Categories
Australia Brood X Life Cycle Periodical

Cicada Fun with Google Trends

Note: I originally took this article down because embedding Google Trends slowed down the loading of the page. I’m republishing without the embeds.

This article was inspired by Serious Fun with Google Trends by Simon Leather.

Google Trends is a Google website that lets you see trends in the search terms over time. When people search for “cicada” it usually means cicadas have emerged in their area at the time they search.

The following graph shows when people searched for “cicada” over the past 10 years in the United States. The largest spike, in May of 2004, coincided with the emergence of Brood X. See it on Google Trends.

Google Trends 2004-2015

You might think that periodical cicada emergences cause the largest spikes, but not always — and not just because periodical cicadas don’t emerge every year.

2004: Cicada searches spiked May 16-22, which was Brood X — Magicicadas.
2005: Jul 31-Aug 6 spike which was for Neotibicen Cicadas. No periodical cicadas.
2006: Aug 13-19, Neotibicen Cicadas. No periodical cicadas.
2007: May 20-26, Brood XIII — Magicicadas.
2008: Brood XIV Magicicadas emerged (spike Jun 8-14), but the largest spike was Jul 29-Aug 2, Neotibicen Cicadas.
2009: Aug 16-22, Neotibicen Cicadas.
2010: Aug 8-14, Neotibicen Cicadas.
2011: May 29-Jun 4, Brood XIX — Magicicadas.
2012: Jul 29-Aug 4, Neotibicen Cicadas.
2013: May 5-11, Brood II — Magicicadas.
2014: Brood XXII — Magicicadas had a relatively small spike May 25-31, compared with Aug 24-30 for Neotibicen Cicadas (late season due to cool weather). There was also a teeny bit of a spike around January of 2014 due to the “cicada 3301” meme/game.
2015: Brood XXIII & IV Magicicadas emerged (spike around Jun 7-13), but the largest spike was around Aug 9-15 for Neotibicen Cicadas.

Which cities had the most cicada searches over the past 14 years? Nashville, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Arlington, Washington, Alexandria, Pittsburg, St. Louis, Columbus, and Chicago. Time to move to Nashville.

Australia

In Australia, searches for “cicadas” peaks in December (summertime in Australia). It looks like there is a year-over-year pattern arising as well, with peaks every 4 years (2009, 2013, 2017) particularly, if you drill down to New South Wales.

Australia Google Trends

Other countries

  • Argentina peaks in March for cigarra.
  • Brazil peaks in October and April for cigarra.
  • France peaks in July for cigales.
  • Mexico peaks in May or June for chicharra, but October for cigarra.
  • New Zealand peaks in February for cicadas.
  • South Korea peaks in July for 매미.
  • Spain peaks in July for cigarra.

Now I know when to visit these countries. 🙂

Try it yourself.

Categories
Genera Locations

Cicadas In the U.S.A, Canada, World-Wide, by Genus and Tribe

Photos of Cicadas Around the World

There are over 3,390 species of cicadas in the world1. The species on this site represent a fraction of those. Start your journey by choosing a regional link below.

U.S and Canada specific guides:

North American Cicada pages that feature cicada calls:

