Tryella rubra (Goding & Froggatt, 1904) 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 : 295-297

Tryella rubra (Goding & Froggatt, 1904) , n.comb.

Figs. 13, 28, 62a–e, 79, 80, 104

Tibicen ruber Goding & Froggatt, 1904: 600–601 ; Hahn, 1962: 11; Stevens & Carver, 1986: 265.

Abricta ruber Distant, 1905b: 281 ; Distant, 1906: 130; Kirkaldy, 1907b: 308; Ashton, 1914: 349.

Abricta elseyi Distant, 1905b: 281 ; Distant, 1906: 130; Kirkaldy, 1907a: 16; Burns, 1957: 636; Metcalf, 1963: 207; Duffels & van der Laan, 1985: 234.

Abricta rubra Burns, 1957: 637 ; Metcalf, 1963: 209–210; Duffels & van der Laan, 1985: 235; Moulds, 1990: 121.

Types

(a) Tibicen ruber Goding & Froggatt. Lectotype male, designated by Moulds (1990), King’s Sound (in ANIC, “on permanent loan from MM”). Examined.

(b) Abricta elseyi Distant. Syntype bearing four labels: (i) small blue grey circular label handwritten in black ink “north/austral”; (ii) white rectangular label handwritten in black ink Abricta / elseyi /Dist./type”; (iii) small white circular label with red border on which is machine-printed “Type”; (iv) small white circular label with blue border on which is machine-printed “SYN-/TYPE” (in BMNH).

Examined.

Distant (1905b) did not designate a holotype or state the number of specimens examined. While it is probable that he had only the one specimen listed above, following Recommendation 73F of the Code the specimen is retained as a syntype.

