Tryella burnsi, Moulds, 2003

Moulds, M. S., 2003, An Appraisal of the Cicadas of the Genus Abricta Stål and Allied Genera (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadidae), Records of the Australian Museum 55, pp. 245-304 : 278-280

Tryella burnsi n.sp.

Figs. 9, 22, 58a–e, 76, 98, 99

Types. QUEENSLAND — Holotype 3, K179853, Morehead R. x-ing, 35 km SSE of Musgrave Hsd, Cape York Pen., 10.i.1988, M.S. & B.J. Moulds, AM. Paratypes as follows: 833, K179928–K179935, 3♀♀, K179936–K179938, Claudie R., 4 mi W Mt. Lamond, 16.xii.1971, D.K. McAlpine, G.A. Holloway & D.P. Sands; 13, K179939, Claudie R., 1 mi W Mt Lamond, 19.xii.1971, D.K. McAlpine, G.A. Holloway & D.P. Sands; 1♀, K179943, 2 mi S Mt Lamond, Iron Range, 17.xii.1971, D.K. McAlpine & D.P. Sands; 233, K179940 and K179944, 1♀, K179941, Claudie River near Mount Lamond, 4.i.1972, D.K. McAlpine & G.A. Holloway; 233, K179945 and K179946, Lockhart R. Community new site, near Claudie River, 8,12. i.1972, S. Thomson; 1♀, K179854, same data as holotype; 13, K179942, 12 mi N Mount Molloy, 10.xii.1971, D.K. McAlpine, G.A. Holloway & D.P. Sands; 13, K179898, Mt Molloy Airport, 25.xii.1981, A. Walford-Huggins; 13, K179980, Almaden, xii.1925, N.D. Campbell; 1233, K179914–K179925, 2♀♀, K179926 and K179927, Speewah Rd, 5 mi S of Kuranda, 11.i.1967, D.K. McAlpine & G.A. Holloway; 13, K47518 , Bowen, i.1923, E.H. Rainford; 13, K179855, Balnagowan, W of Mackay, 24.xii.1984, E.E. Adams; all in AM. 1♀, Townsville, 21.i.1958, K.L. Harley, ANIC. 333 (1 male genitalic preparation no. AB10), Iron Range, 2,6. i.1964, M.S. Moulds; 3♀♀, Iron Range, 26.xii.1983, MBM; 1♀, Iron Range, 22.x.1976, J. North; 233, Iron Range, 26.xii.1983, G. Wood; 13, Claudie River, Iron Range, 18.x.1974, G. Daniels; 233, 1♀, Claudie River, Iron Range, 8,20. x.1974, M.S. Moulds; 13 (1 genitalic preparation no. AB4), W Claudie River, Iron Range, 25.xii.1983, MBM; 1♀, Gordon Creek, Iron Range, 16.x.1974, M.S. Moulds; 13, York Downs 50 km E of Weipa, 28.xii.1983, MBM; 633, 2♀♀, waterhole nr Wenlock Riv. x-ing, Portland Roads Rd, 120 m, 13°06'S 142°56'E, 1.i.1995, GAD; 13, Old Lockhart River Mission, S of Iron Range, 25.x.1974, A. Daniels; 333, [Old] Lockhart River [Mission], 12°58'S 143°30'E, 14,17. xii.1986, R.B. Lachlan; 13, McIlwraith Rg, Leo Creek track, NE of Coen, 300 m, 2.i.1983, MBM; 13, McIlwraith Ra, 8 km NE of Coen, 13°53'S 143°15'E, 540 m, eucalypt woodland, 8.i.1995, G. and A. Daniels; 13, Coen, 29.xii.1993, MBM; 233, 18 km S of Coen, 24.xii.1983, MBM; 13, Barrow Point, 14°22'S 144°38'E, 13.xii.1986, R.B. Lachlan; 13, Little Laura River, 15 km NE of Laura, 1.i.1983, R. Storey; 13, 2 km S of Hann R. x-ing, 80 km NW of Laura, 15°18'S 143°53'E (gps), 29.xii.1993, MBM; 13, 16 km SE of Hann R. x-ing, NW of Laura, 12.i.1990, MBM; 433, 2♀♀, same locality as holotype, 10.i.1988, 9.i.1990, MBM; 333, Hells Gate Creek, S of Laura, 6.7, i.1981, GAD; 233, 35 km SE of Laura, 23.xii.1983, MBM; 13, Normanby R. x-ing, 2.i.1994, 15°17'S 144°50'E (gps), MBM; 13, 1♀, Cooktown, 7.i.1973, M.S. Moulds; 233, Mt. Cook nr Cooktown, 31.xii.1983, MBM; 1♀, Grassy Hill, Cooktown, 21.i.1990, C. Pratt; 13, Black Mountain, S of Cooktown, 6.i.1981, MBM; 233, Black Mountain, nr Cooktown, 7.i.1992, L.R. Ring; 13, Spear Creek, 8.5 km N of Palmer River x-ing, 16°03'S 144°48'E, 26.xii.1984, GAD; 13, McLeod River, W of Mt Carbine, 1.i.1981, MBM; 233, 1♀, Mt Molloy, 1,2,4. i.1974, AMW-H; 13, Rifle Creek, Mt Molloy, 9.i.1992, L.R. Ring; 233, 3 km S of Mount Molloy, 16°42'S 145°20'E, 7.xii.1991, C.J. Burwell; 533 (1 male genitalic preparation no. AB59), 1♀, Mt Molloy airport, 25.xii.1981, A. Walford-Huggins; 1♀, 10 mi S of Mt Molloy, 22.xii.1973, AMW- H; 333 (1 male genitalic preparation no. AB60), 4♀♀, Mareeba, 1.i.1983, G. Wood; 433, Arriga via Mareeba, 