  1. Beameria venosa aka Aridland Cicada. May-August. AZ, AR, CO, IA, KS, MO, NE, NM, OK, TX, UT.
  2. Beameria wheeleri. May-July. AZ, NM.
  3. Cacama valvata aka Common Cactus Dodger. May-June. AZ, CA, CO, KS, NV, NM, OK, TX, UT.
  4. Cicadettana calliope calliope aka Southern Grass Cicada. June-August. AL, AR, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MS, MO, NE, NC, OH, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA.
  5. Cicadettana camerona. May-June. TX.
  6. Cicadettana kansa. May-June. AZ, CO, KS, LA, NE, NM, OK, TX.
  7. Cicadettana texana. May-June. TX.
  8. Clidophleps vagans. May-June. AZ, CA, NV.
  9. Cornuplura nigroalbata. AZ.
  10. Diceroprocta apache aka Citrus Cicada. June-August. AZ, CA, CO, NV, UT.
  11. Diceroprocta arizona. June. AZ.
  12. Diceroprocta aurantiaca. June. NM, TX.
  13. Diceroprocta averyi. June. TX.
  14. Diceroprocta azteca aka Scrub Cicada. July-August. KS, OK, TX.
  15. Diceroprocta bequaerti. AL, AR, LA, MS, OK, TX.
  16. Diceroprocta biconica. FL, Cuba.
  17. Diceroprocta eugraphica. June-July. AZ, CO, KS, NM, OK, TX.
  18. Diceroprocta knighti. June-July. AZ, Mexico.
  19. Diceroprocta marevagans. July-August. TX.
  20. Diceroprocta olympusa aka Olympic Scrub Cicada. June-July. AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC.
  21. Diceroprocta semicincta. June-July. AZ, NM.
  22. Diceroprocta swalei swalei. June. AZ.
  23. Diceroprocta texana. June-August. TX, NM.
  24. Diceroprocta vitripennis aka Green Winged Cicada. June-August. AL, AR, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MS, MO, NE, OK, TN, TX, WI.
  25. Hadoa bifida. May-July. AZ, CO, KS, NM, OK, TX, UT.
  26. Hadoa chiricahua. May-August. AZ, NM.
  27. Hadoa duryi. May-August. AZ, CO, NM, OK, TX, UT.
  28. Hadoa inaudita. June-August. AZ, CO, NM, OK, TX.
  29. Hadoa longiopercula. AZ.
  30. Hadoa parallela. July-September. AZ.
  31. Hadoa simplex. May-June. AZ.
  32. Hadoa texana. June-September. NM, OK, TX.
  33. Hadoa townsendii. May-June. AZ, NM, TX.
  34. Magicicada cassinii aka Cassini 17-Year Cicada*. May-June. GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV.
  35. Magicicada neotredecim*. May-June. AR, IA, IL, IN, KY, MO, TN.
  36. Magicicada septendecim aka Linnaeus’s 17-Year Cicada*. May-June. CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, WI, WV.
  37. Magicicada septendecula*. May-June. GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, WV.
  38. Magicicada tredecassini*. May-June. AL, AR, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MO, MS, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, VA.
  39. Magicicada tredecim*. May-June. AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, VA.
  40. Magicicada tredecula*. May-June. AL, AR, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, VA.
  41. Megatibicen grossus aka Northern Dusk Singing Cicada. June-October. AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI.
  42. Megatibicen cultriformis aka Grand Western Flood Plain Cicada. August-October. AZ, NM, CA.
  43. Megatibicen dealbatus aka Plains Cicada. June-September. CO, IA, KS, MT, NE, NM, ND, OK, SD, TX, WY.
  44. Megatibicen dorsatus aka Giant Grassland Cicada. July-September. AR, CO, ID, IL, IA, KS, MO, MT, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX, WY.
  45. Megatibicen figuratus aka Fall Southeastern Dusk-singing Cicada. August-October. AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA.
  46. Megatibicen harenosus. August-September. NM, TX.
  47. Megatibicen pronotalis pronotalis. August-October. IA, MO, NE, ND, OK, SD.
  48. Megatibicen pronotalis walkeri aka Walker’s Cicada. August-October. AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NC, ND, OH, OK, SD, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI, and WY.
  49. Megatibicen resh aka Resh Cicada. July-September. AR, KS, LA, MS, NE, OK, SC, TN, TX.
  50. Megatibicen resonans aka Southern Resonant Cicada. June-October. AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA.
  51. Megatibicen tremulus aka Cole’s Bush Cicada. June-September. CO, KS, NE, OK, TX.
  52. Neocicada chisos. April-May. TX.
