PERIODIC CICADA
Magicicada sp.
CICADA FAMILY (Cicadidae)
This is one of the periodic species of cicadas, emerging in synchronized broods every 13 or 17 years, depending on the exact species, which has not yet been determined from this image alone. Several of these cicadas grow to about one inch long, with bright red eyes, a dark body and orange veins in their wings. This image was taken in Fontenelle Forest in June of 2002, so it will be a few years before they will appear again.
Although this is the only image we have of this cicada, they probably emerged in large numbers that summer, a reproductive strategy developed to ensure that many females will survive predation, mate and lay eggs for the next generation.
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