Categories
Audio, Sounds, Songs Lamotialnini Magicicada Periodical U.S.A.

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.

Magicicada septendecim (Linnaeus, 1758)
Photo credit: by Dan Mozgai. Brood II, NJ.

Male Magicicada septendecim Metuchen NJ. Abdomen
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:
color magicicada septendecim

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

Classification:

Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadettinae
Tribe: Lamotialnini
Subtribe: Tryellina
Genus: Magicicada
Species: Magicicada septendecim (Linnaeus, 1758)

List of sources

  1. Full Binomial Names: ITIS.gov
  2. Common names: BugGuide.net; The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Herschberger; personal memory.
  3. Locations: Cicadas @ UCONN (formerly Magicicada.org)
  4. Descriptions, Colors: personal observations from specimens or photos from many sources. Descriptions are not perfect, but may be helpful.
  5. 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.
Categories
Audio, Sounds, Songs Lamotialnini Magicicada Periodical U.S.A.

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

Magicicada cassini; Brood X straggler

Female Magicicada cassini Colonia NJ

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

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.
Categories
Audio, Sounds, Songs Fidicinini Pacarina U.S.A. William T. Davis

Pacarina puella Davis, 1923 aka Little Mesquite Cicada

Pacarina puella Davis, 1923 aka Little Mesquite Cicada.

Image

Pacarina puella Davis, 1923
Photo credit: Pacarina by John Beard in Atascosa County, TX.

All Pacarina puella information & images on cicadamania.com.

Song type: Call


Source: ©Insect Singers | Species: P. puella

Name, Location and Description

Classification:

Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Fidicinini
Subtribe: Guyalnina
Genus: Pacarina
Species: Pacarina puella Davis, 1923

List of sources

  1. Full Binomial Names: ITIS.gov
  2. Common names: BugGuide.net; The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Herschberger; personal memory.
  3. Locations: Biogeography of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of North America, North of Mexico by Allen F. Sanborn and Polly K. Phillips.
  4. Descriptions, Colors: personal observations from specimens or photos from many sources. Descriptions are not perfect, but may be helpful.

Notes:

  • Some descriptions are based on aged specimens which have lost some or a lot of their color.
Categories
Audio, Sounds, Songs Okanagana Thomas Say Tibicinini U.S.A.

Okanagana rimosa rimosa (Say, 1830) aka Say’s Cicada

Okanagana rimosa rimosa (Say, 1830) aka Say’s Cicada.

Image

Okanagana rimosa rimosa (Say, 1830)
Photo credit: Okanagana rimosa by Natasha.

All Okanagana rimosa rimosa information & images on cicadamania.com.

Song type: Call


Source: ©Insect Singers | Species: O. rimosa rimosa

Video Playlist

Name, Location and Description

From Davis’ key to Okanagana1:

A. Male uncus not hooked at the extremity, sometimes sinuate.

B. Expanse of fore wings more than 50 mm.

C. Base of fore and hind wings orange-red more or less variegated with black.

DD. The outer edge of the front wing of a more continuous curve. Medium-sized species, except schaefferi, which is large.

EE. Legs, especially the front pair considerably blackened.

FF. Dull bodied species or at most feebly shining, with proportionately narrower wings, and the hind margin of pronotum orange or reddish, except in tristis where it is black. Dorsum of the abdomen often with conspicuous transverse rows of short silvery hairs.

Basal cell of fore wings slightly clouded, pronotum blackish mottled each side with testaceous, the hind margin and sides reddish. Tergum with the posterior edges of the segments reddish, the vestiture more sparse than in canadensis and more in the nature of hairs. Expands about 60 mm.

Similar to: Okanagana rimosa rimosa (Say, 1830) aka Say’s Cicada, Okanagana canadensis (Provancher, 1889) aka Canadian Cicada and Okanagana tristis tristis Van Duzee, 1915.