  53. Neocicada hieroglyphica aka Hieroglyphic Cicada. May-August. AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MS, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA.
  54. Neocicada hieroglyphica johannis. May-July. FL.
  55. Neoplatypedia constricta. May-July. AZ, CA, CO, ID, NV, NM, OR, UT.
  56. Neotibicen auriferus aka Plains Dog-day Cicada. August-September. AR, KS, MO, NE, NM, OK, TX.
  57. Neotibicen canicularis aka Dog-day Cicada. July-September. AR, CT, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MB, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NB, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND, NS, OH, ON, PA, PE, QC, RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, VA, WV, WI.
  58. Neotibicen davisi aka Davis’ Southeastern Dog-Day Cicada. August-October. AL, DE, DC, FL, GA, LA, MD, MA, MS, NJ, NY, NC, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV.
  59. Neotibicen latifasciatus aka Coastal Scissors Grinder Cicada. July-October. FL, MD, NJ, NC, VA.
  60. Neotibicen linnei aka Linne’s Cicada. July-September. AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NY, NC, OH, ON, PA, SC, TN, VT, VA, WV, WI.
  61. Neotibicen lyricen engelhardti aka Dark Lyric Cicada. July-September. AL, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IN, IL, KY, MD, MA, MS, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, WV.
  62. Neotibicen lyricen lyricen aka Lyric Cicada. June-August. AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, ON, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI.
  63. Neotibicen lyricen virescens aka Costal Lyric Cicada. June-October. FL, GA, NC, SC.
  64. Neotibicen pruinosus pruinosus aka Scissors Grinder. June-October. AL, AR, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, WV, WI.
  65. Neotibicen robinsonianus aka Robinson’s Cicada. June-October. AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, MD, MS, MO, NC, OH, PA, TN, TX, VA, WI.
  66. Neotibicen similaris apalachicola. June-October. FL, AL, GA.
  67. Neotibicen similaris similaris aka Similar Dog-Day Cicada. June-October. AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC.
  68. Neotibicen superbus aka Superb Dog-Day Cicada. June-August. AR, KS, LA, MO, NM, OK, TX.
  69. Neotibicen tibicen australis aka Southern Swamp Cicada. June-September. AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA.
  70. Neotibicen tibicen tibicen aka Morning Cicada. June-September. AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WV, WI.
  71. Neotibicen winnemanna aka Eastern Scissors Grinder. June-August. DE, DC, GA, MD, NC, NJ, PA, SC, VA.
  72. Okanagana balli**. June-July. IL, IA, KS, MN, NE, ND, SD, WI.
  73. Okanagana bella aka Mountain Cicada**. June-July. AB, AZ, BC, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY.
  74. Okanagana canadensis aka Canadian Cicada**. June-July. AB, BC, CA, CO, ID, ME, MB, MI, MN, MT, NB, NH, NY, NT, OH, ON, OR, PA, QC, SK, SD, UT, VT, WI.
  75. Okanagana fumipennis**. May-July. AZ, CO, NM, UT.
  76. Okanagana hesperia**. June-July. AZ, CA, CO, KS, MT, NE NV, NM, OK, SD, TX, UT, WY.
  77. Okanagana rimosa rimosa aka Say’s Cicada**. May-July. AB, BC, CA, CT, ID, IL, IN, IA, ME, MB, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NV, NB, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OH, ON, OR, PA, QC, SD, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY.
  78. Okanagana synodica synodica aka Walking Cicada**. June-July. AB, AZ, CA, CO, IA, KS, MO, MT, NE, NM, ND, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WY.
  79. Okanagana utahensis**. May-July. AZ, BC, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA.
  80. Okanagana vanduzeei**. June-July. BC, CA, ID, NV, OR, UT, WA.
  81. Okanagana viridis aka Cotton Green Cicada**. June-July. AR, LA, MS, TX.
  82. Pacarina puella aka Little Mesquite Cicada. May-July. AZ, LA, OK, TX.
  83. Platypedia putnami putnami**. May-July. AZ, BC, CA, CO, ID, MT, NE, NV, NM, OR, SD, UT, WA,WY.
  84. Platypedia similis**. April-May. CA, OR.
  85. Quesada gigas (Olivier, 1790) aka Giant Cicada. April-June. TX, Mexico.

