that have landed in Buffalo!
http://buffalorising.com/story/the_cicadas_have_landed#sca
Comment by David — September 8, 2008 [AT] 1:52 pm
Greetings all:
I am looking for any information on the location of Tibicen auletes on Long Island or Staten Island, New York.
Please review this picture/call of T. auletes. They like sandy soil and oak trees and call mainly at dusk.
http://www.musicofnature.com/songsofinsects/iframes/cicadas/popup_tibiaule.html
Please tell me what town or nearby place you hear them or you can email me directly at epb471 [AT] yahoo.com. The goal is to update nearly 100 year old databases on this elusive species. Thank you!! ELIAS
Comment by Elias — September 7, 2008 [AT] 6:50 pm
Hello Darvin,
I would think that the larvae are probably the immature forms of another insect. The cicada undergoes an incomplete metamorphisis, sheds its shell and flies away. The eggs are laid in branches and they fall to the ground and burrow in. Cast of shells do not have any further role in a cicadas life cycle. I am sure in a very heavy periodical emergence, some new nymphs could by chance fall on to a cast off shell.
Take care and hope this helped
Elias
Comment by Elias — September 5, 2008 [AT] 3:04 pm
We live in Minnesota, and we have found alot of Cicada “shells” around our maple tree this summer. My daughter found two of these shells and put them in a container to take to school to show her class. After two or three days she brought them to me and said that there were worms in the shells. Sure enough — there were two small white larvae crawling out of the shell. I didn’t know that that was part of the life cycle. The next day there were larvae crawling in the second shell. Have you come across this situation before? Cicada are amazing!
Comment by Darvin Ische — September 5, 2008 [AT] 7:50 am
NEW!!! Joe Green: Tibicen resonans, Florida, 2007
The pictures here are most like the cicadas here. They’re mostly black with a little bit of green though. They’re wings are loooong and they fold behind them. They’re not as active at night as they were…my husband and I quit smoking though so we haven’t been outside much at night. We did go outside one night this past weekend and there was one still alive on the ground and one ran into the porch light and then tried to get me, another ran into the end of our house and flew above it. They sing all day here all year round. Since I moved to east Texas from south Texas I’ve heard them every day but I’ve only seen the shells left behind until I moved here to Winnsboro. There aren’t any more shells around than normal…I guess they’re just getting a bit more brave…or could clearing of the woods behind us stir them up??
Comment by Ashley — September 4, 2008 [AT] 8:57 pm
Yes, Steve, it would be very interesting to see your photos of cicadas in Israel!
Comment by Bob Jacobson — September 1, 2008 [AT] 7:37 pm
Someone told me that cicada’a in Austrailia sing at night. i saw your page that says that is generally not true. i told the person that they were hearing treetoads or crickets but not cicadas.
also i took close up photos of cicadas in israel. anyone interested?
please reply to:
listed [AT] bible.ca
Steve
Comment by steve — September 1, 2008 [AT] 6:05 pm
GREEN GROCER
JAPANESE TSUKU TSUKU BOSHI
Has anyone a recording of a green grocer cicada?
I can find many others on the web, but not that one.
Here, by the way, is a Japanese tsuku tsuku boshi cicada—>
Very distinct sound (like a bird)
PICTUE
http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200508/25/90/e0038990_1641244.jpg
AND MANY MORE
http://homepage2.nifty.com/saisho/cicadasongaac_e.html
Comment by Paul Arenson — August 31, 2008 [AT] 3:37 pm
It is atypical for the nymphs to shed in the daytime. I am not sure if this leads to a higher deformity rate. Also it may have been stuck during the molting process and you found it at a later time. If the emerging portion of the cicada was black already than this was the case.
Unfortunately alot can go wrong during that final molt! Once they are stuck there is nothing that can be done to help them.
Comment by Elias — August 31, 2008 [AT] 9:18 am
Hi! This morning as I was out walking, I saw a cicada nymph in the street. It was clinging to the pavement and had begun shedding, but I didn’t want it to get run over by a car, so I picked it up and carried it to a safe spot. I know it was alive, as I could feel little spasms or jerks from its body as it tried to get the old shell off. However, it never continued shedding after that point; it died soon after. Did it die because its shedding process was disturbed? Or perhaps it had already become overheated in the morning sun when I found it? I’m sad that the lil guy didn’t make it..
Comment by Colleen S. — August 30, 2008 [AT] 4:06 pm
I wish I could send pics, but I don’t have a camera. I can say that there have been a couple that fell from a high tree and hit the roof, then fell to the ground. The others all had sufficient climbing surfaces. Many, which I forgot to mention, were almost entirely black in coloration, the darkest ones tended to have the worst wing deformation..
Thank you, by the way, for responding to my inquiries. 🙂 They are Very much appreciated!
Comment by bugwhisperer — August 28, 2008 [AT] 7:39 pm
The less choices that periodicals have in terms of vertical surfaces, the higher the deformity rate. They trample and mash each other. Somehow enough usually survive. Also if there is undergrowth the deformed males can call and mate with deformed females. I have witnessed this on several occasions.
Comment by Elias — August 28, 2008 [AT] 7:01 pm
This seems reasonable to me. One can often find deformed periodical cicadas, too.
Comment by Bob Jacobson — August 28, 2008 [AT] 3:19 pm
There exists the possibility that the cicadas where injured during their shedding process. When this occurs, they may bleed (technically endolymph)and this creates dark blotches or spots. This can be seen if the nymph falls far onto a hard surface or if it is attacked by another insect/arachnid, or sometimes from other cicada nymphs trampling a shedding nymph on its way up a tree. Just a theory based on what you gave us. What does everyone else think. Please send pictures so we can see.
Comment by Elias — August 27, 2008 [AT] 4:33 am
Hi! I had no idea this website existed, this is so awesome!!! Question. I live in central Indiana and have noticed some type of epidemic with the population this year. I have found several with black spots whose wings will not fully develope, also covered in black spots. ALL of them have died. It’s almost as if their wings are stuck together. These friendly buggies are very dear to me, but I don’t know much, in fact I just saw my first attack by a ‘killer wasp’ yesterday. If anyone has an expaination I would appreciate it, because it breaks my heart everytime I find one.
Comment by bugwhisperer — August 24, 2008 [AT] 7:48 pm
That’s not true. Cicadas stop singing a dusk for the most part. Katydids and cicadas keep chirping into the night.
Comment by Dan — August 23, 2008 [AT] 8:35 pm
My sister swears that the cicadas stop singing at 2AM. Is that true? If yes, why?
Comment by Kathleen — August 23, 2008 [AT] 6:08 pm
Hello Cress,
I am postive the cicada killer venom lasts for the remaining life of the cicada. I have collected many specimens by gently tugging them away from female cicada killers when they are making their final approach to the burrow. I have never been stung in the process. All of my specimens never “woke up”. They will last approximately 5 — 8 days which is the lifespan of the cicada killer larva. If the cicada dies and spoils, so does the larva. Unfortunately, your friend wont come out of it, and I do not believe a known antidote has been developed.
I am also a huge admirer of Tibicen chloromera!
Comment by Elias — August 23, 2008 [AT] 6:14 am
Hey everyone,
I’m a *HUGE* fan of tibicen chloromera, I think of them as good friends. So imagine my shock and horror when I heard the sound of a distressed male as he landed to the ground being attacked by a cicada killer! I get that they’re beneficial and all but I took this as my one chance of being a cicada hero. I got the killer to leave without much effort and gently scooped my friend up to take home. He’s definitely paralyzed and has been chilling here for the better part of 6 hours. Concerned he was in pain and I was prolonging release I searched cicada killer venom to find it shouldn’t cause pain. But I can’t find any source that tells me how long the venom remains effective. Does anyone know how long my friend will be stuck like this?
Comment by Cress — August 22, 2008 [AT] 12:32 pm
Hello Mar,
Not much we can do except preserve woodlands and neighborhood trees. They are more often heard then seen so it will take a little diligence to find them. Trying to find a nymph at night and watching it emerge from its “shell” is the easiest way to acquire specimens. Good luck
Elias
Comment by Elias — August 22, 2008 [AT] 4:21 am
Hi, this is an awesome site!
I have Cicada singing in my garden, but, and I’m embarrassed to admit this, I can only find one so far to look at! (In the maple tree)
I have seen two Cicada killer wasps (I think; they’re large solitary wasps) they are pleasant, (like the Euro paper wasps who nest in the window well) and curious, (there might be more than two, but honestly the markings seem like the same two) but so far I haven’t seen any predation. I know it’s nature and the wasps have to eat, honestly I’m glad. Is there anything I can do that would help the Cicada (and his friends I can’t find) in my garden?
Comment by Mar — August 19, 2008 [AT] 6:52 pm
Does anyone out there collect cicadas, or is anyone interested in exchanging specimens? I’m trying to build a representative collection of as many different species as I can. Even specimens found dead on the ground would be of interest. (Ashley, I’d love to see what kinds are pestering you in Texas!)
I’m particularly interested in such species as Tibicen texana, robbinsoniana, similaris, resh, resonans, superba, figurata, bifidus and cultriformis, but they are all of interest, including other genera such as Okanagana and Diceroprocta. I’ll gladly pay postage for reasonably intact dead cicadas anyone is willing to send.
Thanks,
Bob Jacobson
jacobsonbob [AT] yahoo.com
Comment by Bob Jacobson — August 19, 2008 [AT] 4:18 pm
2 general questions, has anyone in New York heard T. auletes. I hear they are present in Staten Island and have confirmed them calling in Wading River (not large population however).
Second — anyone in NY seeing first instar Magicicada yet?
Comment by Elias — August 18, 2008 [AT] 4:03 am
Glad that worked out Ashley. It is strange for them to move around at night. They might have been freshly emerged from dusk and decided to take flight. The explanations are countless. Look forward to a picture and video this “bug dance” so all member could see a unique human — bug intereraction — ha ha! Keep us posted, and enjoy your weekend!
Elias
Comment by Elias — August 16, 2008 [AT] 4:15 am
Hello Elias,
I’m not scared of them persay, just don’t like bugs at all! I havent seen any in about a week so I think we may be fine. I still hear them in the trees. They just don’t come flying at us at night anymore. Thanks for your help! If I see one again I’ll try to take a picture of it while I’m dancing around doing the “bug dance”. 🙂
Comment by Ashley — August 15, 2008 [AT] 9:14 pm
Hello Ashley,
They fly randomly and will zig zag during their course. Nothing attracts them from a scent based perspective. Some cicadas are attracted to very bright lights at night, which is not your case.
You may just be experiencing a strong emergence which makes your probability of meeting them in flight much higher than average. When I saw the periodicals, I had 6 land on me at once. They are harmless and will not bite or sting you. The males will make a loud, screeching “alarm squawk”. Please send a picture if you can. Hope this helps. Knowledge always reduces fear 🙂
Comment by Elias — August 15, 2008 [AT] 8:43 am
Elias,
I just need to know what they’re attracted to so that I can minus that factor out and hopefully they won’t come get me! lol For some reason I just can’t stand the bugs!! When my husband had it’s wing, it had like a screaching, screaming kind of a sound.
Comment by Ashley — August 14, 2008 [AT] 9:34 pm
Hello Ashley,
Please do not murder the cicadas. They are harmless! You may be experiencing a particularly strong emergence. Can you describe the call they make. Also if you could send a picture to the site it would be interesting. Thanks and good luck
Comment by Elias — August 14, 2008 [AT] 4:29 pm
I live in east Texas, about 2 hours east of Dallas. I’m positive their cicadas. Everyone here calls them locust which I looked up and locust are actually like grasshopper things. I’m not sure why, but they’re definately cicadas. They look exactly like the pictures and they leave the little shells everywhere. They don’t necesarily “attack” me, they just fly into me a million times before they hit the ground. I’ve never in my life seen so many of these things!!! We were sitting outside this past weekend for about 2 hrs and my husband killed 6 of them! They make that awful clicking sound thing and everything. 🙁 They freak me out!
Comment by Ashley — August 14, 2008 [AT] 9:46 am
Ashley — what state do you live in and are you sure these are cicadas??? They rarely move about at night.
Comment by Elias — August 12, 2008 [AT] 7:33 pm
I have a million cicadas at my house and they “attack” me at night when I’m sitting outside. What are these horrible disgusting things attracted to?????? Is there any way that I can keep them away from me???? Help PLEASE!!!
Comment by Ashley — August 12, 2008 [AT] 1:21 pm
The drought probably is affecting them. Also some sepcies are proto periodical, meaning they experience larger numbers in some years as compared to others. Okanagana rimosa is known to have 4 year variations in emergence numbers. I hope they come soon. Last summer was like that here in NY. The numbers of the annual species were quite weak because of unusually cold weather we had.
Comment by Elias — August 7, 2008 [AT] 8:09 pm
I always look forward to the cicada’s song this time of year. It’s a sign of the changing seasons. However, this year, I have not heard it’s song?!! I live in South Minneapolis, MN. We are currently in a modest drought and I’m wondering if this may be the cause of the silence.
Comment by Jeanne — August 7, 2008 [AT] 5:26 pm
Hello Jo
Cicada Killers are large wasps that are actually quite harmless. You are probably on a lek which is a cicada killer colony. They will not bother you and only the females can sting. They will sting only if grabbed. I would be interested in seeing the cicada killer sites if you are inclined to tell me. I live in Queens county and am studying cicadas on Long Island. They bring in members of the local species and specimens can be taken for study.
They can paint a better picture of what species live in your area. As far as exterminating them, most exterminators do not have a good solution as each digs a burrow and they solitary. Hope this helps. Email epb471 [AT] yahoo.com if I can check out this colony. Thanks!
Comment by Elias — August 6, 2008 [AT] 4:36 pm
We are having a problem in Smithtown, NY with killer cicadas. They are ruining my lawn and my neighbors lawn. Who do I call about this nuisance?
Comment by Jo — August 6, 2008 [AT] 3:44 pm
Dan, Thanks for your help. I haven’t seen what ever it is making the noise just heard it. It was driving me nuts as I didn’t think cicada were to be found this far west. Again, thanks for you help.
Comment by Janice — August 4, 2008 [AT] 9:39 pm
Cicadas are definitely found in California. Locusts by the way are grasshoppers — not cicadas. People mistakenly call cicadas “locusts”, but they are not the same insect. This is a picture of a locust https://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/2007/03/18/when-is-a-locust-not-a-locust/
Here’s an example of a cicada from California: https://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/2006/06/02/okanagana-rimosa-from-carlsbad-ca/
Comment by Dan — August 4, 2008 [AT] 7:24 pm
Can anyone tell me if Cicadas or locust are found in California (norhtern Los Angeles area to be exact)? This summer I have been hearing a sound that that is very similar to the sounds I would hear growing up in SouthWest Louisiana during the summer…which were always Locust. I can’t recall hearing it previous to now in the five years I have lived here.
Comment by Janice — August 4, 2008 [AT] 3:24 pm
Hi, does anyone here have specimens of magicicada, they are willing to trade?
you can write me at:
c_raynault at hotmail.com
of course replace the at by [AT] .
I have been looking for specimens for a while. I Can’t find any. Only 2 dryed would do the thing but I can take more.
I prefer specimens in good conditions with their collecting data.
I am willing to do both buying and exchnaging.
Comment by jarl — August 4, 2008 [AT] 6:04 am
http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/fauna/Michigan_Cicadas/Michigan/Index.html
This should come out better. I meant to say “PINCH” not “pich”
Comment by Elias — August 1, 2008 [AT] 3:37 pm
Hello Blaine.
Cicadas do not sting. The only time it may “pich” you if you let it rest on your hand for a long time and it will try to feed on your finger with its beak thinking you are a tree branch! They do not mean to do this.
