Cicada and Cicada Killers August 17 to August 30, 2006

I've been getting reports of sightings from readers along with pictures and questions from New England and other parts of the counrty. So, to encourage more of this, I have started a new feature "Reader-submitted sightings." If you read this site on a regular basis or found me through a search engine if you think you have a cicada, cicada killer or other insect that you just can't seem to identify, let me know about it and I'll post your message along with a response.

Please keep the cicada and cicada killer sightings coming because they will help with my distribution mapping. When submitting information, please include your name, the town the cicada was sited, and a street address. Also county and date and especially a picture for indentification purposes. I know that sometimes it is not always possible to see a cicada so I will be putting up some sound files in the future in case you hear a cicada but not see it.

The sightings go in descending order. That is the most recent sighting is first.

Note: Starting today, August 7th 2006. Due to the overwhelming number of sitings of Cicada Killers or wasps that resemble Cicada killers, only those with confirmed information such as a digital image or a dead specimen sent to me will be posted on the web site. Some images that I have been receiving have turned out not to be Cicada Killers but other types of digger wasps. This in fact is a good thing because in that way I can assure that the distribution information is accurate at all times.

HOWEVER: Please still send your questions and inquiries on cicadas and cicada killers, I answer all emails!! Just click under the "Contact Me" section below and to the left.

08/30/06 - Cicada Killers - Ipswich, MA.

Hi I'm Chris.

I'm writing from Ipswich, Massachusetts. I have been keeping summer science journal for 5th grade, when I discovered the Wasp. Your web site helped me identify it as a Cicada. My Dad has been building a new walkway with Blue Stone and stone dust base. The Cicada has made burrows in my dads path. I saw you needed pictures from the Essex county area, so I took some pictures. I took the pictures today and it was in the lower 60's and cloudy. My Dad put stones over the burrows,but it kept rebuilding in the same area. He was adding stone dust and it would start building in the new pile or between the freshly laid stones. It must have a reason to stay. I'm wondering, why would it stay? The wasp has been around all summer.

Hi Chris

Thank you for the pictures. You are correct, we do indeed need data for Essex County. However, many different types of wasps make these kinds of burrows. They are called "digger wasps" and not only include cicada killers but also Great Golden Digger Wasps Sphex ichneumoneus which is what your photo is.

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

08/30/06 - T. auletes Variations - Kansas

Here is an auletes my son found in the backyard yesterday. It is the first of any I've seen with this weird copper color to the eyes, and thorax, and there is even some on the wing veination. It has been dead for awhile. It looks like the eyes have been dipped in copper paint and the thorax has been painted.

Best regards,

Joe T.
www.americanfishes.com

With regards to that auletes, this is something I see on a regular basis and is more a post-mortem thing. Start to fade in color shortly after death. As a matter of fact, a woman from Massachusetts sent me a T. canicularis who's eye color was just like that. I think you will find over time that the copper color will fade and turn opaque.

At first, I thought that light had something to do with the color fade, but it really didn't make a difference when I let a bunch dry out in total darkness for about a week. I also think heat plays a role to what happens to the colors after death.

I am totally amazed still by the number of different species of cicadas you have there.

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

08/28/06 - More Cicada Sightings - Kansas

Try these Gerry! Can you ID the unknowns by photo? This green/yellow walkeri thing I don't get. There seems to be quite a variation in these, but the "green" ones also have green wing veination, the yellows have yellow/ochre veination. Quite pronounced, but doesn't seem to be much difference outside of that. They were on the same trees. Could it be a maturity thing? They sure don't look like they just came out of the shell.

Best regards,

Joe T.
www.americanfishes.com

Hi Joe
Thanks very much for the photo,

Ok, The small one all the way to the right is Tibicen aurifera. Can you tell me if there is a thick black stripe on the abdomen ventrally? There is a variation to this species.

Second from the right is Tibicen pruinosa or it could be one of the sub-species T. winemmanna or T. latisfasciata. I will need to research distribution of the sub-species to know for sure. I won't be able to tell for sure until I receive them as there are subtle variations between all three.

With regards to the Walkeri's, those look like T. walkeri and T. walkeri var. pronotalis the yellow one is this variation. I won't be able to know for sure till I discuss this with my colleagues. In addition I have been reading that the T. walkeri name has been changed to "T. marginalis" again, I am going to need varification on this.

Thanks for the photo!

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

08/23/06 - Cicada Sightings - Kansas

Gerry,

do you still want some T. auletes? My kids have been collecting insects all summer -- scissor grinders and about 4 or 5 other species of Tibicen cicadas are thick in Kansas City this year, and should be around another week or two. I'd bet they'd collect a truckload for you for maybe 30 cents ea, plus shipping. They're looking for odd jobs, they'd absolutely love this. We also have a few of the beautiful Grand Westerns and a tiny Tibicen that I found today for the first time - rare though it is. Best regards,

Joe T.
www.americanfishes.com

Joe,

If your kids are willing to collect cicadas, I'll pay .30 cents each plus shipping. For any and all species. However, And this is important, I would require accurate information for record keeping purposes. I would need the following information for each cicada collected.

1). Town it was caught in
2). County
3). State
4). Street address - nearest street or landmark, park etc.
5). Date caught
6). Time of Day
7). Method used to collect
8). Who collected it
9). Temperature

If this cannot be done then it really wouldn't be worth it to me to have them do. This data is important for distribution mapping purposes.

I need to ask if you and I have talked before as I'm sorry but I don't recognize your name. I have been getting a ton of email lately.

Anyway, I would love to buy those cicadas you collected.

