Categories
Cicada Alphabet

Cicada Alphabet: P

The tiny Pacarina puella is an American cicada (North and Central), which is also know as the Mesquite Cicada. Here’s a photo a Pacarina puella.

Pauropsalta is a genus of Australian cicadas, once species of which is the Pauropsalta mneme, aka the Alarm Clock Ticker.

Periodical cicadas are cicadas that emerge in regular intervals of years. The most well known periodical cicadas belong to the genus Magicicada, which emerge every 17 or 13 years (depending on the species). There is also a periodical cicada in India called the Chremistica which emerges every 4 years, in-synch with the World Cup.

There’s at least 3 genus of cicadas that begin with “Platy” which means broad or flat (Greek). Not sure what that means in terms of the naming or morphology of these cicadas, but maybe someone will say why in the comments.

Platylomia is a genus of cicada that exists in Asia. Here is a photo of a Platylomia radah from Thailand (with a 5″ wingspan).

Platypleura is also a genus of cicada that exists in Asia. Here is an orange, brown and beige Platypleura mira from Thailand, and a smaller, but similarly-colored Platypleura mokensis, also from Thailand.

Platypedia putnami is a species of North American cicada (western USA) that is also know as Putnam’s Cicada. BugGuide has the best collection of Platypedia putnami photos.

The pronotum covers the dorsal area of a cicada’s thorax closest to the head. The pronotum should not be confused with the mesonotum, which covers the dorsal area of the thorax closest to the abdomen (and also features the McDonalds’ arches). Pronotum essentially means “before the back” in Greek. Mesonotum essentially means “the middle of the back”.

The pronotal collar is the area of the promotum that looks like a collar (shirt, dog). Cicada researchers use the shape and color of the pronotal collar as one way to identify a cicada’s species.

Psaltoda is a genus of cicada found in Australia. The Pasltoda moerens is a species of cicada also know as the Redeye cicada (you guessed it) because of its red eyes.

Pruinose is a white, chalky substance that appears on the bodies of cicadas and other insects. Pruinose essentially means “full of hoar frost” in Latin, which makes sense as pruinose looks like frost.

Categories
Cicada Mania

Happy New Year 2011!

It’s 2011 in Australia now, so I’m wishing everyone a Happy New Year, particularly for those folks in Australia effected by flooding.

There should be a lot of interesting cicada news in 2011, particularly the emergence of Brood XIX 13-year Magicicadas in Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Categories
Old Message Board

2010 General Cicada Questions

These questions come from the old General Cicada Questions message board. The questions and answers are in reverse order. URLs found in comments are old and likely do not work.

eBay.com is a good place to find cicadas.

eBay.com is a good place to find cicadas.

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.

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

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. https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5042/5260144027_b9b73e6d37_b.jpg

Comment by Vicki — December 14, 2010 [AT] 6:15 am

When did you take it?

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’.

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

I believe the white strands are connected to the spiracles

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

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 explosions of cicada in SE Ohio this week

With the explosions 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 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 Cicada hanging on my front door

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.

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.

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

I have an unidentified cicada seen in Gunung Mulu National Park, Malaysia in August 2009.

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

Categories
Cicada Alphabet

Cicada Alphabet: O

O is for ocelli. Ocelli are three jewel-like eyes situated between the two main, compound eyes of a cicada. We believe ocelli are used to detect light and darkness. Ocelli means little eyes in Latin.

ocelli

Okanagana is a genus of cicada found in North America. These cicadas are primarily black with white, beige or orange markings. Here is a photo of an Okanagana rimosa (Say’s Cicada). Here is a photo of an Okanagana bella.

Operculum means cover or lid in Latin, and the operculum covers the tympanum (which allows cicadas to hear).

Neotibicen tibicen tibicen photos

Orientopsaltria beaudouini is a medium sized cicada that can be found in Thailand. See a photo of a Orientopsaltria beaudouini:
Orientopsaltria beaudouini Boulard, 2003
Photo by Michel Chantraine.

The female cicada uses her Ovipositor to deposit her ovum (eggs) into a tree branch.

Categories
Christmas

Merry Christmas

Cicada Christmas

Christmas gives me a chance to use this image of a (cartoon) cicada nymph drinking the fluids of a Christmas tree.

Categories
Stamps

Cicada Stamps

Here’s some cicada stamps from around the world (with some other animals mixed in):

Cicada stamp from France

Cicada stramps from around the world

Categories
Brazil

Cigarras do Brasil

If you’re interested in the cicadas of Brazil, and why wouldn’t you be, check out the blog Cigarras do Brasil. Many cool images, including the teeny-tiny Carineta fasciculata.

The site is in Portuguese, but I used Google Translate to grab the description of the blog:

This blog is for those admirers of the insects most beloved (and loudest) of the world. If you’ve ever heard them sing (and liked), have seen their shells in trees, have tried to capture them as a child, this space is yours.

Categories
Australia

This is a razor grinder cicada (Henicopsaltria eydouxii)



This is a razor grinder cicada (Henicopsaltria eydouxii), originally uploaded by magdalena_b.

A Razor Grinder found by Vicki Nunn in Gladstone.

More photos of Razor Grinders.

I wish I had a sound file to post.

Razor Grinder

The Razor Grinder is found in eastern Queensland and NSW, and most common in December & January (Moulds, M.S.. Australian Cicadas Kennsignton: New South Wales Press, 1990, p. 68.)

Categories
Australia Cyclochila

Multi-color Cyclochila australasiae

Found on Flickr.



Addition to the display, originally uploaded by mgjefferies.

Red, orange, blue and green!

Categories
Cicada Alphabet

Cicada Alphabet: N

N is for nymph. Cicadas spend most of their life in their nymph form, burrowing underground, drinking the fluids of plant roots, growing larger… waiting for the day they emerge and transform into adult cicadas. Here is a photo of a tiny 1st instar nymph, and this is a video of full-grown nymphs that have emerged from the ground:

Magicicada cicada nymph mania from Cicada Mania on Vimeo.

Neocicada hieroglyphica, which was covered in Cicada Alphabet H.