Perfect site to ID your cicada is Cicadas of Michigan.http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/fauna/Michigan_Cicadas/Michigan/Index.html
Hope that helps,
Elias
Comment by Elias — August 1, 2008 [AT] 3:36 pm
Hi, I am new to the Cicada craze, but I have always been intrigued by insects and spiders. Today, I found a Cicada of the following description laying on the ground on its back motionless. When I tried to pick it up, it started buzzing. It has one torn large wing on its back. The underbelly is mostly white, with a large set of bumps on the front two legs. The top of the Cicada is a dark army green. The wings are also army green. OOOH, I let it out of its bottle and it lifted its rear and a stream of clearliquid squirted out. I have been handling it a lot, so it must be a male as I wasn’t stung at all. Bay City, Michigan 48708
Comment by BUGMAN BLAINE — July 31, 2008 [AT] 12:00 pm
Yes Cathy they look the same because they’re the same species.
Yes they broods are based on the years they emerge.
All this information is in the FAQs, throughout the site, or other cicada sites.
If you want good books, look at the books section along the left side of the homepage.
Comment by Dan — July 31, 2008 [AT] 4:11 am
In addition, the sounds of insects site that Elias recommended in his post on July 23 is really good. I heard a zapping sound tonight and I located it on that site as a kaydid, of which I have found several in my yard. I’ve also been hearing a really annoying sound and I found that one also on that site — it was listed as a type of cricket.
Comment by Cathy — July 30, 2008 [AT] 10:47 pm
I just looked at the pictures of Brood X and Brood XIII. They look exactly like Brood XIV. Are they named different broods because of the different years that they emerged or because of the different places they emerged? If so, what happened to Brood XI and Brood XII? This may be a silly question but I’m really curious — how do they determine what brood they are going to call it and, if there are differences in the broods — what are they? Also, I teach first grade and when I showed my students on the computer back in May and June the cicadas they were totally fascinated by them. Does anyone know of any good sites for teachers that would list books, videos, games, activities relating to cicadas — and for that matter, insects in general? Thanks for any info you can possibly give me. Cathy
Comment by Cathy — July 30, 2008 [AT] 10:39 pm
Hello Cathy,
You are definitely getting braver. Cicada killers are very docile despite their fierce appearance. Female cicada killers (generally much larger than the males) can deliver a sting if grabbed. Males (generally smaller) are incapable of stinging. In addition to size, the female has larger spurs on the hind legs. You can actually collect cicadas from a cicada killer by placing a stick into its burrow. When a female returns with a cicada, it cannot get in. The technique is to grab the cicada by its wings and pull quickly parallel to the ground. You asked…. LOL!
Comment by Elias — July 30, 2008 [AT] 10:21 am
I almost caught a cicada killer. I held it down with the skimmer pole net for a few minutes. But when I went to slip a container under it for it to go into, it escaped. Do these things sting you? If I am able to catch one, I’ll save it for you Elias.
Comment by Cathy — July 30, 2008 [AT] 9:22 am
Quick update — TIBICEN AULETES has been located. I think the last T. auletes updates were from Davis himself between 1917 — 1026. Wildwood state park in Wading River, eastern Long Island, between 8:05 — 8:30PM, admist an incredibly loud T. lyricen chorus, I heard T. auletes for the first time. I caught a nymph too but I think it will turn out to be lyricen. (dark eyes, medium sized). Anyone know if T. auletes prefers a certain tree to feed on as nymphs?? More to follow…..
P.S. Cathy, nice to finally meet you today. Welcome to the cicada enthusiast world!!
Comment by Elias — July 29, 2008 [AT] 8:51 pm
Hello Edward,
I checked the http://www.thaibugs.com/cicadas.htm site and the sound files dont work, but the pictures are still fantastic. Here are some sites that may help:
Thai cicadas at sunset.
Best site here: Songs of South East Asian Cicadas. Mostly Malaysian which is geographically close:
http://www2.arnes.si/~ljprirodm3/asian_cicadas.html
Best for Thai cicadas only is Michel Boulard’s Book http://www.selectbooks.com.sg/getTitle.cfm?SBNum=41772
It has a CD on all the acoustic characteristics of Thai Cicadas.
Hope that helps. Tot Ziens!!
Elias
Comment by Elias — July 29, 2008 [AT] 8:46 pm
L.S.,
I thought that there was a file of the singing of a tibicen out of Thailand. Very loud. Can not find it now. Were is it?
Regards
Edward Koldewijn
Amsterdam
Comment by edward koldewijn — July 29, 2008 [AT] 11:11 am
Just drove out to Riverhead and made my way west looking for signs of T. auletes. Heard T. lyricen and T. linnei call. Maybe its to early for auletes here, not sure.
I went back to Lilco Road where I thought I heard Okanagana and I heard the same noise. I thnk I was duped by the power lines. This was most likely not Okanagana.
In response to Cathy’s post, drove by Brookhaven (William Floyd Parkway) and the flagging is unbelievable. This was one of the densest emergences on Long island. Looking forward to seeing first instars soon.
Tomorrow should be warm and I am off from work. Lets see what we can find….
Comment by Elias — July 28, 2008 [AT] 8:47 pm
wcbstv.com also has an article and a video, both dated June 12th about the cicadas here in my town of Coram. They’re interviewing on the intersection of Penniquid and Winside Lane which is where I live. Although I didn’t see any cicadas on Penniquid — just on Winside. It’s a cool video — you can see them flying around and they’re even on the reporter and on her microphone.
Comment by Cathy — July 28, 2008 [AT] 6:27 pm
News12 Long Island did a segment tonight that included a representative from Brookhaven Labs and interviews with people from Ridge, Long Island about the tree damage from the cicadas in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Comment by Cathy — July 28, 2008 [AT] 6:20 pm
I found a light green bug on my patio table this morning. It was about the size of the cicada and the same thickness. It was laying on its side. A closer look showed long legs and two long what looked like antennas coming out of its head. I guess it was a praying mantis. Whatever it was, it was apparently dead because when I picked it up to put it in a container it didn’t move. On another note, I just looked up cicada killers. Those black and yellow markings are unforgetable. I have definitely seen one or two of them this summer.
Comment by Cathy — July 28, 2008 [AT] 6:44 am
Have snapped a photo of a cicada found floating in our pool last night. He’s worse for wear today. Can you ID what he is? The songs seem fainter tonight, though it is less hot & humid in SE Ohio today. Thanks!
Search photobucket for Cicada 1 and Cicada 2 and Cicada 3 which is a smaller cropped version of 1.
http://www.photobucket.com thanks
Comment by Kirk G — July 27, 2008 [AT] 5:56 pm
Hello all,
In my travels out to Riverhead and Wading river searching for T. auletes I think I may have stumbled upon Okanagana rimosa. It was calling along with T. linnei and T. lyricen. I did not know LI was in their range. More research will follow. Good night.
Comment by Elias — July 26, 2008 [AT] 10:44 pm
Hello Cathy,
Sound like a Tibicen cicada that you have seen. May be traveling out east to find some different species. The object of my search is Tibicen auletes. Here is a link to what the cicada looks like and you can hear its song. If anyone on LI hears this particular species, which usually calls at dusk, please respond.
http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/projects/cicada/sp_pages/NA_species/T_auletes.html
The closest I got was a huge nymphal shell (exuvia) that I found last year in Wading River.
Take care and see you soon
Elias
Comment by Elias — July 26, 2008 [AT] 5:56 am
One other thing — the belly of the newly emerged cicada I saw was bigger and rounder than that of the magicicada.
Comment by Cathy — July 25, 2008 [AT] 7:21 am
Hi Elias — I just heard them for a minute and then they stopped. Yesterday, a few hours after the rain finally stopped — at about 5:00 they started calling. The good thing is that its not a continuous all day thing like before. If you’d like to take some samples off of the tree leaves, email me and I’ll give you my address so you can stop by in your travels — cath1106 [AT] optonline.net
Comment by Cathy — July 25, 2008 [AT] 6:34 am
Hello Cathy,
That may be preying mantis. The young as well as the older mantids will hold there two front legs up in that characteristic “praying” position. They can also be katydids or young walking sticks. Please post a picture.
Periodical cicada nymph shells (exuvia) are lighter and more elongated than the annual variety (Tibicen). The annual ones are usually a little larger, squatter and darker tan in color.
I wonder if you hear the Dusk calling cicada (Tibicen Auletes). They call just before dusk with a very distinctive low pitched call. Please tell me what you hear. I am ready for a field trip this Saturday 🙂
Comment by Elias — July 24, 2008 [AT] 8:12 pm
OK—I’m getting a little braver here! I went to the tree where the leaves all turned brown from the magicicadas hanging out there. I saw about 10 shells hanging onto a few of the green leaves left. They are definitely not left over shells from the magicicadas. I have those by my fence and in the grass and those are all dried out. These are definitely new ones waiting to emerge. I’ll let you know if they’re bright light green like the one I found the other day.
Comment by Cathy — July 24, 2008 [AT] 2:11 pm
Come to think of it, I’ve been finding over the past week little green skinny insects in my pool skimmer and last night on my patio table there was a large (maybe3 to 4 inches) skinny green insect with long legs. Are those preying mantis or something else?
Comment by Cathy — July 24, 2008 [AT] 12:39 pm
Hi Elias — I can’t find the picture on the japanese site I found the other day. But, if you go to Cicada Mania Links, under Tibicen #2 Annual Cicadas of Arkansas and scroll down to the the picture of the bright, light green tibicen aulete newly emerged it looked like that. Also, under Cicada Mania Gallery by North America #8 Dan’s 2005 Tibicen Gallery if you scroll down to the bright light green one — that looks like it also. The one on my patio had that bright light green all over its body. If I knew you were going to be in the area I would have caught it and saved it. That day I also heard them. They were loud like the magicicadas but it wasn’t continuous. There were periods of silence. That was the only one I saw. The fact that we’ve been having torential rains the past two days might have something to do with it.
Comment by Cathy — July 24, 2008 [AT] 12:23 pm
Hello Cathy,
I am curious as to what type of cicadas you are seeing. Out in Coram you should have Tibicen lyricen and Tibicen canicularis. They have a whining call. Tibicen linnei and chloromera have an alternaitng call.
I am very interested in finding Tibicen auletes, the Northern Dusk calling cicada. I have data to suggest they are found in Coram (from 1926, hoever!) I will be making a trip out to your town possibly this weekend. I will also try to hit Farmingville, Selden, Wading River and Riverhead.
Please go to this website and play the calls for the various cicada speices. You can see their pictures too.
http://www.musicofnature.com/songsofinsects/iframes/specieslist.html
These cicadas are very loud, but emerge in much smaller numbers so the biblical swarms are over for you 🙂 Please tell me what you find.
Comment by Elias — July 23, 2008 [AT] 8:21 pm
Now that I’m aware of it, I’m hearing the sounds of them also but so far I’m not seeing masses of them like before…and I hope I don’t.
Comment by Cathy — July 22, 2008 [AT] 10:10 am
Oh my God!! I just looked up the japanese cicada and the pictures look exactly like what was on my patio. Am I going to have my fences covered with these things again and have them all over my grass again? I don’t think I can take another round of this.
Comment by Cathy — July 22, 2008 [AT] 9:54 am
Cathy — a different type yes, but they emerge in comparatively small numbers.
Zolton — that’s a Japanese cicada called a Cryptotympana yayeyamana.
Comment by Dan — July 22, 2008 [AT] 9:43 am
I just noticed on my patio today what looked very similiar to the cicadas that finally went away several weeks ago. This one was on its back and had a hint of green to it though. Not far away from it was the same kind of shell that the other cicadas came out of. Please tell me that we’re not in for another round of a different type!!!!
Comment by Cathy — July 22, 2008 [AT] 9:24 am
Hi everyone. I’m currently making a game with a heavy focus on the environment and am collecting sound effects for it.
Could someone identify the cicada in this video?
I love that lawn sprinkler sound they make and need to have that in my game. Thanks.
Comment by Zolton — July 11, 2008 [AT] 3:55 pm
Hello Cathy,
I was involved with the University of Conn. mapping project here in LI. I drove all across L.I. looking for these things.As I drove through Coram on 6/10/08, heard them on Wedgewood Drive, Wycomb Court,Wellsley Lane and Welling way. Also saw them in ManorvRidge, Brookhaven, Coram, Dix Hills, East Setauket and saw some dense emergences in Port Jeff as well. The emergence was very patchy. Reading through literature on LI cicadas they have traditionally been very patchy. You could drive a few blocks down and there is NOTHING! Then go back the other way and there is a deafening chorus. Definitely weird. I could see lots of people in Coram probably wondering what the excitement was about if there were not in that exact area. Down Pinnaquid, I saw absolutely nothing until I hit your part of the street.
Comment by Elias — July 8, 2008 [AT] 6:31 am
Hi Elias — Pinnaquid — so you do know the area! I’m on Winside and Winside was covered with those cicadas from where Winside begins by Wedgewood all the way down to the end of Winside. It was strange that they weren’t all over Coram. Port Jefferson also reported one street that had them. Other than that, I hadn’t heard of any other close by areas like Selden or Medford having any. Cathy
Comment by Cathy — July 4, 2008 [AT] 7:52 pm
Hello Cathy,
Thanks for writing back. I was also in Newsday regarding the cicadas. The article regarding Coram came out a few days later! I made a trip to your town but did not see the massive numbers reported. Also only a few blocks had some decent chorusing. It was strange how patchy the emergence was. One block would have nothing and another block would be covered! I was on the legendary Pinnaquid road for a while. It sounds like they have survived by you and we should see them again in 2025! Take care
Elias
Comment by Elias — July 4, 2008 [AT] 5:50 am
Hi Elias — The cicadas were in my town of Coram. We made the pages of Newsday as my street was covered with them.
Comment by Cathy — July 2, 2008 [AT] 7:25 pm
Here’s an update (Yes we do have a life, but this is the highlight of my daughter’s life right now!):
Our cicada nymph is balanced on just it’s two front legs that look like claws. All four of the longer legs are sticking straight out. Is it dead? Is it molting? Is is contemplating its future? How long do you think it will be before we know the answers to these burning questions? Daughter and I got to watch a cicada molt last Summer whilst it was stuck to a tree, so I know that the process of molting is a long, long, one. Just curious to know, if it is dead, when to know for sure so I can dispose of it properly. Thanks!! Great website, BTW!!!
Vicki
Comment by Vicki — July 1, 2008 [AT] 7:14 pm
Thanks for the reply! We have had the little fella in a plastic bug house that has screen on the two long sides. He’s been hanging out on about a 4" piece of tree bark that we placed in there too. He’s moving around here and there, not too much. Unfortunately, it appears that he has an injured or deformed back RT “leg” (don’t know cicada nymph anatomy) b/c it is staying bent and moving very little while he moves the other legs freely. He occasionally falls over on his back, in the direction of the bent leg. Thoughts??
Comment by Vicki — July 1, 2008 [AT] 1:55 pm
Vicki — keep it in warm place, but not in direct sunlight. A good idea is to put some netting around a branch (so birds can’t get it) and place it in there. If you can’t do that, place a branch in the cage for it to climb.
Comment by Dan — July 1, 2008 [AT] 12:20 pm
Vicki again… did more poking around on your website and learned that it was the nymph that we discovered, not the larva. It appears to be getting ready to molt.
Anyway, same question applies: Anything we can do to facilitate the molting process?
Thanks!
