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July 23, 2021
Ben here with the Friday edition of #BenInNature presented by our friends at Carter Bank & Trust!
While periodical cicada Brood X didn't stretch into southside Virginia (we got our brood of periodical cicadas last summer), that doesn't mean there aren't still cicadas to enjoy! I rescued this little guy from my gutter this week. If he looks a little water-logged, that's why.
This is one of our annual cicadas, which are the cicadas that show up every summer. This particular one belongs to the genus Neotibicen, and they're also referred to as "harvestflies" or "jar flies." They're larger than the periodical cicadas we see every 13-17 years, and they also tend to have darker, more muted coloration.
Even though Neotibicen cicadas show up every year, just like periodical cicadas, they still spend multiple years developing underground as juveniles. Unlike periodical cicadas, however, their emergence is staggered and generations overlap so that we see them every year!
Of course, you might not always see these cicadas, but you likely hear them. The males call in the afternoon and evening (depending on the species), producing a loud buzzing or rattling sound to attract females.
ABOUT #BenInNature
Social distancing can be difficult, but it presents a great opportunity to become reacquainted with nature. In this series of posts, Administrator of Science Ben Williams ventures outdoors to record a snapshot of the unique sights that can be found in the natural world. New updates are posted Monday - Friday, with previous posts highlighted on the weekends. This series of posts is made possible thanks to the support of VMNH Corporate Partner Carter Bank & Trust (www.cbtcares.com).
NATURE PHOTO IDENTIFICATIONS
If you discover something in nature that you would like help identifying, be sure to message us right here on Facebook with a picture (please include location and date of picture) and we'll have our experts help you identify it!
