Common Cicadas of North America (2024)

This is a list of the most well-known cicadas in North America.

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Annual Cicada Species

These cicadas appear ever year.

Cacama valvata (Uhler, 1888)

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©Adam Fleishman.

Short Name: C. valvata
Common Name: Common Cactus Dodger
Locations: AZ, CA, CO, KS, NV, NM, OK, TX, UT
When: May-June, peaking in June.
Eyes: beige and black mix
Collar: black with gold highlights
Description: Black with gold highlights and white pruinose.
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Cicadettana calliope calliope (Walker, 1850)

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©Paul Krombholz

Short Name: C. calliope calliope
Common Name: Southern Grass Cicada
Locations: AL, AR, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MS, MO, NE, NC, OH, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA
When: May-August, peaking in July.
Eyes: pink, beige, green
Collar: rust, brown
Description: Small. Black and brown.
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Diceroprocta apache (Davis, 1921)

Short Name: D. apache
Common Name: Citrus Cicada
Locations: AZ, CA, CO, NV, UT
When: June-September. Peaks in July.
Eyes: red or beige
Collar: beige
Description: Black and beige.
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Diceroprocta olympusa (Walker, 1850)

Short Name: D. olympusa
Common Name: Olympic Scrub Cicada
Locations: AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC
When: June-August. Peaks in August.
Eyes: brown?
Collar: green
Description: Black, brown and green with white pruinose.
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Diceroprocta vitripennis (Say, 1830)

Short Name: D. vitripennis
Common Name: Green Winged Cicada
Locations: AL, AR, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MS, MO, NE, OK, TN, TX, WI
When: June-August. Peaks in July.
Eyes: green
Collar: green
Description: Black with green and brown and white pruinose.
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Megatibicen auletes (Germar, 1834)

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Short Name: M. auletes
Common Name: Northern Dusk Singing Cicada
Locations: AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI
When: June-September. Peaks in August.
Eyes: gray / beige
Collar: olive or rusty brown
Description: The largest North American cicada. Olive green to rusty brown with black, tan, and white coloring. Heavy white pruinose. M on mesonotum is typically partially occluded by pruinose. Sings at dusk.
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Megatibicen dealbatus (Davis, 1915)

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Short Name: M. dealbatus
Common Name: Plains Cicada
Locations: CO, IA, KS, MT, NE, NM, ND, OK, SD, TX, WY
When: June-October. Peaks in August.
Eyes: beige
Collar: light orange or olive
Description: Primarily either orange/rust or pea green, brown, or black with heavy pruninosity which forms distinct markings on the dorsal side of the body. The dorsal side has two black stripes framed by three areas of pruinosity. Sounds like N. pronotalis.
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Megatibicen dorsatus (Say, 1825)

Short Name: M. dorsatus
Common Name: Bush Cicada or Grand Western or Giant Grassland Cicada
Locations: AR, CO, ID, IL, IA, KS, MO, MT, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX, WY
When: July-September. Peaks in August.
Eyes: beige to brown
Collar: light orange
Description: Rust/orange, black & white pruinosity, which forms distinct markings, such as a line of white dots down the dorsal side of the abdomen. Sounds like N. tremulus. Has a call that sounds like a rapid series of clicks.
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Megatibicen figuratus (Walker, 1858)

Short Name: M. figuratus
Common Name: Fall Southeastern Dusk-singing Cicada
Locations: AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA
When: August-October. Peaks in September.
Eyes: brown
Collar: brown
Description: Black and browns. White pruinosis.
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Megatibicen pronotalis walkeri Metcalf, 1955

Short Name: M. pronotalis walkeri
Common Name: Walker’s Cicada
Locations: AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NC, ND, OH, OK, SD, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI, WY
When: July-September. Peaks in August.
Eyes: gray
Collar: green or brown
Description: Tan or pea green, brown, black, and sometimes white pruinose. Wing color matches the dominant color of the body. Typically lacks a black marking on its pronotum.
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Megatibicen resh (Haldeman, 1852)

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Short Name: M. resh
Common Name: Resh Cicada
Locations: AR, KS, LA, MS, NE, OK, SC, TN, TX
When: May-October. Peaks in August.
Eyes: varies
Collar: olive
Description: Black, green and brown camo pattern. White pruinosis. Resh Hebrew character pattern on mesonotum.
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Megatibicen resonans (Walker, 1850)

Short Name: M. resonans
Common Name: Southern Resonant/Great Pine Barrens Cicada
Locations: AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA
When: May-October. Peaks in August.
Eyes: brown
Collar: brown
Description: Brown, black & white pruinosity distinctively present within curves of the cruciform elevation.
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Neocicada hieroglyphica hieroglyphica (Say, 1830)