Comment by Vicki — July 1, 2008 [AT] 9:40 am
My daughter and I found a cicada still in its shell (is that a larva?)and brought it home to watch it move around, presumably getting ready to “hatch.” We placed in daughter’s well ventilated bug house and sat it on a piece of bark for it to stick to. Anything we can do to ease its transition into adulthood? It keeps falling upside down off the bark we placed in there for it, and daughter goes in and rights it.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Comment by Vicki — July 1, 2008 [AT] 9:28 am
I found what I believe is a Cicada. I let it crawl around my hands my orange cat found it but wasn’t sure what to make of it. It was bright green wings and more tan body than dark like most of the pictures on the web. I placed it in the bushes for safety and turn my head for a second. My new kitten came from nowhere and eat its wings but didn’t kill it. I put it in a wood pile for safety. will the wings grow back or is it doomed?
Comment by Greg — June 30, 2008 [AT] 5:29 pm
Hello Cathy,
What town did you observe the cicadas in? (Long Island)
Elias
Comment by Elias — June 27, 2008 [AT] 3:08 pm
I was outside of Big Bear California this past weekend and we saw (and heard) many cicadas flying around (one guy who didn’t know what they were named them orange lined bird bugs). One landed on me and began to walk around a bit while a friend took photos. After a few moments of walking around, I saw the mouth part come down and I felt a mild twinge of pain. But cicadas don’t bite! Well, I took some time to research more (which led me here) and I found a site that says “Basically, periodical cicadas can hurt you only if they mistake you for a tree branch and try to feed, something that can happen only if you hold a cicada in your hand for a very long time (eventually this makes the cicada hot and thirsty). Such rare mistakes feel like a brief pinprick and cause no damage.” I have to say that this guy was not on my hand for a very long time. Obviously I’m fine. We found the insect again after my involuntary hand flick of surprise and saw that the abdomen was gaping open in two place an we could see inside. Perhaps from a bird? Anyway, the point of all this is, here is a photo of a cicada trying to tap into human skin, taken an instant before I shook it off. http://www.xterrawolf.com/images/driversed/driving02.jpg
Comment by Vantid — June 26, 2008 [AT] 7:43 pm
I would keep an eye on them. Even though they seem to have taken a beating, I’d bet they will bounce back. I have seen some small trees really badly damaged last June, but seems they came back this spring.
Not much you can do about them though. Hope for the best. Check my website seventeenyearcicada.com for some images of trees that took the hit.
Comment by John — June 25, 2008 [AT] 9:48 pm
I figured that the cicadas would instinctively avoid killing trees, but that didn’t happen in my case. If there was ever a situation where Cicadas have infested anything, it’s right here at my house. Five of my trees were nearly completely shredded by the females. All of my these were maple trees. My cherry, apple, and pear trees will probably survive with only damage to the top third of the trees. One of my dogwood trees also took a beating.
Comment by Leslie — June 25, 2008 [AT] 4:18 am
The cicadas don’t generally kill trees…you should understand they lay eggs so that the next brood will survive, and a dead tree won’t help their cause. Somehow, they KNOW this and control their egg laying to minimize tree limb damage. By next season, the trees will have recovered just fine. They will last maybe four or five weeks and then be gone completely. Just enjoy them…they don’t bite and don’t do anything except make noise and mate.
Comment by John — June 24, 2008 [AT] 7:57 pm
I planted a regular cherry tree and a weeping cherry tree the last week of April. The cicadas came around May 18. I couldn’t figure out why the regular cherry tree hasn’t bloomed somewhat — just a couple of brown leaves on top. The weeping cherry was doing good until I noticed a few days ago that all of its leaves were turning brown along with the old trees near it. I snipped the branches of the regular cherry tree to see if there was any life in them but there’s not. Should I get rid of it or wait it out? If the weeping cherry was doing good until now, is it still worth holding onto?
Comment by Cathy — June 21, 2008 [AT] 7:42 am
The female cicadas have killed the tops of all of my small trees. My trees have hundreds of half-inch rips in the branches where they deposited their eggs. The tops have all turned brown and broken off. I had about 10 5 to 8 foot trees. Now they are about 3 to 5 feet tall. I know it’s too late now, but what could I have done to prevent this? I occasionally walked around and shook the cicadas off the trees, but I couldn’t do that all the time.
Comment by Leslie — June 20, 2008 [AT] 4:45 am
I came home yesterday to quiet. Not a single cicada was flying. It’s been exactly one month since the invasion hit my block here on Long Island, New York. Now I just have the clean up — wings, shells, and dead cicadas. I can say without a doubt — I SURVIVED A CIRCADA INVASION!
Comment by Cathy — June 18, 2008 [AT] 6:18 pm
How can i keep them from flying on me? Wgat do they avoid…try to stay away from?
Comment by DB — June 10, 2008 [AT] 7:59 pm
I think the cicadas are awesome to listen to. I am fearful however of them getting on me. Do they bite? I can rest easier if I know that they do not bite.
Comment by christy — June 9, 2008 [AT] 10:45 am
We live in Central PA around Huntingdon, we have so many cicada’s that my daughter and I can not go outside because of the loud high-pitch sounds they are making. How long will they continue their singing? I loved to sit outside to hear all the beautiful birds chirping, but can’t hear them because of the loud noise of these cicada’s. We drown out the sound of the cicada’s with our air conditioner. P.S. My husband doesn’t mind the sound!
Comment by Donna Brubaker — June 8, 2008 [AT] 4:29 pm
Deb — I’ve called 6 exterminating places. They all said there was nothing they could do. One said you needed a special license and I should call a lawn care place. I called 2 of them. I got the same response — there’s nothing they can do that will control or eliminate them. I’ve sprayed the ones on my front porch with bug spray (which does work) just so I can get out the door.
Comment by Cathy — June 7, 2008 [AT] 7:54 pm
My pool is surrounded on 3 sides by woods — which are INFESTED with these brood 14 noise-makers! I can hardly keep up with keeping the pool filters clear — is there any way to get rid of them (e.g., spray, noise, etc.)? I can’t imagine dealing with these for another 3-4 weeks….
Comment by Deb Hileman — June 7, 2008 [AT] 4:30 pm
My husband was at our local hardware store, and heard it mentioned that cicadas eat gypsy moth catapillars. Of course the adult cicada doesn’t, but I was wondering if the juveniles eat them. Is there any truth to this at all? I live in Bellefonte, PA and the gypsy moth catapillars were descending upon/munching on our trees about 3 weeks before a VERY LARGE brood of cicadas emerged. I know the emergence of the brood isn’t related to the gypsy moth. Any info is greatly appreciated!
Comment by Leslie — June 7, 2008 [AT] 3:22 pm
From my understanding, cicadas make holes in branches to lay their eggs. I have cicadas that have moved onto the posts around my above ground swimming pool. Are they or will they make holes in the metal of the posts and destroy my swimming pool?
Comment by Cathy — June 7, 2008 [AT] 7:45 am
Diane — depending on how hot and dry it is, it should take 3 to 7 days for the males to sing.
Comment by Dan — June 3, 2008 [AT] 9:08 am
They arrived here in my backyard on Long Island (Suffolk County) about a week ago. My dog was bringing them in — about one a day. I decided to look around and see what he was eating and where he was getting them from. There were hundreds on my fence, in the trees, in the grass. I called five exterminating companies but they said there was nothing that could be done — just wait it out. I can understand the fascination with them but they’re still disgusting when there’s so many of them in one place!
Comment by Cathy — June 1, 2008 [AT] 10:08 am
Diane — they should be chorusing in a week.
Tina — the chorusing should end within 3 to 4 weeks.
Josh — maybe not 17 year cicadas, but there are many annual cicadas emerging in Georgia.
Scared-y-cat — they should be emerging now (5/18).
Mary — the cicadas are definitely less noisy in the evening, but they will continue to make noise if there’s a light source.
Comment by Dan — May 18, 2008 [AT] 6:42 am
When will they go away. The noise at my house is killing my ears and head. I seem to be the only one in my family affected by the sound. My kids love to find and carry them around. I don’t mind them, but the noise is awful.
Comment by Tina — May 17, 2008 [AT] 11:05 am
The Cicadas have arrived in our trees. We are 30 miles northwest of Nashville, TN. They seem to like our sycamore trees. So far, they are drying out. No noise yet. It looks like a pretty good crop of them. Does anyone know how long it takes from coming out of their shell to singing their “songs”?
Comment by Diane — May 16, 2008 [AT] 4:03 pm
I just moved from the west coast to Statham, GA (a small town between Atlanta and Athens, Georgia, It didn’t look like from the map that the cicadas would reach this far south, will I see any cicadas this summer?
Comment by Josh — May 16, 2008 [AT] 7:37 am
Does anyone know if this brood is to invade Nashville, TN. I can’t tell, from the map. Thanks.
Comment by scared-y-cat — May 7, 2008 [AT] 1:29 pm
We’re planning a graduation for my niece and would like to know if cicadas are less active in the evening — especially Brood XIV — which are already emerging at my sister’s house in Loveland OH.
Comment by Mary — May 7, 2008 [AT] 7:42 am
Tim,
I know the American species usually last 4 to 6 weeks. Rain won’t kill them, but it will silence them. And Australia doesn’t have 17 year cicadas — you’re just having a particularly hearty crop this year.
Comment by Dan — December 3, 2007 [AT] 9:05 pm
hi,
cicadas have invaded all of our gum trees on our property, it started about 5 days ago they just started up it’s strange because we have never had them before, The sound is horrific and they only stop at night then start up again about 9 am.
I live in Victoria, Australia in the north east and was wondering when will these things die ?
Does rain kill them ?
Am i experiencing a 17 yr cycle thing ?
thank you for your time
Comment by tim — December 3, 2007 [AT] 1:11 am
Hi.
I really new to the realm of cicadas and am really here just to ask a single question (though I have had fun perusing piccies).
I’m in Adelaide, South Australia, to the south of the Adelaide Plain, at the base of the foothills of the Adelaide Hills. For the first time in my memory, this year, we have had an abundance of cicadas of one particular type in the area. Calling from the tree tops in suburbia are these loud single click calls. And there are plenty of them. We’ve even seen a few flying around. The clicks occur all day during warm weather, but increase at dusk during those lovely warm summery evenings we get here.
I tend to associate the sound with coastal sand dunes and tend to think that this is where I’ve heard them before…just never near my house. (I live approximately 3 to 4 miles from the beach).
Now I can give you a pretty lousy description from a chance sighting one afternoon. The cicada we saw was black with orange or red eyes and an orange stripe on its abdomen. Sorry for the vagueness, but it was a chance sighting. If I had anything between my ears I would have grabbed the camera, because the identity of these insects have been bugging me ever since.
Now I’m hoping that someone can poke me in the right direction to identifying this cicada. As far as I can see online, there are very few cicadas in South Australia compared to the other states (Queensland seems to be a noisy place cicada-wise) so I’m hoping the search can be fairly narrow (in a huge family such as this one).
Any help greatly appreciated.
Best wishes,
Gumnut
(determined to discover that bug’s identity)
Comment by Gumnut — November 24, 2007 [AT] 6:29 pm
Sure it is okay for your kid to keep a cicada as a pet, though it won’t last long in captivity.
Comment by Dan — November 21, 2007 [AT] 6:02 am
Is it ok for my mature 12 year old daughter to have a cicada as a pet?
Comment by BJ — November 21, 2007 [AT] 1:31 am
Cicadas and Moonlight—
I too am an observer. Tell me if anyone else noticed that the Cicadas gravitate toward the moonlight when they come out of the ground for their first walk on the surface. The moment they emered from the ground, there was a uniformity, almost like soldiers, when the walked up our hill. The cicadas found on the trees and telephone poles were on the moomlit side…always. Anyone notice this as a pattern?
Comment by lynn — October 12, 2007 [AT] 4:54 pm
Lauren: red this FAQ https://www.cicadamania.com/faq.html#a15
Comment by Dan — September 5, 2007 [AT] 5:17 am
NYC has killed so many insects spraying for “west nile”!
It’s a total scam!
Comment by Billy — September 4, 2007 [AT] 11:42 am
Today I noticed that this is the first year I have not heard one cicada… and I strongly believe that NYC has killed them & alot of other vital insects necessary to our eco system… how can we stop this destructive spraying which is mainly to make money!
Comment by Billy — September 4, 2007 [AT] 11:41 am
My daughter would like to know how the cacada make it’s noise. Thanks
Comment by Lauren — September 4, 2007 [AT] 8:08 am
andyru712: yes, it’s called the New Forest cicada. http://www.ukbap.org.uk/ukplans.aspx?ID=216
Comment by Dan — September 3, 2007 [AT] 8:13 am
please can anyone tell me if england has cicada. i am having trouble finding any info!
Comment by andyru712 — September 3, 2007 [AT] 6:29 am
Travel Search Engines
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
Trackback by Travel Search Engines — August 31, 2007 [AT] 4:52 pm
Some co-workers and I have been marvelling at the buzzing of the cicadas in the small forested area outside of our workplace. We hadn’t actually seen one until the other day when one appeared on the outside of the building. It did not move however and stayed there for three days. I figured it probably died so i nudged it gently with a stick. It fell to the ground where I gave it another poke and it moved its leg. Okay, so it is not dead but probably dying. A day later it was back on the wall. It had traveled about two feet on the ground and three feet up the building. What is it doing? Is it going into some sort of hibernation? For reference it is late August in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Thanks
Comment by Ben — August 20, 2007 [AT] 11:23 am
I am noticing a steady decline in the amount of cicada calls I hear daily. Recently they did aerial spraying of pesticides to kill the mosquitoes that carry the West Nile Virus. Is it possible that the pesticide is killing the cicadas, or is it normal for them to start dying off in August?
I live in Sacramento, California. Our cicadas seem to be Okanagana-something(rimosa?).
Comment by Phoebe — August 19, 2007 [AT] 1:23 pm
our litte buddies are gonme 🙁 🙁 what an incredible natural event….what a ethereal sound and so harmless…..I will miss them until next time…
Comment by Bill — August 16, 2007 [AT] 9:58 pm
The Cicadas have invaded NJ early according to the charts. These past few weeks we’ve noticed them and also holes in our yard (which we didn’t realize were from them-we thought they might have been moles or the like.) We’ve had enough problems trying to grow grass lately, and now we have these holes…what a mess! We had trees removed last year and I guess they’re feeding on the roots that are left.Looks like we’ll be having a project in the spring fixing up the damage. My dog & I have already hurt ourselves in the ruts. Glad they won’t be around for much longer.
Comment by Carmel — August 15, 2007 [AT] 8:09 am
Debbie — no they won’t hurt your house plants — cicadas like trees.
Comment by Dan — August 15, 2007 [AT] 5:02 am
A cicada landed on my leg on my back porch. I caught it and brought it inside to be able to show my grandkids, but it got away. Will it hurt my house plants? Will it lay eggs in them? I can’t find it anywhere.
Thank you, if you reply. I’ve been searching for someone who may be able to tell me.
Sincerely,
Debbie Nickerson
Comment by Debbie Nickerson — August 14, 2007 [AT] 10:37 pm
Hello, first I’d like to say, I never knew so many people liked Cicada’s. My question is this:
“Are there any rumors or legends about Cicadas?”
In times could they be seen as a bad omen? a good omen?
Comment by Nymph — August 8, 2007 [AT] 8:58 pm
Why hasen’t the editor of this site seen fit to post the news article (submitted & received by editor)that included a photo of the Cicada powered airplane my son & I built & tested?
Also, you might want to read an Internet site on Grasshopper Glacier in Montana & the giant gresshoppers that are found frozen into it!
Dick
Comment by Dick Bolt — August 2, 2007 [AT] 9:21 am
Hey Scott,
The photo on the front page are individual eggs taken from a small eggnest in an ash tree branch. Apparently cicada eggs get moisture from the live branches because these took about a week to dry up after being removed.