*Magicicada are periodical cicadas, so you will only find them every 13 or 17 years.
** Okanagana and Platypedia are often proto-periodical, and do not appear every year, but they are not as predictable as periodical cicadas. Read Guessing at when the next Platypedia or Okanagana hatch will happen and Platypedia putnami survey at Horsetooth Mountain Open Space by Tim McNary.

Cicada by State:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Cicadas by Canadian Provence:

Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan.

Northern Hemisphere:

Brunei, Cambodia, Cameron, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, England, Egypt, France, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, India, Italy, Japan, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United States, Vietnam, Venezuela

Equatorial:

Brazil, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Indonesia

Southern Hemisphere:

Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Botswana, Fiji, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malaysia, Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, South Africa, Solomon Islands, Zimbabwe

World Wide Cicada Websites:

Periodical cicada forecasts:

There are two known species of periodical cicadas that are not Magicicada . One lives in Chremistica ribhoi in India and the other in Raiateana knowlesi in Fiji.

YEAR! Chremistica ribhoi in India Raiateana knowlesi in Fiji Magicicada in the U.S.
2024 Leap Year brood Brood XIX, Brood XIII
2025 YES Brood XIV
2026 World Cup brood
2027 Brood XXII
2028 Leap Year brood Brood XXIII
2029 Brood I
2030 World Cup brood Brood II
2031 Brood III
2032 Leap Year brood Brood IV
2033 YES Brood V
2034 World Cup brood Brood VI
2035 Brood VII
2036 Leap Year brood Brood VIII
2037 Brood IX, Brood XIX
2038 World Cup brood Brood X
2039
2040 Leap Year brood
2041 YES Brood XIII

Cicada Tribes 2:

Arenopsaltriini, Carinetini, Cicadatrini, Cicadettini, Cicadini, Cosmopsaltriini, Tacuini (Cryptotympanini), Cyclochilini, Dundubiini, Fidicinini, Gaeanini, Hyantiini, Lahudadini, Lamotialnini, Leptopsaltriini, Macrotristriini, Oncotympanini, Parnisini, Platypediini, Platypleurini, Polyneurini, Psaltodini, Psithyristriini, Sonatini, Talaingini, Taphurini, Tettigadini, Thophini, Tibicinini, Tosenini, Zammarini

Cicada Genera:

Afzeliada, Aleeta, Ambragaeana, Amphipsalta, Anapsaltoda, Angamiana, Antankaria, Arenopsaltria, Ariasa, Arunta, Auritibicen, Ayesha, Ayuthia, Balinta, Basa, Beameria, Becquartina, Berberigetta, Cacama, Calliopsida, Callogaeana, Calyria, Carineta, Champaka, Chlorocysta, Chonosia, Chremistica, Chrysolasia, Cicada, Cicadatra, Cicadetta, Cicadettana, Cicadmalleus, Clidophleps, Clinopsalta, Cornuplura, Cosmopsaltria, Cryptotympana, Cyclochila, Cystosoma, Daza, Derotettix, Diceroprocta, Diceropyga, Diemeniana, Distantalna, Dorachosa, Dorisiana, Dundubia, Euryphara, Euterpnosia, Fidicina, Fidicinoides, Formotosena, Gaeana, Graptopsaltria, Hadoa, Hamza, Haphsa, Hemisciera, Heteropsaltria, Hilaphura, Huechys, Hyalessa, Ioba, Kamalata, Kikihia, Koma, Kongota, Lahugada, Lembeja, Leptopsaltria, Lethama, Lyristes, Macrosemia, Macrotristria, Magicicada, Majeorona, Maoricicada, Mata, Maua, Megapomponia, Megatibicen, Meimuna, Miranha, Mogannia, Muansa, Munza, Myopsalta, Neocicada, Neoplatypedia, Neopsaltoda, Neotibicen, Odopoea, Okanagana, Okanagodes, Ollanta, Oncotympana, Orialella, Orientopsaltria, Pacarina, Pachypsaltria, Pauropsalta, Platylomia, Platypedia, Platypleura, Polyneura, Pomponia, Proarna, Procollina, Psaltoda, Psithyristria, Purana, Pycna, Quesada, Raiateana, Salvazana, Semia, Sulphogaeana, Tacua, Talainga, Tanna, Taona, Terpnosia, Tettigades, Tettigarcta, Tettigettalna, Thopha, Tibicen, Tibicina, Tibicinoides, Tosena, Trengganua, Tugelana, Tympanoterpes, Uhleroides, Umjaba, Yanga, Yezoterpnosia, Yoyetta, Zammara

1 The Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha) by Allen F Sanborn. Academic Press. 14th November 2013.

2 Tribe information comes from: MARSHALL, DAVID C. et al.=A molecular phylogeny of the cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) with a review of tribe and subfamily classification.Zootaxa, [S.l.], v. 4424, n. 1, p. 1-64, may 2018. ISSN 1175-5334. Available at: https://www.biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.4424.1.1.

Categories
Citizen Science FAQs Neotibicen

Looking for adult cicadas at night

Nighttime is often the best time to find cicadas.

Nymphs, generally speaking, emerge soon after sunset. When I look for nymphs, I wait until sunset and start looking around tree roots and on tree trunks. Sometimes it takes hours, but usually, I find one (or many).

Cicada Nymph:
Neotibicen auletes nymph

Adult cicadas are easiest to find on hot, humid nights in well-lit areas like parking lots and the sides of buildings. You will find them clinging to illuminated walls and crawling on sidewalks. They end up on the ground, often because they fly into the wall and stun themselves. On a hot humid night — 85F or above — I’ll find an excuse (usually frozen desserts) to check the walls of the local supermarket for cicadas.

Cicadas, like many insects, are attracted to (or confused by) lights. There are many theories as to why insects are attracted to lights, and the reasons why probably vary by species. My guess (and this is just a guess) is that cicadas can’t tell day from night, or daylight (sun) from artificial lights, and so they think they’re using light to navigate away from a dark area (a tree trunk, dense brush), and then get very confused because they never seem to get anywhere once they reach the source of the light. I wish I could ask a cicada why.