17.xi.1981, i.1990, K.H. Halfpapp; 1♀, Walsh Bluff, 17 km NW of Atherton, 30.xi.1986, D.A. Lane; 13, 20 km W of Atherton, 16.xi.1986, D.A. Lane; 1♀, Kuranda, 11.i.1980, G. Wood; 2♀♀, Clohesy River, Mareeba road, 28.xii.1973, AMW-H; 13, Davies Ck, between Mareeba & Kuranda, 23.xii.1981, J. Kentwell; 13, Trinity Beach, N of Cairns, 2.xii.1986, MBM; 13, Trinity Beach, N of Cairns, 5.xi.1980, J. Olive; 333, 10 km N of Ellis Beach, 28,29. xii.1980, 9.i.1985, GAD; 13, Poly Ck, nr Garradunga, Innisfail, 15.i.1990, MBM; 13, Wernadinga Stn, SE of Burketown, 18.xii.1986, MBM; 13, 9 km WNW of Chillagoe, 17°08'S 144°26'E, 8.xii.1991, C.J. Burwell; 433, Chillagoe, 17°09'S 144°31'E, 8,10. xii.1991, C.J. Burwell; 13, 11 km WSW of Mt Surprise, 31.xii.1989, MBM; 233, 2♀♀, 24 km N of Einasleigh, 31.xii.1989, MBM; 13, Gilbert River, W Georgetown, 4.ii.03, J. Hasenpusch; 233, Black River, nr Townsville, 4.xii.1992, T. Woodger; 13, 1♀, Townsville, 27.xi.1986, MBM; 333, Townsville, 18.i.1991, 27.xi.1992, 22.xii.1993, M.F. Braby; 1♀, Upper Ross [River], Thuringowa, [Townsville], 19.xii.1991, L.R. Ring; 13, St Margarets Ck, approx. 20 mi S of Townsville, 1.ii.1973, AMW-H; 433 (1 male genitalic preparation no. AB58), 1♀ 60 km SSW of Townsville, 2.ii.1981, MBM; 1♀, Cape R., 100 km S of Charters Towers, 21.xii.1983, MBM; 433, 1♀, Bowen, 9.xii.1990, MBM; 233, 45 km S of Collinsville, 16.i.1987, MBM; 1♀, Grassy Gully, approx. 20 km N of Proserpine, 18.i.1975, AMW-H; 433, Shute Harbour nr Proserpine, 30.xii.1976, D. Lane; 13, Airlie Beach, Conway Rge, near Proserpine, 16.i.1984, R. Wood; 1♀, Bloomsbury, S of Proserpine, 9.xii.1980, MBM; 13, Mt Charlton, NW of Mackay, 19.i.1978, A. Hiller; 1♀, Landing Ck, Seaforth N of Mackay, 12.i.1986, E.E. Adams; 533, 5♀♀, Nindavale, Mackay, 25.xii.1984, E.E. Adams; 13, Gargett, W of Mackay, 14.i.1979, L.R. Ring; 733, 1♀, Balnagowan, W of Mackay, 24.xii.1984, E.E. Adams; 333 (1 male genitalic preparation no. AB61), 2♀♀, Ilbilie Hsd, S of Mackay, 27.xii.1984, E.E. Adams; 13, Rockhampton, 23.i.1973, A. Atkins; 13, Rockhampton, 26.i.1975, G.R. Brown; all in MSM. 933, 6♀♀, Station Creek, Coen, 4.i.1959, L. W[assell], Collection A.N. Burns [2♀♀ incorrectly labelled A. willsi ]; 13, Port Stewart, Cape York [Peninsula], ii.1956, L. Wassell, Collection A.N. Burns; 13, Nesbitt Rr, Coen, 17.xi.[19]58, L. Wassell, Collection A.N. Burns; 13, Massy Creek, Silver Plains, east coast Cape York Pen. 8.vii.[19]60, J.L. Wassell, Collection A.N. Burns; 233, 1♀, Silver Plains, Coen, 11.i.[19]59, L. W[assell], Collection A.N. Burns [1 male incorrectly labelled A. willsi ]; 13, Mareeba, 31.xii.[19]50, G. B[rooks], Collection A.N. Burns; 13, Kuranda, i.[19]08, R.W. Armitage; 13, Double Is, 19.xii.[19]26, A.B., Collection A.N. Burns; 13, 1♀, Mowbray R, 25.i.[19]53, G. B[rooks]; Collection A.N. Burns; 13, 1♀, Cairns, 6.i.[19]51, 1.i.[19]53, G. B[rooks], Collection A.N. Burns; 13, Woree, 12.i.[19]26, C. Borch; 1♀, Hambledon, 12.ii.[19]56, G. B[rooks], Collection A.N. Burns; 13, Meringa, 16.i.[19]25, A.N. Burns, Collection A.N. Burns; 13, Gordonvale, 15.i.[19]26, C. Borch; 2♀♀, Gordonvale, i.[19]30, Edmund Jarvis Coll. [incorrectly labelled A. willsi ]; 13, Aloomba, 5.i.[19]26, C. Borch; 1♀, Dunk Is., 31.xii.[19]49–5.i.[19]50, G. B[rooks], Collection A.N. Burns; all in MV. 333, Bowen, 1917, E.H. Rainford; 13, R’hampton [=Rockhampton], 1937, S.R. Brock; 1 ♀, Nindavale, Mackay, 25.xii.1984, E.E. Adams; all in QM. 933, 17♀♀, Flinders I., i.1927, Hale & Tindale; 13, Townsville, xii.[19]03, F.P. Dodd; 13, 1♀, Bowen, 1917, E.H. Rainford; all in SAM. 333, West Claudie River, 4.5 km SW road junction, 12°44'S 143°15'E, 3,5. xii.1986, G. Daniels M. Schneider; 13, Meringa, 1.i.[19]47, J. Losser; 13, Meringa, 4.i.[19]26, C.B.; 13, Mackay, ii.1964, J.E. Dunwoody; all in UQIC.

