Experience score:
April 14, 2020
Magicicada septendecula Alexander and Moore, 1962
Photo credit: by Dan Mozgai. Brood II, New Jersey.
All Magicicada septendecula info and images on cicadamania.com.
Song type: Call
Source: ©Joe Green | Species: M. septendecula
Song type: Call
Source: ©Joe Green | Species: M. septendecula
Video
Video Playlist
Playlists contain multiple videos found on YouTube.
Identification Tips
M. septendecula is smaller than M. septedecim, and about the same size as M. cassisii. It typically has small (small compared to M. septedecim) orange stripes on its abdomen. It lacks the orange color between the eye and wing insertion point that M. septendecim has. Its chorus sounds like a ticking clock.
Brood Chart
Magicicada septendecula has a 17-year lifecycle.
| Brood | Year | States |
|---|---|---|
| I (1) | 1961, 1978, 1995, 2012, 2029 | TN, VA, WVA |
| II (2) | 1962, 1979, 1996, 2013, 2030 | CT, GA, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OK, PA, VA |
| III (3) | 1963, 1980, 1997, 2014, 2031 | IA, IL, MO |
| IV (4) | 1964, 1981, 1998, 2015, 2032 | IA, KS, MO, NE, OK, TX |
| V (5) | 1965, 1982, 1999, 2016, 2033 | LI NY, western MD, east OH, south-west PA, north-west VA, northern half of WV |
| VI (6) | 1949, 1966, 1983, 2000, 2017 | GA, NC, SC, WI, OH |
| VIII (8) | 1951, 1968, 1985, 2002, 2019 | OH, PA, WVA and OK |
| IX (9) | 1952, 1969, 1986, 2003, 2020 | NC, VA, WVA |
| X (10) | 1953, 1970, 1987, 2004, 2021 | DE, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WVA, Washington DC |
| XIV (14) | 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025 | GA, IN, KY, MA, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WVA |
Name, Location and Description
- Cicada Name: Magicicada septendecula Alexander and Moore, 1962
- Short Name: M. septendecula
- Common Name: Decula Periodical Cicdada or 17-Year Cicada
- When: May-June. Peak in June. Every 17 years.
- Where it is found: GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, WV
- Maps: Map
- Description: Black body with orange wings and legs. Orange stripes on abdomen.
- Eye Color: reddish orange
- Pronotal Collar Color: black
- Identification: Bug Guide
- Subject Matter Expert website: Cicadas @ UCONN (formerly Magicicada.org)
- Taxonomic Information: Integrated Taxonomic Information System
- Song: Cicadas @ UCONN (formerly Magicicada.org)
Classification:
Family: Cicadidae
SubFamily: Cicadettinae
Tribe: Lamotialnini
Sub-Tribe: Tryellina
Genus: Magicicada
Species: Magicicada septendecula Alexander and Moore, 1962
List of sources
- Full Binomial Names: ITIS.gov
- Common names: BugGuide.net; The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Herschberger; personal memory.
- Locations: Cicadas @ UCONN (formerly Magicicada.org)
- Descriptions, Colors: personal observations from specimens or photos from many sources. Descriptions are not perfect, but may be helpful.
- Tribe information comes from: MARSHALL, DAVID C. et al.A molecular phylogeny of the cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) with a review of tribe and subfamily classification.Zootaxa, [S.l.], v. 4424, n. 1, p. 1—64, may 2018. ISSN 1175-5334. Available at: https://www.biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.4424.1.1
Notes:
- Some descriptions are based on aged specimens which have lost some or a lot of their color.
Magicicada septendecim (Linnaeus, 1758) aka Linnaeus’s 17-Year Cicada
Magicicada septendecim (Linnaeus, 1758) aka Linnaeus’s 17-Year Cicada aka Decim Periodical Cicada aka Pharaoh Cicada.
Photo credit: by Dan Mozgai. Brood II, NJ.
Photo credit: by Dan Mozgai. Brood II, NJ.
All Magicicada septendecim information and images on cicadamania.com.
Song type: Distress
Source: ©Cicada Mania | Species: M. septendecim
Song type: Court II
Source: ©Cicada Mania | Species: M. septendecim
Song type: Call
Source: ©Cicada Mania | Species: M. septendecim
Song type: Court III
Source: ©Cicada Mania | Species: M. septendecim
Song type: Court I
Source: ©Cicada Mania | Species: M. septendecim
Video
Video Playlist
Playlists contain multiple videos found on YouTube.
Identification Tips
M. septendecim is the largest of the 17-Year species. Its abdomen has thick orange stripes. It has orange coloring between its eye and wing. Its song sounds like “Wee-Oh”, “Pharaoh” and a group of them are said to sound like a “UFO from a science fiction movie”.