Material examined. Types and the following: WESTERN AUSTRALIA — 1 ♀, Broome , 29.xii.1985, MBM ; 1♀, Broome, 3.i.1990, A. Hay; 1♀, Fitzroy River crossing, Derby-Broome road, 3 xi.1978, MBM ; 233, 1♀, Fitzroy River, S of Derby, 7.ii.1989, S. Lamond; 13, Derby , 10.ii.1977, MBM ; 633 (1 male genitalic preparation no. AB51), 2♀♀, 28 km S of Derby , 31.xii.1985, MBM ; 233, 1♀, 21 km W of Penticost R . x-ing, Gibb R . Road , 30.xii.1991, MBM ; 13, Telegraph Ck , 25 km N of Turkey Creek township, eastern Kimberleys, 3.i.1986, MBM ; 933, 3 female, Kununurra , 7.i.1986, 27.xii.1991, 1.i.1992, MBM ; 333, 2♀♀, Kimberley Research Stn., near Kununurra , 7.i.1986, MBM ; all in MSM. NORTHERN TERRITORY —1 3, 2♀♀, Waterhouse River, Mataranka Hsd , 24.xii.1986, MBM ; all in AE. 233, K179899 and K179900, 3♀♀, K179901–K179903, Waterhouse River, Mataranka Hsd , 24.xii.1986, MBM ; all in AM. 13, 2♀♀, Waterhouse River, Mataranka Hsd , 24.xii.1986, MBM ; all in ANIC. 13, 2♀♀, Waterhouse River, Mataranka Hsd , 24.xii.1986, MBM ; all in BMNH. 13, 2♀♀, Waterhouse River, Mataranka Hsd , 24.xii.1986, MBM ; all in JO. 13, 2♀♀, Waterhouse River, Mataranka Hsd , 24.xii.1986, MBM ; all in LP. 13, 2♀♀, Waterhouse River, Mataranka Hsd , 24.xii.1986, MBM ; all in MNHP. 1133, 3♀♀, Keep River x-ing, Victoria Hwy , 7.i.1986, MBM ; 233, West Baines R ., Victoria Hwy , 8.i.1986, MBM ; 13, 100 km WSW of Timber Creek , 6.ii.1977, MBM ; 433, 6♀♀, Victoria R ., 18 km W of Timber Creek township , 25.xii.1991, MBM ; 13, Timber Creek, Victoria Hwy , 8.i.1986, MBM ; 233 (one male genitalic preparation no. AB52), 1♀, 16 km W of Victoria River x-ing, Victoria Hwy, nr Fitzroy Rg , 9.i.1986, MBM ; 13, old “Oolloo” x-ing, Daly R , 27.xi.1996, K.A. Kopestonsky; 1333 (2 male genitalic preparations Nos AB91, AB92), 12♀♀, Stuart Park, Darwin , 3,7,9. ii.1991, 5,9,27. xi.1991, 10.xii.1991 10,13,18,23,24,25,26,27. i.1992, 1,3. ii.1992, D.N. Wilson; 13 (genitalic preparation no. AB43), 1♀, Darwin , mid. xi.1983, R . Wood; 233, Berry Springs, 28.x.1993, 19.xi.1993, G.A. Husband; 1♀, Sth Alligator Riv., Arnhem Hwy, 11.xii.1981, A. Walford-Huggins; 13, 1♀ Springvale Stn, 12 km W of Katherine, 8.xii.1982, A. Walford-Huggins; 1633 (one male genitalic preparation no. AB44), (one male figured “Aust. Cicadas” pl. 15, fig. 1), 4 ♀♀, Mainoru , ENE of Katherine, 22.xi.1981, 14.xii.1982, A. Walford-Huggins; 333, Koongarra , [nr Mt Broc kman], 29.xi.1978, at light, R . I. Storey; 6933 (5 male genitalic preparations Nos AB 53, AB74, AB75, AB76, AB77), 117♀♀, Waterhouse River, Mataranka Hsd , 9,10. i.1986, 23,24,25. xii.1986, 2.i.1987, MBM ; 13, 1♀, Coolibah Ck , WNW of Top Springs 16°26'S 131°39'E, 24.xii.1991, MBM ; 13, 27 km N of Daly Waters , 11.i.1986, MBM ; 13, 1♀, 20 km E of Borroloola , 23.xii.1991, MBM ; 533 (one male genitalic preparation no. AB93), Borroloola , 23.xii.1991, MBM ; all in MSM. 13, 2♀♀, Waterhouse River, Mataranka Hsd , 23.xii.1986, MBM ; all in QM. 1♀, Katherine , xii.1957, J. Wren, Collection A.N. Burns, in MV . 13, Katherine , 29.x.1975, G. Gow & P. Horner, in NTM . 2♀♀, Coomalie Ck , 27 km N Adelaide R ., 28.ix.1977, G.F. Gross, J.A. Forrest; 1♀, Coomalie Ck, 50 km S Darwin, 28.ix.1977, G.F. Gross; 13, Groote Eylandt, (no date), N.B. Tindale; 13, 30 mi E Darwin , (no date), G.F. Hill; all in SAM . 3♀♀, 8 km NE by N of Mt Cahill , 12°48'S 132°44'E, 26.xi.1974, R . I. Storey; all in UQIC . 13, 2♀♀, Waterhouse River, Mataranka Hsd , 23.xii.1986, MBM ; all in WAM.

