Subject: Jade Color Cicada Nymph?
Geographic location of the bug: Agoura Hills, CA
Date: 08/18/2018
Time: 01:12 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: While digging for some sprinkler connection changes, we turned over this very unusual colored critter. It is about 3/4 inch long. It looks similar to a reference in WTB from Idaho to a cicada nymph.
How you want your letter signed: Mike
Dear Mike,
Like the Cicada nymph from Idaho in our archives, and the individual posted to BugGuide, we believe your Cicada nymph is in the genus Platypedia. BugGuide lists California as part of the range for the genus. In his book Insects of the Los Angeles Basin, Charles Hogue indicates that the Wide Headed Cicada, Platypedia laticapitata, is found locally, and though BugGuide does not have any records of that species, there is a posting from Agoura Hills on BugGuide that questions that identity.
Thank you much! It was such an unusual color that it really was striking.
Mike
Finding a high amount of these(they look identical, basically neon- green/aqua blue) 4- 8 ” underground, in Georgetown/Volcanoville California 04/12/23. Always individually but near others.
They sure squish easily, but oh jeez they’re ugly.