Classification:

Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadettinae
Tribe: Tibicinini
Subtribe: Tibicinina
Genus: Okanagana
Species: Okanagana rimosa
Subspecies: Okanagana rimosa rimosa (Say, 1830)
Subspecies: Okanagana rimosa ohioensis Davis, 1942

List of sources

  1. Davis, William T. Cicadas of the genera Okanagana, Tibicinoides and Okanagodes, with descriptions of several new species. Journal of the New York Entomological Society. v27. 179-223. 1919. Link.
  2. Full Binomial Names: ITIS.gov
  3. Common names: BugGuide.net; The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Herschberger; personal memory.
  4. Locations: Biogeography of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of North America, North of Mexico by Allen F. Sanborn and Polly K. Phillips.
  5. Descriptions, Colors: personal observations from specimens or photos from many sources. Descriptions are not perfect, but may be helpful.

Notes:

  • Some descriptions are based on aged specimens which have lost some or a lot of their color.

Okanagana rimosa rimosa (Say, 1830) aka Say’s Cicada.

Image

Okanagana rimosa rimosa (Say, 1830)
Photo credit: Okanagana rimosa by Natasha.

All Okanagana rimosa rimosa information & images on cicadamania.com.

Song type: Call


Source: ©Insect Singers | Species: O. rimosa rimosa

Video Playlist

Name, Location and Description

From Davis’ key to Okanagana1:

Classification:

Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadettinae
Tribe: Tibicinini
Subtribe: Tibicinina
Genus: Okanagana
Species: Okanagana rimosa
Subspecies: Okanagana rimosa rimosa (Say, 1830)
Subspecies: Okanagana rimosa ohioensis Davis, 1942

List of sources

  1. Davis, William T. Cicadas of the genera Okanagana, Tibicinoides and Okanagodes, with descriptions of several new species. Journal of the New York Entomological Society. v27. 179-223. 1919. Link.
  2. Full Binomial Names: ITIS.gov
  3. Common names: BugGuide.net; The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Herschberger; personal memory.
  4. Locations: Biogeography of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of North America, North of Mexico by Allen F. Sanborn and Polly K. Phillips.
  5. Descriptions, Colors: personal observations from specimens or photos from many sources. Descriptions are not perfect, but may be helpful.

Notes:

  • Some descriptions are based on aged specimens which have lost some or a lot of their color.
Categories
Audio, Sounds, Songs Okanagana Tibicinini U.S.A.

Okanagana canadensis (Provancher, 1889) aka Canadian Cicada

Okanagana canadensis (Provancher, 1889) aka Canadian Cicada.

Image

Okanagana canadensis (Provancher, 1889)
Photo credit: Photo by Richard Newfrock.

All Okanagana canadensis information & images on cicadamania.com.

Song type: Call


Source: ©Insect Singers | Species: O. canadensis

Song type: Call


Source: ©Insect Singers | Species: O. canadensis

Name, Location and Description

From Davis’ key to Okanagana1:

A. Male uncus not hooked at the extremity, sometimes sinuate.

B. Expanse of fore wings more than 50 mm.

C. Base of fore and hind wings orange-red more or less variegated with black.

DD. The outer edge of the front wing of a more continuous curve. Medium-sized species, except schaefferi, which is large.

EE. Legs, especially the front pair considerably blackened.

FF. Dull bodied species or at most feebly shining, with proportionately narrower wings, and the hind margin of pronotum orange or reddish, except in tristis where it is black. Dorsum of the abdomen often with conspicuous transverse rows of short silvery hairs.

Venation of the fore wings often thickened; basal cell clouded and blackened. Pronotum usually entirely black, except the hind margin which is testaceous, sometimes clouded each side with reddish; tergum black with much tomentum, which when removed leaves a smooth surface. A black species with the usual four orange spots before the mesonotal X, and orange membranes at the base of both pairs of wings. Expands about 62 mm.

Similar to: Okanagana rimosa rimosa (Say, 1830) aka Say’s Cicada, Okanagana tristis tristis Van Duzee, 1915.

