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Genus Tibicen - "Annual Cicadas" or "Dog-Day Cicadas"
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
Suborder Auchenorrhyncha (Free-living Hemipterans)
Superfamily Cicadoidea
Family Cicadidae (Cicadas)
Subfamily Cicadinae
Genus Tibicen ("Annual Cicadas" or "Dog-Day Cicadas")
Other Common Names Dog Day Cicada(s) - This name is most often applied in particular to Tibicen canicularis
Annual Cicada(s)
"Harvestfly/Harvestflies"
"Dryfly/Dryflies"
"Jarfly/Jarflies"
"Locust/Locusts" - a commonly used misnomer (Locusts are "Short-horned" Grasshoppers / Refer to the Order Orthoptera)
"Katydid/Katydids" - a commonly used misnomer (Katydids are "Long-horned" Grasshoppers / Refer to the Order Orthoptera) Synonyms and other taxonomic changes "All the –a endings in the species of Tibicen need to be –us, e.g. bifida should be bifidus", per Allen Sanborn (Barry University, Florida), pers. comm., 2008. (Note, many taxonomists working on larger groups, e.g. leps, have abandoned gender agreement, but apparently this isn't the case with Cicadas. MQ)
Genus is usually (?) listed as part of subfamily Tibiceninae - concealed-timbal cicadas. See SINA for classification.
Historically, the Genus Tibicen was in the sub-Family Tibiceninae, but is now placed in the Cicadinae.
Currently, the family Cicadidae is being restructured and additional updates will follow - hopefully soon. Explanation of Names Tibicen is Latin for "flute-player, piper" (1).
Numbers Nearctica.com and Arnett, p. 298 (2) list 30+ North American species in Genus.
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Below is a list of the North American Tibicen species and "species groupings".
These groupings are based on the literature, per. observ., per. comm., and reflect shared morphological and behavioral traits used historically to classify these insects. In some cases, the songs also reflect shared origins for several of these "groupings" and have been taken into consideration.
NOTE: Many of the listed common names are informal & are either colloquial or suggested (here on bugguide).
The following information is based on per. research, per. observ. & per. comm., Bill Reynolds - "NOT SET IN STONE":
"LARGE Tibicen Species"
"The auletes Group"
*Appears to be the most divergent member (?)
"The pronotalis Group"
"The dorsatus Group"
"MEDIUM Tibicen Species"
These are among the most recognized species both by call and physical appearance. Several are among the most common and widespread members of the Genus.
"Swamp Cicadas"/"The chloromerus Group"
"Swamp Cicada" or "Morning cicada"
"Southern Dusky-winged cicada" or "Southern Swamp Cicada"
"Lyric Cicadas"/"The lyricen Group"
*Tibicen bermudianus [T. bermudiana (Verrill 1902)], "Bermuda Cicada"- EXTINCT
(*Most closely related to T. lyricen, this cicada was endemic to the Bermuda Islands. Sadly, this cicada is now EXTINCT due to habitat and host plant loss. Unfortunately, disease threats to the host plant, Bermuda cedar, Juniperus bermudiana continue to threaten its existence as well.)
"Green Tibicen Species"
Collectively, yet informally, referred to as the "Green Tibicen species" (per. comm.), the following cicadas are often difficult to differentiate and all appear to be very closely related. Genitalic analysis of the males suggest these species are very closely related and morphological differences between and among the species are often slight. It is also thought (based on observations) that several of these may be involved in complex hybrid zones; however, more work is needed to substantiate and better understand these observations.
Tibicen pruinosus pruinosus var. fulvus Beamer 1924 [syn. T. pruinosa var. fulva], "Pale Scissor(s) Grinder Cicada"
"Southern Dog-day Cicadas"
Loosely & informally referred to as the "Southern Dog-day Cicadas" ( "coined", Bill Reynolds), the following taxa are mostly "southern" in distribution and appear to be closely related. These cicadas share several traits, incl. elongated opercula in the males, rapid trill and/or clicking calls, and unusually wide heads relative to body dimension (head widths usu. exceed thoracic widths).
*Appears to be the most divergent member within this group (??)
"SMALL Tibicen Species"
Several of these smaller and "mostly western" species appear quite divergent from the eastern members and may deserve separate Generic status. (Additional work is much needed to better understand the species' relationships within this Genus.)
