Drop the term "Annual Cicada"

Excuse me for saying so Eric but when was Annual Cicada termed only for Tibicens?

It depends on how the term is being used in the guide either as common nomenclature or a true and accurate fact. In my opinion both are not accurate.

The true definition of Annual Cicada are those cicadas whose life cycle is not developmentally synchronized and seperates them from Periodical cicadas (Magicicadas) whose developmental cycle is synchronized. This is why Annual Cicadas appear every year.

If it is used to describe life-cycle then it is not accurate as the lifecyle of Tibicen cicadas is 2 or more years depending on species.

However, if it is used because of the fact that they appear every year (common nomenclature) then again it is not accurate because other genus of cicadas appear every year.

A more common nomeclature used for Tibicen cicadas is "Dog Day Cicada" again according to Andy Hamilton that term is not accurate and should only be used to describe T. canicularis and is reflected in the guide.

Again, if it is a commonality thing that the guide is looking for then the term "Dog Day Cicada" is used most often to describe Tibicen cicadas. Doing a comparative search on google using the following terms:

"Annual Cicada Tibicen" yields 481 results, while using the term "Dog Day Cicada Tibicen" yields 907 results.

Also, both terms are used together to describe Tibicens in the same sentence, those yield 277 results.

And of course let's not forget "Harvest Fly" which pops up to describe Tibicens in google 209 times.

I've also talked to several colleagues whom in my opinion are tops in the field study of cicadas on this subject and while everyone has not yet got back in touch with me, here are a few responses:
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Hi Gerry,


All cicadas that are not synchronized can be called annual. That is probably all world genera other than Magicicada (and maybe one genus in Fiji). There are a little over 300 described genera in 38 tribes worldwide.

Chris Simon
Professor, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
75 North Eagleville Road, University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 06269-3043

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Hi Gerry--

You've put your finger on what has always been a bit of a
terminological problem, because many of the "annual" cicadas have
life cycles greater than one year. I've always resolved it by
thinking about when the cicada populations appear, rather than the
life cycles of individual cicadas. For instance, in a given location
(such as Storrs), some T. lyricen appear every year, although the
life cycle of individuals is unknown. This is also true of
Okanagana-- whether it is a boom or bust year, in my study sites, I
can always find at least some O. rimosa and O. canadensis. In
contrast, with Magicicada, adults appear only in an emergence year,
and are (except for stragglers) absent in the intervening years.

Another difference (which you point out) is that within a Magicicada
population, individuals are developmentally synchronized, at least in
a crude fashion, where in "annual" cicadas, development is not.

At any rate, "annual" is a bit confusing, and I've taken to
explaining what I mean when I use it in print or in discussion--
because is does *not* mean "1-year life cycle"
______________________
John Cooley
Postdoctoral Research Associate
University of Connecticut
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
75 North Eagleville Rd, U-43
Storrs, CT 06269-3043
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So, in my opinion the term should be dropped all together.

Gerry