Cicado - Neotibicen pruinosus

Tibicen pruinosus

Additional images reveal this to be a Tibicen pruinosus. For details, please refer to info sections (Info tab above) and compare the ventral aspects of T. pruinosus with those of T. tibicen (chloromerus)

… Bill Reynolds, 28 August, 2013 - 8:53am

Ooooops ... it's a discolored Tibicen pruinosus!

The ventral aspect is absolutely T. pruinosus.

Some Tibicen tibicen specimens from this region have known to exhibit skewed traits incl. bright green pronotal collars more typical of se. populations, but the ventral aspect for all forms of T. tibicen (chloromerus) are characteristic and recognizeable (lacking a dark stripe, lots of white pruinosity, bright green legs, and elongated ochreous-yellow/green opercula).

There was an excellent image of a western fringe Tibicen tibicen on Gerry Bunker's site, Massachussetts Cicadas, a year or 2 ago with a very green collar and vividly patterned mesonotum. She looked a lot like a lyricen or pruinosus.

The discoloration of the mesonotum in this case (dorsal aspect) was suggestive of T. tibicen and an error in id was made based on the characters seen. Dead cicadas often discolor making id. from images challenging.

Thanks for posting this pic - helps to have examples availabel.

… Bill Reynolds, 28 August, 2013 - 8:52am

Cicada pic's

Stacey,

Please keep posting pic's!

… Bill Reynolds, 27 August, 2013 - 1:34pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Bill Reynolds, 27 August, 2013 - 10:25am

Do you still have this one?

Stacy,

These populations are strange when compared to others across the range of Tibicen tibicen (green pronotal collar as opposed to black). I have seen a few, but have no examples in my reference collection from the western most representative populations. Do you still have this one?

Compare yours with this image of specimens from a population in e. Alabama where australis and tibicen blend. Swamp Cicadas from e. Alabama

If so, I'd be interested in additional pic's and info.

Bill Reynolds
Curator, Coordinator, & Containment Director of the Arthropod Zoo
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
11 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27601-1029
OFFICE: (919) 707-9921
FAX: (919) 715-6439
bill.reynolds@naturalsciences.org

… Bill Reynolds, 27 August, 2013 - 10:20am

Stranger still...

Stranger still is dark stripe as seen on the ventral view of the abdomen. I have never seen a T. tibicen with such a dark ventral stripe--they're very pruinose here in Missouri. Also, here in Missouri, the legs are a lot greener.

A strange T. tibicen, indeed!

(Just thought I'd ante up my two-cents)

… Bill Myers, 27 August, 2013 - 8:50pm

You're right!

T. pruinosus - good call (the ventral aspect changes the call). I hadn't seen the associated ventral pic.

There are examples of the swamp cicada from the western parts that are difficult to readily assign due to the green pronotal collar and pattern on the mesonotum. There was a nice example on Gerry's site a year or 2 ago.

… Bill Reynolds, 28 August, 2013 - 1:26pm

Bill, this is the coloring of

Bill, this is the coloring of the ones I have seen my entire life in the suburb of Kansas City I have grown up in. I will also try to find some more specimens. What is the best way to preserve them?

… Stacey Ward, 27 August, 2013 - 4:41pm

Hm...

Would you consider this species to be common near KC? There are quite a few species of cicadas in the KC area and I'm wondering as to the distribution of this species. I've never heard them when I visit KC and have certainly never seen one either. In Topeka, there are scattered populations all across the city with areas having denser populations than others. I've seen them stick to more open ground as well as calling next to T. pruinosus in areas will tall trees. I have however, heard them en-route between Lawrence and Topeka, as well as Lawrence and KC. Past KC and in St. Louis and this species is quite abundant. Or at least from my studies and experiences. As for preserving, I usually just pin them and/or let them sit and dry out. Another way would be to drop them in alcohol or a similar chemical solution but the latter two may cause color deterioration.

… Chao "Jimmy" Wu, 27 August, 2013 - 5:08pm

Alcohol

Uh, don't drop 'em in alcohol! When I was a young lass, I learned the hard way that it completely destroys their coloration in hardly any time at all.

Pinning is always a good option. Then, be sure to put them in an enclosure or a shadowbox as soon as possible to prevent the accumulation of dust. Also, if you use a shadowbox, keep it out of direct sunlight or else the cicada's colors will fade quickly

Of course, the best method I've found is clear resin.

I've got a couple that I preserved in a clear resin when I was probably about 11 or 12 (I made my own vacuum chamber to get all the air bubbles out). Those two cicadas are still with me and they still have all their coloration!

Cheers

… Bill Myers, 27 August, 2013 - 8:41pm

There are a ton of T. pruinos

There are a ton of T. pruinosus in the KC area for sure, but I have just now come to knowledge of the difference in the two. I will definitely be taking a closer look at them in this area. I will be near Lebanon, MO this coming weekend and see what I can find down there.

… Stacey Ward, 27 August, 2013 - 6:24pm

Yes, I do still have it.

Yes, I do still have it and I will take more pictures of different angles in some better lighting to add. Are there any specific angles you would like to see? Obviously the underside of it...

… Stacey Ward, 27 August, 2013 - 4:34pm

T. tibicen

It's too bad I still haven't gotten any specimens here in Topeka yet, only prove I have of their existence is random clips of sound files. Are they considered common around this area of the their range? They are definitely not heard/seen a lot.

… Chao "Jimmy" Wu, 27 August, 2013 - 10:38am

not so common :)

let me know when you get one, love to see pic's!

… Bill Reynolds, 27 August, 2013 - 10:55am

Tibicen tibicen (Swamp Cicada)

Very interesting. I live in Topeka, and I have heard and seen T. tibicen also. However, they are much more scattered in range when compared to the number down south. In many range maps, they show only this species going as far as mid-Missouri.

Here is the call of the Tibicen tibicen:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=B87RduRpiA4

… Chao "Jimmy" Wu, 27 August, 2013 - 8:24am