Cicada and Cicada Killers From New England and The United States

Below are just some of the readers who have submitted information and pictures on Annual Cicada and Cicada Killer sightings. Want your report to be seen here? Then fill in our new Cicada or Cicada Killer Report Form by clicking here or the link under the "Report Cicadas" section of the navigation menu to the left.

Report Brood XIII Cicada Activity

If you are from Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan or Wisconsin, be sure to write in and give us some reports on the Periodical Cicada emergence. You will be transfered to our online form where you will be able to even your pictures in one easy step.

Note: For privacy concerns Email Addresses, Last Names and Street Addresses are removed for public viewing and to protect the privacy of contributors but the information is required when filling in the form.

Below are the Most Recent User-Submitted Reports.

08/14/07 - Cicada Sighting Parsonsfield, ME.

Comments: Observed the emergence of Cicada in my garden near the top of a bamboo stake.
Email:
First Name: Lou
Last Name:
State: Maine
County: York
Town: Parsonsfield
Street: Road Between The Pond's
Date of Sighting: 8/14/07
Outside Temperature: 78
Time of Day: 4:15 PM
North Coordinate:
West Coordinate:
File Name: 2007_0814bug0008.JPG

Hi Lou

Thanks for the photo of a Tibicen canicularis cicada that is freshly emerged from it's shell. This cicada is probably the only Tibicen species of Cicada found in Maine. As a matter of fact, I don't think I have ever received a photo of a different species from your state. This in and of itself is interesting because a certain insect known as the Cicada Killer Wasp (the females prey on Cicadas) is also not found in Maine or New Hampshire for that matter.

I am putting together a theory as to why this is that deals with the fact that Cicada Killers probably consider T. canicularis too small a prey cicada for what they need it for.

Anyway, thanks very much for the datapoint. Always good to have something from Maine.

Gerry Bunker
Massachusetts Cicadas
http://www.mechaworx.com/cicada/masscic1.asp

08/11/07 - Cicada Sighting Niantic, CT

Email:
First Name: Denise
Last Name:
State: Connecticut
County: New London
Town: Niantic
Street:
Date of Sighting: 7/10/07
Outside Temperature: 80 degrees
Time of Day: 10:30 a.m.
North Coordinate:
West Coordinate:
File Name: 100_1792.jpg
Comments:

HI Denise,

Thanks for the very nice photos of the cicada. It is of a male Tibicen lyricen. These are pretty common in your area. However your area (judging from the map) looks like it would have some other cool species of cicadas as well. I may have to check out this area to see what I can find. If not this year, then surely next year.

Best regards
Gerry Bunker
Massachusetts Cicadas
http://www.mechaworx.com/cicada/masscic1.asp

Response from Denise:

Hi Gerry,

Thank you for the information. I was so concerned about getting my pictures to you that I forgot to add my comments! By the way, I am sorry that I sent 3 e-mails to get you all of my pictures, I wasn't sure how else to do it. We spotted these "giant flies" in our yard in July and took photos because we didn't know what they were, and then forgot about them. Then the other day we saw some more "shells" (the brown picture) in our yard, 3 of them. So we tried to do some investigating and guessed that they were cicadas and did a search on the internet and found your website. I thought, like everybody else, that we were on the 17 year cycle with them which was either last year or the year before. Are they common every year? Thank you so much for all of your help.

Thanks again,
Denise

Hi Denise

You used the form exactly as it was designed to do. I need to figure out how to make it so users can upload all of their photos at the same time. Right now it is designed for only one photo to be submitted at a time.

The cicadas that you took photos of are of the Annual variety. That is, they emerge from the ground every year.

This past June was the emergence of the 17 year periodical cicadas that were scheduled to emerge in the mid-west. Those are from Brood XIII. There were no appearances in Connecticut this year. Click here for a link to a distribution map for Brood XIII.

Next year Brood XIV 17 year cicadas are scheduled to emerge in the mid-atlantic states which is where the majority of their distribution is. Brood XIV skips Connecticut altogether and here in Massachusetts we get them in Barnstable and Plymouth counties. Only one species though, Magicicada septendecim. Click here for a link to Brood XIV's distribution

Thanks again Denise.

Gerry Bunker
Massachusetts Cicadas
http://www.mechaworx.com/cicada/masscic1.asp

08/09/07 - Deformed Cicada Sighting Gloucester Township, NJ

Comments: First saw it in the evening on 8/8/07. hanging upside down on my Willow tree. It did not move and was there the next morning along with 2 others.
Email:
First Name: PAUL
Last Name:
State: New Jersey
County: Gloucester/Camden
Town: Gloucester Township
Street:
Date of Sighting: 08/09/07
Outside Temperature: 85
Time of Day: 9:30am
North Coordinate:
West Coordinate:
File Name: IMAGE_00165.jpg

Hi Paul,

Yes, that is definately a cicada. It has emerged from the ground and is in the middle of molting. It does look like it is having a problem and is probably permanently stuck inside its nymphal skin which is why you still saw it the next morning. Normally it only takes a few hours for the cicada to fully molt. It is unfortunate but that is nature.

