Cicada Journals July 26 - 27, 2007

July 26, 2007 - A Summer Poem From A Contributor

I thought I would post this little poem submitted from a reader that sent in a Cicada Killer Report:

Coincidentally, I wrote this poem last year..( I have many others in my repertoire.)  You may enjoy it. Beth 

Summers Groundhog
By: BABS  
Watercress beds steam over, Midsummer night,
Halfway between planting, harvesting, farmers delight.

Ghosts, goblins, fairies, visible sight,
Dance around bonfires, enough stories to last all night.

Days start to shorten, still steamy hot,
First singing Cicadas, summers groundhog!

 

Tibicen canicularis and Tibicen lyricen Adult Forms

I thought that I would post some additional photos from the two nymphs that I took a series of photos for you back on July 20, 2007. These are several days from teneral.

Tibicen canicularis Adult Cicada - Female
Tibicen canicularis female adultT. canicularis female adult dorsal viewT. canicularis female adult profile view
Tibicen lyricen Adult Cicada - Female

T. lyricen female adult profile view.T. lyricen female adult dorsal view.T. lyricen adult female head shot.


July 27, 2007 - Two More Cicadas Found While Eclosing

Tibicen female eclosingI can't believe my luck. Usually I have to travel to other places in order to find Cicadas while eclosing. This night was different however. I decided that I would set up some light traps in my yard just to see what kind of insects I could attract. I have three light traps that use three different light sources, UV Black Light, Halogen and Mercury Vapor.

Tibicen teneralI set my traps up and just decided to wait outside for a bit. I decided that since I found exuvia last year on a pine tree in my yard, I decided to take a walk around my property with a flashlight while waiting for some insects to come to the lights.

Tibicen canicularis femaleBetween a large Maple tree and a very large Pine tree we have a large Licac bush. While shining my flashlight, I discovered two cicadas both female just completing the molting process right on the lilac bush!! This was about 9:30 pm so I estimate that they emerged from the ground some time around 7:30 pm.

They were one of each common Tibicen species we have here. Tibicen canicularis and Tibicen lyricen.

Tibicen lyricen femaleTibicen lyricen

Lots of Reader Mail

It seems that we are at the peak of the cicada season. Many new emails have come in since the previous update they're coming in from all over New England as well as other parts of the country. So take a look at the Cicada and Cicada Killer Sightings page. Also, keep those cicada and cicada killer reports coming in. They're helping out a lot!!


 

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Tibicen lyricen