Cicada and Cicada Killers Sightings July 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. This in fact is a good thing because in that way I can assure that the distribution information is accurate at all times.

07/31/06 - Cicada Killers Spotted! - Stratford, CT

Are you interested in Fairfield County, Stratford, Connecticut? If so I have had quite a number of these for several years and can forward additional data.

Dick

Absolutely Dick

All of new england is appreciated for Cicada killers. If you can provide the following, it would sure be appreciated:

State: Connecticut
County: Fairfield
Town: Stratford
Street Address: ?
Date: ?

Also if possible a picture just to confirm identity.

Thank you

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

07/31/06 - Bugged Out In New Bedford - New Bedford, Ma.

Help???

My Name is Jeanne and I live New Bedford, MA.

I was going out on the porch Saturday night after midnight, when I saw this enormous black bug flapping its 3 inch long body against the wall near the porch light. I almost thought it was a bat it was so huge!!!....My fiancé went to open the door fearlessly, this thing let out what I would compare to a scream or screetch!!!

It really bugged me out. We immediately shut the door and he got a broom and swatted at it and killed it. Upon my examination and an hour on line I believe it was a huge black cicada. Could you give me some info on this? I believe they only eat vegetation, are harmless to humans? I sit rare to Massachusetts? But do I even have the right species or should I just stay inside for the rest of these humid summer nights? And why in creation was it making that screaming noise? Are there swarms’ of them waiting to attack us? Would they hurt my cat?

Please reply at your earliest convenience. Thank you in advance for your much needed answers.

Bugged Out in New Bedford

Jeanne

Hi Jeanne

Thank you for your message. First of all there is nothing to be frightened of. What you had indeed sounds like a cicada that got attracted to your porch light. This is normal as some cicadas for some reason, like moths get attracted to light.

The screeching you heard was because the cicada was a male. It is the males that you hear in the summer time in the trees. What they are doing is singing for a mate (a female). The females are not equipped with sound organs. When males get startled or frightened they give off an alarm squawk. This is just a defense mechanism in the hopes of having its prey drop them when captured. Birds and other animals feed on cicadas.

There are several species of cicadas native to Massachusetts. One of the projects I am involved with is trying to found out if there are more here and also to generate distribution maps of where the different species of cicadas in Massachusetts have been sited.

They do not harm humans as they do not sting or bite. They have a "straw-like" mouth which they use to pierce tiny branches of trees and bushes and they feed on what is known as "xylem".

So you have nothing to fear from these insects. When mowing your lawn a female may land nearby as sometimes they mistake the sound for a calling cicada. But they are truly harmless and they won't harm your pets.

If you still have this specimen would there be a possiblity of getting you to stick him in a box and mail him to me? Or if possible taking a digital picture so that I may identify the species?

Thanks for the email.

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

7/31/06 - Cicada Killer Spotted - Medfield, Ma

I was reading your info about cicada killers. We live in Medfield, MA, and have a sandbox in the back yard. Over the past few weeks, I've notices hundreds of bees swarming around a few inches above the sand. They seem to fit the description of Cicada Killers pretty well. Although, I thought they generally were fewer in number. Unfortunately, I'd prefer to get rid of them as I have 3 small children who are not only unable to play in the sand box, but also are afraid to go into the back yard. They seem to come back each year. Any thoughts on how to get rid of them. I was considering spraying some waskp killer in the holes in the evening. Also, I can't say that I've ever seen a cicada on our property.

-Kevin

Hi Kevin

Is there any way you can get a digital photo just to verify that these are cicada killers? Before I can enter your sighting into my database, I would need confirmation. Either that or coordinate a visit for visual confirmation.

The reason they return every year is because the females dig burrows, where they store cicadas. They then lay an egg which eventually hatches and the larva feeds on the cicada.

Its those new larva that emerge as adults the following years. While the males are harmless (they have no stingers) the females do but they are not an aggressive wasp. The only way a female would sting is if you acccidentally stepped on one in bare feet.

However, I can understand how it may still seem un-nerving because they make the same buzzing sounds and I think we humans have it programmed into us to take flight when we hear that sound.

As far as getting rid of them, it would probably be best to wait until this year's brood dies off, then dig up the ground to get rid of the burrows. Probably a roto-tiller would be the best way to go. In that way you could effectively get rid of them.

I think using chemicals or things like that would probably be non-beneficial not only to plants and the like but probably also your children.

Let me know how it turns out.

Thanks

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

7/29/06 - Cicada Picture - Wellfleet, MA.

12:10 pm - I found your website while trying to identify this bug. I think it is a cicada but I was too terrified to get any closer with the camera..I just set it to macro and aimed...anyway..I live in Wellfleet, on Cape Cod. If this is not something you do, then please ignore this request. I saw on your website that others had e-mailed you pictures so I figured I would try. I'm pretty sure it is an cicada. Thank you ...Mary

Hi Mary

Thank you for the photos. Yes, you are correct that it is definately a cicada. A female. I am unsure of species however. At first I wanted to say Tibicen lyricen but the color pattern of the pronotal collar is green instead of black and to be honest it looks too big to be Tibicen canicularis.

Any idea as to what the square area is on the post it was sitting on? That would help a lot.

Also, can you provide any additional information with regards to where you snapped those photos? That is, an address of a place or nearest street?

Thank you very much for the siting information. I have been getting many emails with pictures of cicadas and cicada killers.

Keep them coming.

7/28/06 - Question - Martinsburg, WV.

We have been hearing and seeing cicada’s this time of year in Martinsburg WV, is this strange?

