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Photo#142324
Some kind of cicada? - Megatibicen resh

Some kind of cicada? - Megatibicen resh
Austin, Travis County, Texas, USA
August 31, 2007
Size: 2 inches approx

Moved
Moved from Tibicen pronotalis.

 
Tibicen resh (Tibicens...cicadas in general...not easy to id)
Thank's!
Some of these guys are not easily dfferentiated..even when you have them pinned side by side...pic's even harder.

Sorry to jump ship on this one...not the first and I fear not the last either.

I'm really trying to get these guys sorted and am always reviewing each taxon and image.

I'll continue to make mistakes, but hopefully over time those mistakes will become fewer ;)

New info brougt to light -- Likely Tibicen resh!
In an attempt to stay current, I'm always exchanging info and ideas with others. This process not only helps me learn new cicada facts, but enables me to pass this information on to others. Often times, new bits of info can turn the tides on previous id's and unknowns...case in point.

In recent conversations with a cicada specialist currently looking at the Genus Tibicen, 2 very interesting points were discussed.

1) Differentiation of T. resh from T. pronotalis in areas of sympatry, esp. with regards to pic's and those few specimens that seem ambiguous (?).

NEW info: It would seem that T. resh specimens typically have very well developed and rather pronounced "Z" infuscations on the forewings, typical of most Tibicen species. In contrast, members of the T. pronotalis-dealbatus complex usually have rather faded "Z's" and this character may even be lacking in some specimens and populations of the latter (Particularly in individuals from the more eastern and southern parts of the pronotalis range).

Tibicen resh (Note the evident smoky "Z" towards the tips of the forewings)





2) Geographic distribution of pronotalis and dealbatus and how they may relate.

Both pronotalis and dealbatus may be sympatric in some areas making id difficult unless you can recognize those traits best differentiating them. However, as a rule of thumb, resh is most often found in areas supporting dealbatus, hence making differentiation easier. Although genetic exchange among adjacent populations of pronotalis x dealbatus occurs, it is unlikely to find both of the aforementioned taxa in their "pure forms" coexisting side by side. And since collecting records support T. dealbatus in central Texas (incl. Travis Co.), it is unlikely one would encounter T. pronotalis (?).

All of which now brings me to a modified conclusion with regards to the cicada pictured here.

1) Very pronounced "Z" in this specimen!


A trait typical of resh but not of pronotalis nor dealbatus. The greens are also a bit intense for dealbatus, but not for resh, which can resemble T. pronotalis in both color and pattern.

Compare this image and the "Z" in the forewing to the following.

Tibicen dealbatus (NOTE the faded "Z")

Tibicen pronotalis var. pronotalis (NOTE the faded "Z")

Tibicen pronotalis var. walkeri (NOTE the lack of a "Z")


2) The location, Travis Co. TX falls more within the "known dealbatus range". Interestingly, Tibicen resh can be and often is sympatric with both T. pronotalis and T. dealbatus, partic. across the southern parts of the pronotalis-dealbatus ranges (incl. Texas).

Hence based on the above info, it is more likely the cicada pictured here is T. resh and not T. pronotalis.

Moved
Moved from Tibicen dorsatus.

Tibicen walkeri/pronotalis (resh?)
The bright green pronotum does not support Tibicen dorsatus (?).

However, the bright lime-green does suggest Tibicen resh and/or pronotalis. Additional photos of a more lateral & dorsal aspect may be needed for a more accurate id.

Tibicen dorsatus
The white border on the thorax and the fairly large size indicates this species. The specimen is a female.

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