Description

Male ( Figs. 28, 62a,c, 79, 80). Head. Black with postclypeus ferruginous but some individuals almost entirely brown (the latter always black behind eyes and nearly always around ocelli). Often with a pale muddy-yellow blotch middorsally against posterior margin, this blotch never extending further than median ocellus. Anteclypeus ferruginous, reaching but not extending beyond their apices. Rostrum usually black dorsally and brown ventrally but sometimes almost entirely black or brown; reaching apices of hind coxae. Antennae often brown or partially so on basal segments 1 and 2, otherwise black. Head (excluding eyes and ocelli) usually covered to some extent with silver pubescence, especially so on underside. Thorax. Usually covered to some extent, sometimes substantially, with silver pubescence. Pronotum light to medium ferruginous and nearly always with a distinct pale muddyyellow middorsal fascia that is slightly expanded against pronotal collar; pronotal collar dark brown to almost black. Mesonotum ferruginous, usually a little darker than pronotum; sometimes pale dorsally highlighting a pair of dark subconical markings based on anterior margin; cruciform elevation coloured similar to majority of dorsal surface. Thorax below ferruginous. Wings. Hyaline. Fore wings with or without dark brown infuscations, if present then confined to base of apical cell 2, and sometimes 3, and principally on cross veins, also sometimes in basal area of apical cell 1; venation brown with costa tending pale especially to node; basal cell weakly tinted translucent amber; basal membrane pale orange-brown but sometimes suffused grey, rarely orange; costa and veins on basal third or so sometimes bearing a little silver pubescence not always obvious to the naked eye. Hind wings with a heavy black infuscation on margin at distal end of vein 2A, often also with a less intense extension along margin of anal lobe no further than vein 3A, and rarely following along veins 2A and 3A; plaga yellowish white; under magnification majority of hind wing veins pale yellow with much of ambient vein blackish. Legs. Medium to light ferruginous; without markings. Opercula. Usually unicolourous, variable between individuals from light muddy-yellow to dark ferruginous; almost meeting and extending a little beyond tympanal cavities; normally covered by fine silver pubescence not always obvious to naked eye. Abdomen. Tergites ferruginous and usually bearing some silver pubescence. Sternites similar in colour to tergites, sometimes sternite II muddy-yellow, occasionally some other sternites with a pale muddy-yellow posterior margin. Tymbals ( Fig. 28). Usually 10–11 long tymbal ribs, otherwise as for generic description. Genitalia ( Figs. 79, 80). Pygofer dark ferruginous to mid brown, usually dark dorsally; upper pygofer lobe in lateral view straight, parallel-sided for most of length with rounded apex, in ventral view angled inwards from near base; basal lobes with outer and inner lobes of similar length and entirely fused by a broad webbing, in lateral view outer lobe tapering to a point confluent with webbing. Uncal lobes scoop-like and gently upturned at their distal ends; lateral processes of uncus in lateral view small and rounded. Conjunctival claws simple, sharply pointed, directed ventrally. Flabellum absent. Palearis absent.

Female ( Figs. 13, 62b,d,e). Colour and markings similar to those of male. Abdominal segment 9 ferruginous brown, occasionally with a little black suffusion. Ovipositor sheath ferruginous brown to black.

Measurements. n = 1033, 10♀♀ (includes smallest and largest of available specimens). Length of body: male 16.3– 22.2 (19.0); female 17.6–22.3 (20.5). Length of fore wing: male 23.8–28.8 (26.0); female 23.6–29.6 (27.4). Width of head: male 6.6–8.4 (7.3); female 6.8–8.5 (7.7). Width of pronotum: male 6.6–8.8 (7.5); female 7.0–9.2 (8.1).

Adult variability. Individuals of rubra with heads entirely brown (excluding teneral individuals) tend to be smaller than average; all seven known specimens from the Borroloola district, NT, show this character but have typical rubra male genitalia. Other specimens, with entirely brown heads are known from Koongarra (just south of Jabiru) and from near Darwin, NT.

Distinguishing features. Typical individuals can be distinguished from other Tryella species by the pale mid dorsal pronotal stripe and black head. Atypical individuals can have either character absent but never both. Determination of such specimens can be obtained from the Key to species. The species most similar in overall appearance to T. rubra is Aleeta curvicosta which is readily distinguished on size, rubra never attaining a fore wing length of 31 mm and curvicosta always with a fore wing length exceeding 32 mm.

Distribution ( Fig. 104). Northern Western Australia and the Top End of the Northern Territory from Broome to Borroloola. A lack of records from the inner Kimberley region and Arnhem Land is almost certainly an artifact of inadequate collecting.

It is sometimes a common species, but populations tend to rise and fall rapidly. Usually it is common around Kununurra, Western Australia, and I once encountered enormous numbers at Mataranka Homestead on the Waterhouse River, Northern Territory. Adults have been taken from late September to mid February but appear to be most common during late December and early January following the first summer rains.

Habitat. Adults inhabit eucalypts and other trees, usually growing in the vicinity of water courses. The upper branches are usually preferred so that adults are often beyond arm’s reach.

Song. A vigorous and continuous rolling hiss-like sound sung both during the day and at dusk. Although groups of males sing together they do not sing in chorus. Males are capable of calling the morning following emergence. An analysis of the song is currently under study (Moulds, in prep.).