Myopsalta xerograsidia, Popple, 2017

Popple, Lindsay W., 2017, A revision of the Myopsalta crucifera (Ashton) species group (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadettini) with 14 new species from mainland Australia, Zootaxa 4340 (1), pp. 1-98 : 87-93

Myopsalta xerograsidia n. sp.

( Figs 1P , 21H , 22O, 22P , 28 , 34 , 35 ; Plate 16 )

Cicadetta sp. nr crucifera: Ewart, 1998b: 135 –137, Fig. 1 , Fig. 2 .

Cicadetta sp. nr crucifera Fishing Reel Buzzer ; 291: Popple & Strange, 2002: 21, 22, 26, 29, Fig. 3C , Fig. 7A , Table 1. Cicadetta sp. H Fishing Reel Buzzer; 291: Ewart, 2009: 140–142, 150, 168, Fig. 1 , Fig. 16 , Plate 1 . Myopsalta sp. nr crucifera ( Ewart, 1998b) : Sanborn, 2014: 584.

Myopsalta sp. nr crucifera Fishing Reel Buzzer ( Popple & Strange, 2002) : Sanborn, 2014: 584. Undesc. Genus, sp. ‘pale grass cicada’: Marshall and Hill, 2009: 4, 5, 7, 8, Table 2, Figure 6 .

