Cicada Checklist of Texas (2024)

Returnto Texas Entomology - Compiled by MikeQuinn

Superfamily Cicadoidea, Family Cicadidae

  • Subfamily Cicadettinae

Cicadetta - Little Grassland Cicadas

calliope (Walker 1850) Southern Grass Cicada

c. TX to e. US
camerona (Davis 1920) Cameron County Cicadetta
southmost TX, very limited
kansa (Davis 1919)

c. TX to c. Great Plains
texana (Davis 1936)

c. TX to Gulf Coast

Magicicada - Periodical Cicadas

cassinii (Fisher)
Cassin's 17-year Cicada

  • Subfamily Cicadinae

Beameria

venosa (Uhler 1888)


Cacama - Cactus Dodgers

collinaplagaSanborn & Heath 2011Texas Cactus DodgerTexas Endemic
valvata (Uhler 1888)
Common Cactus Dodger
variegata Davis 1919
Varigated Cactus Dodger Texas Endemic

Diceroprocta - Scrub Cicadas

aurantiaca Davis 1938 Orange Cicada

averyi Davis 1941 Avery's Cicada
Texas Endemic
azteca (Kirkaldy 1881) Aztec Cicada

bequaerti (Davis 1917) Bequaert's Cicada

bibbyi Davis 1928a Bibby's Cicada Type Specimen Texas Endemic
canescens Davis 1935

Texas Endemic
cinctifera cinctifera (Uhler, 1892)
cinctifera limpia Davis 1932


c. viridicosta Davis 1930


delicata (Osborn 1906) Delicate Cicada

eugraphica (Davis 1916)


lataDavis, 1941


marevagans Davis 1928b


texana (Davis 1916) Texas Cicada
NM-TX-OK
vitripennis (Say 1830) Green-winged Cicada

Hadoa

bifida (Davis 1916)
chisosensis Davis 1934Chisos Dog-day Cicada
Texas Endemic
duryi Davis 1917Dury's Cicada
inaudita Davis 1917
texana Metcalf 1963 Texas Dog-day Cicada
townsendii (Uhler 1905)Townsend's Cicada

Neocicada

chisos Davis 1916 Southwest Spot-winged Cicada

hieroglyphica (Say 1830) Hieroglyphic Cicada

Neotibicen

auriferus (Say 1825)Dog-Day Cicada
lyricen (DeGeer 1773) Lyrical Cicada
pruinosus (Say 1825)Scissor Grinder
superbus (Fitch 1855) Superb Green Cicada
tibicen(Linnaeus 1758)Swamp Cicada
(= chloromerus (Walker 1850))

Megatibicen

auletes (Germar, 1834)
dealbatus(Davis 1915)
dorsatus (Say 1825)Giant Grassland Cicada
figuratus (Walker 1858)Fall Dog-day Cicada
harenosus Cole 2017
pronotalis Davis, 1938Walker's Cicada
(= marginalis, walkeri)
resh (Haldeman1852)Resh Cicada
tremulus Cole, 2008

Pacarina
puella Davis 1923 Little Mesquite Cicada Photos - SONG
shoemakeri Sanborn and M. Heath

Quesada

gigas (Olivier 1790) Giant Cicada SONG
  • Subfamily Tettigadinae (syn. Tibicininae)

Okanagana

hesperia (Uhler 1876)


synodica (Say 1825)
Walking Cicada
w. N. Amer.
viridis Davis 1918


Okanagodes

terlingua Davis 1932 Terlingua Cicada
Texas Endemic

Platypedia

falcata Davis 1920


North American Species:
Photos:
  • Central Texas Cicadas - Texas Entomology

  • BugGuide - Iowa State University

Song Sources:

Bibliography:

Bibliography:

Alexander, R.D. and T.E. Moore. 1962. The evolutionary relationships of 17-year and 13-year cicadas, and three new species (hom*optera, Cicadidae, Magicicada). Miscellaneous Publications, University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology 121: 1-59.

Bibby, F.F., 1936. The cicadas of Texas(hom*optera: Cicadidae), MSc Thesis, Agricultural and Mechanical Collegeof Texas, College Station, TX.

