Had I known more about periodical cicadas and appreciated the significance of what I was witnessing, I would have paid more attention. At the time I noticed this emerging cicada, the only thing that seemed out of the ordinary to me was that it was early in the year for our annual cicadas. As the emergence continued, I recognized that this was a periodical cicada, but knew nothing about it being four years ahead of schedule. (I was laboring under the same mis-information about 5 and 7 year cycles that you mention on your web page.)

A colleague of Dr. Simon's at UConn (Dr. John Cooley) emailed me -- pointing out the same information as you've mentioned and requesting additional information. Unfortunately, I had little additional information. This is the only periodical cicada I saw, although I did see two more shed skins in the same area about the same time. They seemed smaller than our annual cicadas, but there's no way for me to say for certain that they were Magicicada.

My one brief moment in the cicada spotlight and I blew it. :-(

Marvin

Marvin,

Nah, you didn't blow it. These things happen all the time. As a matter of fact, I'm in the same position as you. That is "wishing I was more observant at the time."

As an independent researcher, I have had the opportunity to work very closely with Dr. Chris Simon and Dr. John Cooley as well as David Marshall and Kathy Hill. As a matter of fact, I just returned from Illinois working with them to map Brood XIII.

In Dr. Gene Kritsky's book "Periodical Cicadas: The Plague and the Puzzle" he mentions 4 year accelerated emergences of some periodical cicadas. There is a theory being postulated that these accelerated emergences may be the Periodical cicada's way of trying to evade the ravashes of a fungual infection known as Massospora Cicadina which infect the abdomens of males and females causing the to literally "pop" as the spores multiply.

I'll bet you if you go back to this area, you will find more nymphal skins. Look under the leaves of the trees and such.

I have observed that M. tredecassini has a tendancy to emerge earlier than the other species of Magicicada though it has been reported that all three can emerge early. The nymphal skin of M. tredecassini is very small. Much smaller than most Tibicen skins. And yes the other skins you observed were more than likely Magicicada.

Gerry

I imagine that a heavy invasion could create much havoc. So far, I've only seen three of the cicadas, but it's still early in the season.

Marvin