Short Name: N. hieroglyphica hieroglyphica
Common Name: Hieroglyphic Cicada
Locations: AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MS, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA
When: May-August. Peaks in June.
Eyes: varies
Collar: varies
Description: Black, brown and green patterns.
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Neotibicen canicularis (Harris, 1841)

Short Name: N. canicularis
Common Name: Dog-day Cicada
Locations: AR, CT, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MB, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NB, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND, NS, OH, ON, PA, PE, QC, RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, VA, WV, WI
When: July-September. Peaks in August.
Eyes: varies
Collar: varies
Description: Typical black, brown, beige and green Tibicen camo patterns. The primary color varies from brown to green. The collar is often a mix of green & black. Sounds like an angle grinder tool and like N. auriferus & N. davisi.
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Neotibicen davisi davisi (Smith and Grossbeck, 1907)

Short Name: N. davisi davisi
Common Name: Davis’ Southeastern Dog-Day Cicada
Locations: AL, DE, DC, FL, GA, LA, MD, MA, MS, NJ, NY, NC, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
When: August-December. Peaks in September.
Eyes: varies
Collar: brown or green
Description: The davisi comes in a wide variety of colors: from rusty browns to greens. A crown-like pattern on the mesonotum. Sounds like an angle grinder tool, & sounds like N. auriferus & N. canicularis.
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Neotibicen latifasciatus (Davis, 1915)

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Short Name: N. latifasciatus
Common Name: Coastal Scissor(s) Grinder Cicada
Locations: FL, MD, NJ, NC, VA
When: August-October. Peaks in September.
Eyes: brown
Collar: brown or green
Description: If the cicada has a white X on its back, it is a latifasciatus. Repetitive, rhythmic, call like someone repeatedly running a scissor over a grinding wheel.
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Neotibicen linnei (Smith and Grossbeck, 1907)

Short Name: N. linnei
Common Name: Linne’s Cicada
Locations: AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NY, NC, OH, ON, PA, SC, TN, VT, VA, WV, WI
When: July-September. Peaks in August.
Eyes: dark brown
Collar: green
Description: Black, green and some brown camo pattern. Prominent M. Bend in its wing. Sounds like N. tibicen.
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Neotibicen lyricen engelhardti (Davis, 1910)

Neotibicen lyricen lyricen (De Geer, 1773)

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Short Name: N. lyricen lyricen
Common Name: Lyric Cicada
Locations: AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, ON, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI
When: June-August. Peaks in July.
Eyes: brown
Collar: black
Description: The Lyric cicada, like most small Neotibicen, has a green, black & brown camouflage look, but the key is Lyric cicadas typically have black collars. Its sound is like an angle grinder tool steadily grinding a slightly uneven surface.
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Neotibicen pruinosus pruinosus (Say, 1825)

Short Name: N. pruinosus pruinosus
Common Name: Scissor(s) Grinder
Locations: AL, AR, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, WV, WI
When: June-October. Peaks in August.
Eyes: black
Collar: green
Description: The Scissor Grinder looks a lot like Linne’s Cicada but its wing doesn’t have the bend that Linne’s Cicada has. The Scissor Grinder also seems to have more of an orange coloration to the ‘arches’ on its mesonotum.
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Neotibicen superbus (Fitch, 1855)

Short Name: N. superbus
Common Name: Superb Dog-Day Cicada
Locations: AR, KS, LA, MO, NM, OK, TX
When: June-August. Peaks in July.
Eyes: black
Collar: green
Description: Green with black mask and yellow arches on back.
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Neotibicen tibicen tibicen (Linnaeus, 1758)

Short Name: N. tibicen tibicen
Common Name: Swamp Cicada, Morning Cicada
Locations: AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WV, WI
When: June-September. Peaks in August.
Eyes: black or dark green
Collar: black
Description: Swamp Cicadas are are known for their rounded, humped back. Their coloration varies from mostly black & some green to black, brown, and green. Their collar is usually black but can include green.
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Neotibicen winnemanna (Davis, 1912)

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Short Name: N. winnemanna
Common Name: Eastern Scissor(s) Grinder
Locations: DE, DC, GA, MD, NC, NJ, PA, SC, VA
When: June-September. Peak in September.
Eyes: dark green
Collar: green
Description: Like the Scissor Grinder, the Eastern Scissor Grinder seems to have more of an orange hue to the arches on its mesonotum, perhaps even more so than the Scissor Grinder.
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Okanagana bella Davis, 1919

Short Name: O. bella
Common Name: Mountain Cicada
Locations: AB, AZ, BC, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY
When: June-July. Peaks in June.
Eyes: black
Collar: orange
Description: Black with orange highlights.
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Okanagana canadensis (Provancher, 1889)