NOTE: As mentioned, the above arrangement is "hypothetical" and much of it is based on older classification schemes (+ per. observ. and per. comm.). Additional genetic analysis and detailed morphological studies may reveal different taxonomic relationships. Size Most species belonging to this Genus are characterized by relatively large size (~1.5 to ~3 inches)
(Avg. range for most North American species is 40-70 mm) Identification VARIABLE:
USUALLY represented by large cicadas often colored & patterned with blacks, browns, rusts, tans, yellows and greens; many are dusted or heavily patterned with white wax (pruinosity).
Although color and pattern are not absolutes for species id., they can be helpful. Regarding measurements, these too can be misleading; individual and geographic variations are often confounding and may not adhere to "specified" measurements and/or descriptions used in many of the identification keys (When deciding on a key, it's best to make sure the key is applicable to your region! - for instance, the Cicadas of Michigan has little application when attempting to identify the cicadas of Florida - Unfortunately, there are few keys available and most of these have limited application, often being restricted to a particular state or region.).
NOTE: Many of the characteristics used diagnostically can be problematic when applied over great distances or across a species' range. I have noticed in particular that head & thoracic widths (ratios) as well as wing dimensions, costal margin shapes and node positions are all subject to variation, and although often helpful with species id., are not absolutes - Many things should be considered when identifying members of this Genus! (the aforementioned characteristics can vary as a result of individual variation, geographic origin and gender) - (pers. comm. & pers. observations, bill reynolds) Range VARIABLE: incl. n. Mexico, USA & Canada
Most species are found in Eastern and Central North America, east of Rockies (There are a few exceptions.). Habitat VARIOUS: While most species appear to be associated with eastern deciduous & mixed forests, several are associated with and/or exclusive to pine dominated forests, grasslands/prairies and even desert environments. Season VARIABLE:
Usually Summer - Most species are active between June-August
In some southern locations, Tibicen species may be active from Spring through Fall (April-November).
Florida records suggest a few species (i.e. T. figuratus, T. davisi and T. latifasciatus) may be active as late as December/early January in years with mild winters. Food VARIABLE:
Most appear to be generalists, but some species may be more "host specific".
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NYMPHS:
Nymphs feed underground on the sap of perennial plants. Several species seem to exhibit host plant preferences/specificity(?).
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ADULTS:
Milne (3) reports that adults do not eat, but sometimes feed on sap?
Adults DO FEED/DRINK!
(per. comm. & per. observ.)
Both field and captive observations readily prove that adult Tibicen species frequently feed/drink and need to do so on a daily basis (sap & water seem to be necessary).
In captivity, individuals given a fresh source of vegetation (branches and stems) readily feed and often do so for 2 or 3 hours at a time and may be seen feeding several times a day. Insects maintained under conditions where food is readily available may live a week or more. In contrast, Tibicen specimens maintained at ambient temperatures and denied "food" become increasingly weak, rarely lasting more than 24-36 hours. It is important to mention that not all Tibicen species do well in captivity regardless of food availability (per. observ.), but they are observed to "feed/drink". Life Cycle VARIABLE:
Life cycles are three years (or more?), not actually annual. These just have a much shorter life-cycle than Magicicada, and there are emergences every year, thus "annual cicadas". Eggs are frequently laid in dead twigs, but some taxa have been opbserved to oviposit in living twigs. When eggs are laid in living twigs, the process often causes them to wilt, droop, and possibly fall to ground (damage to living branches is much less than seen in Magicicada emergences).
Nymphs burrow into ground and feed on plant juices from roots. After several years (three or more?) underground, nymphs crawl onto tree trunk, wall, etc. and molt for the last time. Adults leave the last molted skin clinging to the surface of a tree (or wall, etc.) and fly off. Males, mostly, sing during the day. Remarks Most species belonging to this Genus are characterized by relatively large size (1.5 to 3 inches) and distinctive color and pattern (often elaborate and colorful in a number of taxa).
For more details, please refer to the Info pages listed for each species here on Bugguide and to the "Printed Ref's." and "Internet Ref's." sections listed below. Print References Arnett and Jacques, #65--T. canicularis (4)
Arnett, p. 298, fig. 21.12-15 (2)
Borror, entry for tibic, =en, in (1)
Milne, pp. 491-492, figs. 290--T. canicularis, 289--T. dorsata (3)
Salsbury, pp. 125-126, photos: T. aurifera, dorsata, pruinosa (7)Internet References
Singing Insects of North America (SINA): Checklist of Cicadas North of Mexico--species list, with many common names; cicada songs
Works Cited | 4. | Simon & Schuster's Guide to Insects
By Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Dr. Richard L. Jacques |  |
| 7. | Insects in Kansas
By Glenn A. Salsbury and Stephan C. White | |
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