Tryella kauma, 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 : 288-289

Tryella kauma n.sp.

Figs. 11, 25, 52a,b, 89, 96, 97

Types. QUEENSLAND — Holotype 3, K179842, Walkers Ck , 35 km NNE of Normanton, 16.xii.1986, M.S. & B.J. Moulds, in AM . Paratypes as follows: 13, 1♀, same data as holotype ; 13, 1♀, 50 km SE of Normanton , 15.i.1986, MBM ; all in AM. 13, Wernadinga Stn , SE of Burketown, 18.xii.1986, MBM ; 1833 (one male genitalic preparation no. AB12), 14♀♀, same data as holotype ; 2♀♀, same data as holotype but 2.i.1990, 15.i.1992 ; 2533 (one male genitalic preparation no. AB78), 18♀♀, 50 km SE of Normanton , 15.i.1986, MBM ; 1533 (one male genitalic preparation no. AB3), 18♀♀, East Haydon , 60 km SE of Normanton, 15.i.1986, MBM ; 13, 25 km W of Croydon , 16.i.1986, MBM ; 2♀♀, 28 km W of Georgetown , 16.i.1986, MBM ; all in MSM. 13, 1♀, East Haydon , 60 km SE of Normanton, 15.i.1986, MBM , both in QM.

Etymology. From the Greek kauma meaning burning heat and referring to the hot climatic conditions prevailing in the area where the species is found.

Description

Male ( Figs. 25, 52a, 96, 97). Head. Black but usually with variable amounts of brown visible under magnification, nearly always partly or entirely brown on antennal plates and often to some extent between eyes and ocelli; postclypeus and anteclypeus ferruginous. Rostrum muddy pale yellow basally, darkening on labium and becoming black towards apex but always with extreme apex dark brown; passing beyond bases of hind coxae but never reaching their apices. Antennae black or brown but usually with basal segment, and sometimes part of second segment, brown. Without extensive silver pubescence above but usually extensive below except of clypeus. Thorax. Pronotum ochraceous with a broad middorsal fascia pale to very dark ferruginous or sometimes nearly black, this fascia spreading laterally both at its anterior end against pronotal margin to about eyes and at its posterior end against pronotal collar; pronotal collar ferruginous to nearly black but always pale anterior of lateral angles. Mesonotum ferruginous, often black or very dark brown immediately anterior of cruciform elevation and along lateral margin above wing bases; cruciform elevation usually light brown but sometimes dark. Thorax above often lacking noticeable pubescence; below medium to light brown and always with distinct fine silver pubescence. Wings. Hyaline. Fore wings usually with some infuscation limited to bases of apical cells 1–3 and apex of apical cell 1, sometimes continuous but often broken and occasionally entirely without infuscation; venation brown, costa pale to medium ochraceous but sometimes tinted ferruginous; basal cell hyaline; basal membrane orange or orange yellow. Hind wings with a weak infuscation at the distal end of vein 2A and often following along much of the length of 2A, sometimes also adjacent to off white plaga on 3A; venation brown. Legs. Light to medium brown; without markings. Opercula. Muddy yellow, usually with very narrow black edge along lateral margin; usually covered by silver pubescence not always obvious to naked eye; clearly separated exposing apex of sternite I and barely concealing tympanal cavities. Abdomen. Tergites brownish orange to dark brown, often with tergite 1 black or nearly so, often tergites 2 and 3 partly or entirely black on anterior half and sometimes also on tergites 4–7; tergite 8 usually black or dark brown on anterior half. Sternites light brown. Abdomen above and below often with silver pubescence not always visible to naked eye. Tymbals ( Fig. 25). Usually 9 long tymbal ribs, otherwise as for generic description. Genitalia ( Figs. 96, 97). Pygofer brownish orange to dark brown; upper pygofer lobes in lateral view broad, upper margin distinctly curved outwards in central region, lower margin curved upwards near distal end towards an upturned pointed apex, in ventral view angled slightly inwards; basal lobes with a broad webbing fusing 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, apex tapering to a rounded point. Conjunctival claws simple, sharply pointed, directed laterally. Flabellum a large rounded lobe across entire ventral surface. Palearis absent.

Female ( Figs. 11, 52b). Colour and marking similar to male. Abdominal segment 9 brown, tending palest ventrally; dorsal beak dark brown or black. Ovipositor sheath black and clearly extending beyond dorsal beak.

Measurements. n = 1033, 10♀♀ (includes smallest and largest of available specimens). Length of body: male 11.6– 15.8 (13.8); female 13.8–17.1 (15.8). Length of fore wing: male 15.3–20.7 (18.3); female 17.7–20.6 (19.8). Width of head: male 4.6–5.9 (5.1); female 4.9–6.0 (5.4). Width of pronotum: male 4.7–6.0 (5.1); female 4.8–6.1 (5.5).

Distinguishing features. Although T. kauma is confined to Queensland, adults closely resemble T. adela from the Northern Territory and the form of T. castanea found near the Victoria River, Northern Territory. There are, however,

clear differences between these species in male genitalia (compare Figs. 84, 86 and 97). Electrophoretic comparison between castanea and kauma (Serkowski & Moulds, unpub. data) showed a 21% fixed difference, clearly separating these two species; electrophoretic data comparing kauma and adela were not available.

Within the range of T. kauma there can be close resemblance with some individuals of T. ochra and T. burnsi although the latter species may not be sympatric as there is doubt about the identity of the single record falling within the range of kauma . Usually kauma can be distinguished from ochra and burnsi by its smaller size (fore wing length never reaching 22 mm) and by having the fore wing basal cell hyaline. The known distribution of T. castanea approaches close to that of kauma and may be sympatric around Burketown or Normanton. Tryella kauma can be distinguished from castanea using the same characters that distinguish kauma from burnsi .

Distribution ( Fig. 89). Lower Gulf region of Queensland east to near Georgetown. There are records from only Wernadinga Station SE of Burketown, near Normanton, near Croydon and 25 km W of Georgetown. Adults have been taken from mid December to mid January, after heavy summer rains.

Habitat. Adults most likely inhabit eucalypt trees and saplings. Nearly all known specimens have been taken at light. The single specimen from Wernadinga Station was taken in grass but this was most likely an accidental occurrence.

Song. Singing occurs both during the day and especially at dusk.