Neotibicen winnemanna (Eastern Scissor-grinder Cicada)
Taxonomy & Identification
Family: Cicadidae
Genus: Neotibicen
Species: N. winnemanna (described by Davis, 1912).
Common name: Eastern Scissor-grinder Cicada.
Appearance: A large annual cicada, about 30–50 mm long. Body dark brown to black with green and tan markings. Wings are transparent with greenish venation.
Song: A long, mechanical “grinding” call, often lasting many seconds, with a crescendo–decrescendo pattern, reminiscent of a hand-cranked grinder (hence the name).
Distribution & Habitat
Range: Primarily the southeastern and mid-Atlantic U.S., from the Carolinas through Tennessee and Virginia, extending into parts of the Midwest. Its core range lies south of Chicago.
Chicago region: This cicada is not typical of northern Illinois, where other Neotibicen species are more common (e.g., N. linnei – Linne’s Cicada; N. canicularis – Dog-day Cicada; N. lyricen – Lyric Cicada). If present near Chicago, N. winnemanna would likely occur only at the southern edge of Lake Michigan due to climate shifts or expanding ranges.
Lifecycle
Like other Neotibicen cicadas, it follows the “annual cicada” pattern (not synchronized like periodical cicadas, Magicicada):
Eggs
Laid in slits on twigs and small branches of woody plants.
Nymphs
After hatching, nymphs drop to the ground and burrow.
Feed underground for 2–5 years on xylem sap of tree and shrub roots.
Growth is gradual, and different cohorts emerge every summer, giving the appearance of annual generations.
Emergence
Mature nymphs emerge at night in mid- to late summer.
Climb up tree trunks or vertical surfaces, molt, and leave behind the familiar exuviae (shed skins).
Adults
Active in late July through September.
Males sing to attract mates; females respond with wing flicks.
Adults feed sparingly on plant sap and live only a few weeks.
Ecological Role
Nutrient cycling: Nymphs extract xylem sap underground; their emergence in large numbers deposits biomass (molted skins, dead adults) back into the soil, enriching it with nitrogen.
Soil aeration: Burrowing nymphs improve soil structure and water infiltration.
Food source:
Nymphs and adults are eaten by birds, squirrels, bats, raccoons, foxes, fish, amphibians, and predatory insects (e.g., cicada killer wasps, Sphecius speciosus).
Exuviae and carcasses provide food for detritivores and decomposers.
Pollinator support (indirect): By pruning twigs through egg-laying scars, they stimulate new growth and canopy dynamics, indirectly influencing forest succession.
Host Plants
Cicadas are not picky eaters—nymphs feed on the roots of many trees and shrubs, and adults feed on sap from twigs. Documented preferred hosts include:
Oaks (Quercus spp.) – white oak, red oak, bur oak.
Hickories (Carya spp.) – shagbark, bitternut.
Maples (Acer spp.) – sugar maple, red maple, silver maple.
Elms (Ulmus spp.) – American elm, slippery elm.
Willows (Salix spp.)
Walnuts (Juglans spp.)
Other hardwoods: Basswood (Tilia americana), ash (Fraxinus spp.), hackberry (Celtis occidentalis).
In Chicago, planting and sustaining a diverse canopy of native hardwoods is the best way to support local Neotibicen species (including winnemanna if its range expands northward).
How to Support Cicadas in Chicago
Plant Native Trees
Top choices: White oak (Q. alba), bur oak (Q. macrocarpa), shagbark hickory (C. ovata), sugar maple (A. saccharum), hackberry (C. occidentalis).
Choose a mix of canopy and understory trees to mimic natural woodland diversity.
Tree Care
Avoid heavy pesticide use—cicadas are vulnerable during both underground and adult stages.
Allow natural leaf litter and mulch to remain; this protects soil moisture and provides nymph habitat.
Habitat Practices
Preserve older, mature trees—these provide the deep root systems needed for multi-year cicada development.
Maintain green corridors (urban woodlots, parkways) to sustain healthy populations.
Conservation Notes
Neotibicen cicadas are generally secure and not threatened.
Climate change and urbanization may gradually shift ranges, potentially allowing southern species like N. winnemanna to expand farther into Illinois over time.
