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Photo#184793
Cicada - Cicadettana calliope

Cicada - Cicadettana calliope
Auburn, Lee County, Alabama, USA
May 22, 2008
Size: 20-23 mm -head to wingtip
This is the smallest fully developed cicada I have seen (about one-third the size of typical cicadas). I am wondering if this is a teneral adult of the hieroglyphic cicada (Neocicada hieroglyphica)http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/706pt.htm. This specimen is certainly within the published range of this species.

Moved

Moved
Moved from Cicadetta calliope.

parasitic mite?
I wonder if that orange spot on the right wing is a parasitic mite of some kind.

 
Parasitic Mite
I had noted the orange spot and thanks for your comment. Perhaps Andy Hamilton can help us sort this out.

Moved to guide
congratulations on the first image of this genus!

 
Moved to Guide
Thanks, Hannah, for your interest and help.

Cicadetta calliope
This is a much smaller cicada than Neocicada, and narrower across the head than the other small cicadas. It's the only world-wide genus. The two species in the USA have different colors, with C, kansa being pale green.

 
Cicadetta calliope
Thanks, Andy, for your ID and the distinguishing characteristics of this cicada. These are fascinating insects and I will be looking for more specimens. I am wondering if Alabama is on the edge of the range of this genus.

 
range
No, they are found in Florida and the Carolinas west to the Rockies.

Not Neocicada.
This may be a new genus for the guide. I hope Andy Hamilton comes back to visit here, as he has spoiled us with his expertise on all things Auchenorrhyncha!

It has fully developed wings
so it must be an adult.

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