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Photo#23022
Hieroglyphic Cicada - Neocicada hieroglyphica

Hieroglyphic Cicada - Neocicada hieroglyphica
Sarasota County, Florida, USA
June 24, 2005
Size: 1.75" with wings
locust or cicada?

Found this just after sunrise clinging to the grass in my yard. I assume it came out of the left behind "skin", as it seemed weak and unwilling to move when I relocated it (so dogs wouldn't trample it). It doesn't look like it could have fit into the shell, but I can't imagine why else it would be there.

Moved

Neocicada hieroglyphica f. johannis
Neocicada hieroglyphica f. johannis
Populations of this species from peninsular Florida belong to the taxon Neocicada hieroglyphica f. johannis.

NOTE: The "race" johannis replaces the nominate form "hieroglyphica" through out much of Florida and occupies the majority of the Florida peninsula. It is typically characterized by reduced mesonotal patterning and less black. Individuals of johannis may range in color from light tan, mint green, to brownish and any degree of varying combinations.

Neocicada Hieroglyphica
I have some samples from Florida of this species along with its nymphal skin. What you have there is a Neocicada Hieroglyphica judging from the black bands on the nymphal shell. It's a very small cicada and this is a really good shot showing just how small it is if you imagine it molting on the side of a blade of grass.

It's important when you see a cicada newly molted like this is to try not to touch the wings, the slightest touch can be disastrous for them.

Cicada
It is a cicada, just molted as you assumed. Some people refer to cicadas as locusts, but that term is better applied to certain types of grasshoppers.

When they molt, they are initially the same size but inflate themselves before their new skin dries.

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