Tibicen auletes in Raleigh, NC
Sightings Category: Cicadas
Tibicen auletes in Raleigh, NC
Tibicen auletes (Germar, 1834). Another specimen collected on our way to Florida. This beast was found as the nymph climbed a tree outside of a nearby hotel, the soil was sandy, no calling except for what had seemed to be an unkown rattling, unlike Tibicen lenni as they are common in my NYC area. I was able to keep him alive for 8 days until his demise in a small cup of water which sufficed the submersed tree branches. He practiced his calling in captivity however never making more than mere clicks and buzzes. A real dissapointment after I have had success keeping T. tibicen specimens alive for over Two Months.
Date Posted: 2012-06-30 Comments: (1) Show Comments Hide Comments
Comments
Posted By: Massachusetts Cicadas | On: 2012-07-09 | Website:
Hi Adam,
This is perhaps the biggest if not one of the coolest cicadas that is found in North America.
Sorry to hear that you have not had much success in rearing this specimen in captivity. While quite common in Raleigh, NC these cicadas are not as common here in the northeast. They can be found out east on Long Island and even in areas of New Jersey.
Some colleagues of mine have had great success in raising these from nymphs and getting the adults to eventually call in captivity.
Everyone seems to have a different method of keeping cicadas alive in captivity. From terrariums to butterfly tents to mesh bags on live tree branches. The preferences go on-and-on.
One day should I get some time, I should write an article on the different methods of keeping cicadas in captivity but as a general rule, they do not live very long as adults to begin with.