Classification:

Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadettinae
Tribe: Tibicinini
Subtribe: Tibicinina
Genus: Okanagana
Species: Okanagana canadensis (Provancher, 1889)

List of sources

  1. Davis, William T. Cicadas of the genera Okanagana, Tibicinoides and Okanagodes, with descriptions of several new species. Journal of the New York Entomological Society. v27. 179-223. 1919. Link.
  2. Full Binomial Names: ITIS.gov
  3. Common names: BugGuide.net; The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Herschberger; personal memory.
  4. Locations: Biogeography of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of North America, North of Mexico by Allen F. Sanborn and Polly K. Phillips.
  5. Descriptions, Colors: personal observations from specimens or photos from many sources. Descriptions are not perfect, but may be helpful.

Notes:

  • Some descriptions are based on aged specimens which have lost some or a lot of their color.
Categories
Audio, Sounds, Songs Okanagana Tibicinini U.S.A. William T. Davis

Okanagana bella Davis, 1919 aka Mountain Cicada

Okanagana bella Davis, 1919 aka Mountain Cicada.

Image

Okanagana bella Davis, 1919
Photo credit: Okanagana bella (female) by Matt Berger

All Okanagana bella information & images on cicadamania.com.

Song type: Call


Source: ©Insect Singers | Species: O. bella

Song type: Call


Source: ©Insect Singers | Species: O. bella

Name, Location and Description

From Davis’ key to Okanagana1:

A. Male uncus not hooked at the extremity, sometimes sinuate.

B. Expanse of fore wings more than 50 mm.

C. Base of fore and hind wings orange-red more or less variegated with black.

DD. The outer edge of the front wing of a more continuous curve. Medium-sized species, except schaefferi, which is large.

EE. Legs, especially the front pair considerably blackened.

F. Shining species with rather broad wings, and the hind margin of pronotum orange or reddish.

Of a slightly blueish tint, otherwise colored about as in the last species, but the costal margin of the fore wings to the end of the radial cell often bright orange, the basal cell clouded sometimes blackened. Pronotum usually plainly edged with orange on sides as well as on hind margin. Head not as blunt when viewed from above as in occidentalis, proportionately narrower and with little hair behind the eyes, also less hairy beneath. The last ventral segment of the female not doubly notched, or the second notch but feebly indicated. Expands about 60 mm.

Similar cicadas: Okanagana schaefferi Davis, 1915 and Okanagana occidentalis (Walker in Lord, 1866).

Classification:

Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadettinae
Tribe: Tibicinini
Subtribe: Tibicinina
Genus: Okanagana
Species: Okanagana bella Davis, 1919

List of sources

  1. Davis, William T. Cicadas of the genera Okanagana, Tibicinoides and Okanagodes, with descriptions of several new species. Journal of the New York Entomological Society. v27. 179-223. 1919. Link.
  2. Full Binomial Names: ITIS.gov
  3. Common names: BugGuide.net; The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Herschberger; personal memory.
  4. Locations: Biogeography of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of North America, North of Mexico by Allen F. Sanborn and Polly K. Phillips.
  5. Descriptions, Colors: personal observations from specimens or photos from many sources. Descriptions are not perfect, but may be helpful.

Notes:

  • Some descriptions are based on aged specimens which have lost some or a lot of their color.
Categories
Audio, Sounds, Songs Megatibicen Tacuini (Cryptotympanini) U.S.A. William T. Davis

Megatibicen pronotalis pronotalis Davis, 1938

Megatibicen pronotalis pronotalis Davis, 1938

Image

Megatibicen pronotalis pronotalis Davis, 1938
Photo credit: by Dan Mozgai (Bill Reynolds collection)

Song type: Call


Source: ©Insect Singers | Species: M. pronotalis pronotalis

Video Playlist

Playlists contain multiple videos found on YouTube.

