Field Guide

Here's an easy reference guide you can print out if you encounter a cicada in the Great Lakes region.

Common Name: Periodical Cicada Scientific Name: Magicicada

Aliases: 13 or 17 Year Cicada; 13 or 17 Year Locust; Satan's Parakeets

Occurrence: Early Summer. Mid-May to Mid-July (Northern areas)

Mid-April to Mid-June (Southern areas - 13 year species)

Habitat: Deciduous Forests - prefers forest edges. Seldom occupies urban dwellings.

Characteristics: Appear every 13 or 17 years in enormous numbers to satiate predators. Males congregate to form loud mating choruses that can be deafening. Females deposit eggs in the twigs of tree, often killing the host branches.

Distinguishing Marks: Red eyes, black bodies, orangish wing veins & legs, "W" shape on fore wings.

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Aliases: Locusts, Harvest Flies, Annual Cicada

Occurrence: Mid to late Summer. Appears in late June through early September and often into October.

Range: Throughout the U.S. & Southern Canada.

Habitat: Pines, Conifer, & Deciduous Forests. Inhabits rural & urban areas & city parks.

Characteristics: Seldom appears in large numbers. Males produce a loud buzz like sound. They are quick to take flight if threatened. Other habits are similar to the Magicicada.

Distinguishing Marks: Robust black bodies with whitish undersides. Body & wing veins are often decorated in green, brown, & gray colors.

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Common Name: None designated. Often mistaken for the Periodical Cicada.

Aliases: Locusts (Again, often mistaken for the Periodical Cicada)

Range: Central to Western U.S. & Southern Canada. Some species are desert dwellers.

Occurrence: Early Summer - Late May through Mid-July.

Characteristics: Can sometimes appear in large numbers. Habits are similar to Tibicens.

Distinguishing Marks: Black bodies with orangish (sometimes reddish) or beige undersides & legs. Bodies have similar markings like the Tibicens but with different colors.

Photo information: 1. Magicicada - taken 06/99: F.A. Seiberling Naturealm, Summit County, Ohio

2. Tibicen - taken 08/2000: Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio

3. Okanagana - taken 06/98: St. Ignace, Mackinac County, Michigan


	Great Lakes Cicada Page \| home Introducing the Cicada \| Life Cycle \| 1999 Brood V Account \| My Journeys \| Magicicada Galleries \| Magicicada Gallery 2 \| Magicicada Nymphs \| Chimneys & Emergence Holes \| Magicicada Emergence \| Magicicada Emergence 2 \| Magicicadas Feeding \| Magicicada Mating \| Magicicada Ovipositing \| Eggs & Egg Damage \| Cicada Mortality \| Brood Maps \| Tibicen Galleries \| Tibicen Gallery 2 \| Tibicen Nymphs \| Tibicen Emergence \| Tibicen Emergence 2 \| Tibicen Feeding & Ovipositing \| Okanagana Galleries \| Field Guide \| How to Find \| Deterrence \| Armed Robbery??? \| My Story \| About Me \| Cicada Links \| The Future Field Guide Here's an easy reference guide you can print out if you encounter a cicada in the Great Lakes region. Cicada ("Si-Kay-Duh") Common Name: Periodical Cicada Scientific Name: Magicicada Aliases: 13 or 17 Year Cicada; 13 or 17 Year Locust; Satan's Parakeets Size: 1" to 1 1/2" inches Occurrence: Early Summer. Mid-May to Mid-July (Northern areas) Mid-April to Mid-June (Southern areas - 13 year species) Range: Eastern U.S. - West to Iowa & Texas Habitat: Deciduous Forests - prefers forest edges. Seldom occupies urban dwellings. Characteristics: Appear every 13 or 17 years in enormous numbers to satiate predators. Males congregate to form loud mating choruses that can be deafening. Females deposit eggs in the twigs of tree, often killing the host branches. Distinguishing Marks: Red eyes, black bodies, orangish wing veins & legs, "W" shape on fore wings. _________________________________________________ Common Name: Dog Day Cicada Scientific Name: Tibicen Aliases: Locusts, Harvest Flies, Annual Cicada Size: 1 1/2" to 2 1/2" inches Occurrence: Mid to late Summer. Appears in late June through early September and often into October. Range: Throughout the U.S. & Southern Canada. Habitat: Pines, Conifer, & Deciduous Forests. Inhabits rural & urban areas & city parks. Characteristics: Seldom appears in large numbers. Males produce a loud buzz like sound. They are quick to take flight if threatened. Other habits are similar to the Magicicada. Distinguishing Marks: Robust black bodies with whitish undersides. Body & wing veins are often decorated in green, brown, & gray colors. _______________________________________________________ Common Name: None designated. Often mistaken for the Periodical Cicada. Scientific Name: Okanagana Aliases: Locusts (Again, often mistaken for the Periodical Cicada) Size: 1" to 1 1/4" inches Range: Central to Western U.S. & Southern Canada. Some species are desert dwellers. Habitat: Deciduous Forests Occurrence: Early Summer - Late May through Mid-July. Characteristics: Can sometimes appear in large numbers. Habits are similar to Tibicens. Distinguishing Marks: Black bodies with orangish (sometimes reddish) or beige undersides & legs. Bodies have similar markings like the Tibicens but with different colors. Photo information: 1. Magicicada - taken 06/99: F.A. Seiberling Naturealm, Summit County, Ohio 2. Tibicen - taken 08/2000: Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio 3. Okanagana - taken 06/98: St. Ignace, Mackinac County, Michigan