Bromley, S.W. 1933. Cicadas inTexas. Psyche, 40(4): 130.

Davis, W.T. 1915. A newvariety of cicada resembling C. dorsata. Journal of the New YorkEntomological Society, 23: 161–164.

Davis, W.T. 1916. Notes oncicadas from the United States with descriptions of several new species.Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 24: 42–65.

Davis, W.T. 1917. Sonorancicadas collected by Harry H. Knight, Dr. Joseph Bequaert and others, withdescriptions of new species. Journal of the New York Entomological Society25: 203–215.

Davis, W.T. 1918. Mississippicicadas, with a key to the species of the southeastern United States.Journal of the New York Entomological Society 26: 141–155.

Davis, W.T. 1919. Cicadas ofthe genus Cacama, with descriptions of several new species. Journalof the New York Entomological Society, 27: 68–79.

Davis, W.T. 1920. NorthAmerican cicadas belonging to the genera Platypedia and Melampsalta.Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 28: 95–135.

Davis, W.T. 1923. Notes onNorth American cicadas with descriptions of new species. Journal of the NewYork Entomological Society, 31: 1–15.

Davis, W.T. 1925.Cicada tibicen, a South American species, with records and descriptions of North American cicadas. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 33: 35–51.

Davis, W.T. 1928a. Thecicadas of Porto Rico with a description of a new genus and species. Journalof the New York Entomological Society, 36: 29–35.

Davis, W.T. 1928b. Cicadasbelonging to the genus Diceroprocta with descriptions of a new genus andspecies. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 36: 439–457.

Davis, W.T. 1930. Thedistribution of cicadas in the United States with descriptions of new species.Journal of the New York Entomological Society 38: 53–73.

Davis, W.T. 1932. Additionalrecords of North American cicadas with descriptions of new species. Journalof the New York Entomological Society, 40: 241–265.

Davis, W.T. 1934. New cicadasfrom North America. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 42: 37–63.

Davis, W.T. 1935. Newcicadas with notes on North American and West Indian species. Journal of theNew York Entomological Society, 43: 173–199.

Davis, W.T. 1936. Aremarkable cicada from Mexico and other North American species. Journal ofthe New York Entomological Society 44: 101–123.

Davis, W.T. 1938. New NorthAmerican cicadas with notes on described species. Journal of the New YorkEntomological Society, 46: 291–311.

Davis, W.T. 1941. New cicadasfrom North America with notes. Journal of the New York Entomological Society,49: 85–99.

Davis, W.T. 1944. Theremarkable distribution of an American cicada: a new genus, and othercicada notes. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 52: 213-223.

De Geer, C. 1773. Memoires pour servir a l'histoire des insectes, Vol. 3.Stockholm. 696 pp.

Drew, W.A., F.L. Spangler, & D. Molnar. 1974. OklahomaCicadidae (hom*optera). Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science, 54:90–97.

Fitch, A. (1855) 1854. Report (upon the noxious and other insects of thestate of New-York). Transactions of the New York State Agricultural Society, 14:705-880.

Haldeman, S.S. 1852. Appendix C. Insects, Pp. 366-379 In: H. Stansbury.Exploration and survey of the valley of the Great Salt Lake of Utah, including areconnaissance of a new route through the Rocky Mountains.

Kirkaldy, G.W. 1909. Hemiptera, old and new, No. 2. Canadian Entomologist, 41:388-392.

Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae. (Systema naturae per regna tria naturae,secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis,synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata.) Holmiae. i-ii + 1-824.

Marlatt, C.L. 1907. The periodical cicada. USDA Bureau of Entomology Bulletin 71: 1–181.

Marlatt, C.L. 1989. A new nomenclature for the broods of the periodical cicada.B. USDA Div. Entomol. (n.s.) 18: 52–58.

Metcalf, Z.P. 1963. General catalogue of the hom*optera, Fascicle VIII.Cicadoidea. Part 1. Cicadidae. Section I. Tibiceninae. North Carolina StateCollege Contribution, 1502: 1-585.

