Example of a discolored virescens

Although not exemplary of virescens, I am placing this series here to demonstrate the problems associated with specimen discoloration and how it can affect identification.

Unfortunately, cicadas often discolor after death and preservation methods are best employed on FRESH material.

Environmental extremes such as high humidity, freezing, heat, drying ovens, and chemicals & solvents often have a negative impact on the specimens' natural "in life" colors and patterns and should be avoided when collecting certain taxa.

This is definitely a discolored "virescens"
The "condition" of extensive dark coloration seen in this specimen is not unusual. Because of discoloration, dead specimens can lead to erroneous interpretations of distributions for the ssp. & forms. Geographic distribution data for this species is often contaminated with data points based on poorly preserved material leading to erroneous id's as of to which form a specimen belongs. Case in point, some might think this to be a dark lyricen or maybe near f. engelhardti if not for the collection site = FL.