I'll bet the other ones you found were only the nymphal skin remnants.

It's kind of hard to tell species due to the bluriness of the image.

Thanks for the information.

Gerry Bunker
Massachusetts Cicadas
http://www.mechaworx.com/cicada/masscic1.asp

08/08/07 - Cicada Sighting Lake Luzerne, NY

Comments: IS THIS A CICADAS? It really freaked us out!!!
Email:
First Name: heather
Last Name:
State: New York
County: Warren County
Town: Lake Luzerne
Street:
Date of Sighting: August 4, 2007
Outside Temperature: Warm 70 degrees
Time of Day: 1 am
North Coordinate:
West Coordinate:
File Name: Bug Photo.pdf

Hi Heather,

Thanks for the photo. Yes, that is definately a cicada. It can be a little un-nerving when seeing a cicada going through the eclose (molting) process for the very first time. Consider yourself lucky. Most people go through life only hearing the males calling in the trees but never seeing them. It looks like you were up at the right time.

This specimen is a male and I think it looks like a T. linnei cicada but I can't of course be 100% sure without seeing it after it completely hardens up. Right now it is only a "Teneral" a molting cicada that is really all soft and squishy.

Again, thanks for the information.

Gerry Bunker
Massachusetts Cicadas
http://www.mechaworx.com/cicada/masscic1.asp

08/07/07 - Cicada Killer Sighting - Riverside Park, NYC

Comments: I walk along the Hudson River in Riverside Park South early each day with my dog and I've been noticing these cicada killers for about a week. There are so many! They are on the blades of an ornamental grass. I am a naturalist and I've always been fascinated by cicada killers. I saw a female dragging a cicada along a park path two days ago about a mile from the site where so many have gathered. Can you tell me what you think this gathering is? I have a website/blog and I am about to post a photo of a cicada killer and I'd like to inform my readers as to why cicadas gather in such numbers. Thanks! Leslie Day www.fieldguidenyc.com Email:
First Name: Leslie
Last Name:
State: New York
County: New York county
Town: New York City
Street: Riverside Park South - 63rd Street along the Hudson River
Date of Sighting: 8/7/07 but I've been noticing them for about a week.
Outside Temperature: 80 F
Time of Day: 6am
North Coordinate:
West Coordinate:
File Name: cicada killer 3.jpg

Dear Leslie,

Thank you very much for the photo. It confirms that yes, these are indeed cicada killers. It is unusual to see cicada killers in tall grass like that. Typically they like manicured lawns or wide open areas with sandy soil and little undergrowth with the exception of maybe some small bushes. The areas are usually surrrounded by trees.

Anyway a gathering place that you describe is referred to as a "Lek". Male and female cicada killers come together at these Leks in order to mate. The female then will dig a burrow close by that will contain a series of chambers each housing a one to two paralyzed cicadas that she will lay an egg on.

Once a Lek is established, the cicada killers will return there year after year because usually it is the offspring from the Cicada Killers that occupied it the previous year. You have no need to fear cicada killers as they are really a docile wasp.

I demonstrate this on my home page by actually handling these wasps and not being stung. Even with a whole ball of them placed in the palm of my hand.

The female cicada killer is the one who determines the sex of her offspring. If she wants to have a male cicada, she will give her egg only one cicada to feed on. If she wants a female cicada killer to be born, she will inject her egg with sperm from the male Cicada Killer and give that egg two cicadas to feed on.

Thanks for the data.

Gerry Bunker
Massachusetts Cicadas
http://www.mechaworx.com/cicada/masscic1.asp

08/07/07 - Cicada Killer Sighting Virginia Beach, VA

Comments: Saw this specimen just hanging around on a maple leaf this AM.
Email:
First Name: Cynthia
Last Name:
State: Virginia
County: Princess Anne
Town: Virginia Beach-Glenwood Subdivision
Street:
Date of Sighting: August 07, 2007
Outside Temperature: 85-90F
Time of Day: 8AM
North Coordinate:
West Coordinate:
File Name: Hornet_Actual.jpg

Hi Cynthia,

Thanks for the photo. That is definately a Cicada Killer. I'm not 100% sure due to the clarity of the photo whether this is male or female. I think it is a male due to the lack of large spurs on the hind legs. What it is doing up in a maple tree is beyond me. Maybe it is resting and trying to get out of the sun.

