For those of you who want to see where cicadas are emerging, check out the Google map on Cicadas @ UCONN (formerly Magicicada.org). It’s on the right side of the page.
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The Brood XIV emergence has begun
Folks, we just got word from Gene Kritsky that an adult was reported emerging in Maderia, Ohio today. The emergence has begun; expect large numbers of cicadas to start appearing within the next 10 days in most areas. Get your cameras, camcorders, audio recording devices and fishing rods ready.
From Gene:
I had my first report of an adult periodical cicada emerging in Madeira, a suburb of Cincinnati today. So the early ones are starting.
Read the news story.
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Cicada fun to be had on ebay
Ebay has been a good resource for cicada specimens and Asian artifacts over the years, but you’ll also find toys, fishing lures and other whimsical cicada-themed items.
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The latest 17 year cicada news
Cicadas attending the Kentucky Derby (Minyanville)?
A 13 image slide-show of Magicicada photos (Citizen-Times).
Cicadas coming to Warren County, Kentucky (Bowling Green Daily News).
Cicadas ready to croon in Cincinnati (The Enquirer).
Cicada Mania was featured on WTAP’s Surfin’ with Kirk! Watch the video news report. Very Cool!!!
Earlier I wrote about Matt Berger’s experiment to coerce a nymph to emerge as an adult in captivity. The experiment worked.
Here’s the latest pictures. The cicada has assumed its final, black-colored adult form:
The USDA National Agriculture Library has published the full 148 page bulletin from 1898 titled The periodical cicada: an account of Cicada septendecim, its natural enemies and the means of preventing its injury : together with a summary of the distribution of the different broods.
The document is viewable as images or in PDF form, and features an abundance of information, and excellent, now public domain illustrations (like those below).
Matt Berger was able to coerce a cicada nymph to enter the adult phase (instar) by raising it indoors (where it is warmer). Congratulations to Matt!
I took a Brood XIV nymph i found under a rock about a week ago, put some soil in a pot, poked a cicada sized hole in the soil and let the cicada burrow in. I wanted to see if I could make them emerge early. I put it in my house where it is warm. It worked! I now have a male (im guessing M. cassini) that just emerged from that hole and shed his skin and is now drying. Probably the first Magicicada to emerge all year! Earliest emergence I have ever heard of (even if it was assisted). Thought it might be interesting for Cicadamania.
Here are some pictures!
Here’s the nymph:
Here’s the adult leaving the nymph skin:
Here’s the teneral adult, still white in color (I will turn black soon enough):
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17 year cicada emergence predictions
Hey everybody!
Using Gene Kritsky’s formula, and the Weather Underground, I’ve pulled together some sample emergence predictions. Chances are I missed your town, but you can use the formula and gab your own prediction.
Louisville Kentucky – May 11th
Lexington Kentucky – May 15th
Cincinnati & Batavia Ohio – May 15th*
Charleston West Virginia – May 11th
Bendersville, PA – May 15th
Islip & Stony Brook, LI — May 16th
Plymouth, MA – May 22
Falmouth, MA – May 24
Looks like the cicadas will start appearing a couple at a time next week, and then starting the following week the full-blow emergences will begin in the southern most states.
* Note: Gene Kritsky wrote to say that he has predicted May 13th for Cincinnati using his formula. The reason the numbers differ is Gene has more precise temperature information.
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Brood XIV Information Update
Read: Gene’s Book Periodical Cicadas: the Plague and the Puzzle is available through his website. I own it, and can confirm that it’s the best 17 year cicada book your money can buy. It has all the information you need, and it will make a handsome addition to your home library.
Report an emergence: the Cicadas @ UCONN reporting form is live.
The cicadas making the latest appearance are Brood XIV. Brood XIV is centered on the eastern two-thirds of Kentucky, although they are also in 11 other state