Category: Nymphs

Nymphs

Finding cicada nymphs in the flower garden

Post author By Dan
Post date May 25, 2024
2 Comments on Finding cicada nymphs in the flower garden

Today I was digging in a flower garden that is mostly inhabited by thick-stemmed Montauk Daisies, and I found many cicada nymphs. The nearest tree is about 25 feet away — I guess any type of root will suffice for some cicadas.

They seem weak and disorientated, which makes sense since they’ve lived underground their whole lives.

There are Magicicada (Brood II), Neotibicen tibicen, Neotibicen lyricen, and Neotibicen linnei in the yard. I haven’t investigated which species these are yet, but I think it’s likely they’re not Magicicada because they were relatively large (bigger than a penny) and Brood II is 6 years away.

How to tell if a Magicicada periodical cicada nymph is ready to molt

Post author By Dan
Post date April 29, 2024

How can you tell if a Magicicada periodical cicada nymph is ready to molt?

Answer: look for two black spots on its back (technically the cephalothorax). They look like they are wearing aviator sunglasses pushed up on their forehead!

A diagram that shows when a nymph is ready to molt.

I do not know the official name for these spots, but they seem to be related to the pigment that turns the cicadas black after they molt. They may scare away predators that think the spots are big eyes!

Here are a few ideas for a name for them:
obscuras maculas
mutatione macularum

Neotibicen Nymphs Photos & Illustrations

Summer of Neotibicen tibicen tibicen – July 27th

Post author By Dan
Post date July 27, 2023

It can be difficult to tell which species of Neotibicen cicada is lurking inside the skin of a nymph. It you look close the hint of blue above the wing bud and green of the legs gives it away… this one turned out to be a Neotibicen tibicen tibicen

SoNtt Calendar: July 16th, July 22nd, July 23rd part 1, July 23rd part 2, July 24th, July 26th, July 27th, July 28th, July 29th, July 30th part 1, July 30th part 2, August 1st, August 4th, August 9th, August 11th, August 13th.

Neotibicen Nymphs Tacuini (Cryptotympanini) Video

Neotibicen lyricen nymph crawling up a tree

Post author By Dan
Post date September 30, 2022

Here’s a video of a Neotibicen lyricen nymph crawling up the trunk of a fir tree, looking for a place to molt. Note the dark eyes and green wing buds. This particular pine tree is my go-to for Lyric cicadas. Here’s another: Neotibicen lyricen molting.

Thumbnail:

Tags N. lyricen

Nymphs

Cicada Nypmhs

Post author By Dan
Post date April 13, 2022

Monday I was doing some landscaping and I found these Magicicada nymphs feeding on the roots of a boxwood shrub. They appear to be third-instar Brood II Magicicada nymphs. 9 years old!

3rd instar Magicicada nymph

Molting Neotibicen Nymphs Tacuini (Cryptotympanini) Teneral U.S.A.

Neotibicen lyricen molting in New Jersey July 2021

Post author By Dan
Post date March 27, 2022

Here are some Neotibicen lyricen molting in New Jersey July 2021.

Rich caramel eyes; blues & pinks in pronotal collar, legs, and mesonotum; green wings (that will stay green) and orange abdomen.

Neotibicen lyricen New Jersey July 2021

Neotibicen lyricen New Jersey July 2021 02

Brood XIII Magicicada Molting Nymphs Periodical

Periodical cicada nymphs emerging at night

Post author By Dan
Post date April 18, 2021
1 Comment on Periodical cicada nymphs emerging at night

One of the most fun periodical cicada experiences is watching thousands of nymphs emerge from the ground at night, crawl to the nearest vertical surface (hopefully a tree) and begin to molt.

This is a video by Roy Troutman from 2007 of the Brood XIII emergence, specifically in Ryerson Woods in Illinois:

Observing magicicada emergence at Ryerson Woods from Roy Troutman on Vimeo.

Here’s a time-lapse video, also by Roy, of a cicada nymph molting:

Magicicada nymph molting from Roy Troutman on Vimeo.

Tags Ryerson

Nymphs Photos & Illustrations Roy Troutman

Roy Troutman’s Cicada Photos from the 1980s

Post author By Dan
Post date March 25, 2020
2 Comments on Roy Troutman’s Cicada Photos from the 1980s

Roy Troutman has been a cicada fan since he was a kid. Here’s some of his cicada photos from the 1980s:

1980: Neotibicen nymph.
Tibicen Nymph. 1980. Roy Troutman.

1981. Tibicen exuvia (skins).
1981. Tibicen exuvia. Roy Troutman.

1982. Roy and a Neotibicen.
Roy and a Neotibicen. 1982.

1983. Immature Magicicadas.
1983 immature Magicicada nymphs. Roy Troutman.

1983. Immature Magicicada.
1983 Immature Magicicada. Roy Troutman.

Elias Bonaros Magicicada Nymphs Periodical

Magicicada nymphs found by Elias, part 2

Post author By Dan
Post date March 7, 2020

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.

Elias's 1st and 2nd Instar Magicicada nymph

Elias Bonaros Magicicada Nymphs Periodical

Magicicada Nymphs found by Elias, part 1

Post author By Dan
Post date March 7, 2020

Have you every wondered what cicadas look like when they’re underground? 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). Magicicadas have 5 instars, or phases of development. Each phase has a slightly different appearance.

This is a probable second instar nymph of Magicicada septendecim (Periodical cicada) from the 2008 Brood XIV emergence. Dug up from beneath an oak tree. It was living approximately 4-6 inches from the ground surface. Temperature 70 degrees.

Elias cicada nymph

These are probable first and second instar nymphs of Magicicada septendecim (Periodical cicada) from the 2008 Brood XIV emergence. Dug up from beneath an oak tree. They were living approximately 4-6 inches from the ground surface. Temperature 70 deg.

Elias Magicicada nymphs