Thanks for sending in this data.

Gerry Bunker
Massachusetts Cicadas
http://www.mechaworx.com/cicada/masscic1.asp

Response from Cynthia

Gerry......thanks for the info and I will keep you posted of any further sightings. I watched it on the leaf for quite awhile thinking it would just fly away and finally thought of getting the camera and, of course, just about the time I walked around to where it had moved from the front to the back of the leaf it flew off.

Cyndi

08/03/07 - Cicada Killer Sighting Townsend, MA

Comments: These wasps have been burrowing into my lawn. The lawn has a Southern exposure and is rather sandy. This is the first that I have seen or even heard of this particular wasp. I'm presuming eventually they will move on.
Email:
First Name: Wayne
Last Name:
State: Massachusetts
County: Middlesex (Northwest)
Town: Townsend
Street:
Date of Sighting: Last week of July to present date, Aug 03
Outside Temperature: 80's
Time of Day: Morning til dusk
North Coordinate:
West Coordinate:
File Name: DSC00178.JPG

Hi Wayne

Thanks for the photo. Yes that is a Cicada Killer wasp. A female by the looks of it. Those two large spurs at the junction of Tibia and Tarsus on the back legs are a dead giveaway.

It is believed that these help the female cicada killer with digging her burrow.

I am afraid that once you have these wasps in a given year, they will return next year. Their season around here in Massachusetts only lasts about two months then they are gone till the following year, when the offspring from this year will emerge from the ground as full adults to start the process all over again.

Not to worry though, they truly are a harmless wasp. They don't bother humans even when you bother them.

Gerry Bunker
Massachusetts Cicadas
http://www.mechaworx.com/cicada/masscic1.asp

08/03/07 - Cicada Sighting Southborough, MA

Comments: I saw the emergence - first 2 pictures on Tuesday morning. The wings were not fully opened when I had to leave. Came back an hour later and he was gone, only the shell remaining. Exactly 3 days later, same time of day, an adult appeared as seen in the 3rd picture. These are all taken on the inside of a wood step between our home and backyard. My question is: is it likely to be the same cicada in all the pictures? Do cicadas have a habit of returning to the shell for any reason? Many thanks!
Email:
First Name: judy
Last Name:
State: Massachusetts
County: worcester
Town: southborough
Street:
Date of Sighting: 7/31/07 emergence and 8/3/07 adult
Outside Temperature: high 80's
Time of Day: 10 AM
North Coordinate:
West Coordinate:
File Name: cicada3.jpg

Hi Judy

Thank you very much for the interesting series of pictures. I'd have to say that these are two separate specimens. In the first two photos (cicada 1 and cicada 2) this is of a male T. canicularis.

Judging by the shape of the posterior abdomen and the lack of timbal covers in your third image this specimen is definately female. T. canicularis.

Thanks for the photos.

Gerry Bunker
Massachusetts Cicadas
http://www.mechaworx.com/cicada/masscic1.asp

Response from Judy:

Hi Gary,

Thank you very much. What you do awakens us to the preciousness and wonder of the natural world around us. I have learned and appreciate these amazing creatures so much more than before! They are AMAZING!

Grateful,
Judy

08/02/07 - Cicada Killers Hope Valley, RI

Comments: I bought a home last August in Hope Valley, RI and have had no choice but to become familiar with Cicada Killers. Based on their number, I'd be confident they have been here for some time. I'd appreciate recommendations toward identifying the best treatment to rid the property of their presence other than hours of single elimination via wasp spray sorties during the evening hours when they are less active? They are all over the place and make it virtually impossible to enjoy the yard during the day. Thanks in advance for taking the time to reply.
Email:
First Name: Jeff
Last Name:
State: Rhode Island
County: Washington
Town: Hope Valley
Street:
Date of Sighting: everyday since early July
Outside Temperature: 60s-80s
Time of Day: daylight hours
North Coordinate:
West Coordinate:
File Name: Cicada Killers.jpg

Hey Jeff,

Thanks for your email. To be honest Cicada Killers are not a wasp that stings humans. In fact they are so docile that you can actually handle them. Unfortunately, I cannot offer any recommendations for their eradication because they would involve the use of poisons which would no doubt destroy your lawn and be very bad for the environment.

I can tell you that they are only around for approximately two months out of the year July and August and begin to die off in September, this leaves the remaining year to enjoy your yard.

I recently did an update on my web site due to the numerous emails I receive asking how to destroy them. The article can be found on the home page. Hopefully, the article will allay any fears you may have for this wasp.

Best Regards

Gerry Bunker
Massachusetts Cicadas
http://www.mechaworx.com/cicada/masscic1.asp