Abstract: By using the climate and cicada (Cryptotympana atrata) phenological data in Zhumadian, Shenqiu and Taikang Prefectures of Henan Province in 1990-2004, the impact of climate warming on the first song date of cicadas was analyzed. The results show that the first song date of cicadas has advanced at each of the three sites under the climate warming. The mean temperature over March-June had a marked impact on the first song date of cicadas which was closely related to the effective accumulated temperature above 5℃ from Jan. 1 to the average first song date. The first song date of cicadas in each of the three sites was simulated and predicted using accumulated temperature method with 5℃ as the developmental threshold temperature and the first day when the daily mean temperature was above 5℃ as the start date. This method is superior to the average date method. However, the accuracy of the effective accumulated temperature method depends on the stability of effective accumulated temperatures.

Key words: climate warming, first song date of the cicada, phenology, accumulated temperature, simulate