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Close natural photograph of a dog-day cicada on green leaves with olive-brown body, large eyes, stout legs, and clear wingsRepresentative photo · one form in this family

Fly family · guide 72

Cicada Patterns

Large buoyant terrestrial patterns matched to locally present cicadas rather than one universal recipe.

Size range
Large terrestrials; match the local cicada
Common colors
black, brown, olive, orange, green
Imitates
adult cicada
How to recognize it

Cicada species differ in size, color, wing tone, and seasonal timing. The family map emphasizes the broad body, transparent roof-like wings, and strong legs without assigning one exact local species.

Close natural photograph of a dog-day cicada on green leaves with olive-brown body, large eyes, stout legs, and clear wings
Representative photo · one form in this family

Dog-day Cicada

Natural-adult reference—not an artificial fly. The source identifies Neotibicen canicularis; use it for one annual-cicada profile and color example, not as proof of local species or current activity.

View
family comparison — source-identified dog-day cicada on vegetation
Color shown
olive-green, bronze, and charcoal with clear wings
Look for
The live insect shows a broad thorax, large eyes, stout legs, and transparent roof-like wings against vegetation for natural context.
Open full-size photo ↗

On the water

Choose the right version.

Use these tips as a starting point. The river, depth, insects, and fish behavior still decide the final presentation.

01

Why it works

  • A cicada imitation presents a large buoyant terrestrial meal with a broad thorax, substantial body, stout legs, and long roof-like wing impression.
  • A firm landing can be plausible when natural adults are falling, while enough flotation keeps the large silhouette readable through a dead drift near wooded or brushy banks.
  • Annual and periodical adults can differ sharply in color and scale, so the useful fly must match verified local insects rather than a universal black, green, or orange formula.
02

When to use it

  • Only when current local reports, direct sightings, calls, shed shells, or insects on the water establish meaningful cicada activity.
  • Near wooded, brushy, or overhanging banks where an adult could plausibly enter the water; a historic brood map or distant emergence is not enough.
  • Match body size, underside color, wing tone, and flotation to the observed adult, and stop using the pattern when the local evidence disappears.
03

How to fish it

  • Present firmly but accurately near a plausible drop zone, let the fly settle, and begin with a drag-free drift through the full bank-side lane.
  • Add an occasional restrained twitch only when observed adults are struggling; repeated hard strips usually erase the natural terrestrial impression.
  • Use a leader and hook appropriate to a large wind-resistant dry, check the hook point after contact, and keep the exact foam, hair, wing, and leg construction labeled because no artificial is pictured here yet.
04

Mistakes to avoid

  • Claiming one color is universal.
  • Using a brood or timing claim without local evidence.

Make the choice

Choose the form before the color.

A family name is only a starting point. Use the waterline, construction, and observed food to narrow it to the form that fits the river.

  1. Use the dog-day cicada for one live annual-cicada reference: olive-bronze body, broad thorax, stout legs, large eyes, and clear roof-like wings.
  2. Use the Magicicada cassini macro for a dark periodical-cicada form with bright red-orange eye and leg accents and highly visible wing venation; it is a studio specimen, not a live river observation.
  3. Use the emergence photograph to distinguish the winged adult from its empty nymphal shell and understand life-stage change; the exuvia is not the surface fly to imitate.
  4. Choose the artificial by exact recipe, size, underside color, wing, leg, flotation, and local species evidence. Foam, hair-body, green annual, and dark periodical forms remain unpictured until exact licensed fly photos pass review.

Common variations

Small changes can make a different fly.

Three verified, non-AI photographs compare a live source-identified dog-day cicada, a USGS Magicicada cassini studio macro, and a periodical-cicada emergence beside its shed shell. They document natural adult form and variation; no artificial cicada, local brood, or current fall is visually claimed.

Natural dog-day cicada reference

A live source-identified Neotibicen canicularis on vegetation showing one olive-bronze annual-cicada body and wing form.
Colors shown
olive-green, bronze, charcoal, clear wings
Weighting
Natural adult reference; an artificial must remain buoyant and be sized to local evidence.

Magicicada cassini detail

A USGS studio macro revealing a dark periodical-cicada body, orange-red eye and legs, and long transparent veined wings.
Colors shown
black, orange-red, transparent gray wings
Weighting
Natural specimen reference; no artificial materials or local brood are implied.

Periodical-cicada emergence reference

A newly emerged winged adult beside its brown empty nymphal shell, shown to separate life stages rather than prescribe a fly color.
Colors shown
pale newly emerged adult, red eye, brown exuvia
Weighting
Natural life-stage reference; no artificial fly or rigging choice is implied.

Related patterns

Terrestrial Patterns ↗Foam Attractor Dry Patterns ↗Grasshopper Patterns ↗Cricket Patterns ↗

How this guide was checked

Fly information and photo sources.

Guide checked on 2026-07-13. Every image has its own source and usage record. Natural insects and hand-tied flies can vary in shape and proportion.

Pattern sources

Orvis NewsIncredible Cicada Fishing in New Zealand↗Orvis NewsTom's Secret Tips for Fishing Terrestrial Flies↗

Image credits