Dog-day-cicada
Guides
Neotibicen
Dog-day Cicadas, Annual Cicadas, Harvestfly, Jar Fly
Neotibicen is a genus of large-bodied cicadas (family Cicadidae) found in eastern North America, formerly including Bermuda. These cicadas are commonly known as "dog-day cicadas" or "annual cicadas" due to their appearance every summer, typically from July through August. Unlike periodical cicadas (Magicicada), which emerge in synchronized 13- or 17-year cycles, Neotibicen species appear annually because overlapping generations ensure adults emerge every year. The genus was established in 2015 when species were moved from the formerly broader genus Tibicen, which was redefined to include only European species. Neotibicen species are among the most commonly encountered cicadas in the eastern United States and are known for their loud, complex songs produced by males to attract females.
Neotibicen auriferus
Plains Dog-Day Cicada, Field cicada
Neotibicen auriferus is an annual cicada species in the family Cicadidae, commonly known as the Plains Dog-Day Cicada or Field cicada. Like other annual cicadas, it emerges during mid- to late summer rather than in synchronized broods. The species is known from the central United States, with records from Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Males produce species-specific songs using tymbal organs to attract females for mating.
Neotibicen canicularis
dog-day cicada, dog-day harvestfly, heatbug, Northern Dog-day Cicada
Neotibicen canicularis is an annual cicada species found across much of North America, commonly known as the dog-day cicada or dog-day harvestfly. Unlike periodical cicadas that emerge in synchronized broods every 13 or 17 years, this species appears every summer, though individuals require several years to develop underground. Adults are active during the hot midsummer period traditionally called the "dog days." The species has been documented as a host for multiple flesh fly parasitoids in the family Sarcophagidae, including several first-record associations.
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Davis's Southeastern Dog-day Cicada, Southern Dog-day Cicada, Davis' Southeastern Dog-day Cicada
Neotibicen davisi is an annual cicada species in the family Cicadidae, named in honor of North American cicada specialist William Thompson Davis. The species comprises two recognized subspecies: N. d. davisi and N. d. harnedi. Like other dog-day cicadas, it emerges during mid- to late summer rather than in spring like periodical cicadas.
Neotibicen davisi harnedi
Mississippi Scissor-Grinder
Neotibicen davisi harnedi is a subspecies of annual cicada in the family Cicadidae. It is part of the dog-day cicada group, which emerge during mid- to late summer. The species was originally described as Tibicen davisi var. harnedi by Davis in 1918. Like other Neotibicen species, it spends multiple years underground as a nymph before emerging as an adult.
Neotibicen latifasciatus
Coastal scissor grinder cicada
Neotibicen latifasciatus is an annual cicada species in the genus Neotibicen, commonly known as the coastal scissor grinder cicada. It was originally described by Davis in 1915 as a variety of Cicada pruinosa. The species is part of the 'scissor grinder' group of cicadas, which produce distinctive buzzing calls. As an annual cicada, it emerges every year rather than in synchronized broods like periodical cicadas.
Neotibicen linnei
Linne's cicada
Neotibicen linnei is a large-bodied annual cicada native to the Eastern United States and Canada. Like other Neotibicen species, it spends multiple years underground as a nymph feeding on plant roots before emerging in mid- to late summer. Adults are known for their distinctive calling songs produced by vibrating tymbal membranes. The species is part of the annual cicada group, meaning adults emerge every year due to overlapping generations rather than synchronized mass emergences.
Neotibicen pruinosus
scissor grinder, scissors grinder dog-day cicada
Neotibicen pruinosus, commonly known as the scissor grinder, is a species of cicada in the family Cicadidae. It is one of several North American cicadas known as "scissor grinders" due to its distinctive call resembling scissors being run over a grinding wheel. The species is primarily green with complex markings and an entirely black abdomen. A rare pale variant occurs in southeastern Kansas and eastern Oklahoma. The specific name pruinosus is Latin for "frosty," referring to the pruinose (powdery white) coating on the underside.
Neotibicen similaris
Similar Dog-day Cicada
Neotibicen similaris is an annual cicada native to the southeastern United States. The species was originally described as a single taxon but was split in 2017 into two subspecies: N. s. similaris (the nominate subspecies) and N. s. apalachicola, which occurs in the Apalachicola region of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. The two subspecies are morphologically similar and can be distinguished most reliably by the distinctive mating call of N. s. apalachicola males. Hybridization has been observed in zones of overlap, producing intermediate song patterns.
Neotibicen similaris apalachicola
Apalachicola Scissor-Grinder
Neotibicen similaris apalachicola is a subspecies of annual cicada described in 2017, endemic to the Apalachicola region of the southeastern United States. As a member of the dog-day cicada group, it shares the characteristic biology of Neotibicen species: nymphs develop underground for multiple years feeding on root sap, with overlapping generations producing adults annually during mid- to late summer. The subspecies designation reflects geographic isolation and presumably subtle morphological or acoustic differentiation from the nominate form.
Neotibicen superbus
Superb Dog-day Cicada, Superb Cicada
Neotibicen superbus, the superb dog-day cicada, is a distinctive cicada species in the family Cicadidae. It is noted for being the greenest species in its genus, with reduced black patterning compared to congeners. The species produces a soft buzz song that reaches a crescendo. It is primarily associated with grassland environments and dolomite glades in the south-central United States.
Neotibicen tibicen australis
Southern Dusky-winged Cicada
Neotibicen tibicen australis, the Southern Dusky-winged Cicada, is a subspecies of the annual dog day cicada group found across southern North America. Like other Neotibicen species, it spends multiple years underground as a nymph feeding on tree root sap before emerging on summer nights to molt into an adult. Males produce species-specific songs using tymbal organs to attract mates. The subspecies designation indicates geographic variation within the broader N. tibicen species complex, with 'australis' referring to its southern distribution relative to other subspecies.
Tibicen
Tibicen is a suppressed genus name in the cicada family Cicadidae, officially rejected by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature in 2021. Originally published by Latreille in 1825 and made available by Berthold in 1827, the name was applied to over 100 cicada species across the Northern Hemisphere during the 20th century, particularly to North American dog-day cicadas. Longstanding nomenclatural controversy centered on whether the original publications validly established the genus, with competing type species designations creating taxonomic confusion. The 2021 suppression placed Tibicen on the Official Index of Rejected and Invalid Generic Names in Zoology. Former European species now reside in genus Lyristes, while North American and Asian species have been reassigned to genera including Neotibicen, Megatibicen, Auritibicen, and Hadoa.