Other material examined. QUEENSLAND — 1 ♀, K56227 , Almaden, Chillagoe Dist., iv.1927, W.D. Campbell; 1♀, K66716 , Saddleback Is., off Pt. Denison, xii.1932, F.A. McNeill; all in AM. 1♀, Pine Ck, 21.i.1962, Carne & Britton; 13, Station Creek, Coen, 4.i.1959, L. W[assell]; 2♀♀, Endeavour River, W.W. Froggatt Collection; 1♀, Pt Douglas, 17.i.1962, Carne & Britton; 1♀, Annan River, Cooktown, 1965, Brown; 13, Cairns, Jarvis, W.W. Froggatt Collection; 13, Cairns, i.190[?], Abricta willsi, Dist. W.W. Froggatt Collection; 13, Deeral, 19[??], J.F. Illingworth Coll., Abricta kurandae, Cairns, Coll. & det. W.W. Froggatt; 233, Palm Island, M.J. Mackerras; all in ANIC. 13, B.M. 1907-54, F.P. Dodd (no other data), BMNH. 1♀, Rifle Creek, Mt Molloy, 9.i.1992, L. R. Ring (teneral); 13, 18 km W of Hells Gate roadhouse [W of Burketown], 20.xii.1991, MBM; both in MSM. 13, Claudie R., ii.[19]14, Dr Macgillivray; 233, Cairns, 17, J.F. Illingworth Collection; 13, Cairns dist, A.M. Lea, incorrectly labelled Abricta castanea ; 233, Meringa, 2.i.[19]26, A.N. Burns, Collection A.N. Burns; 13, Meringa, C. Borch; 233, Gordonvale, 15.i.[19]26, C. Borch; 233, Gordonvale, 22.i.[19]19, E. Jarvis; 1♀, Gordonvale, i.[19]30, Edmund Jarvis Coll. [incorrectly labelled A. willsi ]; 1♀, Mackay, H.W. Brown; all in MV. 13, Cairns, J.F. Illingworth; 1♀, Deeral, J.F. Illingworth [incorrectly det. as Tibicen kurandae ], both in QM. 2♀♀, Greta Ck, 20 mi N of Proserpine, 1.i.1965, G. Monteith, both in UQIC. 533, 26♀♀, Flinders I., i.1927, Hale & Tindale (233, 2♀♀ incorrectly labelled Abricta willsii ); 13, 1♀, Stanley I., Flinders I. [Group], i.1927, Hale & Tindale; 533, 2♀♀, Cairns dist., A.M. Lea (1♀ incorrectly labelled Abricta willsii , 13 incorrectly labelled both Abricta castanea and Abricta willsii ); 13, Deeral, J.F. Illingworth (incorrectly labelled Tibicen kurandae ); all in SAM.