Color between the eye and wing insertion:
M. septendecim Brood Chart
Magicicada septendecim has a 17-year lifecycle.
| Brood | Years | States |
|---|---|---|
| I (1) | 1961, 1978, 1995, 2012, 2029 | TN, VA, WVA |
| II (2) | 1962, 1979, 1996, 2013, 2030 | CT, GA, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OK, PA, VA |
| III (3) | 1963, 1980, 1997, 2014, 2031 | IA, IL, MO |
| IV (4) | 1964, 1981, 1998, 2015, 2032 | IA, KS, MO, NE, OK, TX |
| V (5) | 1965, 1982, 1999, 2016, 2033 | LI NY, western MD, east OH, south-west PA, north-west VA, northern half of WV |
| VI (6) | 1949, 1966, 1983, 2000, 2017 | GA, NC, SC, WI, OH |
| VII (7) | 1950, 1967, 1984, 2001, 2018 | NY |
| VIII (8) | 1951, 1968, 1985, 2002, 2019 | OH, PA, WVA and OK |
| IX (9) | 1952, 1969, 1986, 2003, 2020 | NC, VA, WVA |
| X (10) | 1953, 1970, 1987, 2004, 2021 | DE, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WVA, Washington DC |
| XIII (13) | 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024 | IA, IL, IN, MI, WI |
| XIV (14) | 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025 | GA, IN, KY, MA, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WVA |
Name, Location and Description
- Cicada Name: Magicicada septendecim (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Short Name: M. septendecim
- Common Name: Decim Periodical Cicada or Linnaeus’s 17-Year Cicada or 17-Year Cicada
- When: May-June. Peak in June. Every 17 years.
- Where it is found: CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, WI, WV
- Maps: Map
- Description: Black body with orange wings and legs. Orange stripes on abdomen. Orange between eye and wing.
- Eye Color: reddish orange
- Pronotal Collar Color: black
- Identification: Bug Guide
- Identification: Bill Reynolds on iNaturalist
- Subject Matter Expert website: Cicadas @ UCONN (formerly Magicicada.org)
- Image: Insect Images
- Taxonomic Information: Integrated Taxonomic Information System
- Song: Cicadas @ UCONN (formerly Magicicada.org)
Classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadettinae
Tribe: Lamotialnini
Subtribe: Tryellina
Genus: Magicicada
Species: Magicicada septendecim (Linnaeus, 1758)
List of sources
- Full Binomial Names: ITIS.gov
- Common names: BugGuide.net; The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Herschberger; personal memory.
- Locations: Cicadas @ UCONN (formerly Magicicada.org)
- Descriptions, Colors: personal observations from specimens or photos from many sources. Descriptions are not perfect, but may be helpful.
- Tribe information comes from: MARSHALL, DAVID C. et al.A molecular phylogeny of the cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) with a review of tribe and subfamily classification.Zootaxa, [S.l.], v. 4424, n. 1, p. 1—64, may 2018. ISSN 1175-5334. Available at: https://www.biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.4424.1.1
Notes:
- Some descriptions are based on aged specimens which have lost some or a lot of their color.
Magicicada cassini (Fisher, 1852) aka Cassin 17-Year Cicada
Magicicada cassini (Fisher, 1852) aka Cassini 17-Year Cicada.
Update (4/10/2022) David C. Marshall published a paper arguing for the use of the name Magicicada cassini (one i): Marshall, David C. On the spelling of the name of Cassin’s 17-Year Cicada, Magicicada cassini (Fisher, 1852) (Hemiptera: Cicadidae). 2022. Zootaxa 5125 (2): 241–245. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5125.2.8
All Magicicada cassinii images & info on cicadamania.com.
M. cassini Court II & III. Recorded in New York, Brood II (2013) by Dan Mozgai.
Source: ©Cicada Mania | Species: M. cassini
Song type: Distress
Source: ©Cicada Mania | Species: M. cassini
Song type: Chorus
Source: ©Cicada Mania | Species: M. cassini
Song type: Call
Source: ©Joe Green | Species: M. cassini
Song type: Chorus
Source: ©Cicada Mania | Species: M. cassini
Video
Video Playlist
Playlists contain multiple videos found on YouTube.
Identification Tips
M. cassinii differs from other Magicicada in that its abdomen is typically all black, with no orange. Exceptions occur in the mid-west, the occasional mosaic pigment mutation. It also lacks the orange coloring between the eye and wing that M. septendecim has. Its chorus sounds like hissing static.
