Species intro
cicada
Magicicada tredecassini Alexander and Moore 1962
Usually smaller than M. tredecim. No orange coloration in front of the wing insertion behind the eye. Abdomen entirely black except in some locations where individuals may have weak ventral yellow-orange marks; if present, these tend to be faded and rarely form complete stripes. Sometimes such individuals may be difficult to distinguish from M. tredecula if the calling song is not available. Calling song phrases consist of a series of ticks followed by a shrill buzz. Males of M. tredecassini and its close 17-year relative M. cassini sometimes synchronize their calls and flights all at once, a display that has been likened to a "giant game of musical chairs". Scale is 1 cm long.
Magicicada tredecassini songs are extremely similar to those of M. cassini.
Magicicada tredecassini calling song
''Magicicada tredecassini'' is a species of periodical cicada endemic to the United States. It has a 13-year lifecycle but is otherwise indistinguishable from the 17-year periodical cicada ''Magicicada cassini''. The two species are usually discussed together as "cassini periodical cicadas" or "cassini-type periodical cicadas." Unlike other periodical cicadas, cassini-type males may synchronize their courting behavior so that tens of thousands of males sing and fly in unison.
