Voice of the Wild

Morning Cicada (Neotibicen tibicen). 

As the name suggests, this insect sings only in the morning. It begins its rattling broadcast just after the late summer sun has cooked the cool of the night out of the low vegetation it tends to prefer. This cicada has blueish wings, a dark body, and a notably humped back. It is known to have an affinity for swampy areas – in fact, another common name for it is the “swamp cicada.” Nonetheless, I’ve heard it many habitats, so keep an ear open for this bug on your morning walk. 

Thank you to Wil Hershberger for letting us use the insect calls from SongsofInsects.com. 

Do you want to learn more bird songs, frog calls, and insect noises? Join Voice of the Wild every Friday to explore a new wild voice. From time to time, we’ll also do a deep dive into wildlife science, news, and natural history. Voice of the Wild is brought to you by the University of Illinois Extension Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy program. 

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