Cicada Mania

Dedicated to cicadas, the most amazing insects in the world.

December 16, 2018

Diceroprocta bicosta (Walker, 1850)

Diceroprocta bicosta (Walker, 1850) is a cicada found in Mexico and Costa Rica.

Diceroprocta bicosta was formerly known as Cicada bicosta.

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Cryptotympanini
SubTribe: Cryptotympanina
Genus: Diceroprocta
Species: Diceroprocta bicosta (Walker, 1850)

Diceroprocta bicosta (Walker, 1850)
This image says Cicada bicosta, but the newest name for this cicada is Diceroprocta bicosta.

References:

  1. The illustration comes from Biologia Centrali-Americana. Insecta. Rhynchota. Hemiptera-Homoptera. Vol. 1. By W. L. Distant F.E.S. and The Rev. Canon W. W. Fowler, F.L.S. (1881-1905). Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
  2. Species name verification comes from Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).

December 15, 2018

Diceroprocta alacris & Diceroprocta apache

Diceroprocta alacris & Diceroprocta apache are two cicadas, both found in Mexico. I’m covering them both in the same post because they were both formerly refrered to as Cicada transversa.

Diceroprocta apache

D. apache was formerly known as Cicada transversa.

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Cryptotympanini
SubTribe: Cryptotympanina
Genus: Diceroprocta
Species: Diceroprocta apache (Davis, 1921)

D. apache, aka Citrus Cicada, is also found in the southern United States. Visit this page to listen to its song.

D. apache have triangle-shaped opercula.

Cicada transversa illustration from Insecta. Rhychota. – note the shape of the triangular shape of the opercula:

A photo of D. apache from my collection. Same/similar cicada? Maybe, maybe not. Note the opercula:

Diceroprocta alacris

There are two subspecies: D. alacris alacris (Stål, 1864) and D. alacris campechensis Davis, 1938.

Diceroprocta alacris was formerly known as Cicada alacris as well as Cicada transversa.

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Cryptotympanini
SubTribe: Cryptotympanina
Genus: Diceroprocta
Species: Diceroprocta alacris
Subspecies: D. alacris alacris (Stål, 1864)
Subspecies: D. alacris campechensis Davis, 1938

Two varieties of Cicada alacris – note the rounded shape of the operculum:

References:

  1. The illustration comes from Biologia Centrali-Americana. Insecta. Rhynchota. Hemiptera-Homoptera. Vol. 1. By W. L. Distant F.E.S. and The Rev. Canon W. W. Fowler, F.L.S. (1881-1905). Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
  2. Species name verification comes from Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).

December 13, 2018

Carineta trivittata Walker, 1858

Carineta trivittata Walker, 1858 is a cicada found in Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, and Costa Rica.

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadettinae
Tribe: Carinetini
SubTribe: Carinetiina
Genus: Carineta
Species: Carineta trivittata Walker, 1858

Carineta trivittata Walker, 1858

References:

  1. The illustration comes from Biologia Centrali-Americana. Insecta. Rhynchota. Hemiptera-Homoptera. Vol. 1. By W. L. Distant F.E.S. and The Rev. Canon W. W. Fowler, F.L.S. (1881-1905). Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
  2. Species name verification comes from Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).

November 22, 2018

Cacama maura (Distant, 1881)

Cacama maura (Distant, 1881) is a cicada found in Mexico.

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Cryptotympanini
SubTribe: Cryptotympanina
Genus: Cacama
Species: Cacama maura (Distant, 1881)

Cacama maura (Distant, 1881)

Cacama genus description by W. L. Distant in Genera Insectorum, 1913:

Characters. — Head (including eyes) little more than two thirds the breadth of base of mesonotum, anteriorly depressed, its length only a little more than half the breadth between eyes; pronotum considerably shorter than mesonotum, its lateral margins obliquely sinuate; mesonotum somewhat convexly gibbous; abdomen short, broad, convex above, its length equal to the space between apex of head and base of cruciform elevation, the lateral margins a little angulate at posterior segmental angles; tympana completely covered, lateral margins of the tympanal coverings subparallel to the abdominal margins; rostrum reaching or passing the posterior coxae ; metasternum very large; opercula about half the length of abdomen above, broad, their apical margins convexly rounded, their lateral margins almost straight; tegmina and wings (excepting base) hyaline, the first broad, their greatest width a little less than half their length, apical areas eight in number, the two lowermost small, subquadrangular.

