Here’s a break in the Magicicada mania: a Diceroprocta vitripennis. This photo was taken by Cicada Mania regular Paul Krombholz in Jackson Mississippi just last week. Cicadas like Diceroprocta vitripennis are annual cicadas: they emerge each year in small numbers, and as you can see, they rely on camouflage for survival. Annual cicadas are also quite shy compared to the periodic Magicicadas — they have very different life strategies. American annual cicadas rely on stealth and cunning to survive while searching for a mate. Periodic cicadas rely on the fact that there are so many of them, that some will always survive to carry on the species.
Notes from Paul:
I am continuing this season to try to get pictures of all the cicadas in the
Jackson, Mississippi area. I just got a female specimen of Diceroprocta
vitripennis. I found it in low vegetation on a sand bar next to the Pearl
River. Thanks to John Davis and the collectors at the Mississippi Museum of
Science for the tip on where to look for them! From head to wing tips, it
is 38 mm, but the wings of this species are longer in relation to body
length than those of Tibicens. Body length of this vitripennis was only
22mm.
6 replies on “Diceroprocta vitripennis. out in Mississippi”
Don’t know what kind they are. They are very noisy here in Liberty Ms. We live on Hwy 24 one mile E of Liberty. We have been here 13 years and this is the first time we have heard them this loud. Found some hulls in the yard. Thanks, Cindy
The 13 year cicadas out in Mississippi right now (5/18/2014) are Magicicada periodical cicadas.
I know what vitripennis sounds like, and I have not heard them at all yet this year, and I have been down to the river twice on nice warm days, the second time being when I collected the female. They are uncommon elsewhere and I usually don’t hear them until late June or early July. The museum collectors say they find mostly females along the sandbanks. Aside from hieroglyphica, I won’t hear any annual cicadas until sometime around the second week of June.
Keep checking Paul,
I’ll bet there is more than you think. Look for shells in the area you last heard them. xxxxx. Search adjecent area’s and listen for cicada’s calling, thats the best way to locate them. Problem is I don’t know of any sound files you could to know if they are calling??? That way you would know if you heard one. However keep us posted on Annuels.
Joe
I heard my first hieroglyphica in the Jackson, MS area May 14. I have not heard any Diceroprocta and probably won’t for a long time. They are quite uncommon away from the Pearl river, but apparently common in the low sandbar growth along the river edge. I may have been very lucky to find this female so early in the season.
Great Photo Paul,
I don’t have a problem believing Annuals are out, as here in Southwest florida Hieroglyphics are already calling. I heard my first this year on May 10 2007. Last year it was April 20 2006. They will increase in numbers as the summer goes on. Keep up the good work.
Joe
Fort Myers, Fla 33901