Tibicen lyricen form lyricen (western f. lyricen) - Neotibicen lyricen
Collected and photographed by
Bill Reynolds, NC Museum of Natural Sciences.
DSCN3259A. Date approximate--month correct.
I refer to the Trans-Mississippi T. lyricen as Western Lyric Cicadas (Osage Cicadas). I have read nothing suggestive of Lyric Cicada populations from localities west of the Mississippi River to possess distinct characteristics from those in the east; however, I would like to point out a few of my observations.
1) Many have distinctly smoky-amber wings (=high degree of infuscation). The infuscation is even greater than that seen in the wings of Coastal Lyric Cicadas, T. lyricen virescens. (Notable exceptions northward into Plains & east towards Miss. R.)
2) Western specimens seem to be darker with rich reddish-browns & black-green/olive drab.
3) There is a tendency for these cicadas to be slightly more robust than Lyric Cicadas in the east (particularly with regards to eastern individuals from more northern and inland populations).
4) Ventral abdominal black stripe often flanked with brown.
Examples from this locality