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Photo#31909
Periodical Cicada - Magicicada septendecim

Periodical Cicada - Magicicada septendecim
Alongside Stonecoal Lake, Lewis County, West Virginia, USA
June 3, 2003
Using the BugGuide, it seems to me this is a periodical cicada. It looks similar to this one (Magicicada septendecim) which was also a West Virginia specimen, though photographed a year later than mine and three hour's drive to the north and east:


Any confirmation, denial, elaboration, comments appreciated!

You are correct
Stephen, this is indeed a Magicicada Septendecim. You can tell this specimen from the other species of Periodical cicadas by the red patch just behind the big red compound eyes.

What's really interesting is the fact that your specimen was a year earlier than the one I photographed above. Which means it was most likely from Brood IX which emerged a year earlier in the southern part of West Virginia.

 
Thanks
Thanks Gerry, not only for the ID but for telling me about the diagnostic red patch. I notice yours is labeled a male; is there an easy way to determine the sex?

--Stephen

Stephen Cresswell
Buckhannon, WV
www.stephencresswell.com

 
Male
Stephen, the shape of the last two tergites in the posterior abdomen would make this specimen a male. The shape of the male tergites is more flattened in males than females. A good online reference can be found here.

 
Helpful
Thanks, Gerry, that was very helpful!

--Stephen

Stephen Cresswell
Buckhannon, WV
www.stephencresswell.com

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