Thanks,
Roy
Comment by Roy troutman — July 28, 2007 [AT] 5:18 am
Are the eggs in the photo shown on your website indivdiaul egges, or is each one a sac/cluster of eggs?
Thanks for a great website!
Comment by Scott Williams — July 24, 2007 [AT] 1:00 pm
Hey…i have one of these little gems …i have the shell…and the bug…I live in Ontario Canada….Hamilton…
I am 45 years old…and have never seen one…im thrilled to finaly see what all the fuss is about!!
Comment by Nancy — July 21, 2007 [AT] 6:45 pm
Cicada Mania: I just wanted to say thanks and ask you one question is the magicicadas the cicadas that only come to north america?
– Thanks in advance,
Courtney.
Comment by Courtney — July 16, 2007 [AT] 10:31 am
Alex:
You found a magicicada over there? I could hear but not see any and didn’t find any exit holes; nothing. Just heard the singing, re-re-re-re-re-reeeeeee.
I live not too far from there and we have had the same type for about a week or two now. I’m enjoying the singing! =O)
Comment by Caerann — July 13, 2007 [AT] 9:46 am
Hey John,
What you ae seeing is the damage done by cicada females that have laid their eggs into each branch. They use a sharp needle like appendage called an ovipositor that will cut into a twig & deposit eggs. The act of piercing a branch will weaken the structure & sometimes stop the flow of sap causing broken branches & browned leaves.
Hope this helps, Roy T.
Comment by Roy Troutman — July 10, 2007 [AT] 1:40 pm
All the trees in our area, and we are next to a forest preserve, have large tips turned brown and are dead. The large dead branches fall from the trees onto the street and lawns, this especially during the storm of yesterday.
Some say the cicada have sucked the sap from these tips. What, in fact, is causing the tips to die like this?
Comment by John Powers — July 10, 2007 [AT] 8:41 am
Seems like the Kimball/Elston area is a late bloomer, huh. I found a lone one on the sidewalk near Kimball and Montrose today. Scurried up my arm looking for a place to emerge from it’s shell.
Put it in a fish tank with climbing twigs, and just as I finished it’s home the little thing checked out the branches and found one to settle on. It immediately began emerging.
Wow. I spent the last couple of hours watching it’s transformation.
Nature is wonderful. This is what life is about!
Now I must find a safe place with other cicadas so the cycle can continue.
Who still have some in their yard? Want another?
Comment by Alex — July 7, 2007 [AT] 8:59 pm
They are still plentiful and very active in Blue Star Memorial Forest Preserves on Lake Avenue in Glenview as of today, July 3rd. They seem to be a later group than those in Schiller Woods as there are barely any dead bodies in the Glenview preserve. Hurray!!!! Had much fun playing with the little darlings. =0)
Comment by Caerann — July 3, 2007 [AT] 2:21 pm
Is it possible our 17 Year friends are just emerging in the city near Kimball and Elston? I heard but didn’t see some kind of cicadas today, July 2nd in 3 or 4 very tall trees.
Cheerio then.
Comment by Caerann — July 2, 2007 [AT] 7:44 pm
I found a bug on the sidewalk in my backyard this evening, and it caught my attention b/c it looked just like a cicada. I thought they only came out every 17 years, stayed for a while, then died off. He was huge! Bigger than the average bettle and he was just slowly walking around. He seemed to be following the flashlight as we stared at him in aww. He looked very old didn’t appear to have any wings. Is it normal for them to still be around since the last time they were here? And if so, do they loose their wings and just walk around?
Comment by Briana — June 29, 2007 [AT] 9:15 pm
hey i am a student going into 9th grade and i have to find 6 legged bugs and if i get a rare one i will get an A+ and i think they will be around for a lil while longer
Comment by randie potter — June 29, 2007 [AT] 4:34 pm
I’m in Oak lawn and have only spotted a small handful of cicada’s by my house and it was only for one day.We had a storm that was blowing in from the south all day last week on tuesday the 20th and that’s the only time they were here.I took pictures,held them,and was just excited to see them again.I was only 4 years old the first time I experienced them way back in 1973 at Brookfield Zoo and at that time I was horrified of them.Now at 38 I’m fascinated by them but have to travel to other areas to find them.Does anyone know if more will emerge in Oak Lawn before they are gone?
Comment by Bob — June 28, 2007 [AT] 7:36 pm
I was surprized to see an cicada in Lillooet British Columbia this year, I never seen one before but maybe they could have been here all the time…. I would think i would have noticed them before as it was pretty big 26mm long. I have pictures and I will try and post at least one on this site.
Comment by Randy James — June 27, 2007 [AT] 10:43 am
I live in central Oak Park. I walked around the neighborhood on Memorial Day weekend several times in order to determine whether the nymphs were emerging. I saw one newly emerged adult cicada on 25 May on 200 block of N. Kenilworth-and then nothing for a couple of weeks. Now, in the past two weeks, I’ve seen quite a few cicadas-mostly confined to the parks, though-just a few in the neighborhoods. I wonder why the late-emergence here in Oak Park? River Forest and Maywood lie immediately to the west and they’ve had them for some time-now rapidly dying off. I think cicadas are fascinating as bugs go but I can empathize with folks who have to deal with that constant buzzing.
Comment by Rick — June 27, 2007 [AT] 8:44 am
Cathy,
Do a Google Image search “Cicadas Eggs”. There are a bunch of photos.
Comment by Lucy — June 26, 2007 [AT] 8:39 am
Many of the trees near me have brown leaves. I have read it’s because the females have laid eggs in those branches but why would the leaves turn brown? Do the eggs kill the tree branches? I would love to see a picture of the eggs in a branch but can’t seem to find one.
Comment by Cathy — June 23, 2007 [AT] 4:45 pm
Are all of the cicadas out or are there any areas that are still waiting for them to come out?
Comment by Peggy — June 20, 2007 [AT] 3:35 pm
Some of you will be happy. I just came back from the Lagrange woods. As I turned from joliet rd onto Lagrange rd, there was nothing but silence. I drove through the entrance into the woods, and to my surprise, there were only a few pockets in the woods, where the cicadas were still singing. There were many on the ground that were dying. I actually had 1 cicada drop on the hood of my car backwards on his back. I did try to turn him over on his feet so he could fly away, but he could not even stand. But the whole time he was watching me as if to say thanks for trying. Remember,we are ALL Gods creatures.
Comment by rob — June 20, 2007 [AT] 12:37 pm
Jill — Gerry Bunker says “An aggregation of cicadas.”
Comment by Dan — June 19, 2007 [AT] 1:42 pm
I know this group of cicadas are known as Brood XIII, but do groups of cicadas have a name like “gaggle of geese”, “murder of crows”, “pack of dogs”, etc.?
Comment by Jill — June 19, 2007 [AT] 12:34 pm
Living in the western suburbs near Lombard, cicada heaven. Work near Elmhurst, more cicado heaven.
Any idea when they will be gone? I am tired of running to the car and avoiding outside. I’ve had them landing in my food, on my shoulders, hit me in the eyes. I don’t mind the yearly ones, since they seem to stay in the trees.
Any idea? I know they are a wonder of nature, but enough already.
Comment by LL — June 18, 2007 [AT] 11:25 pm
In most places, the cicadas will die off by early July. The southernmost Illinois populations are already beginning to wane.
Comment by Dave Marshall — June 18, 2007 [AT] 8:52 pm
Is there any way I can get rid of these things? I own a 16 acre area in Wisconsin, and nearly all of it but our large yard is trees. Swarms of them make noises so loud I find it impossible to go outside because I get horrible headaches, and they swarm all over when I am out. How long until they naturally leave the aera (south WI)?
Comment by frank — June 18, 2007 [AT] 12:54 pm
I was amazed when a 17 year cicada landed on my leg. I have not seen any cicada’s in St. John until today, June 17, 2007
Comment by Sherry G. — June 17, 2007 [AT] 5:17 pm
At our Cub Scout Webelos overnighter, my son decided to spear, roast and eat a cicada. He told the other boys that it tasted like peanut butter. This encouraged other scouts to try them, including one boy who put one on a smore and ate it.
Comment by Colleen Gammon — June 17, 2007 [AT] 12:45 pm
Are female cicada’s bigger then male’s?
Comment by Diane — June 15, 2007 [AT] 5:08 pm
how long have the 17 year cicada been around northern illinois doing their ‘cycling’?
Comment by mike t — June 15, 2007 [AT] 1:20 pm
Just Arrived I live in Berwyn,il. There were none at all until today June 14 flag day. I travel these roads everyday,but today I was surpised when driving right by mcneal hospital,I saw several fly past. Then you could hear them. They are not as loud as in other areas, but I think they got a late start because it was so quiet.So this may extend their welcome far past july 1st.If Svengoulie reads these messages, then maybe he will do a show on Cicadas in Berwyn.
Comment by rob — June 14, 2007 [AT] 2:16 pm
WHEN WILL THEY BE GONE? So many people have asked and no answers. I’ve heard everything from 3 weeks to 10 weeks. It’s a total nightmare where I live and causes me great anxiety.
Comment by Cathy — June 14, 2007 [AT] 6:47 am
Patty,
Try this link. It shows maps where they’ve been sighted:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/broadband/chi-cicada-map-html,0,1315785.htmlstory
Comment by Lucy — June 14, 2007 [AT] 5:36 am
I am in Aurora IL and have not seen a single cicada! I’m looking for an emergence map that shows abundant sightings as close to home as possible … Any suggestions?
Comment by Patty — June 13, 2007 [AT] 8:18 pm
When will they stop flying?!? I am fine with them cozied up in their trees but I can’t wear a windbreaker, hood pulled tight, for another 90 degree day. I think they’re cool and I like looking at them and learning about them, but… how many more days someone give me a countdown for my own state of mind. By the way… I live in Lombard (emerged May 21 in force in my yard) and I work in Hinsdale (cicada mecca) I need a break. Thanks and buzz on boys, buzz on.
Comment by Jenny — June 13, 2007 [AT] 4:42 pm
Perhaps with so many cicadas overcrowding certain trees, they move away from the competition to have a chance to get noticed and get the girl, so to speak. Who knows?
Comment by Lucy — June 13, 2007 [AT] 4:37 pm
Thanks Lucy. That’s what I was thinking too. It’s just weird. It seems more than just wind-blown randomness. There’s a lot, but not hordes. Almost like they’re purposely migrating. And I’m noticing increasing amounts everyday. At a time where I expected them to be dying, they seem pretty lively overhere all of the sudden. Thanks for responding.
Comment by Dan — June 13, 2007 [AT] 4:28 pm
I watched the “Return of the Cicadas” documentary a few weeks ago, and it said they can be blown around by strong winds/rain. We had a couple of really windy days a week of so ago; maybe some ended up in trees away from where they were “born? Or maybe they move to trees that are not so conjested. Just a guess.
Comment by Lucy — June 13, 2007 [AT] 4:12 pm
I work in Wheaton and live in Aurora. Both locations are ‘newer’ developments, where I didn’t expect to see Cicadas. Only since June 11th, have I started seeing/hearing Cicadas. I now see them constantly at work and they are buzzing in the trees all over by my house, and everywhere in between. I know they did not ’emerge’ here, but alas, here they are. I thought they didn’t fly very far. I’m wondering if anyone has any thoughts as to how/why they’ve arrived seemingly everywhere I go now. Any know?
P.S. I will miss them when they’re gone.
Comment by Dan — June 13, 2007 [AT] 3:59 pm
I just came back from the lagrange ill forest preserves. While I was driving down lagrange rd, I decided to turn in to the forest preserves. Although while driving in the area it was very loud,it was almost like a horror movie on tv when I turned into the woods.There must be millons in the woods.I plan on going back several times to hear and see this part of nature.I suggest if you can,go see and hear for yourself.It is truly a remakable part of nature and earth.PS dont be afraid because they are not.
Comment by rob — June 13, 2007 [AT] 1:05 pm
When is the madness going to end?? I have dead cicadas all over my patio and sidewalks yet there seem to be three times as many flying around then before. Everytime I leave my house and walk, more like run to my car I have to go through swarms of cicadas. For those of you who keep complaining about not seeing any you would have a different viewpoint if you had to live with it everyday and have fly into your face, hair, grocery bags, car, etc..
Comment by Kelli — June 13, 2007 [AT] 9:07 am
i just finally saw some cicadas in my neighborhood not to many but the sound was loud from what i heard i did not see them come out of the ground are they just flying near my house or are they getting a late start on it cause i heard they should be starting to die off soon
Comment by kev — June 12, 2007 [AT] 7:48 pm
I live on the North Side of Ottawa, Illinois, and I’ve seen only one cicada! He [or she] was on the ground on the side of my house. Marseilles, on the other hand, is full of them! I am so jealous. Where are they? Will we even get them here, or what? I’m not completely sure if there are cicadas on the other sides of Ottawa, though. I’ve heard the answer is no. Anyone enlighten me?
Comment by Courtney — June 12, 2007 [AT] 9:50 am
hey this rebecca i just wanted to know how long do cicadas live?
Comment by rebecca — June 11, 2007 [AT] 10:35 pm
I am so jealous of all the folks that have cicadas in their town. Wheaton has virtually none. I feel so left out. We actually went to Glen Ellyn to import some to our trees. I’m so sad…
Comment by Kirsten — June 11, 2007 [AT] 8:39 pm
at camp i saw a bout 1 thousang ciadas on one tree, it’s crasy
Comment by megan — June 11, 2007 [AT] 6:42 pm
at camp i saw a bout 1 thousang ciadas on one tree, it;s crasy
Comment by megan — June 11, 2007 [AT] 6:42 pm
Can Cicadas be born, well, mutaded like siamese twins? like a 2 headed cicada? or born without wings or somthin. or 15 legs??
Comment by Elijah — June 9, 2007 [AT] 8:16 pm
Jordan — I keep hearing they should be gone by July 4th.
Comment by Andie — June 9, 2007 [AT] 9:42 am
A couple more weeks.
Comment by Dan — June 9, 2007 [AT] 9:39 am
i live in illinois. how long will the cicadas be around?
Comment by jordan cin — June 9, 2007 [AT] 9:37 am
I have a bunch of dead cicadas on my patio. Are these cicadas dead from other causes or are they the ones who have already mated? How long does it take for a cicada to die after it mates? I really, really hate these things but on the other hand I feel they should really live it up since it’s the last few weeks of their lives!
Comment by Andie — June 9, 2007 [AT] 6:09 am
Patti — they certainly don’t like cold, and torrential rains pouring into their holes. I hope they make it up to Milwaukee.
Comment by Dan — June 8, 2007 [AT] 10:10 am
Hey Cicada Guy — Love the website. I check it daily here at my corporate headquarters. We are so anxious for the cicadas to hit our town (Milwaukee). We had wicked weather last night. Heavy rains, winds and tornados all around us in the suburbs. Do you think this will keep the cicadas from visiting us? Is is possible they can die off before they ever get a chance to live?
Comment by Patti — June 8, 2007 [AT] 6:23 am
Put them up on Flickr!
Comment by Dan — June 8, 2007 [AT] 4:48 am
i have great pictures about cicada, i want to share them, how can i do that here?
Comment by Merci Yangco — June 7, 2007 [AT] 9:05 pm
It is just past dusk and I just returned from inspecting the fence pickets in my back yard. In years past the annual cicadas have used the pickets as much as the trees to pop out of their shells. But, alas, still no activity in northeast Oak Park. All the conditions for emergence have been met including temperature, moisture and expediency (time is running out). Does anyone know if the subterranean nymphs sometimes bump into one another down there and actually communicate? Might they be saying “two more days to D-Day” (actually yesterday June 6) or “the big break is tonight, pack your bags”?
