Here are some Magicicada cassinii photos from Brood X, 2021, Flemmington, New Jersey.
Magicicada cassinii ovipositing
M. cassinii taking a drink:
Cicadas have three types of life cycles: annual, periodical, proto-periodical.
July 3, 2021
Magicicada cassinii photos from Brood X
Examples of flagging from Brood X in Princeton
When Magicicada cicadas deposit eggs into a tree branch sometimes the branch dies, the leaves turn brown, and the branch droops like a flag. This is called flagging.
Here are some examples of flagging from the Brood X emergence in Princeton, NJ.
Typically flagging is more impactful to trees imported to North America, but it also impacts native species. The positive aspect is it prunes weaker branches, which helps the tree, and helps other plants in the shade of the tree.
If you want to learn whether eggs/larva survive flagging read FLAGGING: HOSTS DEFENCES VERSUS OVIPOSITION STRATEGIES IN PERIODICAL CICADAS (MAGICICADA SPP., CICADIDAE, HOMOPTERA) by JoAnn White. Hint: very few survive.
A small tree with flagging:
Flagging up close:
Another small tree with flagging:
Brood X Magicicada Photos from Princeton
These are a set of Brood X Magicicada photos from Princeton, nearby a Burger King, an area with a large population of Magicicada septendecula. Taken in 2021 by Dan Mozgai.
Left to right: Magicicada cassini, Magicicada septendecula, Magicicada septendecim:
Magicicada septendecim with a black wing margin:
Magicicada septendecim with a black wing margin:
A pair of Magicicada septedecim:
Magicicada septendecim:
Magicicada septendecim:
June 27, 2021
The Evolutionary Origin of Periodical Cicadas: A Sci-Fi Story by Jin Yoshimura
Here’s a video from Jin Yoshimura who researches periodical cicadas.
The Evolutionary Origin of Periodical Cicadas: A Sci-Fi Story:
The Evolutionary Origin of Periodical Cicadas: A Sci-Fi Story:
Periodical cicadas are known for their unique 17- and 13-year life cycles and mass emergence events. This mystery of why they would have evolved these two prime-numbered life cycles has attracted many biologists and mathematicians. Dr. Yoshimura will explore this phenomenon
June 8, 2021
Platypedia putnami survey at Horsetooth Mountain Open Space by Tim McNary
Here’s a short 2021 update for the Platypedia putnami survey at Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, west of Fort Collins, Colorado. 2021 is turning out to be a very large emergence for this cicada, and it’s not through yet! The survey transect goes from the trailhead parking lot to Horsetooth Falls. Although the first exuvia found was on May 22, 2021, the bulk of the exuvia, so far, have emerged (153 of 201 exuvia) June 5-8th. “Clicking” of adults can be heard in many areas, but is concentrated in certain sites.
Tim McNary
Fort Collins, COHere are the mega data on exuvia found each year:
2009- 136 exuvia
2010- 0
2011- 3
2012- 2
2013- 179
2014- 0
2015- 12
2016- 0
2017- 0
2018- 13
2019- 2
2020- 0
2021- 201 (exuvia through June 8, 2021)
Links:
May 2, 2021
Different types of Magicicada periodical cicada holes
Different types of Magicicada periodical cicada holes found in Princeton, NJ. Brood X, 2021. Generally speaking, their holes are about the size of a dime. You won’t see a spray or kickback of soil around the hole like you would when an animal is digging into the soil rather than coming out of it (cicadas are coming out).
Typical dime-sized cicada holes
A hole with a corresponding mini cicada-chimney
A golf ball sized chimney over a hole
A hole borrowed into a hay bale laying on the ground
A hole in moss
Holes in the underside of a rotten log, with a nymph!
Cicadas will burrow up from the soil of the ground and keep going into the rotting wood of a rotten log! I had to roll the log over to see it.
The inside view of a 4″ cicada chimney
Video of a Nymph
April 19, 2021
17-year cicada cross word puzzle
Want to try a 17-year cicada crossword puzzle? It isn’t easy.
Download a large version of the image with the hints. Or use the one on this page:
ACROSS
2. Two of them are…
7. Mistaken identity
8. Soil temperature sampler
10. Insect Singers site
11. The cicada’s old outfit
13. Where you’ll find the arches.
15. Keep a lid on it.
17. Longest lifecycle.
22. Ohio expert
24. Five.
27. Never on time.
28. A delicious drink.
29. I’m seeing red.
30. Grill.
31. 5 steps.
33. Final form.
35. Seven is the smallest.
DOWN
1. Un-popped collar.
3. Four to get off the Floor.
4. A “cool” cicada expert.
5. Three of Five.
6. Youngsters.
9. Plates
12. A rare color.
14. Nest knife.
16. Pitch shifter
18. Left Connecticut forever
19. Drum kit.
20. Amphetamine fungus.
21. Cicada banners.
23. Keep hanging on.
25. Mr. Softy.
26. Just six of these.
32. Beak.
34. Connecticut lab leader
I used the Discovery Education Puzzlemaker to create this.
April 18, 2021
Cicada Mania BINGO for Brood X 2021
Here’s something fun: Cicada Mania BINGO. Use this BINGO card to keep track of everything you see, hear or do in context to the Brood X emergence. Here’s a PDF version. Tips below the image of the card:
Tips:
- Pictures of cicada Holes and Chimneys
- Magicicada septendecim photos & song
- A cicada with white eyes
- Cicadas with blue and yellow eyes
- Video of Cicada Nymphs at Night
- Cicadas with Massospora cicadina fungus infections
- Magicicada septendecula photos & songs
- Cicada eggs and young nymphs
- Are cicadas safe to eat?
- Magicicada cassini photos & songs
- Video of a cicada laying eggs
- Links to the Cicada Safari app.
- Cicada songs, including Choruses
- Wing Flicks Videos
I’ll probably do a version for summertime cicadas too.
Periodical cicada nymphs emerging at night
One of the most fun periodical cicada experiences is watching thousands of nymphs emerge from the ground at night, and crawl to the nearest vertical surface (hopefully a tree) and begin to molt.
This is a video by Roy Troutman from 2007 of the Brood XIII emergence, specifically in Ryerson Woods in Illinois:
Observing magicicada emergence at Ryerson Woods from Roy Troutman on Vimeo.
Here’s a time-lapse video, also by Roy, of a cicada nymph molting:
Magicicada nymph molting from Roy Troutman on Vimeo.
March 21, 2021
Periodical Cicadas: The Brood X Edition by Gene Kritsky
Renowned cicada researcher Gene Kritsky, PhD., has a new book out: Periodical Cicadas: The Brood X Edition. It is available for Kindle and paperback on Amazon.com. Now’s the time to get it.
Gene is also has a new link for the Cicada Safari App.
