Swamp Cicada (Neotibicen tibicen) is found across Eastern and Midwestern United States. Neotibicen tibicen, known generally as the swamp cicada or morning cicada, is a species of cicada in the family Cicadidae.
Fascinating facts about the Swamp Cicada
- The cicada's scientific label has been rewritten twice in recent history. First, a 2008 revision swapped the old name Tibicen chloromerus for Tibicen tibicen after researchers proved the latter was the original description. Then, in 2015, a broader taxonomic overhaul moved the whole group into the new genus Neotibicen.
- If you wander any North American backyard, you'll most likely spot the swamp cicada perched on low-lying foliage, because it is the most frequently encountered member of its genus. Its habit of hanging on short stems makes it easy to see and hear, reinforcing its reputation as arguably the most common Neotibicen in the region.
- Across the eastern and central United States and into southeastern Canada, the swamp cicada fills a huge swath of North America.
- Two subspecies: N. tibicen tibicen, while N. tibicen australis taking over spots in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.
- Morning is the cicada's rush hour: it only wakes after a sun-baked warm-up because it is strictly ectothermic.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeEastern and Midwestern United States
HabitatNeotibicen tibicen, known generally as the swamp cicada or morning cicada, is a species of cicada in the family Cicadidae
DietTree sap fluids
About the Swamp Cicada
In the sweltering depths of the swamp, a symphony of sound erupts from the treetops, as the Swamp Cicada unleashes its distinctive, ear-piercing melody, a primal call that echoes through the misty veil of the wetlands. With wings a blur of motion, this ancient insect dances through the air, its iridescent body glimmering like a shard of stained glass as it navigates the tangled labyrinth of cypress and mangrove. As it sings, the cicada's very existence seems to embody the swamp's own primal rhythm, a testament to the enduring power of life in this most unforgiving of environments.
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