Neocicada hieroglyphica - July 3, 2018

NEOCICADA HIEROGLYPHICA MALE

Riverhead, New York

July 3, 2018

Neocicada hieroglyphica Male Singing

Neocicada hieroglyphica emergence - July 11, 2015

Neocicada hieroglyphica male

Riverhead, New York

July 11, 2015

I have been surveying this Neocicada hieroglyphica emergence annually for the last three years. Elias Bonaros made me aware of this historically recorded emergence area about five years ago. I had been searching for it for two years before locating the emergence area. Elias had been searching for the emergence area two years previous to myself. So together it took us four years to locate. I have been mapping the emergence area each year to get an idea of how large an area they cover. The N. hieroglyphica set up chorusing centers to try and attract females over a large expanse of trees. 

In the three years that Elias and I have been searching this forest of trees for nymphs we had never found one, only shells. As we were searching the tree trunks again for exuvia and nymphs we were rewarded with our first emerging nymph. Elias noticed this N. hieroglyphica nymph already in the middle of it emergence so we hurriedly took photos and videos of the event. It was surprising to note it was only a foot off the ground and still daylight. Cicada usually emerge after dark so they can make it up to the top of the tree to safety before sunrise. 

- Annette DeGiovine

Emerging Neocicada hieroglyphica

Emerging Neocicada hieroglyphica

N. hieroglyphica emergence

After emerging the nymph hangs vertically to slowly inflate its wings.

Fully inflated wings

After its wings are fully inflated it pulls them in closer to its body.

After the nymphs wings and exoskeleton harden somewhat it begins to climb up the tree to safety.

Over the next 24 hours the nymph will acquire its adult coloring. This nymph has already begun its color change.

Newly emerged N. hieroglyphica

Newly emerged N. hieroglyphica moving up the tree.

Exuvia of a Neocicada hieroglyphica

Adult Neocicada hieroglyphica color after maturing for 24 hours.

Adult Neocicada hieroglyphica color after maturing for 2 days.

Neocicada hieroglyphica - July 19, 2014

N. HIEROGLYPHICA

Long Island, NY

Close-up of N. hieroglyphica and the pronotum and mesonotum pattern. 

All of the patterns on the Nh I have seen have been different so far.

Neocicada hieroglyphica Camouflage - July 18, 2014

NEOCICADA HIEROGLYPHICA CAMOUFLAGE

N. hieroglyphica is extremely difficult to find on pines, especially in the Pine Barrens. Can you find the N.h. in the photos? They blend in beautifully to the scraggly bark on the pines. Even though they feed and lay eggs on Oak trees, I still find the males, most of the time, calling from pine trees.

Neocicada hieroglyphica Calling on Pine Tree

Neocicada hieroglyphica - July 13, 2014

NEOCICADA HIEROGLYPHICA

N. hieroglyphica Chorusing

Neocicada hieroglyphica - July 11, 2014

NEOCICADA HIEROGLYPHICA ADULT MALE AND EXUVIA

Close-up of the pronotum and mesonotum with beautiful patterning

All the pronotum and mesonatum of the N. hieroglyphica cicada have slight variations in pattern and design.

Exuvia of the Neocicada hieroglyphica

Neocicada hieroglyphica Exuvia - July 10, 2014

Neocicada hieroglyphica Exuvia  

The Neocicada hieroglyphica emergence recently started on Long Island, NY. Although I could hear N. hieroglyphica calling all around me it is much harder to find a calling male and nearly impossible to find a female. Similarly, finding a N. hieroglyphica evuvia can be just as daunting. Like a needle in a haystack or a tiny exuvia in acres of Pine Barrens.  Looking for a tiny exuvia where a N.h emerged is mostly a question of luck. Most difficult of all is finding a N.h nymph still making its way up a tree to emerge. Being in the right place at the right time is like finding that needle in the haystack. It is one of the stages of N. hieroglyphica I have yet to see. And so the search continues...

Nymphal skin left attached to tree after the nymph emerged.

 

Nymphal skin left attached to tree after the nymph emerged.

Nymphal skin left attached to tree after the nymph emerged.

Neocicada hieroglyphica Chorusing

Individual Male Singing

Neocicada Hieroglyphica

Neocicada Hieroglyphica Annual Emergence

The Neociada Hieroglyphica annual emergence has begun. Last year I found the emergence of N. Hieroglyphica, thanks to Elias Bonaros and Kathy Hills research, already in full chorus by July 7th so this year I began hunting earlier for first singers. Heard the first NH singer in the beginning of July and started hearing chorusing by July 5th. They seem to form chorusing areas with large areas in between with no NH singers. Have been mapping areas since last year and the pattern seems the same for this year. 

Individuals are difficult to find in the pine trees even while singing, they blend in so beautifully with their camouflage against the scraggly bark! Trying to catch one in these pines proves just as daunting!

Was able to find this individual from the back-lighting of the sun.

A Pine Tree with a number of individual males all singing at once.

A Neocida Hieroglyphica with a slightly different cadence.

Neocicada Hieroglyphica

Neocicada hieroglyphica

July 18, 2013

Close-up images of the Neocicada hieroglyphica.

Neocicada hieroglyphica

Neocicada hieroglyphica

July 15,2013

The Neocicada hieroglyphica has an excellent camouflage. Although you can hear it, it is extremely hard to find among the many pines and oaks. This photo is an example of just how hard it is to see the NH in a pine. If you are lucky to find it in an Oak tree you have a better chance of seeing it against the bark.