The time underground for Tibicens to reach maturity is unknown. It is believed that the Tibicens require usually 2 to 5 years to mature, perhaps longer. Since Tibicen Broods overlap, they are found every year. Tibicens are larger than Magicicadas with some species reaching a length of two inches or more. Tibicens generally have black bodies with greenish wing veins and markings.
Some species have black and gray markings while many species have white undersides.
Tibicens are found throughout the United States. There are several species near the Great Lakes region, some of the more common being T. chloromera, T. cannicularis, T. linnei, and T. auletes, T. lyricen, and T. pruinosa. These different species like to sing at different times of the day but can form chorus's together which each specific song can be picked out by a careful ear. This Genus is often mistaken for Magicicadas in that they can also appear in great numbers. Okanaganians are approximately 1.0 to 1.25 inches in length and have tan and grayish colored bodies with an off-orange underside.