References:

  1. The illustration and genus description comes from the journal Genera Insectorum, and a specific article from 1913 by W. L. Distant titled Homoptera. Fam. Cicadidae, Subfam, Cicadinae. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
  2. Current species name verified using Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).

November 14, 2018

Uhleroides cubensis Distant, 1912

Uhleroides cubensis Distant, 1912 is a cicada found in Cuba.

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Zammarini
Genus: Uhleroides
Species: Uhleroides cubensis Distant, 1912

Uhleroides genus description by W. L. Distant:

Characters. — Head slightly shorter than pronotum, front considerably shorter than vertex, lateral margins of both nearly continuous and both centrally, longitudinally finely Silicate; ocelli a little farther apart from eyes than from each other, vertex impressed between ocelli and eyes, the latter scarcely projecting beyond the anterior pronotal angles; pronotum shorter than mesonotum. the lateral margins moderately ampliate but not angulate; mesonotum shorter than head and pronotum together; abdomen about as long as space between apex of head and base of cruciform elevation; tympanal coverings globose and projecting beyond the lateral margins of the abdomen, outwardly complete, the orifices only exposed inwardly; opercula not extending beyond base of abdomen, lateral and apically rounded, not meeting internally; rostrum reaching the posterior coxae; face longer than broad, lateral margins a little sinuate near base, finely centrally sulcate on posterior half, strongly transverse^ striate, the lateral margins a little broadly reflexed; tegmina three times as long as broad, hyaline, eight apical areas, basal eel! longer than broad; wings about half as long as tegmina, six apical areas; anterior femora armed with two spines beneath.

References:

  1. The illustration and description comes from the journal Genera Insectorum, and a specific article from 1914 by W. L. Distant titled Homoptera. Fam. Cicadidae, Subfam, Gaeaninae. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
  2. Species name verification comes from Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).

November 13, 2018

Ollanta mexicana Distant, 1905

Ollanta mexicana Distant, 1905, is a cicada found in Mexico.

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Fidicinini
SubTribe: Guyalnina
Genus: Ollanta
Species: Ollanta mexicana Distant, 1905

Ollanta mexicana Distant, 1905

Ollanta genus description by W. L. Distant:

Characters. — Head (including eyes) broader than base of mesonotum, eyes projecting beyond anterior angles of pronotum, vertex at area of ocelli about or almost as long as the front; pronotum shorter than mesonotum, its posterior angles labately produced, its lateral margins obliquely narrowed anteriorly, very slightly sinuate; mesonotum moderately convex; abdomen short, about as long as space between apex of head and base of cruciform elevation, tympanal coverings large, their apices subacute, anteriorly but not interiorly covering cavities; rostrum reaching posterior coxae; opercula small, transverse, only about reaching base of abdomen; face moderately globose; tegmina and wings hyaline, the first with eight apical areas.

References:

  1. The illustration and description comes from the journal Genera Insectorum, and a specific article from 1914 by W. L. Distant titled Homoptera. Fam. Cicadidae, Subfam, Gaeaninae. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
  2. Species name verification comes from Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).

November 2, 2018

Diceroprocta biconica (Walker, 1850)

Diceroprocta biconica (Walker, 1850) was formerly known as Rihana biconica. The Rihana genus no longer exists.

It is found in Cuba and Florida in the U.S.:


Source: ©Insect Singers

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Cryptotympanini
SubTribe: Cryptotympanina
Genus: Diceroprocta
Species: Diceroprocta biconica (Walker, 1850)

Diceroprocta biconica (Walker, 1850)
The image says Rihana biconica, but the newest name of this cicada is Diceroprocta biconica.

For the fun of it, here is a genus description for Rihana:

Characters. — Flead distinctly longer than half the breadth between eyes, and including eyes wider than base of mesonotum ; face more or less prominent, its lateral margins in line with lateral margins of vertex; eyes oblique, longer than broad; pronotum a little narrowed behind eyes, about or almost as long as mesonotum in front of cruciform elevation ; abdomen not, or scarcely, longer than length between apex of face and base of cruciform elevation ; other characters generally as in Cicada.

Name, Location and Description

References:

  1. The illustration and genus description comes from the journal Genera Insectorum, and a specific article from 1913 by W. L. Distant titled Homoptera. Fam. Cicadidae, Subfam, Cicadinae. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
  2. Current species name verified using Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).