Prime nighttime cicada location: a well-lit building and macadam parking lot:
Nighttime prime cicada location

Cicadas can damage their skin and innards by fling into and bouncing off walls:
Nightime N linnei with wound

A Neotibicen tibicen clinging to a cinderblock wall:
Nighttime N tibicen on wall

A Megatibicen auletes crawling on an illuminated sidewalk:
Megatibicen auletes in Manchester NJ

If you go looking for cicadas at night, make sure you have permission to be where you plan to look. Don’t trespass, and have respect for other people’s property.

Categories
Citizen Science Molting Neotibicen

Tips for making a time-lapse video of a cicada molting

Molting Morning Cicada

Time-lapse videos of insects molting can be as visually fascinating as they are scientifically important. Cicadas are amongst the best insect subjects for time-lapse because they’re relatively large, and depending on where you live, easy to find.

Equipment you’ll need for your time-lapse video:

  1. Lights. I use cheap LED and fluorescent lights. Not enough light and you’ll end up with a grainy video. Too much light and you’ll over-expose the subject and miss some important details. You’ll need a stand or tripod for your lights as well.
  2. A tripod for your camera. You want your camera to be as steady as possible. Hand-holding the camera is not recommended. The molting process takes hours.
  3. A camera. Some cameras have a Time-Lapse mode, but you could also take a photo every 30 seconds or so and use software to assemble the photos into a video. A camera with a large view screen is recommended so you can make adjustments to the lighting and framing of the insect.
  4. A platform for your cicada/insect. If you film outside use the tree the insect decides to molt on. If you film inside, build a structure using tree branches, or other materials the nymph can anchor onto.
  5. Video editing software. Free software works fine, as long as it lets you compile a series of photos into a single video.

I made my own platform out of some driftwood and a 2×4 I had lying around. Cheap but effective. Cicadas need to hang perpendicular to the ground so their wings will properly expand, so your creation needs to allow for that. A lot of people simply use a roll of paper towel.

Rig for Filming cicadas

Skills you’ll need to practice

  1. Patience. Unless you’re a pro who films wildlife all the time, you might need a few tries to get it right.
  2. Learn how to use the Time-Lapse feature of your camera.
  3. Learn how to light a small subject like a cicada.
  4. The ability to stay up late. The entire molting process can take up to 5-6 hours, especially if you want to let the cicada’s wings and body harden a bit. Coffee or tea helps (you, not the cicada).

If you’ve never tried filming a cicada molting before, you can practice lighting, focusing and using the time-lapse features of your camera with a paper model of a cicada. Just draw a cicada onto a small piece of paper, and pin it to a tree. If you know origami, even better.

Finding a specimen

I begin looking for cicada nymphs about 15 minutes after sunset. I find them at the base of trees, or ascending tree trunks. If you plan on filming indoors, or on a custom platform, treat the cicada with care. Be very gentle, and place the cicada nymph in a spacious enclosure — preferably one that allows it to grip, and hang off the side. I transport cicadas in a pop-up butterfly pavilion/habitat — these portable enclosures are made for butterflies, but they work well for other insects, like cicadas. Don’t forget to release the cicada the following day as well.

The overall process for shooting indoors

  1. Set up your rig: platform, lights, camera. Make sure your camera has an empty memory card in it and is charged/plugged in. Make sure all the lights are working. Place a towel or something soft at the base of the platform, in case the cicada falls (it happens).
  2. Collect your specimen. Bring a flashlight and a butterfly pavilion (or similar container). Gently grab the cicada nymph with your fingers and place in the container. do not collect a cicada that has already begun molting. Take some (not a lot) of tree branches with you. You can use the branches to augment your platform.
  3. Place the cicada at the base of the platform. Let it explore and become comfortable. Place it back at the base of the platform if it falls or wanders off.
  4. Once the cicada is ready to molt, it will stay still for a while. This is a good time to get your camera in focus and lights in the right position.
  5. The skin of the back of the nymph will split — look and listen for that. Start time-lapse filming. Example.
  6. Re-frame the camera as necessary to capture the cicada’s wings as they inflate.
  7. An hour after the cicada’s wings move into place (see that happen), you can stop filming, and place the cicada into the safety of the butterfly pavilion — or on a tree outside.
  8. Return the cicada to the outdoors within 12 hours.
  9. Use video editing software to compile the time-lapse frames into a video. I set each frame to 0.2 seconds — experiment with the times.
  10. Add the species of the cicada, the location where you found it, and other comments to the video.
  11. Share your video with friends, family and the world.