M. cassini Brood Chart
Magicicada cassinii has a 17-year lifecycle.
| Brood | Years | States |
|---|---|---|
| I (1) | 1961, 1978, 1995, 2012, 2029 | TN, VA, WVA |
| II (2) | 1962, 1979, 1996, 2013, 2030 | CT, GA, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OK, PA, VA |
| III (3) | 1963, 1980, 1997, 2014, 2031 | IA, IL, MO |
| IV (4) | 1964, 1981, 1998, 2015, 2032 | IA, KS, MO, NE, OK, TX |
| V (5) | 1965, 1982, 1999, 2016, 2033 | LI NY, western MD, east OH, south-west PA, north-west VA, northern half of WV |
| VIII (8) | 1968, 1985, 2002, 2019, 2026 | OH, PA, WVA and OK |
| IX (9) | 1952, 1969, 1986, 2003, 2020 | NC, VA, WVA |
| X (10) | 1953, 1970, 1987, 2004, 2021 |
DE, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WVA, Washington DC |
| XIII (13) | 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024 | IA, IL, IN, MI, WI |
| XIV (14) | 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025 | GA, IN, KY, MA, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV |
Name, Location and Description
- Cicada Name: Magicicada cassinii (Fisher, 1852)
- Short Name: M. cassinii
- Common Name: Dwarf Periodical Cicada, Cassini Periodical Cicada or 17-Year Cicada
- Synonym/Former Name: Magicicada cassini
- When: May-June. Peak in June. Every 17 years.
- Where it is found: GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV
- Maps: Map
- Description: Black body with orange wings and legs.
- Eye Color: reddish orange
- Pronotal Collar Color: black
- Identification: Bug Guide
- Identification: iNaturalist
- Subject Matter Expert website: Cicadas @ UCONN (formerly Magicicada.org)
- Taxonomic Information: Integrated Taxonomic Information System
- Song: Cicadas @ UCONN (formerly Magicicada.org)
Classification:
Family: Cicadidae
SubFamily: Cicadettinae
Tribe: Lamotialnini
Sub-Tribe: Tryellina
Genus: Magicicada
Species: Magicicada cassinii (Fisher, 1852)
List of sources
- Full Binomial Names: ITIS.gov
- Common names: BugGuide.net; The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Herschberger; personal memory.
- Locations: Cicadas @ UCONN (formerly Magicicada.org)
- Descriptions, Colors: personal observations from specimens or photos from many sources. Descriptions are not perfect, but may be helpful.
- Tribe information comes from: MARSHALL, DAVID C. et al.A molecular phylogeny of the cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) with a review of tribe and subfamily classification.Zootaxa, [S.l.], v. 4424, n. 1, p. 1—64, may 2018. ISSN 1175-5334. Available at: https://www.biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.4424.1.1
Notes:
- Some descriptions are based on aged specimens which have lost some or a lot of their color.
March 22, 2020
Lake County Forest Preserves Cicada Mania! Festival, part 4
Here are some photos from the Cicada Mania! Festival at the Lake County Forest Preserves at Ryerson Woods back in 2008 for the Brood XIII Magicicada emergence.
Skip to Part 1, Part 2, or Part 3.
Magicicada cicadas. Most, if now all are Magicicada septendecim:
Updating Magicicada back at my hotel room (giant Alien Ware laptop):
Lake County Forest Preserves Cicada Mania! Festival, part 3
Lake County Forest Preserves Cicada Mania! Festival, part 2
Here are some photos from the Cicada Mania! Festival at the Lake County Forest Preserves at Ryerson Woods back in 2008 for the Brood XIII Magicicada emergence.
Skip to Part 1, Part 3, or Part 4.
A photo of Magicicada on a wall:
Cicadas around the world plaque:
Pomponia imperator:
Cicadas of Australia:
Salvazana mirabilis mirabilis & Distantalna splendida… and some lanternflies:
Cicada of Madagascar:
A stick sculpture:
Lake County Forest Preserves Cicada Mania! Festival, part 1
Here are some photos from the Cicada Mania! Festival at the Lake County Forest Preserves at Ryerson Woods back in 2008 for the Brood XIII Magicicada emergence.
Skip to Part 2, Part 3, or Part 4.
The Cicada Mobile:
A metal cicada sculpture:
Cicada specimen displays:
A display demonstrating the lifecycle of periodical cicadas:
March 21, 2020
Brood XXI Map
Periodical cicada Brood XXI is extinct. It was a small brood of Magicicada with a 13-year lifecycle. It was last seen/heard in 1870. Visit Cicadas @ UCONN (formerly Magicicada.org) for more information.
Map from Marlatt, C.L.. 1907. The periodical cicada. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Bureau of Entomology:
March 7, 2020
Magicicada nymphs found by Elias, part 2
Continuing from part 1, Elias Bonaros did some digging and took these photos of first and second instar Magicicada periodical cicadas on a warm winter day (March 21, 2010).
Now you know what cicadas look like when they’re underground!
Generally speaking the ones with the bulbous abdomens are second instar, and the smaller ones with the less bulbous or not bulbous abdomens are first instar.