Jaime

Hi Jaime

Have you read my web site? Last week I spent time in Martinsburg, and Hedgesville. The cicadas down where you are in west virginia are definately out now. It is peak season.

There are two types of cicadas, annual cicadas that you hear every year and periodical cicadas that you see once every 17 years.

You experienced periodical cicadas back in 2004. I spent three days in Hedgesville in 2004. You can find information on these cicadas from my web site here:

http://www.mechaworx.com/cicada/broodx2.asp

West Virginia has many different species of annual cicadas. When I was there last week I heard Tibicen chloromera, Tibicen linnei and Tibicen lyricen.

So yes, it is normal to hear so many.

If you have pictures I may be able to indentify species for you.

Good luck

7/28/06 - Cicada Sighting - Shrewsbury, MA.

9:17 am - Hi, Last night we saw a very strange "bug" on our pool fence in Shrewsbury, MA. I took some pictures and this morning with a bit of help figured out it is a Cicada. I have never seen one before. I found your site and thought you might be interested in the pictures.

Regards, Bob

Hi Bob,

What you have there is a female Tibicen lyricen. She is newly emerged you can see the disgarded nymphal shell that she came out of. Females mate with males. Its the males that you hear calling in the trees now. They are singing for females.

You are very lucky because most people go through life never seeing these cool insects.

Thanks very much for the pictures, I have been getting many reports right now from people all over New England.

7/27/06 - Cicada Killers Spotted!! - New London, CT.

6:17 pm - I have seen a few in my backyard, our puppy has tried several times to dig them up. Connecticut, New London, Preston, 418 Rte 164, mid day, 25 July 2006.

Roseledge Farm Bed and Breakfast

HI There

Thanks for the information. Would it be possible to get a digital photo for confirmation?

Thanks

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

7/27/06 - Cicada Sighting - Marlborough, MA.

12:48 pm - Attached is a picture I took yesterday, July 26 in Marlborough, MA. I thought you might like it. Can you identify it specifically? I was intrigued by the orange dot on the head. From head to wing tip is 2 inches. I measured the pattern on the umbrella. Larry

Hi Larry

What you have there is a Tibicen lyricen female. The females do not make any sounds like the males do. The males sound like a droning airconditioner. Massachusetts has another species that is out now known as Tibicen canicularis. They kind of sound like a high-pitched buzzsaw and are a lot smaller.

If you still have the specimen can you provide measurement from wing hinge to tip of wing, and also just the length of the body? Also the width of its head (from large compound eye to compound eye)

Also the orange dot is one of three oscelli (simple eyes) they are placed in the middle of its head in the shape of a triangle. The cicada uses these to detect light and movement. A lot of insects have these three simple eyes.

Thanks for the picture and information.

7/25/06 - Okanagana is here!! - Washtington State

2:27 pm - Dude, I don't live in Massachusetts? I think that’s where u were? But I frickin found one of those Okanagana rimosa things... Yep. I live in Washington State. It's really kinda cool he's still alive I have him in a shake cup :) I dunno what to do with him... (I think it's a him) ...yeah he's got yellow-orange ish stripes on his belly/abdomen area... this stinger-lookin butt... and a little orangy-yellow ring of dots around him... dude I guess I could take a picture...

*snap snap*

Yeah anywhoo I thought you might find it interesting that I found one of these suckers up in washington state... up on the peninsula no less...

I fought a bird for it ;)

haha email me back pleeeease

Stacy

Hi Stacy

Thanks for the picture. Yep, that's the beastie I'm looking for here in Massachusetts. if you still have him, any chance of getting you to ship him to me? I'd like to look at it "close up". Thanks for the information.

These guys are generally known to be in the northern parts of the United States and Canada.

Thanks

Gerry Bunker

7/25/06 - Cicada Killer Wasps - East Bridgewater, MA.

2:27 pm - Sir:

I believe we have several nests of these wasps at our home. Found you in the internet trying to find a way to get rid of them. Have three that were dead in a plastic bag.

The lawn is infested with holes from their nest.

We are located in East Bridgewater, Ma.

Hi There

Thanks for your message. In order to confirm that they are Cicada Killer wasps, is there a way for you to send a photo? Sometimes Cicada Killer wasps can be confused for other types of wasps.

Let me know.

7/24/06 - We Found This Today - Northwest, Connecticut.

11:27 am - Hello from down here in Connecticut!

We (myself and my two kids) are so happy to have found your web site today! While we were out walking our rabbit today, we found something very interesting on the side of our house. My 8 year son ran and got his bug catcher and we gingerly scooped it inside. It appeared to be attached to another bug, nope, it was the exoskeleton. So we fired up the computer did some investigating and behold it was a Cicada that had just got done molting. Darn, we just missed the process!!!

We just wanted to say thank you for the very informative web site, had we know not to touch it, we would have left it be.

Time to go set the strange little fellow free.

Hi Evelyn

Thanks for the picture. This specimen is still teneral (teneral means still soft and pink shortly after molting) and it looks very healthy. I'm glad to see that the wings survived! That means it will fly without a problem.

It looks like Tibicen canicularis. But I can't know for sure until it gets its full colors. If you have a picture a few hours after molting I'll know for sure.

Connecticut has several species of annual Cicadas. Tibicen lyricen. Tibicen chloromera, Tibicen linnei and Tibicen canicularis.

Tibicen canicularis sounds like a loud buzz-saw in the trees. Tibicen lyricen sounds like a droning airconditioner, Tibicen linnei sounds like a baby shaking a rattle, and to be honest, Tibicen chloromera really sounds unique. Only the males make the sounds. What they are doing when they make that sound is singing for a mate. The females make no sounds at all.

Your specimen looks like a male. Great picture!