Megatibicen

Sanborn & Heath, 2016

Great Cicadas

Species Guides

Megatibicen cultriformis(Grand Western Flood Plain Cicada)
Megatibicen dealbatus(Plains Cicada)
Megatibicen dorsatus(Bush Cicada)
Megatibicen dorsatus-tremulus(bush cicada)
Megatibicen figuratus(fall southeastern dusk-singing cicada)
Megatibicen grossus(Northern Dusk-singing Cicada)
Megatibicen harenosus(Great Mescalero Cicada)
Megatibicen pronotalis(Walker's Annual Cicada)
Megatibicen resh(Resh Cicada)

Megatibicen is a of North American cicadas established in 2016, comprising approximately 10 previously classified under Tibicen, Neotibicen, Ameritibicen, and Gigatibicen. These are large-bodied cicadas commonly known as 'Great Cicadas,' with males producing distinctive calling songs using tymbal organs. The genus exhibits notable diversity in the south-central and southwestern United States, including a recently described species from the Mescalero-Monahans shinnery sands.

Megatibicen harenosus by (c) Bob Nieman, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bob Nieman. Used under a CC-BY license.

Megatibicen resonans by (c) Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Arturo Santos. Used under a CC-BY license.

Megatibicen dealbatus by no rights reserved, uploaded by Calinsdad. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Megatibicen: //ˌmɛɡəˈtɪbɪˌkɛn//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Megatibicen are large cicadas distinguished from related by a combination of morphological and acoustic traits. Males possess tymbal plates on the base of the used for sound production. Species-level identification relies on male genital , color pattern, and calling song characteristics. For example, M. harenosus is distinguished from the similar M. tremulus by black (versus brown) tymbal covers, differences in male genitalia, and significantly different temporal song characters.

Images

Habitat

occupy diverse including shortgrass prairie, mesquite chaparral, sand dune systems, riparian woodlands, and limestone bluff forests. The recently described M. harenosus is to the Mescalero-Monahans shinnery sands of New Mexico and Texas. Other species show habitat preferences: M. tremulus in sandy habitats, M. dorsatus in prairie and sunflower-dominated areas, and M. dealbatus in cottonwood-associated riparian zones.

Distribution

North America, with concentration in the central and south-central United States. Range extends from the Great Plains (Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska) through Texas and into the southwestern United States (New Mexico, western Texas). M. harenosus represents one of the most southwestern distributions in the . Some occur in the Mississippi River valley and adjacent regions (Illinois, Missouri).

Seasonality

activity occurs primarily from late summer through early autumn. Field observations document males singing from late August into September, with some continuing into early October. Activity patterns vary by species and locality; M. dorsatus and M. tremulus have been observed in late August, while M. pronotalis and M. dealbatus show activity into September.

Behavior

Males produce -specific calling songs by rapidly expanding and contracting tymbal , with songs serving as primary isolating mechanisms between species. Males have been observed singing from vegetation including sunflower (Helianthus spp.), mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), cottonwood (Populus deltoides), and sumac (Rhus aromatica). When captured, individuals may emit rattling alarm screeches. Some species are notably wary and quick to fly when approached; M. tremulus has been described as more elusive and difficult to capture than the similar M. dorsatus.

Ecological Role

Component of late-summer insect in prairie and woodland . contribute to pollination through incidental contact while feeding on plant fluids. Nymphal stages, spent underground, presumably contribute to soil nutrient cycling. The contributes to the biota of restricted such as the Mescalero-Monahans shinnery sands.

Human Relevance

Subject of taxonomic research and field entomology; some are targeted by collectors. The 2016 generic reclassification reflects ongoing research in . M. harenosus was described based on integrated evidence from , acoustics, and , demonstrating the importance of bioacoustics in species discovery.

Similar Taxa

NeotibicenFormerly included some Megatibicen ; distinguished by different morphological and acoustic characteristics. Sympatric in many areas, with Neotibicen species often active earlier in the season.
Lyristes (formerly Tibicen)Historical name; European now placed here. The 2016 reclassification separated Megatibicen from this group based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence.

More Details

Taxonomic History

Megatibicen was erected by Sanborn & Heath in 2016 to accommodate previously placed in Tibicen (now Lyristes, restricted to European species), then briefly in Neotibicen. The also absorbed species from Ameritibicen and Gigatibicen, which were synonymized. This reclassification reflects molecular phylogenetic studies showing that the traditional Tibicen was polyphyletic.

Species Diversity

Approximately 10 described : M. cultriformis, M. dealbatus, M. dorsatus, M. figuratus, M. grossus, M. harenosus, M. pronotalis, M. resh, M. resonans, and M. tremulus. Species show variation in size, coloration, preference, and especially male calling song structure.

Acoustic Characterization

Male calling songs have been analyzed for multiple , revealing diagnostic temporal and spectral characters. M. harenosus and M. tremulus, despite close morphological similarity, show significant differences in four temporal song characters, supporting species-level distinction and suggesting potential reproductive isolation.