Checklist Of The Cicadidae of Kansas

Last updated: 10 January 2008 (Links checked and updated)

Right: Drawing of 5th instar nymph and adult of Melampsalta calliope from Beamer (1928).

This annotated checklist is based on various literature sources listed in the references below (but is mostly based on Lawson, 1920).  It includes 23 species of cicadas.  The author has not reviewed museum collections or collected extensively.  Any additions to the list are welcome.  Nomenclature is per the Checklist of North American Cicadidae by T.E. Moore, 2004.  

See the Reference section below for literature citations and web links.  Beamer (1928) is an important source of biological information, as are the recent important studies on the Konza Prairie listed below under Callaham et al (2000, 2002, 2003) and Whiles et al (2001).

Checklist:

Beameria venosa (Uhler 1888) [Lawson, 1920, as Proarna venosa] {Subfamily Tibiceninae - concealed-timbal cicadas} - Discussed in Salsbury & White, 2000, p. 126: "...the smallest cicada in Kansas...16 mm in length...".

Diceroprocta eugraphica (Davis 1916) [Lawson, 1920, as Tibicens eugraphica] {Subfamily Tibiceninae - concealed-timbal cicadas}

Diceroprocta vitripennis (Say 1830) [Lawson, 1920, as Tibicens vitripennis] {Subfamily Tibiceninae - concealed-timbal cicadas} - Photos and calling songs available at Cooley et al, 2004.

Magicicada cassini (Fisher 1851) [Lawson, 1920, as Tibicina septendecim var. cassini] {Subfamily Tibicininae - exposed-timbal cicadas} - Discussed in Salsbury & White, 2000, p. 126.

Magicicada septendecim (Linnaeus 1758) [Lawson, 1920, as Tibicina septendecim] {Subfamily Tibicininae - exposed-timbal cicadas} - Called "Periodical Cicada" and pictured in Salsbury & White, 2000, p. 126  - Photos and calling songs available at Cooley et al, 2004 - Photo at Mason, 2004.

Magicicada septendecula Alexander & Moore 1962 [Salsbury & White, 2000, p. 126]

Melampsalta calliope (Walker 1850) [Lawson, 1920]  {Subfamily Tibiceninae - concealed-timbal cicadas} - Called "Prairie Cicada" and pictured in Salsbury & White, 2000, p. 126.

Neocicada hieroglyphica (Say 1830)  [Lawson, 1920, as Cicada hieroglyphica] {Subfamily Cicadinae - translucent cicadas}

Okanagana bella Davis 1919 [Lawson, 1920] {Subfamily Tibicininae - exposed-timbal cicadas}

Okanagana synodica (Say 1825) [Lawson, 1920] {Subfamily Tibicininae - exposed-timbal cicadas}

Tibicen auletes (Germar 1834) [Lawson, 1920] {Subfamily Tibiceninae - concealed-timbal cicadas} - Photos and calling songs available at Cooley et al, 2004.

Tibicen canicularis (Harris 1841) [Lawson, 1920, listed the synonym T. aurifera (Say 1825)] {Subfamily Tibiceninae - concealed-timbal cicadas} - Pictured in Salsbury & White, 2000, p. 125 (as T. aurifera) - Photo at Mason, 2004 (as T. aurifera).  - Referred to as Dog-Day Cicada in North American Checklist of Moore (2004).

Tibicen chloromera (Walker 1850) [Beamer, 1928]  {Subfamily Tibiceninae - concealed-timbal cicadas}

Tibicen bifida (Davis 1916) [Lawson, 1920, as T. bifidus] {Subfamily Tibiceninae - concealed-timbal cicadas}

Tibicen dorsata (Say 1825) [Lawson, 1920] {Subfamily Tibiceninae - concealed-timbal cicadas} - Called "bush cicada" and pictured in Salsbury & White, 2000, p. 125 - Photo at Mason, 2004.

Tibicen linnei (Smith & Grossbeck 1907) [Lawson, 1920] {Subfamily Tibiceninae - concealed-timbal cicadas} - Discussed in Salsbury & White, 2000, p. 125  - Photos and calling songs available at Cooley et al, 2004.

Tibicen lyricen (DeGeer 1773) [Lawson, 1920] {Subfamily Tibiceninae - concealed-timbal cicadas} - Photos and calling songs available at Cooley et al, 2004.

Tibicen marginalis (Walker 1852) [Lawson, 1920, who also lists the synonymous species Tibicen dealbata (Davis 1915)]

Tibicen pruinosa (Say 1825) [Lawson, 1920] {Subfamily Tibiceninae - concealed-timbal cicadas} - Called "Dog Days Cicada" and pictured in Salsbury & White, 2000, p. 126  - Photos and calling songs available at Cooley et al, 2004 - Photo and life history discussion at Mason, 2004.

