Cicada on a Canyon Sunflower leaf - genus Platypedia
Here is another handsome Cicada (family Cicadidae in the order Auchenorrhyncha, Hemiptera) on a leaf of native Canyon Sunflower (Venegasia carpesioides, Asteraceae). I believe it is genus Platypedia. I've found two other cicadas this spring that appear to be the same kind, see this photo and this photo. All of these have green colors that suggests they are teneral - recently emerged from the final molt from nymph to adult - but maybe that's just their color? I don't believe these early cicadas sing at all, they might just make the clicking noise that I've been hearing up in the oaks, see this page for sound samples. This was a good find on a gloomy day. (San Marcos Pass, 5 May 2019)
The marine layer spilled over the mountains again this morning, and this time it stayed all day. It may be that the marine-layer clouds morphed into real clouds, as we have a slight chance more rain tonight and tomorrow, and we did actually get a few drops at one point today. *Sigh* With the marine layer comes the "fog winds", and we had enough of a breeze to keep things moving all day. There's nothing to do but bump up the ISO a notch and take lots of photos to get a few keepers!
Cicada on a Canyon Sunflower leaf - genus Platypedia
Here is another handsome Cicada (family Cicadidae in the order Auchenorrhyncha, Hemiptera) on a leaf of native Canyon Sunflower (Venegasia carpesioides, Asteraceae). I believe it is genus Platypedia. I've found two other cicadas this spring that appear to be the same kind, see this photo and this photo. All of these have green colors that suggests they are teneral - recently emerged from the final molt from nymph to adult - but maybe that's just their color? I don't believe these early cicadas sing at all, they might just make the clicking noise that I've been hearing up in the oaks, see this page for sound samples. This was a good find on a gloomy day. (San Marcos Pass, 5 May 2019)
The marine layer spilled over the mountains again this morning, and this time it stayed all day. It may be that the marine-layer clouds morphed into real clouds, as we have a slight chance more rain tonight and tomorrow, and we did actually get a few drops at one point today. *Sigh* With the marine layer comes the "fog winds", and we had enough of a breeze to keep things moving all day. There's nothing to do but bump up the ISO a notch and take lots of photos to get a few keepers!