More tips:

  • The process takes a long time — you might be up until 1 or 2 am in the morning. Be prepared for that.
  • Film some non-time-lapse video as well. There are key moments during the molting process that happen quickly, like when the cicada pulls its abdomen from its old skin. Having a video of that is nice.
  • Be prepared to adjust the framing and focus a few times during the shoot. Don’t adjust too much though — just if the cicada’s wings fall out of frame.
  • The cicada will double its overall size. Its wings will hang downward. Be prepared for that when you frame the shot.

Some results:

My latest time-lapse video:

Notice how I frame the video.

A non-time-lapse detail:

A video where I used a tree branch to make the molting look more natural

Categories
Cordyceps Diceroprocta Matt Kasson

Cordyceps infected Citrus Cicadas

Here’s another fungi story coming from the WVU Kasson Lab: Cordyceps infected Citrus Cicadas (Diceroprocta apache).

The story goes like this: because of Ed Yong’s article about the Massospora fungus that infects cicadas, someone sent the Kasson Lab photos, and then samples, of Diceroprocta apache (Citrus Cicadas) infected with a different type of fungus: Cordyceps. Looks like the lab is going to study this fungus, and I’m sure they’ll produce a paper.

Categories
Megatibicen Tacuini (Cryptotympanini) U.S.A.

Megatibicen resh aka the Resh Cicada

Megatibicen resh (formerly Neotibicen resh and Tibicen resh) is commonly known as the Resh Cicada because the markings on its back resemble the Hebrew symbol Resh “ר”. The Resh Cicada has been documented to be found in Arkansas, Kansas, Lousiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennesee, and Texas.

Most people will discover them by finding their exuvia (shed skins, “shells”) on trees, or by their striking calls at sunset. I first encountered this cicada in Dallas, Texas near Pioneer Plaza (cattle sculptures). First I found the exuvia on oak trees (I needed a 3′ stick added to my 8′ reach to knock them down), and then at sunset I heard their call (which I mistook for M. auletes (which is not in Texas)). Listen to their song.

It is one of the smaller Megatibicen — maybe only M. dealbatus is smaller. Compare sizes using this image by Kathy Hill. Its compound eyes are gray-beige, with a black “mask” between the eyes, and its simple eyes are pink. Its ventral side is white and caramel colored. Its dorsal side is dominated by a light green color, with black, brown and white — forming a symmetrical camouflage pattern — which helps to hide the cicada in its arboreal habitat. Recently molted, golden pruinose shimmers on its head, pronotum, mesonotum, and abdomen.

Megatibicen resh molting adult

During the molting process, up until the cicada’s body sclerotizes (hardens), the cicada’s body is leaf-green (camouflaged like a hanging leaf).

Megatibicen resh spreading wings 2

The exuvia of the Resh cicada is large and easy to spot, even high up in trees. Even though molted adults are closer in size to N. tibicen than M. auletes, the exuvia of M. resh is comparable to M. auletes, which is the largest cicada in North America.

Resh Auletes and Tibicen

More photos from this series: Megatibicen resh gallery.

Categories
Accelerations Brood V Chris Simon Elias Bonaros Jin Yoshimura John Cooley Magicicada Periodical Periodical Stragglers Roy Troutman

New paper: The periodical cicada four-year acceleration hypothesis revisited and the polyphyletic nature of Brood V

A new paper about periodical cicadas! View it: https://peerj.com/articles/5282/

“The periodical cicada four-year acceleration hypothesis revisited and the polyphyletic nature of Brood V, including an updated crowd-source enhanced map (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Magicicada)”

Authors: John R. Cooley, Nidia Arguedas, Elias Bonaros, Gerry Bunker, Stephen M. Chiswell, Annette DeGiovine, Marten Edwards, Diane Hassanieh, Diler Haji, John Knox, Gene Kritsky, Carolyn Mills, Dan Mozgai, Roy Troutman, John Zyla, Hiroki Hasegawa, Teiji Sota, Jin Yoshimura, and Chris Simon.

