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 27, 2014

NEOCICADA HIEROGLYPHICA

Long Island, NY

The video below is the cicada above singing

Neocicada hieroglyphica - July 23, 2014

NEOCICADA HIEROGLYPHICA

Long Island, NY

Close-up of the tiny exuvia of the Neocicada hieroglyphica (look for tiny spider on exuvia)

N. hieroglyphica almost invisible on the pine bark

It is a little easier to see N. hieroglyphica from the side, sticking out off the side of the tree in profile.

Another way to try and find N. hieroglyphica is against the sun where you can see the outline of N.h.

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

Cicada Hunting in Lakewood, NJ

 TIBICEN AULETES

This season has been tough to locate Tibicen auletes on Long Island, for me anyhow, because I am new at learning the calls and signs of a cicada emergences. In an effort to find some of this species I went with a friend, Elias Bonaros, to Lakewood, NJ to a location known for having the T. auletes. While driving down we did hear T. auletes calling along the highway in a few locations. We marked the locations on our maps for future data points. 

Tibicen auletes nymph walking up an Oak Tree to eclose

After arriving in  Lakewood and doing a lot of searching we finally came upon some T. auletes exuviae under an Oak Tree along the tree line in front of a mall. Aside from those few shells not much evidence of any cicada in this area. The one exciting part of the whole trip was Elias finding a T. auletes nymph climbing up an Oak Tree. It was the first time him and I had seen a nymph of the T. auletes climbing a tree to eclose! They can climb fifty feet up a tree to emerge so we were very lucky to see it before it was out of sight or reach. 

At another location in Lakewood, NJ, we looked for Tibicen canicularis among the pine trees. It  was a lot easier to find T. canicularis exuviae and finally an eclosing nymph.

OTHER SIGHTINGS

In addition to Cicada hunting we always investigate any other wildlife we come across and often photograph them or at least most of the time I do! Below are some of the other animals and insects we ran across in Lakewood, NJ.

Polyphemus Silk Moth female that turned out to be pregnant and laid 60 eggs!

Strange poses from a Praying Mantis

Another strange pose! Could this be where martial arts moves comes from?

Fowler's Toad