Tibicen canicularis
Dog-day Cicada
Florida native
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The males of this species can often be heard making their loud buzz-saw calls in late summer, prompting the name dog-day cidada. They are often difficult to see in the trees or shrubs, even when you think you can tell from the sound exactly where they are. If several individuals in the same area start calling at the same time, the sound can seem deafening.
The body is from 27-33mm (1 to 1.3 in.) long and black with green markings. The wings are clear with distinct veins, noticeably green near the base and having a wingspan of 82mm (3.22 in.).
The life cycle of Tibicen canicularis is three years, with the broods overlapping, so that there are some adults every year.
The periodical cicadas are those where all of the adults of a species in any one area emerge on the same year - typically 13 or 17 years apart, depending upon the species. The periodical cicadas are of the genus Magicicada and do not occur in Florida.
Eastern cicada killers are large wasps that depend upon cicadas as food for their larvae.
Tibicen canicularis is a member of the Cicadidae - Cicadas family.
Other species of the Tibicen genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Tibicen pruinosa - SILVER-BELLIED CICADA
For more information on this species, visit the following link:
The University of Florida IFAS Extension Featured Creatures page for this family
Date record last modified: Aug 09, 2009