Comment by Joseph Brady — June 7, 2007 [AT] 7:04 pm
I need to record the sound of cicadas somewhere near New York City, ideally somewhere accessible from public transportation. Any suggestions on where to do this?
Thanks.
Comment by Tom — June 7, 2007 [AT] 6:51 pm
I LIVE IN AN OLDER WOODED AREA IN ALGONQUIN IL…HAVENT SEEN 1 CICADA YET…WHATS THE DEAL ?
Comment by JAMES — June 7, 2007 [AT] 3:08 pm
We had a great emergence of Cicadas on our property in Midlothian on 5/23-24, but today 6/7, there appears to be a second emergence greater than the first! Scads of them on the trees and VERY active in the air. I know they are affected by tempurature and it’s hot today, but there are more cicadas today than in the last 3 weeks. Does anyone know what’s up?
Comment by Colleen — June 7, 2007 [AT] 2:21 pm
I too am terrified of them. I have daily panic attacks becuase they are EVERYWHERE. I live in Brookfield where they seem to live too. Can you tell me when this madness will end? Also, when will I stop seeing new ones? I cant handle it much longer. Though I found out if my fiance turns the sprinkler on….I can run to my car and I havnet been nailed yet.
Please, when will they stop?
Comment by Sue — June 7, 2007 [AT] 8:54 am
Do we have an end date for these little buggers? I’m terrified of this whole “phenomenon.” I live in a wooded area and there are massive amounts. They are all over the sidewalks, the trees right outside my door, my car etc. They fly and land on me, I’m having anxiety attacks, this is a nightmare.
Comment by Andie — June 7, 2007 [AT] 8:12 am
This morning on my way to work, i was driving with my window half way open, when all of a sudden i feel something hit me on the head. I looked to the backseat and happened to find a Cicada. The little fracker hit me on da head! lol….
Comment by Miguel A. Beltran — June 6, 2007 [AT] 4:22 pm
Depends on how old the plumb tree is. Older trees do just fine — in fact fruit trees are know to produce more fruit the following year after a cicada emergence.
Comment by Dan Mozgai — June 6, 2007 [AT] 3:17 pm
Texas, and most states, get annual cicadas every year. Texas has plenty of cicadas.
Comment by Dan Mozgai — June 6, 2007 [AT] 3:16 pm
In my Mothers’ purple leave plum tree there are little holes in straight lines going around the trunk and up several of the larger branches, are these cicadas, and will they kill the tree, if so how can we stop them? My Mother and Father planted that tree when we were small, now he’s gone and we are grown, she would hate to lose the tree
Comment by cassandra riddell — June 6, 2007 [AT] 3:03 pm
Here in South Texas, we comment about cicadas every summer. I saw what I thought was one a couple of days ago, but it doesn’t look like the cicadas I’ve seen on this site, and since they arrive every summer without fail, I am wondering whether or not they truly are cicadas. What can you tell me about their occurrence in South Texas, specifically San Antonio?
Comment by Christine — June 6, 2007 [AT] 1:57 pm
I BELIEVE IF THEY ARE NOT OUT YET I THINK THEY ARE NOT COMING
Comment by JOE PEPETONE — June 6, 2007 [AT] 8:51 am
As of June 5, I have only seen one cicada shell on my daily run throughout Northeast Oak Park. I mistakenly thought the full moon would pull them out, but I was wrong. In the last few days it has been either too cold or too rainy. Why OP is two weeks behind the western burbs and one week behind the north shore, I do not know. Maybe it is the collective concentration of people in Oak Park trying to will them into action. Then again, it may be Oak Park’s heavy clay soil that I suspect may be providing a cooler than ideal 64 degree emergence trigger. These are all just guesses.
Comment by Joseph Brady — June 5, 2007 [AT] 7:04 pm
THe cicadas emerged Sunday evening May 27th in our backyard in Glenview. We could see them come out of the grass and watch as the grass moved with them. We watched them crawl up anything including my leg as they began their ascent. It was truly amazing to see them crack their shells an transform before our eyes. THe next morning HUNDREDS were on hostas, tree trunks, fence posts, our deck. They crawled and practiced short flights. This ritual continues even tonight, eight nights later. The numbers may be slightly fewer but all in all, we can’t believe SO many keep appearing!!!!!!!
Comment by Sharon TIerney — June 4, 2007 [AT] 8:11 pm
Cicadas are prone to fungal infections. Sometimes the fungus expands until the abdomen falls off. I’ve seen walking cicada heads quite a few times. Male abdomens are also pretty much hollow, so that makes the situation more likely.
Comment by Dan Mozgai — June 4, 2007 [AT] 7:48 am
We were at The Grove in Glenview this past Saturday with our kids. We found about a dozen cicadas in the same location without bodies, just heads. They were alive and walking, and they were fully coordinated. I’m not talking about muscle twitches after an insect it killed, I’m talking fully alive cicadas walking with full motor coordination. They might have been able to fly, too, although I didn’t see them fly. They looked perfectly healthy and their wings were flawless, but they had no abdoman or thorax at all. We asked the experts at The Grove. They said that they had never seen cicadas like that, and said it must be a mutation of some sort. To me it didn’t look like they were born without bodies, and it didn’t look like an animal or insect ripped the bodies off because the wings were not torn up. It looked like they had simply dropped their bodies. You could see into their heads through their necks. There was dried light brown stuff that sealed the neck hole. The hole looked identical in all of the cicadas we found. Does anyone know if this is indeed a mutation or something else…perhaps a disease or parasite that makes the bodies fall off?
Comment by Amy Warlick — June 4, 2007 [AT] 6:27 am
Sugar Grove Il here,
about 40 miles west of Chicago. I have not seen a single cicada as of yet. Even went to the forest preserve [bliss woods] not a darn cicada in sight. Are they not coming? I was planning on serving them to my inlaws for dinner this weekend, hee.. hee!
Comment by Deb — June 1, 2007 [AT] 11:43 am
Hey…um….Buster, just wait until the cicadas die off in a few weeks. You will get plenty of stinky “cicada mulch” then. BTW if anyone on the board fishes the nymphs are great fish bait. The kids & I caught a few dozen catfish with them several years back.
Comment by Roy troutman — June 1, 2007 [AT] 11:18 am
IF THEY ARE NOT AROUND BY NOW DOES THAT MEAN THEY ARE NOT COMING TO MY AREA
Comment by JOE PEPETONE — June 1, 2007 [AT] 9:36 am
Dan:
I wrote a couple of days ago, thanks for your comment regarding cicadas in Texas. You said Texas does not have 13/17-year, can you tell what species (Dallas), problem being our condo has an open (wrought iron gate) facing a creek, one can literally hear right through the garage area up 2-3 levels, sounds coming through walls, earphones do not work. My reposed question, isn’t it unusual to hear 24/7? Also, how long before these non-13/17-hear species cease noise (most always hot, as you know, in Texas)…thanks again.
Comment by Pat — June 1, 2007 [AT] 7:19 am
I don’t get it. I live in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. The neighborhood is loaded with Cicadas. I went to the Forest Preserve (untouched for 40 years) and not one. Why?
Comment by Mitch — June 1, 2007 [AT] 7:15 am
I live in Roscoe (on the Wisconsin border, north of Rockford) and we have thousands and thousands of cicadas. We do live in the woods with many older oak trees. There is probably a 2 to 3 inch ring of “cicada mulch” around most of the trees, not to mention the driveway will need to be shoveled soon. The kids & dog are having a blast.
BH
Comment by Buster Hymen — May 31, 2007 [AT] 2:24 pm
I live in the south end of Glenview Illinois and there are 10′s of thousands of ciadias around our house. Not as many on the east side of our street as on the west side and even a few blocks away there are very few. It’s worse for us this time than last. The neighbors tree has so many at the base, that you could shovel them up into a small bucket. They are crawling up anything mostly dark… but even lighter objects, too. They seem to be selective where they choose to sit. Our two evergreen shrubs in front have few, while the small baby evergreen tree only 10 feet away is packed with the bugs on every spare spot. They started popping out a few days ago. So, I think they’ll be other reports coming soon from northern Illinois.
Comment by diane — May 31, 2007 [AT] 11:38 am
My blog below is about Cicada Powered air planes, not paper cicada look-ah-like planes!
Comment by Dick Bolt — May 31, 2007 [AT] 9:51 am
I like Cicadas. We had them here (Eastern MD) in 2004.None reported in Western MD as I remember.
I & my son built cicada powered air planes & got into the local newspapers with photo. I did engine tests (throwing cicadas forward to see if they flew & how hard)first & had kids collecting for me and working as if a science fair was going on. As I remember, females flew down & males flew up when released. So I chose only male engines. I built several 1 engine & two engine planes. Planes were from dollar store balsa cheep.I super glued the engines to the wings! I never got much out of flights. I guess if your but was glued to a board, you would not want to fly either! As I will not be alive next time around in 15 yrs, it might be another to hitch them correctly to fly! It was done with house flys, so why not cicadas.
*** in Bowie MD
PS, I have photos stored from 2004 somewhere.
Comment by Dick Bolt — May 31, 2007 [AT] 9:29 am
cicads are some wired creatuures!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Myarra — May 30, 2007 [AT] 11:23 am
I wish cicadas were flooding my front porch! I haven’t seen one yet!
Comment by Anna in plainfield — May 30, 2007 [AT] 8:22 am
As of 5-29 at 12 noon no sightings yet on ten hundred block of Mapleton. Not many in the general area either, but pockets in River Forest.
Wednesday and Thursday will be the big days. The attraction of the moon, big right now, but full as can be on Thursday (5-31)may play a big part, but also may be a coincidence.
What do you think?
Have counted 2 to 3 mud patch holes per sq ft in between bricks on patio. But maybe these are from real big worms.
Comment by joseph brady — May 29, 2007 [AT] 10:43 am
Is it true that there are no cicadas, annual or otherwise, native to the Pacific Northwest?
Comment by Melanie Wilson — May 29, 2007 [AT] 9:24 am
I live in Huntley, IL and I have not seen one cicada yet!!
I am very sad becasue my daughter is 2.5 years old — the same age I was at my first Cicada year in 1973ish — Does any one know if they will be coming to McHenry Co??
Comment by Karen L — May 29, 2007 [AT] 8:11 am
Cicadas are flooding my front porch. Can anyone tell me of their dislikes. Something I can use to prevent them from infesting my home.
Comment by Cheryl Ferguson — May 29, 2007 [AT] 5:40 am
Wildlife should be seen, heard, but not fed by humans.
Comment by Dan — May 28, 2007 [AT] 9:07 am
Actually, Lake Michigan is probably cleaner than it used to be. In the past few years the gulls have moved inland. They can probably find more food in parking lots and garbage dumps than by Lake Michigan. I’ve even seen people feeding them in the parking lots. That’s probably why they are more abundant in the neighborhoods this year than 17 years ago.
Comment by Sue — May 28, 2007 [AT] 8:52 am
Texas doesn’t have periodic/17/13 year cicadas, but you do have other species. They should be making their presence heard soon enough if the weather stays hot.
Comment by Dan — May 28, 2007 [AT] 12:07 am
Are cicadas hitting Texas this year? If so, are these the 13-year or 17-year brood? Have never heard them here before. The noise has been truly incessant today, especially (hot, muggy) after recent storm. Have heard for the past two weeks (24/7), please advise your prediction how much longer before noise may cease, and isn’t it unusual to hear 24/7? Thanks.
Comment by Pat — May 27, 2007 [AT] 11:39 pm
I wonder why the gulls aren’t haging out by the lake? Maybe the lake is so polluted now, that they have to go inland for food — unfortunately for the cicadas.
Comment by Dan — May 27, 2007 [AT] 10:38 pm
The cicadas have been out in my neighborhood for a week now. We have had an enormous number of seagulls coming and eating them. Flocks of sometimes 50 gulls and more come down the street stopping to devour whatever they can. I know there were not this many gulls 17 years ago. Will this increase in the gull population affect the number of cicadas 17 years from now?
Comment by Sue — May 27, 2007 [AT] 5:57 pm
That’s a good question. They lay their eggs in the branches of trees. The females have an instrument called a terebra that that they use to dig out a slit in the branch and that’s where they lay their eggs. The eggs hatch and the cicada larvae flop to the ground, and start burrowing. They don’t die from the fall because they have a low terminal velocity — like cats and other small creatures.
The egg laying in the branches is what kills the branches.
Comment by Dan — May 26, 2007 [AT] 3:56 pm
You have a great site. I found it very informative.
I have been trying to find out where they lay their eggs? Do they climb trees to eat, then return to the ground to bury their eggs? Or are the eggs left in the trees and the larvae crawl down and into the ground?
I aplogize if you answered this question already. I looked and looked and looked and didn’t see anything about this.
Thank you.
Von
Comment by Von — May 26, 2007 [AT] 3:36 pm
kgmoney1 [AT] aol.com
Please don’t kill cicadas in order to find out if they’re sick. There’s plenty of dead ones lying around, you could dissect those instead.
Comment by Mike — May 25, 2007 [AT] 12:12 pm
I went out to my car and found a baby cicada sitting on the trunk. So i let it crawl on my finger and brought in side.
Comment by anita — May 25, 2007 [AT] 8:45 am
My husband and I were in Lombard a couple of days ago and saw many Cicada holes and a couple of live ones. I am out in Carol Stream and live behind a park and pond with many old tree, but not a single Cicada or even a hole yet from what I have seen. I am starting to doubt if we are going to get them in Carol Stream at all. I hope we do, I have been telling my daughter about it for weeks. Anyone know of an emeregence in Carol Stream or if they even emerge here at all?
Comment by Jess — May 24, 2007 [AT] 2:36 pm
Hi everybody,
I am a college student doing research on the 17 year cicada. I am trying to find out if the cicadas are parasitized by anything like pin worms, nematodes, or anything like that. I have collected some nymphs and dissected them to see if I can find any parasites. I have not found anything yet, but I plan to catch some adults as soon as they emerge. I was wondering if anyone knows anything about cicadas and parasites. If you do anything that may be able to help my research please send me an e-mail at kgmoney1 [AT] aol.com Thanks to all and have fun with the cicadas.
Comment by Kenny Glassman — May 24, 2007 [AT] 1:53 pm
I live in deerfield Illinois. I was walking around looking for cicada shells (in my yard) to look at in my microscope when I heard a buzzing noise. I looked over and saw a upside down cicada flapping its wings like crazy. I picked it up on a stick and took it over to a tree. Immediately, it started crawling up the tree until I couldn’t see it, so I climbed up myself (I made sure not to step on any other cicadas). Then, I saw it stop at nearly the top of the tree and then started laying its eggs! It was so cool!
Comment by Ethan — May 23, 2007 [AT] 6:15 pm
why do they come into certain areas? I haven’t seen any yet in my niegborhood but I know they are there.
Comment by Katie — May 23, 2007 [AT] 5:58 pm
why do they come into certain areas? I haven’t seen any yet in my niegborhood but I know they are there.
Comment by Katie — May 23, 2007 [AT] 5:58 pm
We’re aware of cicada in Arizona, but people rarely ask about them or contribute content, so there isn’t much mention on the site. You might disagree, but they aren’t as exciting as periodic cicadas. There is some Arizona info buried on the site, including this link http://bugs.bio.nau.edu/Homoptera/azhomoptera.htm
that lists dozens of species with pictures.
Comment by Dan — May 23, 2007 [AT] 4:49 am
I live west of Phoenix in Arizona in the desert. There is no mention of cicadas here even though we definately have the cicada visits. Annually.
Can you tell me why they don’t mention any in Arizona?
