Enjoy this video of a Meimuna kuroiwae by saku dainaman2 on YouTube:
This is part two of my search for unusual cicada merchandise. Here’s part 1.
These I found on eBay, so they might be gone by the time you read this. I might have bought them all.
Kaiyodo Kabaya Large brown cicada (Graptopsaltria nigrofuscata) Insect Figure
This is a model of a molting Graptopsaltria nigrofuscata aka aburazemi cicada. Very nice!
Cicada Man “Ultra Q” M-Ichigo 1991 Japan rare figure
This is an action figure of Cicada Man aka Semi-Ningen from the Japanese TV show Ultraman. I own a green, orange and brown version of this. The price of the current eBay auction is good! I’ve paid close to $100 for Cicada Man in the past.
Bandai 1:1 Japan Exclusive Cicada Molt Shell Beetle Insect Bug Prize E Figure
This is a model of a cicada nymph. Looks like it comes with the original box. Nice!
Cicada Man Cicadaman I’m Baaaaack Bobblehead 2004 RARE
I own one of these. It’s amazing! The bobblehead celebrates the 2004 emergence of Brood X, I believe in the Cincinnati area.
Weekly Japanese Natural Monument Mini Figure #41 Himeharu-Zemi Cicada Kaiyodo
This is another impressive model of an actual cicada: Himeharu-Zemi (aka Euterpnosia chibensis).
TOMY INSECT CAGE GALLERY CICADA PLASTIC TOY LIGHT & SOUND
This one is neato. It’s a model of a cicada with its own enclosure. It also lights up and makes a sound. I might have to buy it.
Search online auctions and marketplaces like eBay or Aliexpress and you’ll find many cicada products, but mostly fishing lures, jade carvings, jewelry, and cicada specimens from Southeast Asia. That’s fine, but what if you want something different, rare, or unusual?
I’ve been looking for unusual cicada merch all week long. Here’s what I found:
A giant animatronic cicada
Wow! When I win the lottery, I’m getting this. A massive robotic cicada.
Visit the website where it is sold: Adventure Park Display Big Bugs Cicadidae Animatronic Insects Animal Insect Statue Customize.
Another giant animatronic cicada
Amazing! Another giant cicada for my robot cicada army.
Visit the website where it is sold: Insect Museum Specimen Animal Model Simulation Cicada.
And another giant animatronic cicada
Wonderful! More robotic cicadas for my… cicada air force.
Visit the website where it is sold: Blue Lizard Amusement Park Decoration Artificial Animatronic Insects Cicada Model.
An electronic cicada kit
You assemble the parts and you have something that looks like a cicada but is also a work of art and an electronic kit project.
Visit the website where it is sold: Wholesale Educational Toys For Kids Adults Handmade Chirping Insects Light Up Toys Handmade Diy Kit Electronic Cicada.
A golden cicada that replaces a key on your keyboard
This item might be the most unsual. I never imagined replacing a keyboard key with a custom key.
Visit the website where it is sold: ZOMO PLUS Fantastic Beasts Series – Golden Cicada Translucent Aluminum Artisan Keycap Mechanical Keyboard Keycap.
Back in the 2000’s I purchased this Halloween decoration that uses cicada sounds (Magicicada septendecim Court #2, I think) to create a spooky audio vibe. It’s a dark cloud with spiders hanging from it. Press a button and the whole thing shakes, green lights illuminate the spiders, and cicada sounds play. Gemmy.com made it, but I got it from Target.
Who knew Spirit Halloween stores (yes, in America we have large stores dedicated to Halloween costumes and party supplies) had Cicada Costumes!?
(yes, this is a meme, sorry to say)
Wow! Spirit Halloween Stores have a costume for everyone! #cicadas #SpiritHallowmeme pic.twitter.com/gPk8m2Bkza
— Cicada Mania (@cicadamania) October 29, 2022
Platypleura arabica, the Arabian Cicada, stamp from the State of Qatar:
Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover. This one is fantastic! Searching for Cicadas by Lesley Gibbes (author) and Judy Watson (illustrator) tells the story of a grandparent and grandchild and their love of searching for and listing to cicadas. The book is set in Australia and features excellent illustrations of Australian species like Double Drummers, Floury Bakers, and Green Grocers. If you’re a library in the New South Wales area or a parent with a kid who loves cicadas, you should own this book. I live in the United States, and I had to import it. Worth every penny. The illustration is accurate and stylish and unique — a fantastic color palate.
The front cover:
Inside illustrations:
Categories
Halloween video 2022
Here’s a short Halloween-themed (orange & black) cicada video for you. It’s just fun — nothing scientific. The video stars Neotibicen linnei, Magicicada septendecim, Neotibicen tibicen, and Neocicada hieroglyphica.
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:
We had a short Neotibicen cicada season in New Jersey in 2022.
I’m used to finding molting Neotibicen cicadas between the first week of July and the last week of August. This year they started emerging in the first week of July, but the last one I found was on August 2nd.
I wonder if the short season was due to the major drought or heat waves New Jersey experienced this summer.
Here are some photos of a freshly-molted/teneral(soft) Morning cicada:
Male freshly-molted Neotibicen tibicen tibicen. Ventral view. Note the opercula.
Male freshly-molted Neotibicen tibicen tibicen. Side view.
Male freshly-molted Neotibicen tibicen tibicen with folded wings:
More from the 2022 season: Neotibicen tibicen tibicen female cicada molting, Neotibicen lyricen found in central New Jersey, and Neotibicen linnei in Northern New Jersey.