Cicadas | What's That Bug?

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Cicada Metamorphosis,

THANK YOU BOTH !
I want to thank you for all the help you have provided me over the last few years. Haven’t heard of me? That’s because I have been a lurker on your site for years. You have provided countless answers to questions for found bugs and critters with all the previous answers to the questions of others. You are also helping us alter my 7 and 5 year olds from "stomp first, and ask questions later" into "catch and releasers." It’s hard being a dad and having to know all the answers to questions without people like the two of you. I do know a lot about bugs and insects, but on many occasions I am stumped. I even go on your site for fun to scroll through all the cool images. I actually can’t go on line without them wanting to visit your site.
Any way here is a photo of a newly emerged cicada in the spirit of the changes you will be going through on your site. Taken today in South Jersey. We checked on him/her through out the morning until it was there no more. Fare thee well !
ReallyJustaDad

Dear Dad,
We’ve got to begin by stating that Just (in all its forms) should never be used to describe noble roles. We are thrilled that you have crossed the line from being a lurker to an interactive reader. We have gotten numerous images of Cicada Metamorphosis in recent weeks, but neglected to post them for various reasons. Since we are officially into the Dog Days of Summer, it seems appropriate to post your lovely image of an Annual Cicada or Dog Day Harvestfly. There is another exoskeleton of a metamorphised nymph visible in the lower right corner of your photo. We are strong supporters of change and look forward to many changes in the coming months.

¶ Posted 23 August 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Mating Dogday Harvestflies, AKA Annual Cicadas

Hello
Hi, bugman
8/21/08 My name is Siegrid, live in Washington, NJ (Warren). My mom and I walk path wood in Merrick Creek, NJ. I walk notice saw on path ground, show my mom saw it. That Cicadas mating, I think that brighter green male and dull green dark female, I think sure and get picture. Thank you
Siegrid Werner

Hi Siegrid,
Thank you for sending us this photo of mating Annual Cicadas or Dogday Harvestflies. We would not use coloration as a means of identifying the sexes. We found a website on the Periodical Cicada that has a great explanation on how to differentiate the sexes of Cicadas. In a paragraph entitled Song of Cicadas, Mike Raupp writes: “You can tell the male because he has a blunt abdomen. It’s rounded on the back, blunt abdomen. But if we lift up the wing and look very carefully just beneath the wing, we’ll see an organ called the tymbal organ. That white membrane at the end of my thumb– you can see it vibrating– is how he makes that sound, and it’s only the male that will call.”

¶ Posted 21 August 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Unknown Cicada from Texas

Teeny Tiny Cicada
I found the smallest Cicada today…I’ve been amazed by them all my life and never had any idea they came so tiny! In my online search for the tiny darlings (I thought I may have found a new species…haha) I came across your phenomenal site and had to say, ‘Wow, you are awesome as is your website!!’ I’ve been browsing for hours now…Thank you!!! I will attach photos…including a strange butterfly/moth?? and a Huge beetle (my daughter named it Fancy…hehe…She’s also a Bug Lover! Have a Fabulous Sunday :0) , Thanks again…
Chauntelle Grigsby
Boerne, Texas

Hi Chauntelle,
We thought you grew everthing larger in Texas!!! We must confess we are not certain about what your Cicada is exactly. We think it looks similar to a Beameria venosa posted to BugGuide that is also from Texas. Your photo shows more detail, so perhaps a cicada expert can provide more details. The butterfly is a newly metamorphosed Great Purple Hairstreak.

¶ Posted 13 July 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Periodical Cicada: Brood XIV

Cicada North Carolina
Just looking at the Cicada’s on your site and realized you did not have a picture of the Cicada from Asheville, North Carolina that’s been "bugging" us this year, I am having a lot of fun with these bugs.
Nadine Maltz

Hi Nadine,
We have numerous images of Periodical Cicadas, Magicicada septendecim, also known as the 17 Year Locust. This is a member of Brood XIV and it is the second image of the species we have received this year. The first was from Ohio.