Metcalf, Z.P., 1955. New names in the hom*optera. Journal of the WashingtonAcademy of Sciences, 42: 226–231.

Moore, T.E. 2000-2008.Checklistof cicadas North of Mexico. In: Walker, T.J. & Moore, T.E.2000-2008. Singing Insects of NorthAmerica.

Moulds, M.S. 2005. Anappraisal of the higher classification of cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea) withspecial reference to the Australian fauna. Records of the Australian Museum,57(3): 375-446. Abstract.

Olivier A.G. 1790. Encyclopedia méthodique. Histoire Naturelle: Insectes, 5:1-368.

Osborn, H. 1906. Descriptionsof two new cicadas from Louisiana. The Ohio Naturalist, 6(6): 497-499.

Phillips, P.K. pers. comm., January 23, 2008. Dr. Phillips made numeroussuggestions to this list.

Phillips, P.K. & A.F. Sanborn. 2007. Phytogeographyinfluences biogeography of the Cicadidae. Acta Zoologica Sinica 53(3):454-462. Abstract.

Sanborn, A., pers. comm., January 22, 2008. Dr. Sanborn made numeroussuggestions to this list.

Sanborn, 2008. The Identity OfCicada tibicenLinné [=Tibicen chloromerus(Walker, 1850)] (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea: Cicadidae). Entomological News 119(3): 227–231 - Abstract

Sanborn, A.F. and M.S. Heath. 2012. Catalogue of the Cicadas(Hemiptera: Cicadoidea: Cicadidae) of Continental North America Northof Mexico. Thomas Say Monographs of the Entomological Society of America. Entomological Society of America, Lanham, MD. 227 pp.

Sanborn, A.F. and P.K. Phillips. 2013. Biogeography of the cicadas(Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of North America, North of Mexico. Diversity5(2): 166–239.

Sanborn, A.F. and P.K. Phillips. 2010. Reevaluation of theDiceroprocta texanaspecies complex (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea: Cicadidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 103: 860–865.

Say, T. 1832. Descriptions of new species of Heteropterous Hemiptera of NorthAmerica. New Harmony, Indiana.

Say, T. 1824-1828. American entomology, or descriptions of the insects ofNorth America, 3 vol., Philadelphia.

Simon, C. 1988. Evolution of 13- and 17-year periodical cicadas. Bulletin of the Entomological Society of America 34: 163-176.

Tinkham, E.R. 1941. Biological and faunistic notes on the Cicadidae of theBig Bend region of Trans-Pecos Texas. Journal of the New York EntomologicalSociety, 49: 165-83.

Uhler P.R. 1876. List of Hemiptera of the region west of the MississippiRiver, including those collected during the Hayden explorations of 1873.Bulletin of the United States Geol.Geog. Surv. Terr. 1: 267-361.

Uhler P.R. 1886. Check-list of the Hemiptera-Heteroptera of North America.Brooklyn Entomological Society, i + 32 pp.

Uhler P.R. 1888. Preliminary survey of the Cicadoea of the United States,Antilles and Mexico. Entomology Americana, 4: 81-85.

Uhler, P.R. 1905. Entomological News.

Walker, F. 1850. List of the specimens of hom*opterous insects in thecollection of the British Museum, 1: 1-260.

Walker, F. 1858. Supplement. List of the specimens of hom*opterous insects inthe collection of the British Museum: 1-307.

Woodworth, C.W. 1888. Synopsisof North American Cicadidae. Psyche, 5: 67–68.

19 June 2019© Mike Quinn/entomike@gmail.com /TexasEntomology

Cicada Checklist of Texas (2024)

FAQs

Will Texas have cicadas in 2024? ›

Central Texas is outside the affected zone. The rare 2024 double hatch will primarily impact Illinois and a handful of neighboring states.

What do Texans call cicadas? ›

Texans are likely familiar with annual or “dog-day” cicadas, the green-and-black insects that emerge each summer across large swaths of the state, leaving their exoskeletons on tree trunks and other surfaces, Keck said.

How many cicada species are there in Texas? ›

some 54 species of Texas cicadas - Cicada Mania.

