Periodical cicadas are known for their unusually long life cycle for insects and their prime periodicity of either 13 or 17 years. One of the explanations for the prime periodicity is that the prime periods are selected to prevent cicadas from resonating with predators with submultiple periods. This paper considers this hypothesis by investigating a population model for periodical predator and ...

First-instar nymphs of periodical cicadas (Homoptera: Cicadidae: Magicicada) were introduced into a 500-cm plot in a relatively pure stand of loblolly pines and into an 1800-cm plot on a mowed grassy lawn to determine whether they could feed on pine and grass roots, respectively. Nymphs and their associated roots were excavated within a 2-year period after introduction. Serial root sections fro...

Field recordings of the calling song and of an amplitude modulated signal produced by males of Cicada barbara from North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula were analysed in order to assess the geographical acoustic variation and the potential usefulness of acoustic data in the discrimination of subspecies and populations. Sound recordings were digitized and the frequency and temporal properties o...

The cicada genus Nipponosemia Kato is reviewed. Four species are illustrated, photographed and described, including three known species and one new species. A key to all species of this genusis presented, and information on the biology of Nipponosemia are provided. The systematic status of the tribe Cicadatrini and biogeography of Nipponosemia are discussed.

First-instar nymphs of periodical cicadas (Homoptera: Cicadidae: Magicicada) were introduced into a 500-cm plot in a relatively pure stand of loblolly pines and into an 1800-cm plot on a mowed grassy lawn to determine whether they could feed on pine and grass roots, respectively. Nymphs and their associated roots were excavated within a 2-year period after introduction. Serial root sections fro...

In recent years, the field of computational sustainability has striven to apply artificial intelligence techniques to solve ecological and environmental problems. In ecology, a key issue for the safeguarding of our planet is the monitoring of biodiversity. Automated acoustic recognition of species aims to provide a cost-effective method for biodiversity monitoring. This is particularly appealin...

Inspired by the array microstructure of natural superhydrophobic surfaces (lotus leaf and cicada wing), an array microstructure was successfully constructed by high speed wire electrical discharge machining (HS-WEDM) on the surfaces of a 7075 aluminum alloy without any chemical treatment. The artificial surfaces had a high apparent contact angle of 153° ± 1° with a contact angle hysteresis less...

The extraordinarily long life cycles, synchronous emergences at 13- or 17-year intervals, and complex geographic distribution of periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) in eastern North America are a long-standing evolutionary enigma. Although a variety of factors, including satiation of aboveground predators and avoidance of interbrood hybridization, have been hypothesized to shape the evolution ...