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17 year cicada (brood II)

Magicicada sp.

Photo by mauna Kunzah
Published on Project Noah
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40.601, -74.1096

Field Notes

Description:

The "magical" creatures known as Brood II cicadas emerge from the ground every 17 years or so. Their impetus for emerging is a precise 64 degrees fahrenheit soil temperature. They molt, mate, and die quickly after laying eggs. Periodical cicadas have the longest developmental period of any known insect.

Habitat:

Periodical cicadas are found only in Eastern North America.

Notes:

I was fascinated by the cicada's display of molting. I watched as it took less than an hour for its metamorphosis. There were hundreds of adults in the grass and trees lining this street.

There are 3 possibilities for the species, so I'll be intrigued if someone can ID this fellow for me.

Reference Links:

Periodical Cicadas - Magicicada - Overview, Brood II

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (6)
mauna Kunzah
LaurenZarate, since you asked, check out my spotting of the Magicicada with a hardened shell: https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/24614128
mauna Kunzah
Thank you, RobinsonMike and KeithRoragen! Thank you, LaurenZarate as well. The darkened ones look quite different, but still have red eyes. I will post an additional spotting or two of the cicadas just before they molted. They look like a cross between cockroach and a bee.
LaurenZarate
Wonderful series Mauna, what does a darkened one look like?

Spotted for Missions

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WILD Cities: Urban Biodiversity
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Nature in Yellow
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NWF: Watch for Wildlife!
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National Geographic's Great Nature Project
Mission
World Science Festival Cicada Count

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Photographed
PublishedMay 23, 2013

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