Dedicated to cicadas, the most amazing insects in the world.
Here is an Redeye cicada (Psaltoda moerens) photo taken by David Emery. The Redeye is also know as the Cherryeye.
The Redeye cicada can be found in eastern NSW, Victoria and Tasmania, and are most abundant in late November and December. (Moulds, M.S.. Australian Cicadas Kennsignton: New South Wales Press, 1990, p.75)
Here is an Cherry Nose cicada (Macrotristria angularis) photo taken by David Emery. The Cherry Nose is also know as the Whiskey Drinker.
The Cherry Nose cicada can be found in Eastern Queensland, NSW, and a small part of South Australia, and is most common during November & December (Moulds, M.S.. Australian Cicadas Kennsignton: New South Wales Press, 1990, p. 95.).
More Ozzie Cicada photos have come in. Here is an incredible Blue Moon taken by David Emery (found by his daughter). The Blue Moon is the same species as the Green Grocer (Cyclochila australasiae).
Cicada Mania contributor Paul Krombholz heard a cicada just a few days ago.
On Nov. 21st the temperature got up to 80 and I heard a T. figuratus [formerly T. figurata] singing. This is by far the latest cicada song I have heard in the Jackson, MS and surrounding area. We have already had several frosts. Usually I hear the last song the first week of November.
Cicadas in late November in the U.S.A. — that’s remarkable.
Double Drummer (Thopha saccata) photos by Kevin Lee:
This is a double drummer who got stuck whilst emerging so he never got to fly and sing.. but he still saw the light of day and was in the room with the other cicadas and had a bit of company. But if I had left it on the tree he would have been eaten alive by ants.
I’m happy to announce that we received our first Australian cicada photos of this season!!! The photos were taken by Kevin Lee, Australia’s biggest cicada maniac.
According to Kevin:
This is the season for cicadas and this year they are more proliferating that usual. Some would call it a plague but I love it.
The birds (kookaburras and magpies) are having a feast!
Double Drummer (Thopha saccata):
The Double Drummer can be found in parts of eastern Queensland and Eastern NSW, from November to early March. (Moulds, M.S.. Australian Cicadas Kennsignton: New South Wales Press, 1990, p.55)
rare green yellow Green Grocer (Cyclochila australasiae) and others:
rare green yellow Green Grocer:
Cyclochila australasiae can be found in eastern Queensland, NSW and Victoria, and most emerge in October and November (Moulds, M.S.. Australian Cicadas Kennsignton: New South Wales Press, 1990, p. 61.).
Odds and Ends:
Nanotech News: Cicadas wings are being used as the inspiration for building better solar technology. (thanks Roy)
Peng Jiang, an assistant professor of chemical engineering, is drawing inspiration from the eyes of moths and the wings of cicadas to create unusual new anti-reflective and water-repellant coatings — coatings that appear to have potential to make solar cells both more efficient and self-cleaning. Windows in cars and homes, computer screens and other consumer products also could improve thanks to the super-transparent coatings.
Russian fishing lure company www.apico-fish.ru used one of Roy Troutman’s cicada photos for a recent ad for cicada themed lures.
Thanks to Roy Troutman for reminding me about my interview which appeared in the Star Ledger recently. It’s about Cicada Mania and blogging in general.
‘Your voice, he interrupted, is also like a cicada, not only a corn-crake. Do you know the legend about cicadas?
They say they are the souls of poets who cannot keep quiet because, when they were alive, they never wrote the poems
they wanted to.’
… from author John Berger.
It’s cicada time in Australia again, so I’m reposting my list of Australian cicada names. Australians are the best in the world at naming animals.
Australia has the best cicada names:
There’s plenty more on the the incredible CSIRO Common Names site.
