Atrapsalta emmotti, Owen & Moulds, 2016

Owen, Christopher L. & Moulds, Max S., 2016, Systematics and Phylogeny of the Australian Cicada Genus Pauropsalta Goding and Froggatt, 1904 and Allied Genera (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadettini), Records of the Australian Museum 68 (4), pp. 117-200 : 170-172

Atrapsalta emmotti n.sp.

Fig. 31 , Pl. 6

Atrapsalta emmotti Owen et al., 2015: 260 , nomen nudum.

Types. Holotype male (genitalia prep. PAU243;molecular voucher 08.AU. QL.JNW.01; GenBank accessions: KM377197 , KM377342 , KM377393 , KM377536 , KM668323 ), Bonniedoon Ck., 13.7 km NW of Winton, Queensland , 22°19.248'S 142°57.817'E, 6.ii.2008, K. Hill, D. Marshall, M. Moulds, C. Owen, M. Humphrey ( AM) . Paratypes —QUEENSLAND: 4♂♂, 4♀♀, Vergemont Ck , “Noonbah”, SW of Longreach, 24°05'21"S 143°07'41"E, 16.iii.2003, A.J. Emmott ( AE) . 8♂♂, 8♀♀, “Noonbah” Stn. , SW of Longreach, 24°04'S 143°11'E, 15.iii.2003, A.J., F.F. & A.M. Emmott ( AJE) . 6♂♂, 6♀♀, Vergemont Ck , “Noonbah”, SW of Longreach, 24°05'21"S 143°07'41"E, 16.iii.2003, A.J. Emmott ( AM) . 4♂♂, 4♀♀, Vergemont Ck , “Noonbah”, SW of Longreach, 24°05'21"S 143°07'41"E, 16.iii.2003, A.J. Emmott ; 2♂♂, 2♀♀, 3 km W. of Bundeena HS SW. of Quilpie QLD, 12.ii.1972, R.C. Lewis ( ANIC) . 4♂♂, 4♀♀, Vergemont Ck , “Noonbah”, SW of Longreach, 24°05'21"S 143°07'41"E, 16.iii.2003, A.J. Emmott ( DE) . 4♂♂, 4♀♀, Vergemont Ck , “Noonbah”, SW of Longreach, 24°05'21"S 143°07'41"E, 16.iii.2003, A.J. Emmott ( JM) . 4♂♂, 4♀♀, Vergemont Ck , “Noonbah”, SW of Longreach, 24°05'21"S 143°07'41"E, 16.iii.2003, A.J. Emmott ( JO) . 4♂♂, 4♀♀, Vergemont Ck , “Noonbah”, SW of Longreach, 24°05'21"S 143°07'41"E, 16.iii.2003, A.J. Emmott ; 1♂, 1♀, Birdsville Developmental Road , 25°41'37"S 141°10'39"E, 14.i.2007, L. Popple, J. Hereward, 425-0001 to 425-0002 ; 2♂♂, Diamantina River , Birdsville, 25°54'01"S 139°21'15"E, 14–15.i.2007, L. Popple, J. Hereward, 425-0003 to 425-0004 ( LP) . 62♂♂, 56♀♀, “Noonbah” Stn. , SW of Longreach, 24°04'S 143°11'E, 15.iii.2003, A.J., F.F. & A.M. Emmott ; 1♀, Vergemont Ck , “Noonbah”, SW of Longreach, 24°05.3'S 143°08.8'E, 8.ii.2004, A.J. Emmott & P. Kleinschmidt ; 54♂♂, 49♀♀, Vergemont Ck , “Noonbah”, SW of Longreach, 24°05'21"S 143°07'41"E, 16.iii.2003, A.J. Emmott ; 1♂ (genitalia prep. PAU411, molecular voucher 08.AU. QL.JNW.02), Bonniedoon Ck. , 13.7 km NW of Winton, 22°19.248'S 142°57.817'E, 6.ii.2008, K. Hill, D. Marshall, M. Moulds, C. Owen, M. Humphrey ; 3♂♂ (one genitalia prep.PAU412), 2♀♀, Windorah , 15.i.2002, Cooley, Cowan, Hill, Marshall & Moulds ; 1♂ (genitalia prep. PAU410), Cooper Ck. , nr Windorah, 25°22.283'S 142°44.669' E, 140 m, 14.i.2002, Cooley, Hill, Marshall, Cowan, Moulds ; 1♂ (molecular voucher 08.AU. QL.MTC.11), 48 km, E of Middleton , 121 km W of Winton, Kennedy Dev. Rd., 22°16.187'S 141°56.299'E, 28.ii.2008, Hill, Marshall, Moulds, Owen & Humphrey ; 1♂, nr junct. Plenty Hwy and Urandangi Rd, 22°16.245'S 137°55.915'E, K. Hill & D. Marshall ( MSM) . 4♂♂, 4♀♀, Vergemont Ck , “Noonbah”, SW of Longreach, 24°05'21"S 143°07'41"E, 16.iii.2003, A.J. Emmott ( NHM) . 4♂♂, 4♀♀, Vergemont Ck , “Noonbah”, SW of Longreach, 24°05'21"S 143°07'41"E, 16.iii.2003, A.J. Emmott ( PH) . 6♂♂, 6♀♀, Vergemont Ck , “Noonbah”, SW of Longreach, 24°05'21"S 143°07'41"E, 16.iii.2003, A.J. Emmott ( QM) . 4♂♂, 4♀♀, Vergemont Ck , “Noonbah”, SW of Longreach, 24°05'21"S 143°07'41"E, 16.iii.2003, A.J. Emmott ( WAM) .SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 4♂♂ (one genitalia prep.PAU413), 3♀♀, Innamincka , 27°45.110'S 140°43.830'E, 56 m, 17.i.2002, Cooley, Cowan, Hill, Marshall & Moulds ( MSM) .