Abstract:

The periodical cicadas of North America (Magicicada spp.) are well-known for their long life cycles of 13 and 17 years and their mass synchronized emergences. Although periodical cicada life cycles are relatively strict, the biogeographic patterns of periodical cicada broods, or year-classes, indicate that they must undergo some degree of life cycle switching. We present a new map of periodical cicada Brood V, which emerged in 2016, and demonstrate that it consists of at least four distinct parts that span an area in the United States stretching from Ohio to Long Island. We discuss mtDNA haplotype variation in this brood in relation to other periodical cicada broods, noting that different parts of this brood appear to have different origins. We use this information to refine a hypothesis for the formation of periodical cicada broods by 1- and 4-year life cycle jumps.

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Massospora Matt Kasson

Discovery of psychoactive plant & mushroom alkaloids in ancient fungal cicada pathogens

Many cicada species suffer from fungal pathogens belonging to the genus Massospora. These fungi destroy the reproductive organs of males and cause them to behave like female cicadas — in the case of Magicicada cicadas, they flick their wings instead of singing — and they attempt to mate with other males, thus spreading the fungus.

A new paper has been published titled Discovery of psychoactive plant & mushroom alkaloids in ancient fungal cicada pathogens. Authors: Greg Boyce, Emile Gluck-Thaler, Jason C. Slot, Jason E. Stajich, William J. Davis, Tim Y. James, John R. Cooley, Daniel G. Panaccione, Jorgen Eilenberg, Henrik H. De Fine Licht, Angie M. Macias, Matthew C. Berger, Kristen L. Wickert, Cameron M. Stauder, Ellie J. Spahr, Matthew D. Maust, Amy M. Metheny, Chris Simon, Gene Kritsky, Kathie T. Hodge, Richard A. Humber, Terry Gullion, Dylan P. G. Short, Teiya Kijimoto, Dan Mozgai, Nidia Arguedas, Matthew T. Kasson. You can access it on biorxiv.

This new paper makes discoveries about the fungi.

Abstract:

Entomopathogenic fungi routinely kill their hosts before releasing infectious conidia, but select species keep their hosts alive while sporulating to enhance spore dispersal. Recent expression and metabolomics studies involving host-killing entomopathogens have helped unravel infection processes and host responses, yet the mechanisms underlying active host transmission in insects with Entomophthoralean fungal infections are completely unexplored. Here we report the discovery, through global and targeted metabolomics supported by metagenomics and proteomics, of the plant amphetamine, cathinone, in Massospora cicadina-infected periodical cicadas, and the mushroom tryptamine, psilocybin, in M. platypediae- and M. levispora-infected annual cicadas. The neurogenic activities of these alkaloids provide a hypothetical framework for a chemically induced extended phenotype of Massospora that alters cicada behavior by increasing endurance and suppressing feeding prior to death.

Massospora bae

Categories
Daza Mexico Miranha Odopoea Procollina Rhynchota Zammara Zammarini

Collared cicadas of Mexico, Central & South America

Most of the information on this website is focused on cicadas of the U.S.A. and Canada. There are plenty of cicadas south of the U.S., of course. Recently we started getting identification (ID) requests for cicadas of Mexico, and with the help of experts (Geert Goemans and Allen Sanborn) and a paper from the early 20th century, I was able to ID them all.

A large number of the IDs were for cicadas with pronounced pronotal collars. Many of these look like the same species, but they’re not. Many of these species are found from Mexico, throughout Central America down to South America.

On this page are six collared cicadas that exist in Mexico, Central America and South America. Illustrations come from Insecta. Rhynchota. Hemiptera-Homoptera. Vol. I by W. L. Distant and The Rev Canon W. W. Fowler, F.L.S. I updated the names to their current names (the source is about 100 years behind the times, expectedly so). Note that the illustrations from this document are of dead specimens, so the colors were faded at the time they were illustrated.

Daza montezuma (Walker, 1850)

Formerly Odopoea montezuma. This cicada is actually tourquois to pale blue when alive. Red eyes. No infuscation (coloration) in the wings. Link to original illustration..

Daza montezuma

Zammara smaragdina Walker, 1850

Green with black infuscation in the wings.

Zammara smaragdina Walker, 1850

Here is a photo by Andreas Key (taken in Ecuador):

Emerald Cicada, Zammara smaragdina

Zammara calochroma Walker, 1858

Green with remarkable black infuscation in the wings.