Etymology. Named in honour of Alex Burns who wrote a number of papers on Australian cicadas and once intended to revise the genus Abricta .

Description

Male ( Figs. 22, 58a,e, 98, 99). Head. Ferruginous and black in variable proportions; always black below and adjacent to ocelli and eyes; postclypeus, anteclypeus and most anterior part of head between eyes and postclypeus always brown. Rostrum ferruginous becoming black apically; reaching beyond bases of hind coxae but not extending to their apices. Eyes of live specimens blood red, variable in intensity. Antennae usually black but sometimes tending brown; basal segment always brown. Usually without obvious silver pubescence above but nearly always present below, principally on maxillary plates. Thorax. Pronotum ochraceous with a broad light to dark ferruginous or black middorsal fascia, this fascia spreading laterally both at its anterior end against pronotal margin as far as eyes, and at its posterior end against pronotal collar where it is always pale, or partly so (this pale area clear under magnification); pronotal collar black and ferruginous to varying degrees but always ochraceous laterally anterior of lateral angles. Mesonotum ferruginous and nearly always with a diffuse black blotch immediately anterior of cruciform elevation and along lower lateral margin above wing bases; sometimes with a pair of middorsal obconical markings distinguishable, their bases on anterior margin; cruciform elevation light brown. Thorax above usually without silver pubescence. Thorax below a mixture of ferruginous and black and always with fine silver pubescence. Wings. Hyaline. Fore wings usually with distinct infuscations at apex of apical cell 1, the base of apical cell 2 and the basal cross veins of apical cell 3; the degree of infuscation variable from bold, which often fills much of apical cell 1, to substantially reduced and limited to just the basal cross veins of cells 2 and 3 and apex of cell 1, and in rare extreme case completely lacking; venation brown, sometimes nearly black, costa ochraceous; basal cell weakly tinted translucent amber; basal membrane orange; costa and veins on basal third or so occasionally bearing some silver pubescence not visible to naked eye. Hind wings with a distinct infuscation at distal end of vein 2A which sometimes extends partially around margin of anal lobe no further than 3A; sometimes also infuscated on basal half of anal lobe especially in plagal region, otherwise anal lobe weakly tinted translucent amber clearest on basal half; plaga off white, often contaminated by black; venation brown. Legs. Medium to light brown; without markings. Opercula. Muddy yellow to light orange brown, sometimes with black at extreme base and along lateral margin; clearly separated exposing apex of sternite I and barely concealing tympanal cavities; usually covered by silver pubescence not always obvious to naked eye. Abdomen. Tergite 1 black; tergites 2–7 light orange brown to ferruginous with a black anterior margin that is broadest across dorsal region; tergites 3–7 also usually with a very narrow pale yellowish posterior margin; tergite 8 black on basal half or so, remainder orange brown. Sternites medium to light brown, often with posterior margins of III–VI with a narrow pale yellow posterior margin. Abdomen above and below often with silver pubescence not always obvious to naked eye. Tymbals ( Fig. 22). Usually 10–11 long tymbal ribs, otherwise as for generic description. Genitalia ( Figs. 98, 99). Pygofer orange brown to ferruginous tending dark around upper pygofer lobes, yellowish at outer basal lobe; upper pygofer lobes in lateral view broad, upper margin distinctly curved outwards in central region, lower margin straight, distal end curved upwards towards an upturned pointed apex, in ventral view angled slightly inwards; basal lobes with a broad webbing fusing much of outer and inner lobes, in lateral view outer lobe just a short finger-like projection beyond webbing. Uncal lobes scoop-like and gently upturned at their distal ends; lateral processes of uncus in lateral view nearly equal in length to upper pygofer lobes, angled slightly upwards from near base and bluntly terminated. Conjunctival claws simple, sharply pointed, directed laterally. Flabellum present ventrally, produced on either side into a rounded lobe. Palearis absent.

