Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
syn. Tibicen chloromerus
Tibicen tibicen ssp. tibicen
Identification
These cicadas are frequently misidentified due to the skewing of traits typically used as identification markers for the taxon
Tibicen tibicen (chloromerus) ssp. tibicen. Populations occurring along the Atlantic are often composed of individuals characterized by increased coloration and pattern, green mottling of the pronotal collar and bright reds and greens on the mesonotum. Although similar in appearance and often mistaken for
Tibicen tibicen ssp. australis with which they share characteristics, these cicadas absolutely belong to the nominate race
Tibicen tibicen (chloromerus) ssp. tibicen - but with that said, there is some evidence to support past movement of australis genes within these pop's.
Above commentary is not meant to imply that similar phenotypes cannot be found across the species' range, there is simply a greater concentration of these types along the Atlantic coast, and certainly given the identification issues they present (i.e. as lyricen, pruinosus, and ssp. australis), are worthy of mention.
pronotal collar often black (may be marked with green or solid green in some populations); pronotal shoulder patches large, solid green;
mesonotum largely black (mesonotum may be patterned with green and reddish brown in some populations, particularly those from lower elevations and across the deep south); conspicuous dorsolateral white spot where
abdomen meets
thorax; abdomen beneath with midline only slightly darker than rest, sometimes only at base of each
sternite
Reported to call from 8-11 a.m., with a "rising crescendo" call lasting about eight seconds. (See:
Cicada Info.)
For details differentiating T. tibicen (chloromerus) from T. lyricen, please refer to the "Remarks" section below.
Range
Atlantic States incl. the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
Cicadas fitting this descrition/phenotypes are often common in the eastern portions and "low lands" of North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey & New York.
Habitat
Various woodlands and plant communities
Remarks
Often confused with other Tibicen species including Tibicen lyricen, Tibicen pruinosus or T. linnei.
MOST FREQUENTLY CONFUSED: Tibicen lyricen and Tibicen tibicen (chloromerus) are often confused with one another. It is not an uncommon mistake to mis id. these two species since both are subject to regional and individual variability - hence frequently confused.
Pronotal and mesonotal patterns are variable in both Tibicen tibicen (chloromerus) and in T. lyricen; however, living or freshly dead chloromerus specimens have distinctly green pronotal patches in both the teneral and sclerotized states. Additionally, the green patches are usually better defined in T. tibicen than in lyricen.
Tibicen tibicen (chloromerus)
1) Greater development of the paired pruinose spots at the base of the abdomen
(less developed in T. lyricen)
2) Bright mint-green legs (occasionally with light brown at the terminal ends of the tibia/tarsi)
3) The green in the pronotum of these cicadas is a clean bright "leaf green" in both the teneral and sclerotized forms (excluding ssp. australis which is typically very dark green)
4) The pronotal collar is often black but may have green intrusion or even green in some individuals/populations
5) Although some Swamp Cicadas may have dark eyes (usu. very dark green), the vast majority of T. tibicen specimens have distinct greenish hues when alive/fresh
6) Venter of abdomen with No dark stripe (lacks the black pigmentation as seen in lyricen)
7) Males have elongated opercula (yellowish-green in color)
Dorsal aspect
Ventral aspect is basically the same in both subspecies (ssp. australis & ssp. tibicen). The opercula of T. australis may be slightly longer (?)
Tibicen lyricen, Lyric Cicada
T. lyricen may strongly resemble T. tibicen; however, note the following traits.
1) Less development of the paired pruinose spots at the base of the abdomen
(esp. in females of lyricen; males usu. possess the paired spots but they are smaller by comparison than those seen in males of T. tibicen ... always large and better developed in both genders of T. tibicen)
2) Dark brown/reddish-brown legs (occasionally with hints of green - tenerals may have green legs!!)
3) The green in the pronotum of these cicadas is typically not as clean or "leaf green" as in Tibicen tibicen (exception in ssp. virescens)
4) BLACK Pronotal collar (rarely with brown intrusion) is well developed in both genders and in all subspecies and color variants
5) Dark eyes: when alive/fresh, T. lyricen has dark black/brown eyes (rarely with dark greenish black hues when teneral)
6) Ventral black stripe on venter of abdomen is well developed in both genders and in all subspecies and color variants
7) Males of this species have oblique opercula (reddish-tan in color)
See Also
Tibicen tibicen ssp. tibicen
=Tibicen chloromera
=Tibicen chloromerus
Often confused with the following:
________________________________
"Swamp Cicadas"/"The chloromerus Group"
"Swamp Cicada" or "Morning cicada"
"Southern Dusky-winged cicada" or "Southern Swamp Cicada"
"Lyric Cicadas"/"The lyricen Group"
*Tibicen bermudianus [T. bermudiana (Verrill 1902)], "Bermuda Cicada"- EXTINCT
(*Most closely related to T. lyricen, this cicada was endemic to the Bermuda Islands. Sadly, this cicada is now EXTINCT due to habitat and host plant loss. Unfortunately, disease threats to the host plant, Bermuda cedar, Juniperus bermudiana continue to threaten its existence as well.)