Thanks and let me know.
Gerry Bunker
Massachusetts Cicadas
http://www.mechaworx.com/cicada/masscic1.asp

08/23/06 - Cicada Sightings In Illinois

hello
i see u are a cicada fan . me to i live in illinois and i find three tibicen speceis as seen in these photos a chlomera the big one walkeri then what i think is a pruinosa can u tell . this is the most common in illinois it has a song that goes eer eer eer eer .

but there is one other , u are the expert on these, lyricen , i hear them all the time but i have never been able to obtain one why can i find all the others but not the lyrecen , the chlomeras can only be found in woodlands they will not come in towns here they are harder to find but them lyrecens are what im looking for any advice, and yes i to serch parks, it could be to late in the year

Hi There

Thank you for your email. Your identification of the below specimens is spot on with the exception of the T. pruinosa. A side view shot of the forewing will indicate if it is T. pruinosa or T. linnei.

Tibicen linnei has a distinct bend on the forward edge which distinquishes it from pruinosa. I'll be able to tell if you have a side image.

With regards to T. lyricen, you are correct, this year for me has been very difficult to find one during eclosing (the molting process) I have only been successful in catching a few with my net or finding a cicada killer burrow then watching to see what the cicada killer brings back. I have obtained several T. lyricens this way. I think this year is the only year that I have not been able to obtain a T. lyricen while molting.

You probably won't be able to obtain a T. lyricen this year during the eclose process as I think they are pretty much done for the year. But they are around still. Tibicen cicadas especially T. lyricens are attracted to light so you may want to set some lights up outside to see if you can get one that way.

Another way is to get an insect net. I have one that has extensions poles and can reach up to 16 feet! I can buy more poles to make it go higher too. If you want more info on where to obtain one of these let me know and I will send you the info.

Another type of area where I like to look for cicadas is in cemeteries. Cemeteries have very old well established trees and female cicadas love to oviposit in them. Since the ground around the trees are rarely disturbed you can find all types of cicadas eclosing on the sides of those trees.

That is interesting about what you say about T. chloromera, I find the opposite. I find that T. chloromera live anywhere where there is water that is why they are known as the "swamp cicada" Even in cities where there are rivers lakes and swamps I can usually find T. chloromera.

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

08/22/06 - Cicada Killers - Medford, MA.

Hi,
The first time I ever saw one was Sunday, Aug. 20, 2006. I lived in Somerville-Winchester-Medford area all my life... Since it scared the crap out of my daughter and I, I killed it (oops). This morning, on my way to work, I saw the characteristic sand mound in my neighbor's front yard, so I'd say we have a new family of them living in Medford. I'll give you the address, you can come by and take it home with you.

Jim K.
Medford, MA

Hi Jim

Yep, that's the one. I couldn't tell if it was male or female though but that's not too important. It would be interesting to see if there are any others. Usually however, Cicada killers are solitary wasps. I think I mentioned previously that males don't have stingers and females are extremely non-aggressive. The only way you would be stung is by catching one in your hands and squeezing.

I've actually stolen stung cicadas away from cicada killers many many times.

To insure the accuracy of the data, can you provide for me the missing information?

State: MASS.
Town: ?
County: ?
Street Address: ?
Date: ?

Thanks Jim I really appreciate it.

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

08/17/06 - Tibicen chloromera - Philadelphia, PA.

Hi,

My name is Lorraine. I sent you a picture of a Cicada Killer Wasp. The wasps are burrowing all over my backyard in Philadelphia, PA. Here is a picture of a C-cicada.

Sincerely,
Lorraine

Hi Lorraine,

What a nice picture of a Tibicen chloromera cicada. This one is a male. Thank you!

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

08/17/06 - Cicada Killers Spotted - Philadelphia, PA.

Hi!

My name is Lorraine . I live in Philadelphia, PA. I have cicada killer wasps burrowing in my backyard.

What advice can you give for controlling them

Sincerely,
Lorraine

Hi Lorraine

Thanks for the confirmation image. Yes this is a cicada killer. Cicada killers are very docile wasps. The males do not sting because they don't have stingers. The females while having stingers really are not aggressive. They only sting cicadas. The only way you could get stung by a cicada killer wasp is to grab one with your hand and squeeze.

I've actually stolen paralyzed cicadas from female cicada killers without a problem whatsoever.

If you are still insistent upon getting rid of it, I would suggest pouring an insecticide in powder form down the cicada killer's burrow. When the female passes through the hole, she will get the insecticide on her then when she cleans herself, she will injest the insecticide then she will die.

In order to enter the information in my database can you provide the missing information?

State: P
Town: Philadelphia
County:?
Street:?
Date:?
Time:?

Thanks Lorraine.

Gerry

08/14/06 - Cicada Killers Spotted - West Hartford, CT.

I live in West Hartford, CT, County of Hartford and my son and I have seen these killers in my neighborhood on August 5th or 6th, at first I thought they were really huge wasps or bees of some sort. I described the bug to him and he saw one a few blocks away from the house.

I kept looking up cicadas because that's what we thought they might be but I had not seen one that looked like a big bee or wasp.

When I found your website and the pictures I said to myself, hey that's the insect I saw. I will see if i can find them again or a nesting site and take some pics for you. As far as catching one, well, we'll see.

Awesome Stephanie!!

Very cool. Not to worry though. These wasps are quite docile. The males don't have stingers and the females will not sting humans. You'd have to pick one up with your hands and squeeze it in order to get stung.

Some have said that the sting of the female feels like getting a needle but thats about it. Can you give an exact street for these burrows for the record?

Now, if you or your son get industreous, you can take stung cicada killers away from them. The female will only go get another one.

Very cool and thank you for taking the time to send the images!

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