Magicicada cassini (Fisher 1851)
Usually smaller than
M. septendecim.
No orange coloration in front of the wing insertion behind the eye. Abdomen entirely black except
in some locations where individuals may have weak ventral yellow-orange marks; if present,
these tend to be faded and rarely form complete stripes. Sometimes such individuals may be difficult
to distinguish from
M. septendecula
if the calling song is not available. Calling song phrases
consist of a series of ticks followed by a shrill buzz. Males of
M. cassini
and its close 13-year relative
M. tredecassini
sometimes synchronize their calls and flights all at once, a display
that has been likened to a "giant game of musical chairs". Scale
is 1 cm long.
Magicicada cassini songs:
Court I sonogram
©2008