Zammara calochroma Walker, 1858

Miranha imbellis (Walker, 1858)

formerly Odopoea imbellis

Miranha imbellis (Walker, 1858)

Procollina medea (Stål, 1864)

formerly Odopoea medea

Procollina medea (Stål, 1864)

Odopoea azteca Distant, 1881

Odopoea azteca Distant, 1881

References:

  • Allen F. Sanborn. Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha). Academic Press. 2014. 10.1016/B978-0-12-416647-9.00001-2
  • Goemans, Geert. (2010). A historical overview of the classification of the Neotropical tribe Zammarini (Hemiptera, Cicadidae) with a key to genera. ZooKeys. 43. 10.3897/zookeys.43.386.
  • This flicker gallery of cicadas with collars. I think Geert curates this.
  • W. L. Distant et al. Insecta. Rhynchota. Hemiptera-Homoptera. Vol. I (1881-1905)
  • A recent, related article by Allen: Allen F. Sanborn. 2018. The cicada genus Procollina Metcalf, 1952 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae): Redescription including fourteen new species, with a key to the species of the subtribe Dazina Kato, 1932 rev. stat., the description of the Aragualnini n. tribe, and one new combination. Zootaxa 4389(1):1. 10.11646/zootaxa.4389.1.1.
Categories
Eating Cicadas Magicicada Periodical

Are cicadas safe to eat?

Update (July 2018): A company called Meat Maniac sells cicadas in a can. Don’t know which species, but they have a “nutty flavor”.

Also, send me a box of these cicadas from China… um, I mean Chinese City Tells Citizens to Fight Bug Infestation By Eating Them.

Meat Maniac cicadas in a can

Also, read this amazing story about how Brood VII cicadas helped kept the Onondaga Nation alive during a time of famine.

The original article from 2006:

[WARNING:] Cicadas, 17-year cicadas at least, are well-known bioaccumulators of mercury. If consuming mercury is a concern, you should not eat cicadas.

Dogs, cats, squirrels, fish, and people can’t stop eating cicadas. Are they crazy, or “crazy like a fox”? (Foxes will eat them too.)

Pets and other domesticated animals

This is a cartoon of a dog about to eat a cicada

People want to know: “is it safe for my pets to eat cicadas”. The truth is in most cases your pets will be fine if they eat a few cicadas, however, you still need to be cautious and keep a close eye on your pets. Watch them for odd behavior, and don’t let them gorge themselves. Be cautious: the Humane Society has warned: “Cicadas Dangerous to Pets” [the original link is gone].

Pet-related concerns:

  1. Pets can choke on the rigid wings and other hard body parts of the cicadas.
  2. Pets will gorge themselves on cicadas, and possibly become ill and vomit.
  3. Pets who consume cicadas sprayed with copious amounts of pesticide can and will die.
  4. Pets might have an allergic reaction to the cicadas just as people do.

Bottom line: play it safe, and don’t let your pets eat cicadas if you can help it.

People:

Whether they’re curious, hungry, or doing it for the shock value, people are eating cicadas. Asian peoples have eaten cicadas for centuries, and there are records of Native Americans eating cicadas. People joke that they’re Atkins friendly [also no gluten]. I’ve heard they taste like asparagus, popcorn, minty shrimp, and piney shrimp — YUMMY PINE.

A man in Bloomington Indiana had an allergic reaction to cicadas after eating 30. He was also allergic to seafood — both cicadas and shrimps are arthropods so this makes sense.

[Note to self, “Do it, Dan, don’t be a wimp!”]

People related concerns:

  1. Cicadas are well known bioaccumulators of mercury.
  2. You could choke on their hard body parts.
  3. You could have an allergic reaction. If you’re allergic to seafood, don’t think about eating them.
  4. Do you really want to eat something that’s been marinating in lawn fertilizers,
    pesticides and other chemicals for the past 17 years?
  5. If you get the gout, it makes sense to avoid them.

People related links:

  1. National Geographic: National Geographic News :Low-Fat, High Protein Cicadas: New Health Snack
  2. Stephanie Bailey’s Internet insect cookbook has tips on how to prepare insects for human consumption! [note that the link now goes to an article by Stephanie about eating insects in general.]

Bottom line: You’re not a contestant on Fear Factor [a reality TV show in the 00s]. Why eat cicadas when you can choose from many of the fine menu choices at Applebees [a chain restaurant]?

Fish, turkeys, squirrels and everything else

If a creature has a mouth or some other mechanism to digest cicadas, it likely will try to eat them. Cicadas make great fish bait. Squirrels (yes, they’re nuts for cicadas too), birds, possums, raccoons, foxes, other insects, fungi… they all love cicadas.

Bottom line: let nature do the dirty work and clean your yard one bite at a time.

Tom, Cicada Gormandize:
Tom eats a cicada