Distribution ( Fig. 31 ). Western Queensland and far northeastern South Australia, along the Thomson River, Diamantina River, Bulloo River, Cooper Creek, and their tributaries. The most northern records are from near Winton, Queensland (on the Western River), and near Middleton (on the Diamantina River) some 150 km due west of Winton. The most southern record is from Innamincka on Cooper Creek in South Australia. There are records from mid January to mid March but most specimens have been taken mid March. Emergence seems to follow good summer/early autumn rains. Under favourable conditions populations can be immense.

Habitat. Favoured trees are coolabah, Eucalyptus coolabah , and River Gum, E. camaldulensis , growing along permanent or semi permanent water courses. Adults tend to prefer the upper branches of tall trees although they will inhabit lower branches and even small eucalypts when populations are very high.

Description

Male (Pl. 6). Head slightly wider than pronotal collar across lateral margins; dominantly black. Vertex with muddy yellow spot at posterior midline. Postclypeus black with pale yellow markings; usually a pale yellow spot on midline around most anterior portion; lateral margins and sometimes posterior margins pale yellow; transverse ridges and central groove distinct. Anteclypeus jet black. Rostrum black, sometimes brown proximally, reaching to or almost to apices of hind coxae. Antennae black. Supra-antennal plates black with a pale yellow margin variable in extent.

Thorax. Pronotum black, with pale yellow markings; usually anterior margin edged pale yellow, variable in extent; fascia along midline pale yellow, variable in length; a pale yellow marking dorsally abutting and/or on anterior margin of pronotal collar and often broken at midline; pronotal collar and lateral angles black with posterior margin pale yellow or orange yellow; lateral margin of pronotal collar not, or barely, ampliate. Mesonotum primarily black usually with pale yellow or almost white markings; the posterior rim from cruciform elevation to wing bases entirely pale yellow or almost white; usually a pale yellow marking on either side of midline from, or near, anterior arms or the cruciform elevation to, or almost to, pronotum between lateral and submedian sigilla, this marking sometimes projecting inwards to varying degrees around its mid length; cruciform elevation pale yellow to muddy yellow with a black fascia along midline, anterior arms usually partly black, sometimes muddy yellow proximally, area between anterior arms black, posterior arms pale yellow to orange yellow, edged black along and between posterior arms. Metanotum black at hind wing base, remainder pale yellow, sometimes black near dorsal midline.

Legs. Fore legs black to dark brown; femora black with a pale yellow fascia along anterior length; femora with spines black, sometimes brown distally; tibiae and tarsi black to dark brown; pretarsal claws black or brown, often with yellow near bases. Mid and hind legs mostly black and pale yellow; coxae with proximal margin edged pale yellow; femora black; mid leg tibiae black; hind leg tibiae and tarsi pale yellow. Meracanthus mostly black, with distal end and lateral exterior pale yellow.