Name, Location and Description

Classification:

Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Cryptotympanini
Subtribe: Cryptotympanina
Genus: Megatibicen
Species: Megatibicen pronotalis pronotalis Davis, 1938
Species: Megatibicen pronotalis walkeri Metcalf, 1955 aka Walker’s Cicada

List of sources

  1. Full Binomial Names: ITIS.gov
  2. Common names: BugGuide.net; The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Herschberger; personal memory.
  3. Locations: Biogeography of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of North America, North of Mexico by Allen F. Sanborn and Polly K. Phillips.
  4. Descriptions, Colors: personal observations from specimens or photos from many sources. Descriptions are not perfect, but may be helpful.

Notes:

  • Some descriptions are based on aged specimens which have lost some or a lot of their color.
Categories
Audio, Sounds, Songs Neotibicen Tacuini (Cryptotympanini) Thomas Say U.S.A.

Neotibicen auriferus (Say, 1825) aka Plains Dog-day Cicada

Neotibicen auriferus (Say, 1825)

Song type: Call


Source: ©Insect Singers | Species: N. auriferus

Name, Location and Description

Classification:

Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Cryptotympanini
Subtribe: Cryptotympanina
Genus: Neotibicen
Species: Neotibicen auriferus (Say, 1825)

List of sources

  1. Full Binomial Names: ITIS.gov
  2. Common names: BugGuide.net; The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Herschberger; personal memory.
  3. Locations: Biogeography of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of North America, North of Mexico by Allen F. Sanborn and Polly K. Phillips.
  4. Descriptions, Colors: personal observations from specimens or photos from many sources. Descriptions are not perfect, but may be helpful.

Notes:

  • Some descriptions are based on aged specimens which have lost some or a lot of their color.
Categories
Audio, Sounds, Songs Leptopsaltriini Neocicada Thomas Say U.S.A.

Neocicada hieroglyphica aka Hieroglyphic Cicada

Neocicada hieroglyphica hieroglyphica (Say, 1830) and Neocicada hieroglyphica johannis (Walker, 1850) aka Hieroglyphic Cicada.

Neocicada 2022
Neocicada hieroglyphica hieroglyphica by Dan, 2022, New Jersey.

Neocicada hieroglyphica by Joe Green, 2007
Neocicada hieroglyphica hieroglyphica by Joe Green, 2007, Florida.

Joe Green's Neocicada hieroglyphica photos from 2007, Florida,
Neocicada hieroglyphica hieroglyphica Photo by Joe Green.

See all Neocicada hieroglyphica hieroglyphica images and information on cicadamania.com.

There are two subspecies of Neocicada hieroglyphica: Neocicada hieroglyphica hieroglyphica (Say, 1830) and Neocicada hieroglyphica johannis (Walker, 1850). According to Wm. T. Davis, a key difference is: on N. hieroglyphica johannis, “the black marks on the head, pronotum and mesonotum are more in the form of spots than of continuous lines as in typical hieroglyphica”.

Song type: Call


Source: ©Insect Singers | Species: N. hieroglyphica hieroglyphica

Song type: Call


Source: ©Joe Green | Species: N. hieroglyphica hieroglyphica

Song type: Pre Call


Source: ©Joe Green | Species: N. hieroglyphica hieroglyphica

Song type: Call


Source: ©Joe Green | Species: N. hieroglyphica hieroglyphica

Video

Video Playlist

Playlists contain multiple videos found on YouTube.

Name, Location and Description

  • Cicada Names: Neocicada hieroglyphica hieroglyphica (Say, 1830) and Neocicada hieroglyphica johannis (Walker, 1850)
  • Short Names: N. hieroglyphica hieroglyphica and N. hieroglyphica johannis
  • Former name/synonyms: Cicada hieroglyphica
  • Common Name: Hieroglyphic Cicada
  • When: May-August. Peaks in June.
  • Where are they found: N. hieroglyphica hieroglyphica is found in AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MS, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, and N. hieroglyphica johannis is found in Florida
  • Maps: Biogeography of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of North America, North of Mexico [PDF]
  • Description: Black, brown and green patterns.
  • Eye Color: varies
  • Pronotal Collar Color: varies
  • Identification: Bug Guide
  • Identification: iNaturalist
  • Subject Matter Expert website: Cicada Central
  • Taxonomic Information: Integrated Taxonomic Information System
  • Song: Insect Singers

