It’s been about six weeks since the emergence of Brood VIII in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Oklahoma. Now (first week of August) is a good a time as any to check for periodical cicada nymphs that have hatched from eggs laid in branches. Once they hatch they’ll find their way to the ground, where they’ll find and begin feeding on roots for the next 17 years.
Look on branches where cicada laid their eggs.
An illustration of egg nests (Marlatt 1907 Egg Nest Detail):
A nymph on a branch with adult male finger for comparison:
Close up:
Another close up:
12 replies on “Check for first instar periodical cicada nymphs”
Do cicadas just dry up and leave shell?End of life cycle?
They leave the shell, become adults, and then are eaten or die and dry up. The fattier ones rot rather than dry up.
Hey Dan… is Auletes in Huber county park as well?
Maybe. Seems like a good location. but I haven’t heard them there… yet.
Thanks for sharing that. Going hunting in Rumson tonight!!! Lol.
Hey Dan, I am going to go to Manchester tonight to search for Auletes. Any good legal areas to look down there for nymphs? I’ve been there before, but I never found a good spot or even a park to look for them. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Last week I grabbed a nymph in the oak grove near Pop’s Pizza
Wow. Was there just a few hours ago, found shells but no live ones. Better luck next time.
Sorry to hear it. There’s a school around the corner as well. My friends have had luck there as well. They’re in Rumson, Navesink and Highlands as well. I hear them there but I don’t know of a publically accessible place to hunt …
Thanks for telling me that! Wow so I don’t have to travel too far then! Yes I looked in the school parking lot tonight. Just a couple shells.
Specifically, I’ve heard them in Rumson east of Bingham Ave; Valley drive & Navesink Ave in Locust & Navesink (not sure where one town starts and ends); and Hartshorne Woods Park where the military ruins are. Nothing in Sea Bright — no tall oaks there.
The cicadas in suburban Chicago were insanely loud, until 2 days ago. Now dead silence. What happened?