Tibicen resh (Haldeman 1852) [Lawson, 1920] {Subfamily Tibiceninae - concealed-timbal cicadas}

Tibicen resonans (Walker 1850) [Lawson, 1920] {Subfamily Tibiceninae - concealed-timbal cicadas}

Tibicen superbus (Fitch 1855) [Lawson, 1920] {Subfamily Tibiceninae - concealed-timbal cicadas}

Tibicinoides hesperia (Uhler 1876) [Lawson, 1920 as T. hesperius] {Subfamily Tibicininae - exposed-timbal cicadas}

References:

• Beamer, R.H.  1928.  Studies on the biology of Kansas Cicadidae.  The University of Kansas Science Bulletin.  XVIII(2):155-263.  [drawings and photos]

• Callaham, M.A., Jr., J. M. Blair, T. C. Todd, D. J. Kitchen, and M. R. Whiles.  2003.  Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass.  Soil Biology & Biochemistry.  35:1079-1093. [includes data on Tibicen sp. and Cicadetta sp. (listed as Melasampsalta above)]

• Callaham, M.A., Jr., M. R. Whiles, & J. M. Blair.  2002.  Annual fire, mowing, and fertilization effects on two cicada species (Homoptera: Cicadidae) in tallgrass prairie.  American Midland Naturalist, 148:90-101. [Link here for pdf file] [Cicadetta calliope (listed here as Melasampsalta calliope) and Tibicen aurifera]

• Callaham, M.A., Jr., M. R. Whiles, C. K. Meyer, B. L. Brock, and R. E. Charlton.  2000.  Feeding ecology and emergence production of annual cicadas (Homoptera: Cicadidae) in tallgrass prairie.  Oecologia.  123:535-542.  [Cicadetta calliope (listed here as Melasampsalta calliope), Tibcen pruinosa, T. dorsata, T. aurifera, and T. lyricen are discussed, and emergence dates given for these species in the Konza Prairie study area.]

• Cooley, J., D. Marshall, & M. O'Brien.  2004 (Access Date). The Cicadas of Michigan.  University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Insect Division Web Site.

• Kritsky, G. 1999. In Ohio's Backyard: Periodical Cicadas. Ohio Biological Survey Backyard Series No. 2. Ohio Biological Survey.  OClumbus, Ohio.  vi + 83 pp. [Maps and emergence years for all United States cicada broods, extensive bibliography]

• Lawson, P.B.  1920.  The Cicadidae of Kansas.  The University of Kansas Science Bulletin.  XII(2):309-376. [drawings and keys]

• Mason, J.  2004 (Access Date).  Dog Day Cicada Web Page at The Great Plains Nature Center Web Site. [Photos and information on some Kansas Cicadas]

• Moore, T.E.  2004 (Access Date).  Keys to genera of cicada adults and nymphs.   /   Checklist of North American species of cicadas.

• Salsbury, G.A., and S.C. White.  2000.  Insects in Kansas.  Kansas Dept. of Agriculture.  Topeka, Kansas. [p. 124-127 deal with Cicadidae]

• Sanborn, A.F., M.S. Heath, J. Sueur, & P.K. Phillips.  2005. The genus Neocicada Kato, 1932 (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Cicadidae), with descriptions of three new species.  Systematic Entomology. 30:191-207. [Keys and drawings of Neocicada species including those of Mexico and N. hieroglyphica, the range of which extends well into the eastern USA.) 

• Sanborn, A. F., & P. K. Phillips.  2004.  Neotype and allotype description of Tibicen superbus (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Cicadidae) with description of its biogeography and calling song.  Annals of the Entomological Society of America.  97(4):647-652.

• Walker, T.J., and T.E. Moore.  2004 (Access Date). Singing Insects of North America Web Site. [Songs, photos, and a Checklist of Cicadas North of Mexico]

• Whiles, M. R., M. A. Callaham, Jr. , C. K. Meyer, B. L. Brock, and R. E. Charlton.  2001.  Emergence of Periodical Cicadas (Magicicada cassini) from a Kansas riparian forest: Densities, biomass and nitrogen flux.  American Midland Naturalist.  145:176-187.

Some Cicada Images:

The Dog Day Cicada: Tibicen pruinosa (Say):

Dog Days Cicada female specimen collected at Chaplin Nature Center during BioBlitz 2004, Sept. 25, 2004.  HOMOPTERA: Cicadidae: Tibicen pruinosa (Say).

Left: Lateral view of female T. pruinosa with wing vein nomenclature following Borror, DeLong & Triplehorn.  Right: Dorsal view.

Left: Ventral view of T. pruinosa.  Right: Close up of ventral view of female T. pruinosa abdominal terminalia.  The shape of the last abdominal ventral plate, the shape of the pygofer, and the ovipositor are all of possible taxonomic significance.

Left: Close up of distal end of ovipositor of T. pruinosa female.  Right: Close up ventral view of thorax showing operculum of T. pruinosa.

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