Cicada - Megatibicen resh

Moved

… Bill Reynolds, 12 August, 2013 - 9:39am

Brown variation of T. resh

The "Z" in the wing is the key to this group :)

They are often confused with pronotalis (to a lesser degree pruinosus & auletes).

NICE CICADA!!
If you find additional resh, I would be interested in some OK rep's. These guys are often darker and on occasion brown - like seen here.

Heath,
btw - you are in a great area for several cicadas exhibiting skewed traits. I'll send you a check list I've compiled of likely cicadas in your area.

cheers
bill

… Bill Reynolds, 12 August, 2013 - 9:35am

Hey Bill...

...do you know whether the coloration difference is due to genetic factors or environmental factors?

… Chao "Jimmy" Wu, 12 August, 2013 - 2:27pm

I suspect some of both

The brown forms seem to occur with greater frequency in more arid scrubby environments but not always!
T. resh, T. pronotalis, & T. dealbatus all exhibit this tendency.

Regarding colration and environment, the dark lyricen (engelhardti) seems to occupy higher elevations in the south gradually occupying lower elevations as one travels north. In discussion, we suspect engelhardti may be the result of environmental tendencies (distribution suggests the darker form may be for thermoregulation in areas where the day and night temps vary more significantly).

… Bill Reynolds, 12 August, 2013 - 2:36pm

Thanks Bill!

I was in a hurry to get nowhere that day and it slipped my mind to drop it in the fridge! I am still hearing resh, superbus, lyricen, and pruinosus on a regular basis and finding at least 5-7 every morning. I will send you a group later this week. I will also check that list out!!

… Heath Hallum, 12 August, 2013 - 12:47pm

The coloration...

...reminds me a bit of Tibicen cultriformis but it seems to lack the green wing veins. Let me check up on other species. I think Bill should be able to give you an ID.

… Chao "Jimmy" Wu, 11 August, 2013 - 11:21am

Besides the...

Besides the T. cultriformis qualities, it also has that T. resh feel to me, too. Did you also notice the darker "Zees" on the wings?

Maybe a hybrid of some sort?

… Bill Myers, 11 August, 2013 - 12:41pm

Actually, it definitely...

...reminded me a bit of T. resh in patterning and coloration. I know the blending and hybridization is an occurrence within the green dog day (T. pruinosus, canicularis,linnei, etc) category, but I never knew of it being in others as well. It certainly seems possible that it was hybridization, I just wonder what the call would sound like.

… Chao "Jimmy" Wu, 11 August, 2013 - 12:57pm

Hybrids

Bill Reynolds has a couple of interesting specimens that he has classified as "pronotalis-dealbatus intergrades" or, "transitionals." They're pretty cool looking. You can check them out here:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/706360

… Bill Myers, 11 August, 2013 - 4:27pm

It is browner than any I've f

It is browner than any I've found this year. I had it on the deck to photograph and the kitten got it as you can see by the wings!

… Heath Hallum, 11 August, 2013 - 3:43pm

lulz - I Can Has Cicada Burger?

I hate when that happens! :-)

… Bill Myers, 11 August, 2013 - 4:29pm