Cicada Journals June 21 - 30 2006
6/21/06 - The Cicada Season has finally started!
Well for some species anyway. I have been doing a lot of reading of papers that have been published. Unfortunately, there is really nothing new with regards to Cicadas of New England for the past 50 years or so. I've read papers published as far back as 1923. The most recent paper I read so far was in 1928 so what does that tell you about the existing information out there with regards to Cicadas of New England? The information truly needs to be updated. Thanks to Tim McNary and his Cicadidae Bibliography list that he has posted on Cicadamania. This has been a treasure trove of information for me and he has graciously agreed to supply me with literarture I require that pertains to Cicadas of New England for my own research projects. It is much appreciated because I have been trying to find information from all the right sources but the responses I have been getting is that not much exists so thanks again to Tim McNary.
Time to Update Old Information.
That's right, myself and Mike Neckermann have been collaborating on an updated paper which has gone through its first revision thanks to Professor John Cooley of University of Connecticut at Storrs. It will have to go through a couple of more edits before it is ready for submittal to the Entomological Society of America. Once we get this one under our belt there will be others that we will publish and I will make them available for your parusal here.
Magicicada Straggling in the Mid-West!
That's right! Apparently Periodical Cicadas have been emerging early in areas of Illinois and Indiana according to John Cooley who was there on a mid-western trip a few weeks back. You can read the full story on Cicadamania for the details. Some were expected Brood XIII early arrivals as well as Brood XXIII , Brood XIX and maybe a straggler from Brood X from back in 2004.
I too have been getting reports of Magicicada straggling and I will be forwarding these records to him. If you have reports of straggling Magicicada in your areas please feel free to drop me a line.
The Hunt For Okanagana
Unfortunately, last weekend, I spent both Saturday and Sunday trapesing around Bedford, Concord and Lincoln in the hopes of finding evidence of Okanagana without much success. I though that I heard the call of Okanagana canadensis by a pretty secluded pond in Bedford, Ma where I found my first evidence of Okanagana in 2004 but it was very difficult to pinpoint where the calling sound was coming from as it seemed to be coming from all directions. When I thought I narrowed down the area the calling stopped. This has to be the most frustrating species to find here. One of the reasons is that the calling song of a male Okanagana canadensis sounds much like the call of a cricket or locust (a kind of grasshopper with wings) so it can be really frustrating when you think you hear one and it ends up being something else!
It's really bad when you find only one example from over two years ago and find nothing since. At least I still have the discarded exuvium skin that I found in 2004 at the Bedford Swim Area. If you can help me track down this insect, the details can be found on my Okanagana species page for all the details. If you find these please contact me it would surely be appreciated.
So Far No Cicada Killers (Sphecius speciosus)
As you may remember last year I studied a population of Cicada Killer wasps at a site in a cemetery in Westford. I wanted to see if the new brood of cicada killer wasps had emerged from the ground but unfortunately, not yet. Maybe it is too early? I don't think so but this is a new species of insect for me. A fellow colleague and photo enthusiast emailed the other day stating that there was a population out in Canton, MA. I think I will go investigate that this weekend. I figure while I'm there, I might as well hunt for Okanagana. Maybe I'll get lucky.
Well, that's all I got for now, the full-blown cicada season is getting close so if you find cicadas i your area be sure to drop me a note and also Cicada Killers.
6/29/06 - Brood XIV Magicicadas In Massachusetts In 2008
I thought I'd provide some addtional information with regards to Brood XIV Magicicadas which are expected to appear in Massachusetts in 2008. After doing some digging I was provided a paper written in 1928 by Charles W. Johnson entitled "The Periodical Cicada in New England". In it he states that both Barnstable and Plymouth counties in Massachusetts should experience this emergence. However, after talking with a professor at UMASS Amherst, he indicated that their last appearance in 1991 was somewhat dismal. Let's hope they're still around.
I actually learned that back in the early 1900's, New England experienced 5 different broods! Now, if we're lucky, we have two remaining. The 5 broods that we experienced in New England in the past are as follows:
Brood XI - (The only true New England Brood) according to Dr. Johnson. It stretched from Deerfield, Mass. to Glastonbury Connecticut and then east to Bristol County. Now this entire Brood is extinct. I believe it was last reported in 1953 or some such.
Brood II - Back in 1928, Brood II covered a lot of the eastern United States as far south as North Carolina all the way up into Vermont! As far as New England went, it stretched into all four western counties of Connecticut, crossing into the western portion of Massachusetts, up the Hudson River Valley into Vermont as far north as Lake Champlain! I was just there a few months back in Rutland Vermont! Unfortunately, these days, Brood II only will hit the southwestern portion of Massachusetts and Connecticut according to a distribution map of Brood II that can be found here. This Brood is scheduled to make its next appearance in 2013. You may have luck finding it in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Brood X - As you know this is the most recent brood that has made its appearance in the mid-atlantic region of the United States. If you look at the distribution map here, you will see that this Brood, these days comes no-where near New England! But, back in 1911, there was a colony reported in Vermont by Mr. D.E. Kent. Specifically, north of Rutland near the Addison and Rutland county line back in 1919. I have yet to uncover anything more recent to indicate any other sitings. Maybe you can look for this brood in 2021 which would technically be its next scheduled appearance. I hope I'm still around then and this web site is still around!
Brood VIII - This Brood back in 1917 was abundant in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, also occured in northern New Jersey, but in New England was only found on Martha's Vineyard. Dr. Edward Wigglesworth and Dr. Johnson went over the ground quite throughly in 1917. The cicadas extended from North Tisbury, just east of the state road, for about two miles eastward over the "plain," covering a width of about one mile. Unfortunately, according to the latest distribution map, this brood is only found in Ohio, Pennsylvania and a small portion of West Virginia. Its next appearance will be in 2019. Lets hope we can still find it on Martha's Vineyard. I'll do some digging and report back.
Brood XIV - Next to Brood X, this brood is probably the second biggest in terms of distribution in the United States. What's really strange about Brood XIV (and I think I've mentioned this before) is that it covers portions of Kentucky, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virgina and West Virgina
06/30/06 - The Cicada Season Has Officially Started!
That's right folks. Here in Massachusetts I have found my first cicada exuvium of the season. In anticipation of this long 4th of July weekend, I decided to kick it off by checking my favorite spot that I have been visiting for the last couple of years. That is St. Patrick Cemetery in Lowell. I got off of work around 5:30 pm and headed on over. It wasn't long till I found this exuvia on one of my favorite areas in the cemetery which seems to produce cicadas every year.
This specimen seems a little small so I am thinking that it may be Tibicen canicularis as they are small insects. This one is also a male. Unfortunately, just like last year, I do not hear any calling in the trees yet but I'm starting to suspect that the males need sufficient time in order for their timbals (the part of their bodies that they use to sing for a female) to develop. This moves cicada emergences in Massachusetts to June 30 as opposed to July 4th which was when I found my first specimens last year even though they really didn't start calling till July 14th. Let's see how long it takes for them to call this year.
This 4th of July weekend, I got permission to visit the grounds of the Concord Field Station which is actually located in Bedford, Ma. This is a research station that is funded by Harvard University and is run by Dr. Biewener (pronounced BeeWinner). This area is very close to where I discovered my first Okanagana exuvium last year. Since this place has been around for a while I am hoping the grounds have not been too developed and I'm hopeful I will be lucky here as I got permission to survey the grounds for the whole summer.
Well, that's all I got for you today. However, this is the official start now of the Cicada season for me so keep checking back for updates as to what's going on.