What is the cycle of the cicada in Texas? ›

The smaller periodical cicada, Magicicada septendecim (Linnaeus), completes its life cycle in 17 years, and emerges in large numbers (broods) in large geographical areas. The periodical cicada species that do occur in Texas complete their life cycles in 13 years, although some emerge almost every year.

Where will the cicadas be the worst in 2024? ›

Where will cicadas be in 2024? The 13-year cicadas, called Brood XIX, will emerge in Georgia and the Southeast. The 17-year cicadas, called Brood XIII, will appear in Illinois. This will be the first time since 1803 that two broods emerged at the same time.

Do Texas cicadas bite? ›

No, you will not be bitten by a cicada nor will it seek you out and attack you, says Howard Russell, M.S., a board-certified entomologist at Michigan State University. In fact, they can't even bite you (or your pets) if they want to.

What is the loudest bug in Texas? ›

Cicadas are the loudest insects in the world, as we Texans know by experience. Most people know that crickets make their noise by rubbing their wings and legs together; cicadas do it differently.

Can cicadas bite? ›

Could a cicada bite you? Short answer: Technically, no. While cicadas have piercing mouthparts, they are specialized for feeding on trees, according to SLU associate professor Dr. Kasey Fowler-Finn, Ph.D. Cicadas use their mouthparts to suck on fluids from trees.

Why do cicadas yell? ›

The high-pitched song is actually a mating call belted out by males. Each species has its own distinctive song that only attracts females of its own kind. This allows several different species to coexist. Cicadas are the only insects capable of producing such a unique and loud sound.

What is the largest insect in Texas? ›

Texas can lay claim to the longest insect found in the United States – a species of walkingstick that may reach seven inches in length. It is commonly called the giant walkingstick and has the scientific name Megaphasma dentricrus.

What is a Texas sized cicada killer? ›

Cicada killers are one of the largest wasps in the United States, reaching a size of approximately 1.5 inches in length. They are considered beneficial insects since they prey on adult cicadas. People usually encounter the male cicada killer, which is stinger-less and therefore harmless.

How long do Texas cicadas live? ›

It will climb on to a tree trunk , low- growing plant, or other structure to finally emerge as an adult, which can live for 5 to 6 weeks. Adult cicadas do not feed on tree leaves. They may, however, suck juices from tender twigs.

What do cicadas eat in Texas? ›

More cicada facts

Cicada nymphs feed on the juices and sap of tree roots while adult cicadas suck fluids from shrubs and trees. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service says they are not considered to be plant pests. Scientists believe that cicadas spend most of their life underground to avoid predators.

What time do cicadas cry? ›

Most, if not all cicadas sing during the day, but what time of day they sing depends on the species and the weather. There are over 3,000 species of cicadas, and each has its own unique behavior. Typically, cicadas do not sing at night, but there are exceptions.

What eats cicadas? ›

Birds, bears, fish, raccoons, and every other animal that can eat insects will stuff themselves on this cicada feast. The second reason why cicadas spend so long underground is that many insect populations are largely regulated by highly specialized predators (for example, parasitic wasps).

What are the bugs coming out of the ground in 2024? ›

Broods are not the same thing as species, and each brood can contain multiple cicada species that can emerge in different places. In 2024, all seven cicada species will be represented, a coincidence that won't happen again until 2037.

Where will the cicadas be in 2025? ›

In 2025, Brood XIV is set to come to life. It's the second-largest periodical brood of cicadas, according to the University of Connecticut. You can see Brood XIV's territory shaded in lime green on the map below. It stretches from Southern Ohio through Kentucky and Tennessee.

What years do the cicadas come out? ›

The next such dual emergence of these two particular broods will occur in 2245, 221 years after 2024, but dual emergences will be very common over the next three decades, with Broods IX and XIX emerging in 2037, XIII and XXIII in 2041, V and XIX in 2050, VIII and XXII in 2053, and IX and XXIII in 2054.

What month do cicadas stop? ›

Once above ground, they generally have a lifespan of four weeks, depending on the weather. Since the cicadas usually start emerging around early- to mid-May, they should start to die off by late June or early July.

References

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