¶ Posted 02 June 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Periodical Cicada: Brood XIV

Very Cool Cicada Picture
This little guy had just popped out of his shell!
Rich Hetzel
Loveland, ohio

Hi Rich,
We are thrilled that you have sent us a photo of a Periodical Cicada, sometimes called a 17 Year Locust. This year Brood XIV will be making appearances in KY, GA, IN, MA, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, and WV.

¶ Posted 31 May 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Cicada Exoskeletons

? bug
I found these bug casings on a painted pillar outside my front door today. They were stuck to it as if they really sank their claws in while exiting their shells. My wife thought they were bees because of the stripes on their abdomen. They also have some pretty mean looking claws. They are about one inch long, maybe a little less. What the heck are they? We live in Redding, (northern) California. Also, we leave the porch light on at night and they were found a few feet below the bulb. Thanks,
Mike Sawyer

Hi Mike,
These are the cast off exoskeletons of Cicadas. Larval Cicadas live underground. When they are ready to mature, they claw their way to the surface, shed their exoskeletons, and become winged adults.

¶ Posted 30 May 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Cicada Killer with Cicada

wasp?
We saw this with a nest in the ground and eating this other insect. This was taken at a nearby park in Shelby Twp., Michigan. Can you tell me what it is? Thanks,
Kelley

Hi Kelley,
This is a Cicada Killer wasp and a paralyzed Cicada. Most of our letters with images of Cicada Killers arrive in July and August, and we are guessing that this photo was not taken recently in Michigan, but probably during the summer. Cicada Killer wasps feed on pollen and nectar, but larval wasps feed on Cicadas. This female Cicada Killer has paralyzed a Cicada with her sting and is dragging it back to her burrow where she will bury it and lay an egg. The developing wasp larva will then feed on the paralyzed Cicada. Being that the Cicada is paralyzed and still alive, it does not harden and dry out so the larval wasp has living fresh meat.

¶ Posted 29 December 2007 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Orange Drummer Cicadas from Australia

Orange Drummer cicadas
Bugman:
No question this time, but thought you might be interested to see pics of a rare type of Thopa cicada – the Orange Drummer, or Thopa colorata. It inhabits a very small section of Central Australia.
http://www.flickr.com/photos /travelcat/2067077737/in/photostream/
We’ve dozens of these around the house just now, good thing neither of us have a bug phobia! We’ve had a dozen or so hatch just this morning! If you want to link to these pics, feel free!
Jodi

Hi Jodi,
Thank you so much for sending us your gorgeous Orange Drummer Cicada photos. We love getting so many wonderful submissions from Australia during your summer.

¶ Posted 26 November 2007 § ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: WTB Down Under?

Green Grocer Cicada from Australia: Loudest Insect in the World!!!

What`s this?
Hello Bugman,
we live in Melbourne, Australia and found this green giant somewhat in our garden. It flew away making a tremendous noise (like a helicopter taking off) . Can You tell us what that is? Regards,
Dr. Christian Karcher M.D.
VIC Australia

Hi Christian,
This is a Green Grocer Cicada, Cyclochila australasiae. According to the Scribbly Gum Website, the Green Grocer Cicada is the loudest insect in the world.

¶ Posted 17 November 2007 § ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: WTB Down Under?

Cicada Exoskeleton

what is this?
the bug is attached in a picture
JR

Hi JR,
We get numerous requests to identify the exoskeletons of Cicadas, but rarely are the images as fine as yours. Immature Cicada nymphs live underground where they suck sap from the roots of trees and shrubs. When they approach maturity, they dig to the surface (hence the clawlike front feet) and molt into winged adults, leaving the exoskeleton behind.

¶ Posted 29 September 2007 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Cicada: Tibicen pronotalis

Cicada
We found this cicada in our backyard of Eastern OK. It was yellow & orange with black. My husband thought it was that commonly seen Grand Western Cicada but I am not convinced. Any thoughts? Thank you.
Art & Cricket Wing