Latest Cicada News
Cicada Nymph Mortality
Despite the difficulties that a cicada nymph may experience during it's juvenile developement below ground, there are still some predatory issues that a nymph faces just looking for a place to molt. The thumbnail to the right demonstrates this. As you can see, the Tibicen canicularis pictured was set upon by a colony of black ants. This was due to the Cicada being stressed during it's the process of molting and was unsuccessful in it's completion. The ants, in nature's glorious design, took the
Date Posted: 2010-06-02 Comments: (1) Category: Cicadas 101
Nymph Defense Mechanisms
Realistically one can say that a Cicada nymph has no defense mechanisms to speak of. However, I have noted some unusual behaviors in Cicada nymphs that can be characterized as weak defenses at best. Some of these defenses even carry over into adulthood. Read below:
Wing Bud Flick - When handling a Cicada nymph, many times I have noticed that a nymph will flick it's wing buds when handled. This is really noticable particularly when you grasp the Cicada nymph with your thumb and index finger
Date Posted: 2010-06-02 Comments: (0) Category: Cicadas 101
Cicada Molting/Eclosing Process
The Cicada molt process is a long and lengthy one. Below is a detailed account of a Tibicen lyricen molt from start to finish. This was the first nymph I discovered for the 2004 season so I was keen on noticing every single detail.
10:45pm
10:09pm
11:14pm
11:19pm
10:45pm - After some initial movement to find the perfect spot, the nymph has finally settled down. I could hear "scratching&quo
Date Posted: 2010-06-02 Comments: (14) Category: Cicadas 101
Cicadas Emergence Rates and Distribution
During my hunt for Cicadas, I traveled to many different areas in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, while I did find exuvia evidence at these locations, I generally focused my efforts on Saint Patrick Cemetery in Lowell, Massachusetts. After all, you stick to where you have been successful in finding specimens. All the Cicada specimens that I refer to will be from this cemetery. Update: The data compiled for this article is from 2004 and may no longer be relevant. "When and How Much? - T
Date Posted: 2010-06-02 Comments: (0) Category: Cicadas 101
How To Catch Cicadas
I have been asked several times how I am able to catch and study so many Cicadas. Well, I tell you, it isn't easy. It takes patience and perseverance. If you lack either then you can forget it because a lot of leg work is involved when catching Cicadas for collections or for study.
In the beginning I tried various methods that didn't pan out well. Since Cicadas in Massachusetts have a tendency to stay very high up in trees, unless I wanted to climb a tree there was no way for me to catch a Cic
Date Posted: 2010-06-01 Comments: (65) Category: Cicada How To
How to Preserve Your Cicadas - Pinning
Why its so Important to Keep Good Insect Collecting Data.
When collecting cicadas or any other insect for that matter, it is very important not to just go out willy-nilly trying to gather up all the cicadas you can find, run a pin through them and stick them in a shadow box or specimen drawer only to be forgotten about.
When you want to view them or study them at a later date, chances are you'll have forgotten vital information that will help you appreciate a particular specimen better. No
Date Posted: 2010-06-01 Comments: (44) Category: Cicada How To
Cicada Deformities
While the deformities that we will be discussing are not limited to Tibicen cicadas (as cicadas of other genera and species are also affected by deformites of one kind or another) we will only be focusing on the deformities of the cicadas that I have been able to study here in Massachusetts namely Tibicen lyricen and Tibicen canicularis.
The molting process in cicadas for some unknown reason can go horribly wrong. The reason for this has not yet been determined but there are theories that are b
Date Posted: 2010-06-01 Comments: (8) Category: Cicadas 101
When does Okanagana Season Begin? - Part 2
As previously mentioned in part one, I wanted to check the earliest time I could expect to hear O. rimosa males calling. So going to my favorite area for O. rimosa, the Montague Plains wildlife management area, I intended to find out. I suspected that since my previous day's trip to New Hampshire was very successful in that I found evidence of Okanagana exuvia and additionally, heard males calling in the trees there, I was hoping for the same at Montague.
Okanagana rimosa Definitely Here!
I
Date Posted: 2010-05-31 Comments: (0) Category: Cicada Projects
When Does Okanagana Season Begin? - Part 1
That's actually a pretty good question. I have been curious about this since I first discovered O. rimosa in Massachusetts in 2007. Steadily for the past 3 years I have been coming back to this site. The earliest Okanagana rimosa visit to this Massachusetts site was last year on June 6th, 2009.
However, on July 18th of 2009 I found a NEW site for Okanagana in New Hampshire. This new site was found on a whim based on an obscure mention of a town in New Hampshire from a paper I read from Will
Date Posted: 2010-05-30 Comments: (2) Category: Cicada Projects