Reddish eyes & the veins in the anterior half of the wings are greenish and straw colored - traits seen in many populations of D. apache (but not all)!

In some areas, D. apache can be more easily confused with D. semicincta, however, reddish eyes are often the give away! Although at first glance, many of the characters of this cicada are suggestive of D. semicincta, I have never seen nor collected semicincta with this reddish eye color (more typical of D. apache). Additionally, the thorax (mesonotum) of D. apache specimens from central Arizona northward are usually/often solid in color (lacks the lighter coloration along the middle of the back among the inter-spaces below the obconical marks "m").

PRONOTAL COLLAR!
Although there is debate over using coloration in the pronotal collar to differentiate D. apache from D. semicincta (which I do use for specimens originating in south Arizona), I recommend using other characters as well. D. apache is highly variable and some populations, particularly north of the "Sonoran" region, do not conform to the divided-pronotal collar trait as clearly, if at all (one image in this series is suggestive of some black infusion centrally into the collar, but fading laterally, thus giving the collar a less divided appearance). Populations in n. Arizona also range in color from a near solid very dark/black to a pale orange-reddish-tan and MAY NOT exhibit the "divided collar" trait seen to the south!

Refer to the light color morph of D. apache color var. ochroleuca.



The cicada pictured here is the dark counterpart. Just as var. "ochraleuca" is solid reddish with a broad collar, there are forms of D. apache from the same population complex (mostly the southern portions) where individuals are dark and closely resemble D. semicincta. (NOTE: solid, pale-colored Pronotal Collar in both this specimen and in var. ochroleuca!)

(*Although possibly D. semicincta, given locality and similarity to specimens I have examined, I'm a bit skeptical)

By lightening this photo a whole lot, you can see the contrastingly pale "collar" on the thorax and the white, triangular opercula (eardrum covers) on the underside at the base of the abdomen.

Can you get a better photo of this common cicada? Please check with me at hamiltona AT agr.gc.ca for more information.