A description by Wm. T. Davis from MISSISSIPPI CICADAS, WITH A KEY TO THE SPECIES OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES1:

Cicada hieroglyphica Say.
Occurs from Riverhead, Long Island, N. Y., to eastern Kansas and southward. In peninsular Florida the variety johannis Walker replaces the typical form. The black marks on the head, pronotum and mesonotum are more in the form of spots than of continuous lines as in typical hieroglyphica.

The song does not continue long, but sometimes, as in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, the insects appear in numbers, when their united effort produces a considerable noise.

Classification:

Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Cicadini
Subtribe: Leptopsaltriina
Genus: Neocicada
Species: Neocicada hieroglyphica
Subspecies: Neocicada hieroglyphica hieroglyphica (Say, 1830)
Subspecies: Neocicada hieroglyphica johannis (Walker, 1850)

List of sources

  1. (1) Davis, W.T. 1918. MISSISSIPPI CICADAS, WITH A KEY TO THE SPECIES OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. Journal New York Entomological Society. Volume 26. Read it on Archive.org.
  2. Full Binomial Names: ITIS.gov
  3. Common names: BugGuide.net; The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Herschberger; personal memory.
  4. Locations: Biogeography of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of North America, North of Mexico by Allen F. Sanborn and Polly K. Phillips.
  5. Descriptions, Colors: personal observations from specimens or photos from many sources. Descriptions are not perfect, but may be helpful.

Notes:

  • Some descriptions are based on aged specimens which have lost some or a lot of their color.
Categories
Audio, Sounds, Songs Carl Linnaeus Neotibicen Tacuini (Cryptotympanini) U.S.A.

Neotibicen tibicen tibicen (Linnaeus, 1758) aka Morning Cicada

Neotibicen tibicen tibicen (Linnaeus, 1758) aka Swamp Cicada or Morning Cicada. Morning because it sings in the morning. There is another sub-species of Neotibicen tibicen names Neotibicen tibicen australis. The key difference between the two is australis has a mostly green collar, while tibicen’s collar is black.

Neotibicen tibicen tibicen (Morning Cicada) photos by Roy Troutman
Photo by Roy Troutman. Ohio.

Female Neotibicen tibicen abdomenPhoto by Dan Mozgai. New Jersey.

See all Neotibicen tibicen tibicen images & information on cicadamania.com.

Song type: Call


Source: Dan Mozgai.

Video

Video Playlist

Playlists contain multiple videos found on YouTube.

Name, Location and Description

  • Cicada Name: Neotibicen tibicen tibicen (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Short Name: N. tibicen tibicen
  • Common Name: Swamp Cicada, Morning Cicada
  • Synonym/Former Name: Tibicen sayi, Tibicen cholormera, Tibicen cholormerus, Tibicen tibicen tibicen
  • When: June-September. Peak in August.
  • Where it is found: AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WV, WI
  • Maps: Biogeography of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of North America, North of Mexico [PDF]
  • Description: Swamp Cicadas are are known for their rounded, humped back. Their coloration varies from mostly black & some green to black, brown and green. Their collar is usually black, but can include green.
  • Eye Color: black or dark green
  • Pronotal Collar Color: black
  • Identification: Bug Guide
  • Identification: iNaturalist
  • Subject Matter Expert website: Cicada Central
  • Image: Insect Images
  • Taxonomic Information: Integrated Taxonomic Information System
  • Song: Insect Singers

Identification Key by Wm. T. Davis

At the time Davis wrote this key Neotibicen tibicen tibicen was named Tibicen sayi.

A. Large, heavy bodied species ; head broad, uncus simple, and first cross vein in the fore wings starting from radius 3 far back, or about one third distant from base of first marginal cell.

