Lyric Cicada

Description:

Tibicen lyricen, Lyric Cicada 1) Lyric Cicadas are 2 inches or slightly more in total length (incl. wings). 2) Dark brown/reddish-brown legs (occasionally with hints of green - tenerals may have green legs!!) 3) The pronotum of these cicadas has a well developed black pronotal collar with pronotal patches which may be green, bronzy-green, bronze, reddish-brown, brown or black in coloration (typically not as clean or "leaf green" as in Tibicen tibicen ... exception in ssp. virescens) 4) Dark eyes: when alive/fresh, T. lyricen has dark black/brown eyes (rarely with dark greenish black hues when teneral) 5) Ventral black stripe on venter of abdomen is well developed in both genders and in all subspecies and color variants 6) Males of this species have oblique opercula (reddish-tan in color) 7) Behavioral note: When ALIVE, lyric cicadas will usually tuck their legs tightly to the sides and "play dead".

Habitat:

Occupies various habitats across the eastern US from the Midwest/Great Lakes east to New England and south to Texas & Florida. This one was photographed in a deciduous forest in Edgefield County, SC.