Northern Dusk-Singing Cicada

megatibicen grossus

The Northern Dusk-Singing Cicada, Megatibicen grossus, is one of the most distinctive and widely recognized cicada species in eastern North America. Renowned for its incredibly loud, buzzing, and often pulsing song, it is a quintessential sound of late summer evenings. These fascinating insects spend the vast majority of their lives as nymphs underground, feeding on the sap from tree roots, before emerging as winged adults for a brief but vibrant period of reproduction. Their presence marks the peak of summer, filling the air with their unique calls and serving as a vital part of the ecosystem as both herbivores and a food source for various predators. Its large size and unmistakable song make it a noticeable, if sometimes elusive, inhabitant of temperate forests.

Habitat: Found in deciduous and mixed forests, often near mature trees such as oaks, maples, and elms, where both nymphs and adults can access sap.

Appearance

This is a large and robust cicada, typically dark in coloration. Its body is predominantly black or very dark brown, often with some lighter, olive-green or brownish markings on the pronotal collar and sometimes on the abdomen. The eyes are usually a striking reddish-brown. Its wings are clear and membranous, with prominent dark veins, and they extend well past the end of the abdomen. The underside may show lighter dusting. The overall impression is one of a powerfully built insect, adapted for strong flight and producing loud vocalizations.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHemipteraFamilyCicadidaeGenusMegatibicen

Northern Dusk-Singing Cicada

Interesting facts

Cicada males possess the loudest sound-producing organs of any insect, capable of reaching over 90 decibels.

Female cicadas lay their eggs in small slits they cut into the bark of tree branches, often causing minor damage known as 'flagging' to young twigs.

Its common name, 'Dusk-Singing', refers to its peak singing activity occurring in the late afternoon and evening hours.

The nymphs of this cicada can spend multiple years (2 to 9 years) underground before emerging as adults for a mere few weeks to a month.

Special abilities

Male Northern Dusk-Singing Cicadas produce an exceptionally loud and distinctive buzzing song using specialized organs called tymbals. This powerful acoustic display is primarily used to attract mates, echoing through the summer evenings.

The majority of this cicada's life, typically several years, is spent underground as a nymph. During this phase, it feeds on the sap from tree roots, slowly growing and molting before emerging as an adult.

Both the nymphal and adult stages of Megatibicen grossus are specialized sap-feeders. Nymphs consume root sap, while adults use piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract xylem fluid from tree branches and trunks for hydration and nutrients.

Measurements & details

Length: 3-5 cm
Wingspan: 8-12 cm
Weight: 0.005-0.015 kg
Lifespan: 2-9 years
Clutch Size: 400-600
Incubation: 30-45 days

Diet & Feeding

Northern Dusk-Singing Cicadas are sap-feeders, utilizing specialized mouthparts to extract xylem fluid from trees. Nymphs feed on root sap, while adults feed on sap from branches and trunks.

Age differences: Nymphs feed on root sap underground, while adults feed on sap from above-ground woody parts of trees.

Primary Foods

Oak tree sap
Maple tree sap
Elm tree sap
Ash tree sap
Willow tree sap

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

host plant

Oak Tree

Quercus spp.

Provides sap for feeding

eaten by

Cicada Killer Wasp

Sphecius speciosus

Predates adult cicadas

eaten by

American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchos

Predates adult cicadas

eaten by

Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Predates cicada nymphs and adults

Traits

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Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

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Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Northern Dusk-Singing Cicada?

The easiest way to identify Northern Dusk-Singing Cicada is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How long is Northern Dusk-Singing Cicada?

3-5 cm

What is Northern Dusk-Singing Cicada's wingspan?

8-12 cm

How much does Northern Dusk-Singing Cicada weigh?

0.005-0.015 kg

How long does Northern Dusk-Singing Cicada live?

2-9 years

What does Northern Dusk-Singing Cicada eat?

Northern Dusk-Singing Cicadas are sap-feeders, utilizing specialized mouthparts to extract xylem fluid from trees. Nymphs feed on root sap, while adults feed on sap from branches and trunks.

Where is Northern Dusk-Singing Cicada usually found?

Found in deciduous and mixed forests, often near mature trees such as oaks, maples, and elms, where both nymphs and adults can access sap.

How does Northern Dusk-Singing Cicada hunt?

Foraging