Back Yard Cicadas Found!

Back Yard Cicadas Found!

I can't believe my luck. Usually I have to travel to other places in order to find molting cicadas This night was different however. I decided that I would set up some light traps in my yard just to see what kind of insects I could attract. I have three light traps that use three different light sources, UV Black Light, Halogen and Mercury Vapor.

I set my traps up and just decided to wait outside for a bit. I decided that since I found exuvia last year on a pine tree in my yard, I decided to take a walk around my property with a flashlight while waiting for some insects to come to the lights.

Between a large Maple tree and a very large Pine tree we have a large Licac bush. While shining my flashlight, I discovered two cicadas both female just completing the molting process right on the lilac bush!! This was about 9:30 pm so I estimate that they emerged from the ground some time around 7:30 pm.

They were one of each common Tibicen species we have here. Tibicen canicularis and Tibicen lyricen.

Lots of Reader Mail

It seems that we are at the peak of the cicada season. Many new emails have come in since the previous update. They're coming in from all over New England as well as other parts of the country. So take a look at the Cicada and Cicada Killer Sightings page. Also, keep those cicada and cicada killer reports coming in. They're helping out a lot!!