Their verticle burrow holes are very noticeable. Along with their music.
Our trees did suffer quite a bit of damage the last couple of years from them. My brother lost a number of small ones, where ours were larger ones. There are many trees here in the desert(palo verdes) for them.
I do not wish the cicadas any harm, but it you have a tree you would like to save from harm, I found a method that works. At the area where the bark is disturbed and sap is flowing, I use a stick to scrape of as much as possible. I then spray the area with a spray paint. The cicadas or other insects do not return to the spot and the tree is saved.
Thank you!
Comment by Lisa Bilinski — May 23, 2007 [AT] 12:09 am
I’ve never heard of them damaging conifers, but if they’re desperate enough, they might.
It’s safe to mow. The emergence in Michigan should be minimal.
Comment by Dan — May 22, 2007 [AT] 5:47 pm
Maybe 100 decibels or so.
Comment by Dan — May 22, 2007 [AT] 5:46 pm
how loud are they? like all of them together not just one?
Comment by Jenna — May 22, 2007 [AT] 4:26 pm
i live in the corner of southwest michigan, but have been out of state for a week. when i go home, the lawn is going to need tending- is it safe for me to mow? will i disturb 17 year cicadas beneath my lawn? will i harm them or start a swarm? when is it safest to mow?
Comment by kayla — May 21, 2007 [AT] 9:28 pm
Can Cicadas damage smaller conifers, or is it only small deciduous trees that we need to protect?
Comment by Angie — May 21, 2007 [AT] 7:42 pm
Cicadas drink tree fluids, and they do metamorphize. The final stage (instar) of their metamorphosis is called imagination, which is when the nymph becomes the adult (imago).
Comment by Dan — May 21, 2007 [AT] 5:31 pm
What do cicadas eat?
Do they have metamorphisis?
Comment by hailey — May 21, 2007 [AT] 4:32 pm
Hello Kristina,
I have a decent sound byte you can use of a Magicicada cassini. I also have cicadas chorusing but don’t have good recordings of the other 2 species. e-mail me [AT] sbpstudios [AT] gmail.com.
Comment by Roy Troutman — May 15, 2007 [AT] 1:20 pm
My 7 year old is doing a project on cicadas for his 1st grade class. Is there a good sound byte of the cicada “songs” that he can play?
Comment by Kristina — May 15, 2007 [AT] 11:51 am
Hi Matt –
The key words in that text are “serious noise”. There will still be cicada sound after the choruses start to decline, perhaps still loud by many standards. It will be more like a month (after things first get loud) before things seem normal again. Those words are only a rough estimate.
It really depends on where you are too, in part because the chorusing centers tend to slowly shift location. If you get stuck with a really dense Magicicada cassini chorus in your backyard, in a tree right outside your favorite window, it will be longer than average before things seem quiet again.
Comment by David Marshall — May 14, 2007 [AT] 8:45 am
I’ve seen one specific reference about how long the cicada Brood XIII noise will last only 2 weeks (even though the cicadas may be around for longer than that). Can someone confirm? I’d like to know if the noise lasts longer or shorter so I can make travel plans, because the noise will drive me nuts after the novelty of it wears off.
Here’s the reference:
http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/fauna/michigan_cicadas/Periodical/magiFAQ.html
and an excerpt:
“How long will the cicadas be out in my yard/neighborhood/city?
About 4-6 weeks after they first start emerging. Most individual cicadas live only a few weeks, but since they emerge over a period of two weeks or so the whole event lasts longer. The serious noise will get going about a week and half after you first notice them and will last about two weeks more. After that things get a lot quieter.”
Comment by Matt — May 11, 2007 [AT] 5:14 pm
Do you know exactly the next emmergence or brood of magicicada in Illinois? Is it about 25 of May or later..
Thanks a lot for your answer
Comment by Gerard — May 3, 2007 [AT] 7:39 am
are you supposed to paint the exterior of your home during the cicadas? Will they spoil the paint job by attaching to the house? I would so appreciate an answer to this question!
Comment by iz reidy — April 30, 2007 [AT] 3:37 pm
They’ll aerate the areas around the trees, so you could still have the non-shaded areas done.
Comment by Dan — April 25, 2007 [AT] 2:13 pm
I was thinking of having my yard aerated this year, but since this is the year for cicada’s in my area, I wonder if I still need to. Will they do a good job of aerating the soil or should I hire someone to do this for me? Will this damage them if I do decide to aerate?
Comment by Beth in Chicago — April 25, 2007 [AT] 1:45 pm
My 10-year-old daughter has chosen the periodic cicadas as her school project subject. What she plans to do is attempt to calculate the number of cicadas that will emerge in our town. I am helping her with her math model, but she/we need a little help.
She needs to find the average number of cicadas that live under a single tree and a single bush. Also, the survival rates during the 17-year dormancy.
Any information source for this would be greatly appreciated.
Comment by scott johnson — April 24, 2007 [AT] 12:16 pm
Sir,
We intend to visit Chicago during June 2007. Please let us know whether we can joy our stay there? Whither Cicadas affect our stay & feel discomfort?
r.srinivasaraaghavan
Comment by R.SRINIVASARAAGHAVAN — April 17, 2007 [AT] 6:05 pm
the cicada is a japanes bug.
Comment by khalid — April 17, 2007 [AT] 8:53 am
I had a large tree removed down to the roots about 8 years ago. Will the cicadas still come out of the ground and, if so, where will they go?
Comment by Joe — April 10, 2007 [AT] 10:41 am
It’s 2 months away…we’re about to be hit in June with the 17 year breed here in the Chicago area. I plan to take many pictures and post them on http://www.seventeenyearcicada.com
This will be the third time I can remember seeing these creatures (I was four years old the first time and can’t recall 🙂
So stay tuned.
Comment by John — March 31, 2007 [AT] 3:55 pm
False alarm on cicadas in Fayetteville,NC. I went over to see what I could find, and it turned out to be thousands of frogs mating.
Comment by Laura — March 25, 2007 [AT] 9:51 am
March 25, 2007
I am in Fayetteville, NC and last night the buzz/chirping started across the lake. I’m walking over today to see if I can spot some cicadas.
Comment by Laura — March 25, 2007 [AT] 7:52 am
I have found in March 2007 a died couple (M & F) of cicada from the root of plant in desert of Thar(Pakistan)
http://www.colourthrophy.8m.com
rehman_azeemi [AT] yahoo.com
Comment by Anjum — March 22, 2007 [AT] 3:22 pm
hello all 5 pieces cicadas of 2 speces are avail able for reserchers contect rehman_azeemi [AT] yahoo.com
Anjum
Comment by Anjum — March 22, 2007 [AT] 3:15 pm
Cold blooded. All insects are cold blooded.
Comment by Dan — March 12, 2007 [AT] 7:59 pm
I have a question and answer sheet that i have to do for science and i was wondering if Cicadas are cold or warm blooded
Comment by Ari — March 12, 2007 [AT] 7:19 pm
The same questions on the life cycle and lifespan. please check FAQs on this website for ALL the answers
Comment by david — March 8, 2007 [AT] 6:52 pm
How long do cicadas live and what’s there lifecycle?
Comment by bob — March 5, 2007 [AT] 4:12 pm
That question again… Cicadas are cicadas and locusts are grasshopper. They are not the same.
Comment by Dan — March 1, 2007 [AT] 9:40 am
Are cicadas and locust the same or are they different and if they are how so?
Comment by billy — February 28, 2007 [AT] 5:57 pm
The advantage is predators don’t have time to adapt to their behavior.
Comment by Dan — February 25, 2007 [AT] 3:13 pm
What possible survival advantage can a 17 year life cycle have?
Comment by Chris Gladstone — February 25, 2007 [AT] 1:31 pm
hi all cicada lovers do you need any audio vedio or dry cicada of many speces for resersh only reserchers will be oblized
rehmany2k64 [AT] yahoo.com
Comment by Anjum — January 17, 2007 [AT] 1:10 pm
hi all cicada lovers do you need any audio vedio or dry cicada of many speces for resersh only reserchers will be oblized
Comment by Anjum — January 17, 2007 [AT] 1:08 pm
Hi all Cicada Lovers, I myself love all insects. I have always been interested in insects. I have a website with insect links and photos. Enjoy
Comment by Bill D. — November 17, 2006 [AT] 9:18 am
I live in the Western subs of IL. I have an above ground pool. Will these little guys be a burden? When exactly do they come out and for how long? ew
Comment by Joyce — November 13, 2006 [AT] 8:56 pm
What are the different types of cicades??
Comment by hawill — November 11, 2006 [AT] 9:17 pm
I found this site when searching for cicadas.
http://www.magicicada.com
There music kind of sounds like cicadas buzzing, at time.
Comment by Amazed — November 1, 2006 [AT] 7:18 am
I want to know what sounds a cicada makes. And do they make sounds 24 hours a day? How long will they make the sounds? I live in Georgia and I keep hearing the high pitch sounds.
Comment by Larry Gunnels — October 26, 2006 [AT] 8:06 pm
I´m posting again to publish my messenger ok…
brunomontanhez [AT] hotmail.com
Comment by Montanhez — October 12, 2006 [AT] 10:23 pm
im a biology student that was seeking for Quesada gigas pictures and then found this place! it´s looks really nice…congratulations
and….there´s any brasilian on this forum?
Comment by Montanhez — October 12, 2006 [AT] 10:21 pm
With these things it’s really the luck of the draw — they might be a no show, or they could make things miserable. It might pay to ask the owners of the property what happened 17 years earlier.
Comment by Dan — October 3, 2006 [AT] 7:57 pm
The wedding ceremony only will be in Willowbrook, IL, southwest of Chicago about 25 miles in our backyard which has trees and shrubs (but house and yard about 6 years old) and surrounded by property that has lots of trees and undisturbed (undeveloped) land. Based on reading the Wedding Planner which I found after posting my question, sounds like you need a sense of humor if you don’t reschedule. Seems it would be very distracting and take away the focus from the ceremony.
Comment by Yola — October 2, 2006 [AT] 2:28 pm
Depends on where the wedding is going to be.
Comment by Dan — October 1, 2006 [AT] 9:39 am
My daughter has planned an outdoor wedding in our backyear for 6/16/07. I think we should reschedule. Any comments?
Comment by Yola — October 1, 2006 [AT] 6:25 am
Chicago’s breed is due in June 2007. They will emerge around June 9 and will last about four weeks.
You can set your clock to that.
Comment by John — September 14, 2006 [AT] 2:19 am
Hi Anjum- your email address does not seem to be correct. Please correct for contact or email to >
David.
Comment by david — September 12, 2006 [AT] 3:03 am
for reserch purpes if need cicada i can provide you onlowest rates from Pakistan about 16 veraities are avail able contect rehmany2k64 at yahoo
Comment by Anjum — September 10, 2006 [AT] 5:28 am
Which month and approximately which week will the brood xiii cicada’s hatch their final molt in Chicago, Illinois?
Comment by Dario — September 4, 2006 [AT] 8:25 am
i didnt know what what outside but it was huge and then we caught it with its prey and there both still alive the the cicada is paralized, my daughter wants to bring it to school to show her science teacher and my question is how can i keep them alive and when with the cicada become un paralized?
thank you
angie
lake charles,louisiana
Comment by angie — September 2, 2006 [AT] 2:47 pm
We were having breakfast this morning on our screen porch and a large, strange bug was sitting on the outside of the screen. I suspected a cicada and a quick web search led me to this site. Sure enough, it’s a magicicada!
The kids and I enjoyed learning about cicada habits, although we’re curious about this particular cicada because it’s so late in the summer and we aren’t due for our cicada cycle until next year (we’re in Hartford, WI). We’ve decided that this one must be a scout.
Comment by The Ohm Family — August 26, 2006 [AT] 8:38 am
I wonder, if I can find frequency distribution of cicada songs.
Thanks for any hints.
Comment by Serge — August 24, 2006 [AT] 8:30 am
I am an insect collector and recently obtained two male cicadas of the same species in Las Vegas. Based on my extensive travels throughout southern Nevada and the Las Vegas area, it literally sounds as if there is only one local cicada species in the area-I only hear one that sounds like a constant buzz saw and no other “songs” of distinctive species. Can anyone out there list the prevalent cicada-genus and species-of the Las Vegas area?
Comment by Jeff Clark — August 23, 2006 [AT] 5:19 pm
I absolutely love the sound of cicadas. I still do, though I’m watching a very creepy “Higurashi no Naku Koro ni” (When the Cicadas Cry). It’s a Japanese horror anime with a deceptively cutesy art style, and cicadas are prominant in the closing credits. The distinctive sounds appear in the soundtrack and now we get a delicious little shiver when evening falls and the cicadas begin their symphony.
But they *are* summer nights (and days) to me!
Comment by Laura — August 23, 2006 [AT] 10:40 am
okay so I KNOW these insects are called cicadas, and I love them dearly — my mother tells me she could hear them singing when I was born (july 25), so for me, hearing them is something akin to the primal scream….
But WHY did we call them “locusts” in Cleveland where I grew up? I don’t think I learned to call them cicadas until I moved to NJ in 10970.
second question: my own personal rule of thumb, based on observation, is that cicadas don’t “sing” unless the temperature outside is 70 F or above — is that true?
Kathy Harsany
cicada (and katydid) fan
Greenwich, CT
Comment by kathy harsany — August 22, 2006 [AT] 12:50 pm
Hi there
i have a diana maple it one year old,two weeks ago the leaves were brown and wilted they were flexable now their crispy and falling.I was told that there could be a fungus.Could there be a fungus,the tree is kept watered.
Comment by Joan Bowers — August 19, 2006 [AT] 9:05 pm
I live in Indianapolis, IN. Why do we have so many cicadas this year? I don’t remember the cicadas being this loud except for a couple of years ago.
Comment by William H — August 19, 2006 [AT] 5:40 pm
I’m so happy to find a site dedicated to this creature! Living in New York City, the cicada has become the sound of summer (along with ice cream truck bells and the drone of air-conditioners.) However, this summer, I’m sad to say, the sound has been absent. Is this part of the 17-year cycle? I can’t remember a summer without the sound of the cicadas each morning and evening. On the hottest days they could even be heard during midday. I’ve lived in NYC 39 years and I’m hoping that no environmental factors have led to their elimination from this area. Please advise.
Comment by Joseph Scrivani — August 9, 2006 [AT] 6:49 am
How do you say this insects name.
Comment by Judy — August 9, 2006 [AT] 1:50 am
We live in upstate New York, just east of Albany. On returning from a seaside vacation the end of July, we noticed a very loud insect sound at dusk, continuing through the wee hours. We have not heard this before, and it is keeping us up all night. My husband thought it might be locusts, so I searched the web and now we think we have them. He said he found a dead one in our yard. Can anyone tell us how long to expect this racket? It is very disruptive. We are new to this.
Comment by Cassandra — July 31, 2006 [AT] 4:33 pm
I need to get a Cicada for Biology and I have no idea where to look. Where might I find one? And when should I look for one?
Comment by Elizabeth — July 18, 2006 [AT] 12:02 am
I found a cicada grub in it’s last instar (I think), where it’s emerged from hte ground as a bronze kind of pupae on legs. It was lost groping around aimlessly on the pavement in the baking sun.
I thought it should be moved into the foliage where it could take to a leaf….so I did just that, but I noticed it had white eyes unlike any others I’d seen (usually having brown or black eyes.
It also seemed very weak. Is it unusual for cicadas in this stage of development, to have white eyes? If so why?
Comment by dan — July 10, 2006 [AT] 12:10 am
Does anyone have any tips for preserving cicadas? I find our local Tibicens rather attractive and would like to “shellac” one. (An already dead one; I’d never kill one! It’s not at all hard to find corpses once summer gets into full swing here in VA.) Do you think I could just use clear-coat enamel, or would that damage the wings?