October 28, 2018

Diceroprocta cinctifera

Diceroprocta cinctifera is found in North America, specifically the south-western United States and Mexico. There are three subspecies. It was formerly known as Cicada cinctifera. Yes, its name has changed

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Cryptotympanini
SubTribe: Cryptotympanina
Genera: Diceroprocta
Species: Diceroprocta cinctifera
Subspecies: Diceroprocta cinctifera cinctifera (Uhler, 1892)
Subspecies: Diceroprocta cinctifera limpia Davis, 1932
Subspecies: Diceroprocta cinctifera viridicosta Davis, 1930

Diceroprocta cinctifera
The image says Cicada cinctifera, but the name of this cicada is Diceroprocta cinctifera.

Song type: Call


Source: ©Insect Singers | Species: D. cinctifera cinctifera

Name, Location and Description

References:

  1. The illustration and genus description comes from the journal Genera Insectorum, and a specific article from 1913 by W. L. Distant titled Homoptera. Fam. Cicadidae, Subfam, Cicadinae. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
  2. Current species name verified using Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).
  3. Full Binomial Names: ITIS.gov
  4. Common names: BugGuide.net; The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Herschberger; personal memory.
  5. Locations: Biogeography of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of North America, North of Mexico by Allen F. Sanborn and Polly K. Phillips.
  6. Descriptions, Colors: personal observations from specimens or photos from many sources. Descriptions are not perfect, but may be helpful.

October 4, 2018

Proarna squamigera Uhler, 1895

Proarna squamigera Uhler, 1895 is found in the Antilles islands.

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Sub Family: Cicadinae
Tribe: Fidicinini
Sub Tribe: Guyalnina
Genus: Proarna
Species: Proarna squamigera Uhler, 1895

Proarna squamigera Uhler, 1895

Proarna genus description by W. L. Distant:

Characters. — Head (including eyes) about equal in width to base of mesonotum. eyes scarcely projecting beyond anterior angles of pronotum, vertex of head at area of ocelli distinctly longer than front; pronotum a little shorter than mesonotum. the posterior angles a little prominent but not lobately produced; abdomen about as long as space between apex of head and base of cruciform elevation; metasternum with a moderately elevated transverse central plate, which is not anteriorly angularly produced ; tegmina about three times as long as broad, the transverse vein at base of second apical area more or less vertical ; wings about half the length of tegmina, the latter with eight apical areas, the basal cell longer than broad.

References:

  1. The illustration comes from the journal Genera Insectorum, and a specific article from 1914 by W. L. Distant titled Homoptera. Fam. Cicadidae, Subfam, Gaeaninae. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
  2. Species name information/verification comes from Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).

October 2, 2018

Pacarina puella Davis, 1923

Pacarina puella Davis, 1923 is a small cicada. About 2 centimeters, according to BugGuide.You can find this cicada in the several southern (United) States, Mexico, and Central America. It is commonly known as the Little Mesquite Cicada.

It’s also one of the cuter cicadas. See what I mean:
Pacarina puella photos by John Beard taken in Texas
Pacarina puella photos by John Beard taken in Texas

Photo credit: Pacarina by by John Beard in Atascosa County, TX

Listen to its song ((c) Insect Singers):

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Sub Family: Cicadinae
Tribe: Fidicinini
Sub Tribe: Guyalnina
Genus: Pacarina
Species: Pacarina puella Davis, 1923

And its name has changed since 1914. It used to be known as Pacarina signifera (technically, its a synonym):

Pacarina puella Davis, 1923
The image says Pacarina signifera but the newest name of this cicada is Pacarina puella.

Pacarina genus description by W. L. Distant:

Characters. — Head (including eyes) broader than base of mesonotum ; eyes projecting beyond anterior angles of pronotum ; vertex at area of ocelli much longer than front ; pronotum with the posterior angles moderately lobately produced, its lateral margins oblique, slightly sinuate, its length shorter than that of mesonotum ; abdomen about as long as space between apex of head and base of cruciform elevation; tympanal coverings distinct but inwardly concavely narrowed and exposing the tympanal cavities; face convex, a little broader than the space between it and eyes; opercula about reaching base of abdomen, their lateral margins oblique, their posterior margins a little rounded; anterior femora armed with two strong spines beneath; rostrum about reaching the posterior coxae; tegmina and wings hyaline; apical areas eight.

References:

  1. The illustration comes from the journal Genera Insectorum, and a specific article from 1914 by W. L. Distant titled Homoptera. Fam. Cicadidae, Subfam, Gaeaninae. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
  2. Species name information/verification comes from Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).

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