Female ( Figs. 9, 58b–d). Colour and markings similar to male. Abdominal segment 9 ferruginous brown paling ventrally. Ovipositor sheath black and clearly extending beyond dorsal beak.

Measurements. n = 1033, 10♀♀ (includes smallest and largest of available specimens). Length of body: male 14.8– 18.1 (16.7); female 18.1–22.5 (19.7). Length of fore wing: male 20.1–25.0 (22.8); female 22.7–27.4 (24.7). Width of head: male 5.5–6.5 (6.1); female 6.0–6.8 (6.3). Width of pronotum: male 5.7–7.0 (6.4); female 6.2–7.2 (6.7).

Distinguishing features. The exceptional variation in fore wing infuscations, and the close similarity of this species with others, calls for care in identification. Some individuals of T. burnsi are almost indistinguishable from some individuals of castanea ; however the distributions of these two species are quite distinct (ignoring the doubtful record from near Burketown) and specimens of known origin are easily determined. There are also clear differences in male genitalia, primarily in the shapes of the upper and lower pygofer lobes.

Confusion of burnsi with T. kauma is also a possibility although their distributions probably do not overlap. Where doubt of identity exists male genitalia should be examined; the conjunctival claws in ventral view are strongly recurved in kauma while the flabellum of burnsi is clearly separated into a pair of lateral lobes.

Atypical specimens of burnsi without fore wing infuscations could be mistaken for T. ochra but the presence of a large black blotch anterior of cruciform elevation in burnsi clearly separates specimens of burnsi from those of ochra which are pale immediately anterior of cruciform elevation or evenly coloured.

Distribution ( Fig. 76). Tropical and subtropical Queensland south from Weipa and Iron Range to Rockhampton. Nearly all records are from along the east coast with a small number of inland records extending west as far as the Gilbert River and possibly to the Cape River. A single male taken west of Burketown appears to be this species but in view of its isolation is treated as doubtful until further specimens are obtained to confirm its identity. Likewise, the Cape River record is based upon a single female, the identity of which also requires confirmation.

Usually populations tend to be small but occasionally the species is locally common. Adults have been taken from October to early February, with single records for April and July. They are most abundant during December.This species may be sympatric with willsi . The known distributions of these two species are, for the most part, allopatric but they may be possibly sympatric in coastal districts between Mackay and Rockhampton although all known records for the two species in this region are separated by the Connors Range, willsi occurring only to the west and burnsi only to the east.

Habitat. Probably eucalypt trees and saplings, where adults favour the smaller branches.