Short Name: O. canadensis
Common Name: Canadian Cicada
Locations: AB, BC, CA, CO, ID, ME, MB, MI, MN, MT, NB, NH, NY, NT, OH, ON, OR, PA, QC, SK, SD, UT, VT, WI
When: June-July. Peaks in June.
Eyes: dark gray
Collar: black and beige
Description: Black with beige highlights.
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Okanagana rimosa rimosa (Say, 1830)

Short Name: O. rimosa rimosa
Common Name: Say’s Cicada
Locations: AB, BC, CA, CT, ID, IL, IN, IA, ME, MB, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NV, NB, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OH, ON, OR, PA, QC, SD, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY
When: May-July. Peaks in June.
Eyes: n/a
Collar: n/a
Description: n/a
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Pacarina puella Davis, 1923

Short Name: P. puella
Locations: AZ, LA, OK, TX
When: May-July. Peaks in June.
Eyes: light
Collar: varies
Description: Tiny. Varies: brown, green, black, etc.
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Quesada gigas (Olivier, 1790)

Short Name: Q. gigas
Common Name: Giant Cicada
Locations: TX
When: Always out somewhere in the Americas. Peaks in July.
Eyes: brown
Collar: brown to green
Description: The second largest North American cicada. Black, green, and brown camo patterns.
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Periodical Cicadas

These cicadas have 17 or 13-year life cycles. Visit the Periodical Cicada Information Page for when and where.

Magicicada cassinii (Fisher, 1852)

Short Name: M. cassini
Common Name: Cassini Periodical Cicada or 17-Year Cicada
Locations: GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV
When: May-June. Peaks in June. Every 17 years.
Eyes: reddish orange
Collar: black
Description: Black body with orange wings and legs.
More info, photos, sounds, video and references

Magicicada neotredecim Marshall and Cooley, 2000

Short Name: M. neotredecim
Common Name: 13 Periodical Cicada or 13-Year Cicada or John and David’s Cicada
Locations: AR, IA, IL, IN, KY, MO, TN
When: May-June. Peaks in June. Every 13 years.
Eyes: reddish orange
Collar: black
Description: Black body with orange wings and legs. Orange stripes on the abdomen. Orange between eye and wing.
More info, photos, sounds, video and references

Magicicada septendecim (Linnaeus, 1758)

Short Name: M. septendecim
Common Name: Decim Periodical Cicada or Linnaeus’s 17-Year Cicada or 17-Year Cicada
Locations: CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, WI, WV
When: May-June. Peaks in June. Every 17 years.
Eyes: reddish orange
Collar: black
Description: Black body with orange wings and legs. Orange stripes on the abdomen. Orange between eye and wing.
More info, photos, sounds, video and references

Magicicada septendecula Alexander and Moore, 1962

Short Name: M. septendecula
Common Name: Decula Periodical Cicdada or 17-Year Cicada
Locations: GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, WV
When: May-June. Peaks in June. Every 17 years.
Eyes: reddish orange
Collar: black
Description: Black body with orange wings and legs. Orange stripes on the abdomen.
More info, photos, sounds, video and references

Magicicada tredecassini Alexander and Moore, 1962

Short Name: M. tredecassini
Common Name: 13-Year Cicada or 13-Year Cassini
Locations: AL, AR, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MO, MS, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, VA
When: May-June. Peaks in June. Every 13 years.
Eyes: reddish orange
Collar: black
Description: Black body with orange wings and legs.
More info, photos, sounds, video and references

Magicicada tredecim (Walsh and Riley, 1868)

Short Name: M. tredecim
Common Name: 13-Year Cicada or 13-Year Decim
Locations: AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, VA
When: May-June. Peaks in June. Every 13 years.
Eyes: reddish orange
Collar: black
Description: Black body with orange wings and legs. Orange stripes on the abdomen. Orange between eye and wing.
More info, photos, sounds, video and references

Magicicada tredecula Alexander and Moore, 1962

Short Name: M. tredecula
Common Name: 13-Year Cicada or 13-Year Decula
Locations: AL, AR, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, VA
When: May-June. Peaks in June. Every 13 years.
Eyes: reddish orange
Collar: black
Description: Black body with orange wings and legs. Orange stripes on the abdomen.
>More info, photos, sounds, video and references

Related Resources

Most sound files are Copyright of Insect Singers.

Maps: Biogeography of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of North America, North of Mexico [PDF]

Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Try these websites about the cicadas of North America, or these blog posts about United States and Canada.

Click the images for larger versions, the species name, and the name of the photographer.