T. pronotalis in Dardenne Prairie, MO
Sightings Category: Cicadas
T. pronotalis in Dardenne Prairie, MO
I think she's a Tibicen pronotalis. She's a whopping 6 centimeters from head to wing tips and dwarfs all other cicadas in my collection. I've never seen one like her before.
I collected her using the hot, humid, late night streetlight technique you told me about. In just the past two nights, I have collected two T. tibicen, one T. pruinosus, two T. robinsonianus, and this T. pronotalis; all from a nearby swimming pool parking lot which is situated near a small pond.
Thanks for the great tip!
Date Posted: 2011-07-19 Comments: (5) Show Comments Hide Comments
Comments
Posted By: Massachusetts Cicadas | On: 2011-07-19 | Website:
Hi Bill,
Awesome photos of a Tibicen pronotalis female. You got the id correct. I am glad that the lights are working. Its so much easier to catch cicadas this way. Next we'll have to teach you to find Cicada Killer leks and steal cicadas from cicada killer females. These cicadas won't do much but they are still cool voucher specimens.
T. pronotalis along with T. cultriformis, T. dealbatus, T. dorsatus and T. auletes are all extremely large specimens. In fact, there has been talk that these larger tibicens should be re-classified into their own genus known as the "Megatibicens". I wholeheartedly agree with this because they are just so much larger and their eye colors are different than the regular tibicens.
Posted By: Bill Meyers | On: 2011-07-19 | Website:
RE: Cicada killers
Ever since the Brood XIX swarm, I have been keeping a sharp eye out for cicada killer wasps; Specifically, "Sphecius speciosus."
I haven't seen any this year. However, now that you mention it, a cicada killer wasp might explain a mysterious disappearance of a teneral I came across last night.
I was walking the dog around 0100 and inspecting trees along the way when I spotted a teneral clinging from its exuvia. It appeared to be in the very early stages of emergence as it was a ghostly greenish-white and quite delicate. Since I didn't want to damage its wings in transport, I decided to come back to it after walking the dog. So, about 20 minutes later, I came back to collect it, and it was gone!
I searched the tree and the ground for a good ten minutes before giving up. I know it couldn't have just flown away in its teneral state, so I started thinking that maybe a bat or something had nailed it. However, now that you mention it, you have me wondering if it might have possibly been a Sphecius speciosus...
Do Sphecius speciosus hunt at night?
Posted By: Massachusetts Cicadas | On: 2011-07-19 | Website:
Hi Bill,
Typically, the wary cicada teneral as soon as it is hardened enough to leave its nymphal shell well often-times move away from its exuvia for the higher treetops. I've seen this happen a number of times while looking for eclosing cicadas.
It is doubtful that cicada killer females hunt at night. I know of no documentation indicating as such.
Posted By: Bill Meyers | On: 2011-07-19 | Website:
Ah. I see. Thank you for clearing that up. Next time, I'll pull out the ladder and look higher up in the branches!
Cheers
Posted By: Bill Meyers | On: 2011-07-19 | Website:
P.S. - I, too, concur with your logic in that the larger Tibicen species should be reclassified. My 4-year-old daughter suggests, "Monstertibicen." LOL!
Cheers