B. Uncus longer than broad. Black species with green or greenish markings and black area on the central part of the abdomen beneath, except in sayi [sayi = Neotibicen tibicen tibicen]

CC. Hind margin of pronotum or collar black or nearly so (except in sayi \ar. australis).

DD. Central area of the abdomen not black beneath, often
pruinose, as well as the long opercula.

Collar black, often with a greenish spot each side near the outer angles sayi (Smith & Grossbeck).

Teneral (soft) and sclerotized (hard) N.tibicen tibicen

Teneral (soft) and sclerotized (hard) N.tibicen tibicen
Photo by Paul Krombholz.

Francis Walker’s description:

This is France’s Walker’s description from List of the specimens of homopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum, Francis Walker, edited by John Edward Gray, Supplement, (2 p. l., 369, [1] p.) issued in 1858, 1850. Link to document.

Walker named the cicada Thopha chloromera, and once the Tibicen genus was constructed, its name changed to Tibicen chloromerus (Walker,1850). But… Carl Linneaus had previously named it Cicada tibicen in 1758, and once the Neotibicen genus was constructed, its name became Neotibicen tibicen (Linnaeus, 1758).

That said, Walker’s description is still valid and useful:

First cross-vein nearly straight, very slanting, forming an extremely obtuse angle, parted from the second by more than thrice its length; second curved, very slanting, forming an extremely obtuse angle, longer than the first; third slightly waved, slanting, forming a right angle; fourth slightly waved, slanting, forming an acute angle, a little longer than the third; fifth almost upright, very slightly curved, forming- a nearly right angle. Body black above, tawny and tinged with green beneath : head a little narrower than the fore-chest, adorned with several small tawny marks, and on each side of the front with one of larger size ; face slightly convex, not at all prominent, adorned with a pale tawny elliptical mark, tawny with blackish bands on each side in front : mouth tawny with a pitchy tip, reaching the middle-hips : eyes rather prominent : scutcheon of the fore-chest adorned with two oblique black stripes, which are united behind; fore border black excepting a little interval in the middle ; hind-scutcheon adorned on each side with three greenish- tawny spots, one large, the other two small ; sides not angular, but slightly excavated in front and slightly convex near the base of each fore-wing : scutcheon of the middle-chest adorned with a tawny slender double U-shaped mark whose inner sides are interrupted in front and behind ; on each side of this are two oblique tawny stripes which are united behind ; the middle pair are broader than the outer pair, and their inner sides are excavated ; hind border slightly excavated in the middle ; cross-ridge tawny : abdomen obconical, longer than the chest, black above, tawny beneath : drums very large, pale tawny, much more than half the length of the abdomen, slightly overlapping : legs green, streaked with tawny; fore-thighs armed with two stout black teeth ; spines of the hind-shanks ferruginous with black tips : wings colourless, bright green at the base ; veins ferruginous, green towards the base and along half the length of the fore border ; first and second cross-veins clouded with brown. Length of the body 17 lines; of the wings 48 lines.

Classification:

Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Cryptotympanini
Subtribe: Cryptotympanina
Genus: Neotibicen
Species: Neotibicen tibicen
Sub-species: Neotibicen tibicen australis (Davis, 1912)
Sub-species: Neotibicen tibicen tibicen (Linnaeus, 1758)

List of sources

  1. Davis, W.T. 1918. Mississippi Cicadas, with a Key to the Species of the Southeastern United States. Journal of The New York Entomological Society. Vol. XXVI. Read on archive.org.
  2. Full Binomial Names: ITIS.gov
  3. Common names: BugGuide.net; The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Herschberger; personal memory.
  4. Locations: Biogeography of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of North America, North of Mexico by Allen F. Sanborn and Polly K. Phillips.
  5. Descriptions, Colors: personal observations from specimens or photos from many sources. Descriptions are not perfect, but may be helpful.

Notes:

  • Some descriptions are based on aged specimens which have lost some or a lot of their color.