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Brood I Periodical Cicadas in the Virginias
As the 2012 spring and summer cicada season commences, we can expect the arrival of yet another periodical cicada event. As mentioned in 2011, there will be periodic cicada emergences somewhere in the eastern United States starting in 2011 and continuing each year until 2021.
The 2011 cicada season gave rise to perhaps one of the largest periodical cicada emergences in North America. The arrival of Brood XIX periodical cicadas included 16 southern and eastern states and contained 4 di
Date Posted: 2012-04-07 Comments: (0) Category: Cicada General Info
When Ecdysis in Cicadas goes wrong.
I'd like to discuss in depth about the cicada's final molting process. While not unusual, as most arthropods go through a molting process in one form or another, the mechanics of the process (also known as "ecdysis") is quite fascinating.
About cicadas and their development cycle.
Female cicadas lay eggs in thin branches of trees and bushes. The type of species usually is indicative of whether the branches are live or dead wood. Some genera - like Tibicen females - generally lay their egg
Date Posted: 2012-02-05 Comments: (0) Category: Cicadas 101
Tibicen lyricen in New England
I have been particularly focused on New Hampshire and Maine this cicada season. Between finding new spots for O. rimosa - among other species - I am also focusing on Tibicen lyricen's northern-most range. Depending on who you talk to, some say that this species' ranges up into New Brunswick and even further into Canada. Some even say that it is New England's most common species even over Tibicen canicularis - the Northern Dog Day cicada.
However, even the term "most common" seems to be a point
Date Posted: 2011-07-25 Comments: (5) Category: Cicada General Info
Morphological Features of Okanagana rimosa
A couple of weeks ago I spent the day in Silver Lake New Hampshire as part of my projects to map cicada species in New England. I was very successful in capturing several specimens of Okanagana rimosa here. So I thought we would spend some time focusing on the morphology of this species. In some species of cicadas like the tibicens morphology can vary extremely depending on geographic location and habitat. However, even in O. rimosa there are slight differences in morphology even among individua
Date Posted: 2011-06-28 Comments: (0) Category: Cicada Projects
Silver Lake, NH Yields Okanagana rimosa
It looks like Brood XIX periodical cicadas are finally winding down. I would have to say that all-in-all the reporting was a huge success considering that Massachusetts Cicadas version 2.0 only been live since April with an all-new URL no less. We received many sightings and many reports of Brood XIX periodical cicadas. Thanks to all who contributed distribution data or photos for the sightings section.
However, just because Brood XIX periodical cicadas will soon be gone doesn't mean that that'
Date Posted: 2011-06-26 Comments: (0) Category: Cicada General Info
How to Identify Eastern Brood XIX Magicicadas.
Brood XIX periodical cicadas is the largest of all the periodical cicada broods. Occurring every 13 years, it occupies the largest geographic area of the United States. These cicadas (in the genus known as Magicicada) consists of four distinct species each with their own unique male calling song and morphology.
Of the four species, only three are known to occur in the eastern United States. Massachusetts Cicadas conducted distribution survey work in Virginia in order to determine in greater de
Date Posted: 2011-06-19 Comments: (4) Category: Cicada How To
Brood XIX Updates from Virginia - Days 3 and 4.
The last two days have been pretty hectic here in Viriginia. While you were probably enjoying cookouts and parties on Memorial Day, your's truly spent the day in the car with the windows open driving mile after mile listening for the sounds of calling periodical cicadas and mapping their distribution in and around Williamsburg, VA.. I think I must've added at least 75 data points to the distribution map.
Positive and Negative Data
Its not enough to record positive sightings of periodical cicad
Date Posted: 2011-05-31 Comments: (2) Category: Cicada Missions
Mapping Brood XIX in Virginia Progress Report - Day 2
Here in Williamsburg the morning started out very cloudy and I was worried that we were going to get rain. But eventually the sun did shine through and all was fine.
Creating distribution maps can be a long, boring and drawn-out process. It involves driving around and paying attention to what you see and hear in a particular area where periodical cicadas are expected to be found. You then must take careful observational notes about the site. Things like density of cicadas, single male calling
Date Posted: 2011-05-29 Comments: (2) Category: Cicada Missions
Massachusetts Cicadas in Virginia Mapping Brood XIX.
Hey Folks,
I'm here in Williamsburg, Virginia mapping the northern-most range of the Brood
XIX periodical cicadas. I woke up at 4:30 this morning and drove all of 12
hours to get here. Unfortunately, Brood XIX's distribution in Virginia is historically
spotty at best. There are only minor emergence areas and some can be less than
a mile wide. Not only is Brood XIX known to be in Virginia but there is a small
area on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
My friend and colleague, J
Date Posted: 2011-05-28 Comments: (0) Category: Cicada Missions