Shinnery-sands
Guides
Megatibicen harenosus
Great Mescalero Cicada
Megatibicen harenosus is a recently described cicada species endemic to the Mescalero-Monahans shinnery sands of New Mexico and Texas. It was formally described in 2017 based on distinct male genital morphology, color pattern, calling song characteristics, and ecological preferences. The species is closely related to M. tremulus, from which it differs significantly in four temporal song characters. Its restricted distribution in sandy habitats represents one of the most southwestern ranges of any Megatibicen species.