How long do the tibicen cicada live underground?
The Tibicen genus of cicadas is the most prevalent in the United States. These large-bodied cicadas appear annually, after feeding on tree roots for 2-3 years in their nymphal stage. Due to overlapping generations, Tibicen cicadas are present every year during late summer. Tibicen cicadas are 1-2 inches long, with characteristic green, brown, and black markings on the top of the thorax, and tented, membranous wings extending past the abdomen. The fore pair are about twice the length of the hind pair. Males produce loud calls in the afternoon or evening (depending on the species) to attract females. These sounds, distinctive for each species, are produced by organs below the abdomen’s base. These calls range from a loud buzz to a long rattling sound. Adults feed using their beak to tap into the xylem of plants. Larvae feed from the xylem of roots.