Comment by Khate — July 2, 2006 [AT] 9:08 am
My girlfriend is from England, and had never had any experience with cicadas, she calls them “screaming bugs”. We are here in missouri, and I never knew that there was a 17 year cycle. Thanks for the site, and info.
Comment by Josh — July 1, 2006 [AT] 7:44 pm
Hi Connor,
There are many different types of Cicadas in the United States. At least 150 different species. Other names that can also mean “cicada” that people say are as follows:
Locust
Dog Day Cicada
Harvest fly
Heat Bug
And even some species of cicadas can have their own nick-names. For instance:
Tibicen chloromera — “The Swamp Cicada”
Tibicen auletes — “The Scissor Grinder”
Tibicen lyricen — “The lyric Cicada”
Magicicada — “17 year locusts”
Hope that helps.
Gerry Bunker
Massachusetts Cicadas
http://www.mechaworx.com/cicada/masscic1.asp
Comment by Gerry — June 29, 2006 [AT] 9:05 pm
I have been asked by my teacher at school to find out another name for cicada. What are cicadas also known as?
Comment by Connor James — June 21, 2006 [AT] 10:40 pm
Hi Dan, Looks as though some useless spam did get through with mesage 66!! To Debbie (67), cicadas do not bite, they suck sap through a “rostrum” (straw) like mozzies. They are quite magnificently constructed and coloured with each species having a distinct song- not too ugly once you get to know them!! Just watch one emerging and you’ll be hooked!
Comment by david — May 30, 2006 [AT] 7:05 pm
do these UGLY creatures bite and if so what needs to be done for treatment. I am in texas
Comment by Debbie — May 28, 2006 [AT] 5:59 pm
Does anyone have information regarding where in Pennsylvania Brood XIV of Magicicada has emerged in the past? I know they’re due back in 2008 and I’d really like to see them. Please email me at BigEdK7 [AT] aol.com if you have any information.
Thank you,
Ed
Comment by Ed — May 22, 2006 [AT] 11:39 am
In school we are studing about the rain forest and Im serching for people to help the rain forest from being burnt and cut down. I know this coment probebly dosen’t mean any thing to you, but it means the world to me. One forth of our rain forest are gone, and they say all the medicans in the world are in the rain forset so we are destorying medicans that we need. Now I bet you don’t care, but seens you like insects I decided to write this letter to you. Thank you for reading it.
Comment by Emily — May 15, 2006 [AT] 2:24 am
Starting a new site, dedicated to the cause. Here in the Chicago area we will be seeing our little friends next June, 2007 and will be putting up images and videos. Until then, the website
http://www.seventeenyearcicada.com
will be up and running.
John
Comment by John — May 12, 2006 [AT] 11:48 pm
Cicadas seem to be pretty rare here in Nova Scotia. I’m looking for a source of cicada “remains” which are intact and in good condition. I am hoping to find 10-20 at least. This is for an arts project.
Only Cicadas who have “ceased to bee” please!
Kevin
Comment by Kevin — April 19, 2006 [AT] 3:47 am
I would have to say they were disturbed under the the trash box. I would think it would be very very unusual to see them this early. you are right, you probibly would not see any until at least late june-july
Comment by Matt — April 14, 2006 [AT] 3:10 pm
I live in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, and we are just barely breaking into spring (snow last weekend, this week 20 degrees C in the day, nights around 0). No leaves on trees yet, and grass just barely poking out of the ground.
Today we found about 3 or 4 adult cicadas scattered in the parking lot — most of them squished, but one still feebly moving its legs. I’m assuming they are adults: about 1 1/2 inches long, a dark drab brown, almost looking a bit moldy. There was signs of a large trash box moved in the area, so perhaps they were under it, and were disturbed.
We usually only get cicadas in the hot part of July & August… any ideas what might be going on here?
thanks for helping with the mystery.
jeannine
Comment by jeannine — April 12, 2006 [AT] 8:25 am
What is it about the cicada’s that places them in the classification?
Comment by Chrissy — April 3, 2006 [AT] 12:39 pm
You must be suffering the Amphipsalta zealandica chorus in Feb. someone from Auckland complained on this site last year about thier niose. On hot nights, cicadas can sing at intervals during the night, which drives you crazy. The Aussie greengrocers will sing at about 4hour intervals (dusk, 10pm, 2am and 6am) just in case you want to listen. By the way, many cicadas are attracted to UV lights, especially on warm humid nights.
Comment by david — March 7, 2006 [AT] 2:30 am
btw Im in NZ and that would be understood not understoof sorry!! Im used to cicadas but not this many and they have never done this before, I cant find much info on this kinda thing, there are hundreds of them and driving me crazy at times like 3am :/
Comment by salacity — February 21, 2006 [AT] 4:56 am
Okay so I understoof that cicadas were not attracted to light? however tonight the first night of the couple of weeks they have been around this year they started attacking the windows and they were all over my deck its midnight here and I dont understand whats going on Ive never seen anything like it before, is this normal?
Comment by salacity — February 21, 2006 [AT] 4:54 am
Hi Marty,
The “green grocer” in Australia sings when the temp reaches around 18C, but many small species will not sing unless the sun is shining (no matter what the ambient temp).
David.
Comment by david — February 16, 2006 [AT] 10:43 pm
Does a Cicada start chirping at a certain air temperature? if so what is it?
Comment by Marty — February 12, 2006 [AT] 4:55 pm
You can tell by looking at their abdomens. The females abdomen ends with a sharp point, like a sharpened pencil. The male is more stubby, like the top of a house.
Comment by Dan Mozgai — November 14, 2005 [AT] 6:08 am
How do you tell if cicada’s are male or female?
Comment by annika — November 13, 2005 [AT] 10:22 pm
To Julianna,
Messages 48-50. Cicadas suck sap from trees and grasses during development underground and after emergence. They, in turn are “eaten” by higher predators , especially spiders, tree crickets and birds, as well as preyed upon by wasps (“cicada-killer” wasp)and cicada collecting humans, dogs and cats. The shell “exuviae” simply degenerates and gets recycled after emergence, becomes a spider’s temporary home, or gets collected and ground up for some traditional (especially Chinese) medicines.
Underground, cicada nymphs can be attacked by “entomophagic” (insect eating) fungus that kills the cicadas at some stage, but life above ground is pretty short and infection-free. Prolonged rain may promote bacterial disease.
Comment by david — October 9, 2005 [AT] 5:28 pm
Is it true that cicadas have a deathly disease?
Comment by Julianna Wojtowicz — October 7, 2005 [AT] 7:09 pm
What happens to a cicada shell when it’s left there?
Comment by Julianna Wojtowicz — October 7, 2005 [AT] 7:08 pm
what do cicadas eat and what eats them?
Comment by Julianna Wojtowicz — October 7, 2005 [AT] 7:04 pm
What do they eat and what eats them?
Comment by Julianna Wojtowicz — October 7, 2005 [AT] 7:02 pm
Hello I found a Cicada in a spider web (No spider in web) and rescued it.But it can’t fly it’s wings are messed up what do I do?
[Moderator: try to pick the web off its wing and then leave it in a bush. Maybe it will recover.]
Comment by Jennifer — September 17, 2005 [AT] 3:39 pm
do they have to sleep ? can they hurt u
[moderator: Sort of and no.]
Comment by caitlin — September 6, 2005 [AT] 4:57 pm
I live in Northern Virginia, and I’ve seen a few dead cicadas on the ground these past few weeks. They are black like the 17-year cicadas that we had last year, but they have white/greenish eyes. I’ve been hearing them singing in the trees all summer, but I thought they were the regular cicadas that we have every summer. Those are green though, aren’t they? These ones are black, and they look almost the same as the ones we had last year, only they don’t have red eyes. Are they regular annual cicadas or some special brood? Could they be Brood X and have emerged this year instead of last year? But why don’t they have red eyes, then?
Comment by Ashley — September 2, 2005 [AT] 5:20 pm
Hello,I am collecting cicada bodies and would gladly pay for shipping them if you have any. The area I am living in (Haverford, PA) does not have many this year. Please write and let me know. Thank you.
Anne
[Moderator: those are Tibicen, which are an annual species of cicada. Thanks too the massive emergence of Magicicadas, people have become “cicada aware”, and a now, finally noticing the annual species.]
Comment by Anne M — September 1, 2005 [AT] 12:52 pm
Fred,
For a great photo of Tibicen dorsata (Grand western cicada) and some locations, get Boris Kondratieff’s book “Cicadas of Colorado” CSU Press- it’s great.
Comment by david — August 29, 2005 [AT] 10:24 pm
OK, cicada professionals:
What is the ‘Grand Western Cicada? Looking through various websites, I have seen three different ‘grand western cicadas’ One series of photos clearly shows tibicen auletes, definately NOT the GW. Next series of photos from mid, upper western states, like Illinois, Iowa, etc, show a brightly yellow-marked black tibicen-type cicada. And another set, including the one on this site, shows a very un-tibicen like cicada, with a huge, oversized thorax, and a funny, undersized, narrow head. So just who/what/where is the “GRAND WESTERN CICADA, TIBICEN DORSATA?”
Fred
[Moderator: It’s this: Tibicen dorsata.]
Comment by Fred Berry — August 23, 2005 [AT] 6:01 pm
I have so many cicada in my trees that the trees are now getting rot and are dying. is there anyway i can save my 8 trees with out killing all the cicada? They are a childhood favorite and I wouldnt want to kill them but i just bought my home and the 8 trees have been there forever and id like to keep them too. please help! 2 trees are dead and need to be removed before they fall….please dont let more dye too.
Comment by April Nowell — August 23, 2005 [AT] 8:35 am
Wile on our deck today (August 21, 2005) I spotted and took a picture of this insect that I THINK might be a Tibicen Cicada? I don’t know, I have never seen a Cicada before. Of the pictures I found online, that seemed to be the closest match. Could someone confirm if it is a Cicada, and if so what kind it is? After reading the message here I went back out to take a photo with a newspaper, but it was gone. I have posted 4 pictures on my web site at
http://www.softechvt.com/cicada/cicada.htm.
Thanks!
Steve
[Moderator: it’s definitely a Tibicen, and probably a Tibicen pruinosa.]
Comment by Steve Smith — August 21, 2005 [AT] 11:25 am
Can anyone explain to me why I have been seeing cicada on my trees? I live in SC and this is the first time in the 20 years I have lived here that I have noticed these nasty insects. We used to have them in Northern VA about every 7 years but I though by moving down here they wouldn’t be here. I heard a bunch of them in the pine trees last night when I was in my backyard.
Comment by kim — August 16, 2005 [AT] 1:39 pm
My son found a cicada in the driveway today. It has been extremely hot outside so we brought it inside and made a little habitat for it which includes a pine branch, pine straw, dirt, and water on one end. It immediately grabbed ahold of the pine branch where it remains motionless. I prepared him it will likely have a very limited life span. No loud noises yet. Looks like he may mault and I know the kids will enjoy watching.
PS. I operate a municipal ULV insecticide fogging truck and I felt a little guilty leaving it outside. Plus as slow moving as this guy is, he would no doubt ended up as somebodys lunch.
[Moderator: Well, it could be a female — the females don’t make noise.]
Comment by Russ — August 15, 2005 [AT] 6:18 pm
Hi my son and I are trying to find out some info on cicada’s in our area. We live in Freehold, NJ and have been hearing them at night for weeks now. Tonight there is one perched on our screen door. From the websites I’ve read it says that there would’nt be any emerging in ’05, and that they only live for 2 weeks. They’ve definitly been out there more than 2 weeks.Or am I not getting the right info??
Thanks
Donna
[Moderator: in Jersey you have two basic types of cicadas: 1) the annual type, and 2) the periodical type which arrive every 17 years. Right now you’re seeing the annual type, which belong to the Genus Tibicen]
Comment by Donna D. — August 14, 2005 [AT] 10:39 pm
The Cicadas are here in the Upstate of South Carolina. I live in a little town southwest of Greenville SC called Honea Path. We have Oak and Chesnut Trees and the are singing wonderfully all day like I used to hear them in Southern France.
Now here I need an expert for answers? I heard the same noise last year. Not quite as prominent then this year but still I could hear them well every day.
This year I have been looking around and found some dead Magicicadas.
I am a little lost about this 17 year cicle. How could I have heard some last year and this year.
Are they other types of cicadas that live every year and make a similar noise?
Also as I go about enjoying these wonderful creatures of nature I hear being closer some high pitch singing less loud and frequent?
I would be thankful if anybody can give me more information. Suggestions of site with information and an excellent book about cicadas.
I feel in heaven, romantic and this wonderful noise while reading a book under a tree is an awesome feeling.
Edmond Schafeitel
Honea Path SC
Message by Edmond Schafeitel — August 14, 2005 [AT] 8:38 am
Comment by Edmond Schafeitel — August 14, 2005 [AT] 8:53 am
Yesterday I was at a picnic with my family and spotted what seemed to be a large dragonfly buried in the grass dead. So I kind of kicked at it and it started buzzing. Come to find out it was two cicadas apparently mating. Since my daughter was with me and she likes to collect bugs of all sorts, we put it in a container with leaves and twigs and a catipillar that she had found earlier. How rare is it to find them in the grass like that? Port Huron, MI
Comment by Todd Taylor — August 14, 2005 [AT] 7:53 am
[Moderator: that’s a Tibicen, not a Magicicada, but go on…]
For the last few nights I have had the opportunity to observe the behavior of the Magicicada in my back yard. I live in Marlboro, NJ and this year the air is filled with the sound of the percing buzzing calls of the male cicada and the approving clicks of the females.
I have been painting an official size NBA basketball half court on my driveway. My family is anxious for me to finish so I have been painting into the night with two flood lights. The first night I stayed out late painting (till 2:30 AM) I immediately became aware that this was not going to be a normal night in Marlboro. As night fell, the intensity of the buzzing calls increased and the cicada began gathering in the tree above me (a towering 150 year old red maple tree). As I painted, I noticed that fresh leaves from the tree where slowly raining down around me often accompanied by what appeared to be shoots of dead grass, with their tiny dry rootlets attached. The grass appeared to have been coated with a sticky substance and teased so that the roots and leaves looked like they had been curled.
The leaves also appeared to have been altered. Sections of the leaf to the right and left of the mid-line had been removed in a roughly symetrical pattern, often punctuated by holes on either side. The substance coating the leaves had an acrid musky unpleasant smell (at least to me). It also seamed to be tuning the fresh green leaves a yellow to orange to brown color.
As I continued to paint, the cicadas in the tree above me seemed to be agrivated by my presence. They continued to gather above and the raining down of leaves increased, some landing on me directly. When ever I repositioned the flood lights their calls rose in intensity.
Finally, a particularly large cicada flew down out of the tree and aimed itself directly at my head causing me to duck to avoid a collision. I quickly set the light down and darted away from the spot light, and into the dark shadows of my yard, to avoid a second aireal assault by the cicada. The giant insect touched down directly in the spotlight created by the lamp and took up position as close to the light as possible, It was then that I noticed the bright red glowing eyes of this cicada as it peered into the light and beyond it into the night. I quickly learned the rules of this relationship. Don’t touch the light and don’t block the light. If you do, the arial assaults resume. I finally reached an uneasy peace with the cicada. I could slowly move the light, without prompting aggressive behavior from the cicada, if I made sure to keep the insect in the most prominent position under the spotlight.
