This is the most often seen and heard cicada in Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods. It grows to 2 inches long and has an intricate green, brown and black pattern on its body. Experts use the bend in the shape of the wing to determine the species – we had help from volunteer experts at BugGuide to verify this particular species.
Although these cicadas emerge, sound off and mate each year during August and September and thus belong to the annual cicadas, it takes 2-3 years of development underground as nymphs before they are mature. There they feed on the juices extracted from roots. The female lays her eggs in slits cut into thin tree branches, where the young nymphs first feed before dropping to the ground to dig in looking for tree roots.
Disclaimer: The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Loren Padelford.