Wings. Hyaline. Fore wing with fused stem of veins M and CuA complete, the veins fused as one; venation brown; basal membrane almost white or pale grey to pale brown. Hind wing with 5 apical cells; venation brown except for pale yellowish brown 2A and 3A; plaga muddy white to pale brown; black infuscation on wing margin at distal end of vein 2A and across much of posterior margin of anal lobe.

Opercula. For the most part not reaching distal margin of tympanal cavity; widely separated; flat other than a low rounded swelling of epimeron 3; mostly black with distal margin pale yellow or muddy yellow.

Timbals with four long ribs spanning the width of timbal membrane and one much shorter anterior rib terminating level with upper end of adjacent intercalary rib.

Abdomen. Tending triangular in cross section with epipleurites reflexed inwards from junction with tergites. Tergites dominantly black with posterior margins brownish red or yellow to varying degrees; tergite 1 black. Sternite I yellowish brown to black; sternites II–VII black, sometimes with lateral sides and posterior margin pale yellow to varying degrees; sternite VIII muddy yellow, sometimes partly pale brown.

Genitalia ( Fig. 31 ). Pygofer upper lobe wide and long, blinker-shaped, ventral apex bluntly hook-shaped, dorsal apex broadly rounded. Secondary basal pygofer lobe small, in ventral view evenly rounded, turned inwards slightly; basal lobe an inner peg-like projection above the secondary basal pygofer lobe. Median lobe of uncus wider than long with a broad rounded apex. Claspers claw-like, very short, apically turned outwards, slightly concave below. Aedeagus with pseudoparameres a little longer than endotheca, slender, distally flattened in cross section, lying immediately above endotheca in lateral view, in dorsal view parallel to each other but distally curved outwards. Endotheca slightly curved, parallel sided, circular in cross-section, apex circular and finely serrated laterally and ventrally.

Female (Pl. 6). Similar to male. Abdominal segment 9 pale yellow to brown with anterior margin edged black and a black fascia along midline from anterior margin to, or almost to, caudal beak; a black spot mid laterally each side. Ovipositor sheath extending some 0.5–1.0 mm beyond apex of abdomen; dark brown to black.

Measurements. Range and mean (in mm) for 10♂♂ and 10♀♀; includes smallest and largest of available specimens. Length of body: male 13.6–16.7 (15.2); female 14.3–17.1 (15.9). Length of fore wing: male 15.9–19.2 (17.9); female 17.5–21.0 (19.2). Width of fore wing: male 5.5–6.6 (6.0); female 6.0–7.0 (6.5). Ratio length/width of fore wing: male 2.9–3.1 (3.0); female 2.9–3.0 (3.0). Width of head (including eyes): male 4.2–5.0 (4.7); female 4.6–5.5 (5.0). Width of pronotum (across lateral angles): male 4.2–5.2 (4.7); female 4.7–5.6 (5.1).

Distinguishing features

Distinguished from all other species of Pauropsalta and allied genera (i.e. those species with an infuscation on the hind wing margin at the distal end of vein 2A) in having the following combination of characters. Fore wing veins M and CuA completely fused as one (not closely abutted, view under magnification); 5 apical cells in the hind wing; and a mesonotum with a pale yellow or nearly white posterior rim between cruciform elevation and wing bases.

The male genitalia are unique in having an aedeagus with the following combination of attributes. An endotheca with a simple, square-cut apex that is minutely spined around most of its circular perimeter, and pseudoparameres that lye immediately above the endotheca with only their distal half or less flattened.

Etymology. Named after Angus Emmott of Noonbah Station who has collected most of the known specimens and whose knowledge of western Queensland cicadas has contributed significantly to our understanding of these insects.

Song ( Fig. 31 ). The song is composed of a series of echemes and clicks. Usually two clicks precede each echeme. Each echeme is about 1 s or less in length. Phrases occur at a rate of between 1 and 2 per second. The frequency of the song extends between 5 kHz and 20 kHz with the dominant frequency occurring between 5 kHz and 14 kHz.

Figures

Figure 31. Atrapsalta emmotti n.sp. (A) male genitalia, lateral view (genitalia prep PAU 320); (B) male genitalia, ventral view (genitalia prep PAU 320); (C) waveform of male calling song recorded from Cooper Creek, near Windorah, QLD; (D) spectrogram of male calling song; (E) species distribution map.