All kidding aside, the events I recorded here did happen to me in the middle of the night when I entered the cicada’s space under that old tree. On the succeding three nights it took me to finish the basketball court I encountered the same behavior. I feel I have a deeper understanding of these cicada behaviors now although it contradicts the official excepted version of their behavior.
Has anyone out there had a similar experience with cicadas in their area or witnessed any other unusual behaviors by cicadas? If so I’d love to read about them.
Comment by Daniel Ross — August 13, 2005 [AT] 11:35 pm
Here in Albion my brother and I found a cicada under our outdore table umbrella we don’t know why it was there.We had it in a container but we let it go at night when we were done looking at it it was kewl but we were scared to hold it so we looked up on this website if they bite. And it told us they dont but we did’nt want to take a chance of it laying eggs in us so we decided to show our mom and when we did she freaked out so then we showed our step father and he yelled at us for having it so then like I said we let it free and it didn’t fly cuz it was too cold out and it was raining so then we decided to put it back on our umbrella so it didn’t get wet so it could fly away the next morning and we didnt take it abdomin off like dum rejected people do just for their entertainment. have a nice day c ya bye.
Comment by Heather — August 11, 2005 [AT] 5:56 pm
will there be any more big emergences of magicicada near the baltimore area anytime soon? I’m not expecting any news making hatchings near my home but i would like to drive to a close by place with a fairly large brood brood x was huge in martinsberg wv last year for example.
Comment by Vince Matson — August 10, 2005 [AT] 8:58 pm
hi, i am just curious if what i’ve been seeing on my tree in my yard are cicadas!!! I have found several body casingswhich are brown in color and from the middle of the back of the head to the middle of their back or open with embelicalcords or some kind of feeding line inside I saved four that I found because I found them very interesting and was determined to find out what they were! Well, I will tell you!!!!!!!!!!! I went outside to let my dogs out around eleven thirty pm one evening last week and saw the same brown insect attacted to the tree with it’s front claws several hours later this amazing huge insect was on top of it!! It was about 4 inches long from head to end of body ( body was a tanish color) but the wings on this creature were amazing!! they were theabout 2 to 3 inches long and irridesant green, blue, pink pearly looking. The head was tan/light green in color with black eyes. Was i scared you ask you bettcha!!! because the are so huge!!!!!!!! But i was also intreged an so astonished that this big creature came out of that excoskeleton(is that what they are called I am new to this) i deal with dogs all day i am a dog groomer!!!! So anyway last night at eleven thirty pm I found another one on my tree so i made my boyfriend come out to confirm my findings!!!! Because i really don’t think he beleived me on how big they are! Boy was he amazed and it made him a little nervous we both walked right up to the tree it seemed to be looking right at us it was upon the casing it must have just shed its skin!! Because at first it looks as if they are feeding on another insect until they walk off the body casing and you can see the inside with the embilical cords inside. I came to the conclusion that after they leave their skin they dry their wings rest for a few minutes about 20 minutes or so and they fly away leaving the casing behind!! I have one that i found on the ground it wasn’t injured and so i put in an aquarium and i am patently waiting for it to shed its skin ! once it comes out i will set iot free I believe in that !!! If any one has any information on this creature please let me now………………sincerely, amy the bug lady!!!!
Comment by amy gentile — August 8, 2005 [AT] 4:23 pm
CICADAS ATTACKING GRAPES IN ASIA (Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria)
We are working on a project to assist grape growers in Asia to better manage cicadas that have been found on grape roots. Goals are to: (1) Determine the species of cicada, (2) create bio-control tactics to limit the damage done by the nymphs to grapevines.We would be interested in cicada projects which are being conducted to manage cicadas by any means (bio-control, cultural, and even chemical). Please respond to email Millern [AT] wooster.edu
Thank you
Comment by Nathaniel Miller — August 7, 2005 [AT] 6:56 pm
In Seattle, Aug 6, 2:30 pm, 80+ degreees (Thats quite hot for up here). I cam out of mygarage following a sound that reminded me of an air hose leak or a water hose still left on. I followed it past the house, and cupping my ears, followed the sound to a spot on a doug fir about 100′ high in my front yard. It was coming from what looks to be a squirrel’s nest aobut 30′ up. I had to ask my wife what it was, i have not ever heard these things before. It ended up being a sort of high pitched buzzing noise.
Comment by lloyd — August 7, 2005 [AT] 8:31 am
Well, they are driving me crazy here in eastern Iowa. Very Very loud in our partially wooded backyard. I know they have not been this loud for several years. When I was pumping gas nearby our home there was a cicada (the largest I have ever seen) climbing up the gas pump. It really startled me ( I swear it was staring at me! ) Ha! Anyway, is it possible this is the 17th year here in Cedar Rapids , Iowa? They have been everywhere and the sound at night is almost deafening.
Comment by sara — August 5, 2005 [AT] 10:05 pm
How come t.chloromera sometimes has a black thorax and neon green wings and sometimes doesn’t? My theory is that when they were in molt they were exposed to too much light, or there evolving iton another species.
Also whats the difference in color between t.lyricen and t.robinsonianus? And also when your identifing a cicada does the same species all look pretty much exactlly alike or does it very alot? And if you found one t.pruinosa in north carolina and another in florda would there proportion change any or just the color?
Comment by justin — August 3, 2005 [AT] 4:08 pm
Dear sirs,
In the last few days, that awful sound of the cicada has returned, unexpected in this portion of SE Ohio (Athens). This last weekend, we happened to drive to Canaan Valley, WV (near Davis) and stayed two days… NO NOISE! I assume from this that the current brood hatch is in SE Ohio, but not expansive to the east. Two questions: #1: I can’t find any map or prediction for a brood hatch (of the 17 year nor 13 year cycles) that match this year (looked on the UofMich website). What is the distribution for this year supposed to be? Could this be the 2004 brood running late? #2: Could a cicada “hitch a ride” on our car, transported to a new, virgin teritory like Canaan valley, and start a new infestation in 18 years? Alright, what if a PAIR of them hitched a ride under the hood of my car and dropped off there? I shudder to think what I have done to that paradise if this is true.
Thanks for any help you can supply me… I will share this with our TV viewers. -Kirk G, WTAP TV Weatherman
Comment by Kirk Greenfield — August 1, 2005 [AT] 7:47 am
When I went out for a smoke at about 3am in southern Ontario area, I saw a Cicada on the road, I caught it and I have it in a jar in my room. I thought my cat might get some fun out of viewing it from outside the jar… but as soon as my cat got in my room it went into killing mode. I couldnt go near my cat it was so agitated. Do Cicadas give off a scent that would scare off or perhaps entice predators?
(P.S, the next morning I let the Cicada go about its business back outside, unharmed by my cat)
Comment by Evan — July 29, 2005 [AT] 3:22 am
There is a cicada parked on the outside of my window right now. I live in South Nyack, NY. I happen to have a very deep phobia of bugs, especially flying ones, and the thought of having to deal with a cicada hatching… I didn’t think they came to Nyack!!!
Can someone please verify for me whether or not a brood is hatching right now? In Rockland county New York? I am shaking as I write this. Please let me know if I have to spend the summer elsewhere!!
I know they are hamless. Phobias are irrational. I just am terrified of them. I hope this is a fluke….
Comment by MzOuiser — July 26, 2005 [AT] 12:10 pm
These bugs are scary and it seems that I have a million of them in my yard, can someone tell me when are they going to go away.
Comment by Angelika — July 25, 2005 [AT] 11:14 pm
I have a green and black Cicada and I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Are they usually something that lives this far north?
Comment by Johnny — July 25, 2005 [AT] 8:47 am
Okay, I’m sorry if this is a Cicada loving site, but these things are DRIVING ME CRAZY! I live in Atlanta, GA — 2005. Please, please, please someone tell me that I will not have to deal with this here for another 17 years?
Comment by Heather — July 25, 2005 [AT] 7:13 am
hi ronald. i’m shay from south carolina. i “googled” cicadas florida. you should visit http://www.floridanature.org. yes, cicadas do thrive in florida. happy searching!!
Comment by Shay C — July 22, 2005 [AT] 8:45 am
I live and work here in NE Philadelphia. I am from Seattle and this is the first time I have seen this bug. We found one outside our office here at Naval Station NAVICP Philadelphia. I thought it was a giant fly at first, figured he was trying to escape the hurricane season down there. However, I found the pictures of a cicada on your site through yahoo and it was a direct match with the green one I saw. I Just wanted to let you know they were here. John
Comment by John Reynolds — July 22, 2005 [AT] 7:04 am
I found a cicada here in tampa at alafia state park along a bike trail that a ride frequently. I would like to know if this is just an abnormal finding? I kept the insect for proof. I grew up in DC and didnt think that a cicada could or would grow here? Can anyone give me some answers or direction on the possibility or cicadas in Tampa Florida? rcarkhuff [AT] hotmail.com
thanks
Comment by ronald carkhuff — July 21, 2005 [AT] 7:01 pm
O.K. I’M COMPLETELY HOOKED ON CICADAS NOW. I’M FROM THE SOUTH (ENOREE,SC) SO MY SUMMER NIGHTS, ALL MY LIFE, HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH THE BEAUTIFUL SONG OF THESE CREATURES (IT’S ALMOST DEAFENING/BUT LOVELY). BUT SINCE MY SIGHTING LAST NIGHT (I WATCHED ONE EMERGE!) I CAN’T GET ENOUGH INFORMATION!! MY SON AND I WENT OUT THIS AFTERNOON AND SAW SCUDS OF SHELLS UNDER TWO WILD CHERRY TREES. MY QUESTION IS…HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF CICADAS YOU ARE HEARING, OR WHAT KIND ARE IN MY AREA? (PS — LOVED COLLIN’S BAD JOKE COMMENT — HA! HA!)
Comment by Shay C — July 21, 2005 [AT] 6:48 pm
YES…I’VE WITNESSED IT TWICE MYSELF (IN UPSTATE SC). IT’S REALLY KINDA SAD. THE WHOLE COMMOTION OF IT IS HORRIBLE. DON’T REALLY KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT THOUGH.
Comment by Shay C — July 20, 2005 [AT] 9:14 pm
have you ever heard of a cicada killer it looks like a bee part wasp insect i saw one one time carring a cicada
Comment by holly — July 15, 2005 [AT] 1:43 am
Edward,
If you really want to keep a Cicada something like a terrarium would be more suitable. Cicadas have mouth sucking parts known as a beak and they actually suck the Xylem of plants. So what would be good is to get a branch from a tree and stick it in some water then put the cicada on the branch, if you’re lucky you will see it start to feed. They like to feed for about an hour.
Also, Cicadas don’t really live long in captivity maybe about a week to 10 days.
Gerry
Comment by Gerry — July 6, 2005 [AT] 9:34 pm
I just realized that in my excitement I didn’t tell anyone where it was that I found it. I’m in Elmont, N.Y. which is just over the border from Queens, NY.
Comment by edward b ford — July 4, 2005 [AT] 6:46 pm
July 4, 2005
I just found one attached to the louverd window of my basement. It was brown and in pre-emergence mode. I told my kids what it was and that we’d check it out in the morning to see if it had come out. A half an hour later I happend to be going out to the car and took a look at it and low and behold it was half way out. I waited another half hour taking photos before deciding to capture it. I now have it in a tupperware container about 5in deep by 8in wide and 14in long. I put some large wood chips for it to crawl on and some grass and some of the hedge. I also put some “honeysuckle” in there because I’m not sure what they eat. Any how I’d like any and all advice as to what I should do from here. I know that the Chinese keep them as pets. I’m sure that my girls would love that although they are very noisey.
Comment by edward b ford — July 4, 2005 [AT] 6:44 pm
I wanted to write that on june 28, 2005 in The Pas Manitoba Canada, i was out taking a walk and found a bug of the likes I have never seen before. I went home and looked it up and it was a cicada. I was surprised as it does not seem to be native to the north. I feel quite lucky to have found one- it was so big and beautiful (in its own way)
Brandy Stener
Comment by Brandy Stener — June 28, 2005 [AT] 7:34 pm
I wanted to write that on june 28, 2005 in The Pas Manitoba Canada, i was out taking a walk and found a bug of the likes I have never seen before. I went home and looked it up and it was a cicada. I was surprised as it does not seem to be native to the north. I feel quite lucky to have found one- it was so big and beautiful (in its own way)
Brandy Stener
Comment by Brandy Stener — June 28, 2005 [AT] 7:34 pm
Hi, I just wanted to say that on June 28 while out for a walk, I found a cicada. This is the first i have ever seen in my life! I did not even know what it was until i came home home and looked it up. Beautiful and interesting… So far as I know- they are not native to these areas so I feel lucky to have seen one. Brandy S.
Comment by Brandy Stener — June 28, 2005 [AT] 7:26 pm
When do the cicadas usually come out in Michigan? It is hot and muggy here and I am waiting for them.
Comment by Britta — June 24, 2005 [AT] 6:00 am
I found a cicada here in Central Texas in the track of my sliding glass door a few days ago, and it’s the smallest one I’ve ever seen in my life. I guess it never occured to me that they might come in different sizes. It’s small and brown (might have been green when alive), and about 3/4 inch from eyes to wing tip. I have an image I scanned of it with a ruler measuring it. I was actually pretty excited about it. Its always exciting to discover creatures you’ve never seen before, and Texas is full of those kinds of things. (I’m not from Texas) I’d also like to mention it occurred to me that the cicada sounds here are much different, more pleasant, less shrill than in Mississippi or North Carolina, and I also find that interesting. My parents and grammy mentioned the cicadas have not yet come out where they live in Mississippi, which is very unusual. They haven’t heard any this summer yet.
Comment by Mara — June 20, 2005 [AT] 7:38 am
Lately there has been a noise right outside my window at night that sounds just like a cicada. I’m fairly familiar with the sound cicadas make from my travels around the world. The thing is that I live in Western Washington State on the rainy side of the mountains, and I didn’t think that cicadas could live in this area because of the climate. Am I wrong? Can cicadas live in the wet and cold Pacific NW? If not, what sounds just like a cicada and lives in the Pacific NW (that sounds just liket he start to a bad joke)?
Comment by Collin — May 22, 2005 [AT] 1:39 pm
The American writer and naturalist Henry D. Thoreau mentions in his journal “a sort of black eyed septendecim” that began its call (at Concord, Massachusetts) around the first of June in 1854. Would you care to guess what particular species he might have referred to?
Thoreau sent a specimen to Harvard librarian and entomologist Thaddeus William Harris, who responded (apparently referring by “C. 17" to a print or a description in his own book on insects) thus: “The Cicada seems to be a female, and of course when living could not make the noise peculiar to the other sex. It differs from my specimens of Cicada septemdecim (& indeed still more from all the other species in my collection). It is not so large as the C. 17; it has more orange about its thorax; the wing-veins are not so vividly stained with orange, and the dusky zigzag on the anterior or upper wings, which is very distinct in the C. 17, is hardly visible in this specimen. It has much the same form as the female C. 17; but I must see the male in order to determine positively whether it be merely a variety or a different species.”
Comment by Bradley P. Dean — May 17, 2005 [AT] 3:31 pm
You might see some stagglers in the DC area. Nothing like last years emergence, but a few here and there.
Comment by Administrator — May 11, 2005 [AT] 7:33 am
Im curious will or when there be Cicada sight seeing in wash Dc area?
Comment by Merritt — May 10, 2005 [AT] 11:27 pm
Long Island’s Brood X disappointment.
Is it possible that the small emergence last year was simply an early emergence of Brood XIV four years early? Brood XIV is the dominant brood in this area and 4 year early emergences have been noted in many areas in the past. I suspect that previous appearances of Brood X on Long Island may have actually been actually members of Brood XIV.
Comment by AJay — May 9, 2005 [AT] 12:47 pm