Types. Holotype: ♂ 4.3 km W. of Cloncurry River , 20°43.11'S 140°27.11'E , 4.ii.1999, A. Ewart, QM Reg. No. T 239573 (QM); Paratypes: QUEENSLAND: 1♂ Charters Towers , N.Q. , 18.iii.1932, A. Marshall, K65439 (AM); 1♂ 1♀ Yellow Gin Creek, 18 km SE. of Home Hill , 19.49°S 147.29°E, 24–25.iv.1981, A. Calder; 1♂ Isaac River , 62 miles NNE. of Clermont, 27.iii.1962, Chinnick & Corby; 1♂ Bowen , 13.iii.1958, T. Campbell ( ANIC); 1♂ Sybella Creek , 20°53'S 139°27'E, 400 m, 2.iii.2002, C.J. Burwell, sweeping; 1♀ 10.1 km E. of Cloncurry , 20°43.33'S 140°37.47'E, 23.i.2000, A. Ewart, shrubland/grassland; 1♂ Laura River xing, S. of Laura , 15.577°S 144.456°E, 37357, 85 m, 12.iii.2017, L. W. Popple, hand netting, open woodld, QM reg. no. T236514; 1♀ Bonnyglen Station , from Spring Ck to Mulligan Hwy, 15.929°S 144.693°E to 16.014°S 144.810°E, 37457, 13.iii.2017, E. Leijs, truck trap, QM Reg. No. T 236573 (QM); 4♂ 2♀ Musselbrook area , border waterhole, 18°36.73'S 137°59.43'E, 19.iv.1995, exotic grasses; 1♀ N. Stockyard Ck, Musselbrook , 18°26'43''S 137°14'12''E, 18.ix.1995, exotic grasses; 1♂ 1 km from Plantation Creek , Ayr, 19°32.11'S 147°30.06'E, 9.ii.1998; 1♂ same data as previous , 11.ii.1998; 2♂ same data as previous , 9.ii.1999; 1♂ Plantation Creek , near boat landing, Ayr, 19°32.11'S 147°30.04'E, 2.ii.2006, A. Ewart, grassland; 1♀ Ayr , 2.i.1981, sand pit; 1♀ Groper Creek settlement, Home Hill , 11.ii.1998; 1♂ 1♀ Flagstaff Hill, Bowen, 12.ii.1998, grass, recorded; 1♂ Flagstaff Hill, Bowen, 20°00.88'S 148°15.96'E, 26.ii.2000, A. Ewart, grass; 2♂ same data as previous , 22.ii.2003; 2♂ same data as holotype ; 1♂ 11 km E. of Cloncurry , 20°43.41'S 140°37.47'E , 4.ii.1999, A. Ewart; 2♂ 2.2 km W. of Lynd / Mount Surprise road junction via Georgetown , 18°08.59'S 144°47.57'E, 31.i.2002, A. Ewart, grass; 2♂ Plantation Creek , ~ 1 km from boat landing, Ayr, 19°32.12'S 147°30.01'E, 23.ii.2000, A. Ewart, grassland; 3♂ Macrossan Bridge, 22 km NE. of Charters Towers , 20°00.35'S 146°26.33'E, 28.i.2000, A. Ewart, grass; 2♂ Noonbah homestead exit road , 24°06.32'S 143°11.12'E, 7.ii.2009, A. Ewart; 1♀ Noonbah homestead , 24°06.44'S 143°11.14'E, 8.ii.2009, A. Emmott & A. Ewart, gidyea; 6♂ 10.1 km E. of Cloncurry , 20°43.33'S 140°37.47'E, 23.i.2000, A. Ewart, shrubland/ grassland; 2♂ Rotary Park S. of Ayr , 19°53.20'S 147°24.06'E, 25.ii.2000, A. Ewart; 1♂ 1 km SW. of Alva Beach near Ayr , 19°27.72'S 147°28.58'E, 25.ii.2000, A. Ewart; 1♂ 1♀ 4.2 km W. Normanton / Cloncurry rds, Cloncurry , 20°43.06'S 140°27.10'E, 24.i.2000, A. Ewart; 1♂ Paradise Park, 15 km SSE. of Charters Towers , 20°11.75'S 146°17.99'E, 6.ii.1999, A. Ewart, grass; 1♂ Blackall , iii.1979; 2♂ 3♀ Blackall , ii.1979, after rains, buffel grass; 3♂ 1♀ Peak Downs Highway, Nebo, 10.iii.1984; 1♂ Plantation Creek , Ayr, 19°32.12'S 147°30.01'E, A. Ewart, I Rattray; 1♂ 9.3 km NW. of Blackall , 24°23.29'S 145°23.59'E; 19.i.2000, A. Ewart; 1♂ Lynd Highway, 1 km N. of Hann Creek , 22 km N. of Charters Towers, 19°53.42'S 146°12.50'E, 28.i.2000, A. Ewart; 1♂ 54.6 km W. of Clermont / Hughenden [ Gregory / Flinders Highway ] road junction, SW. side of Charters Towers , 20°17.55'S 145°46.16'E. 4.ii.2006, A. Ewart, grassland; 4♂ Macrossan Park, Burdekin River , ~ 25 km NE. of Charters Towers, 20°00.18'S 146°26.35'E, 3.ii.2002, A. Ewart, grass; 1♂ 56.5 km NW. of Hann Creek near Charters Towers , 19°39.99'S 145°46.48'E, 23.ii.2003, A. Ewart, grass; 1♀ 6.7 km WNW. of Greenvale , 18°59.75'S 144°55.34'E, 24.ii.2003, A. Ewart; 1♂ 44 km S. of Dajarra , 20°04.29'S 139°36.67'E, 20.i.2002, A. Ewart, grass along creek; 1♂ 20 km N. of Cloncurry (Normanton Road), Tommy Creek , 20°32.61'S 140°24.97'E, 25.i.2002, A. Ewart, woodland; 1♂ 18 km E. of Mount Isa , 20°42.34'S 139°39.58'E. 24.i.2002, A. Ewart, grass, open woodland; 1♂ 23 km W. of Longreach , 23°14.54'S 144°06.39'E, 17.i.2002, A. Ewart, grass; 2♂ Flagstaff Hill summit area, Bowen , 20°00.93'S 148°15.97'E, 9.ii.2006, A. Ewart; 1♂ Torrens Creek township , 20°46.20'S 145°01.12'E, 4.ii.2006; A. Ewart, grassland; 1♂ 1♀ 5.5 km S. of Mount Surprise / Lynd road junction , 18°11.46'S 144°48.12'E, 25.ii.2003, A. Ewart; 1♂ 47.1 km E. of Mount Surprise , 18°09.05'S 144°43.87'E, 19.i.2005, A. Ewart, grass; 1♂ 28.5 km E. of Mount Surprise , 18°06.94'S 144°33.73'E, 28.ii.2003, A. Ewart, grass; 1♂ 24.8 km E. of Mount Surprise , 18°21.10'S 144°45.81'E, 19.i.2005, A. Ewart, grass; 1♀ Greenvale Caravan Park , 19°00.06'S 144°59.01'E, 23.ii.2003, A. Ewart; 1♂ 39.5 km WNW. of Greenvale, (11.9 km SE. of Lynd Junction ) , 18°56.73'S 144°38.68'E, [no date], grass; 3♂ 1♀ 24.8 km south of Mount Surprise / Lynd road junction , 18°21.10'S 144°45.81'E, 19.i.2005, A. Ewart; 1♂ 0.5 km W. of Wyseby / Rewan road junction , 24°58.25'S 148°31.42'E, 16.i.2005, A. Ewart, grass; 1♂ Moranbah , 21°59'S 148°01'E, ii.2014, C. Date (AE); 1♂ AU.QL.COE, 25 km E. of Camooweal , 19°56.628'S 138°21.320'E, 267 m, 29.i.2006, Hill, Marshall, Moulds; 1♀ AU.QL.BCS, ~ 51 km S. of Belyando Crossing , 262 m , 21°55.557'S 147°2.776'E, 27.ii.2009, K. Hill, D. Marshall; 1♂ AU.QL. MOG, 28 km E. of Moonie , 27°33.165'S 150°35.846'E, 338 m, 2.i.2009, Hill, Marshall, Moulds, Owen; 1♂ Selwyn Mine, 160 km SE. of Mt Isa , 16.iii.1993, J. Vanbruggen, T. Woodger; 1♂ same data as previous , 19.ii.1993; 1♂ AU.QL.EMX, Anakie, 44 km W. of Emerald , 23°32.846'S 147°43.882'E , 28.i. 2009, 253 m, K. Hill & D. Marshall; 1♀ 18°09'S 144°37'E, 5 km SW. Hwy 1 & Undara Rd on Undara Rd , 730 m, 28.i.2011, D.CF. Rentz, B. Richardson, Stop 4; 72♂ 18♀ Torrens Creek Township , 90 km E. of Hughenden, 3.ii.1981, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 1♂ Mt Garnet , 26.ii.1993, S. Lamond; 13♂ 6♀ nr Forty Mile Scrub at Mt Surprise Road Jtn , 17.i.1986, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 9♂ 35km E. of Mt Surprise , 17.i.1986, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 1♂ 1♀ 60 km E. of Hughenden , 4.ii.1981, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 17♂ 4♀ Bee Ck, 25 km S.W. of Nebo , 6.ii.1981, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 30♂ 18♀ 60 km NE. of Clermont , 7.ii.1981, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 22♂ 7 ♀ 70 km NE. of Clermont , 2.iii.1982, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 1♂ 1♀ 20 km N. of Capella , 19.iii.1982, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 1♂ Disney Stn, near Belyando R. S. of Charters Towers , 21.xii.1983, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 3♂ St Margaret’s Ck, approx. 20 mi S. Townville , 1.ii.1973, A. & M. Walford-Huggins; 1♀ Townsville Qld , 10.ii.1980, S.J. Johnson 1♂ 1♀ Mount Surprise , 10.iii.1993, S. Lamond; 1♂ Waverley Rest Area nr St Lawrence , 26.xii.1993, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 1♀ 1 km W. of Mourangee Hsd nr Edungalba , on tree trunk , 17.xi.1984, E.E. Adams; 4♀ Richmond , xii.2000, T. Woodger; 4♂ AU.QL.POL, Porcupine Gorge lookout, N. of Hughenden , 20°24.635'S 144°26.166'E, 8.ii.2010, K. Hill & D. Marshall ( MSM); NORTHERN TERRITORY: 1♂ 22.5 km E. of Alice Springs, Ross Highway, near Jessie Gap Nature Reserve , 23°46.24'S 134°03.66'E, 17.xii.2005, A. Ewart (QM); 1♂ ~ 8 km W. of Alice Springs, Larapinta Drive, 23°41.91'S 133°48.04'E, 16.xii.2005, A. Ewart; 6 km W. Tanami Des. Rd, Stuart Hwy jct., (20 km N. of Alice Springs ) , 23°33.16'S 133°48.81'E (AE); 1♂ AU.NT. STC, 60 km S. of Tennant Creek , 20°10.932'S 134°13.125'E, 388 m, 31.i.2006, Hill, Marshall, Moulds; 1♂ AU.NT.AIR, 9.4 km NNW. of Larrimah , 15°29.585'S 133°11.371'E, 194 m, 2.ii.2006, Hill, Marshall, Moulds; 1♂ AU.NT. ASE,~ 20 km E. of Alice Springs , 23°45.183'S 134°01.776'E, 28.i. 2010, 526 m, Hill, Marshall, Moulds; 1♂ AU.NT.RSB, Ross Hwy, ~ 60 km E. of Alice Springs , 23°37.831'S 134°17.718'E, 29.i.2010, Hill, Marshall, Moulds; 1♂ Alice Springs , 24.i.1984, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 1♀ Tilmouth Well, Napperby Creek , 22°48'40''S 132°35'40''E , 31.i.2001, M.S. & B. J. Moulds ( MSM); WESTERN AUSTRALIA:; 1♂ 19km NNW. of Kununurra W.A., nr Buttons Gap , 15.37°S 128.41°E, 8.v.1983, D.CF. Rentz, & J. Balderson ( ANIC); 1♂ AU.WA.GPG, 90 km WNW. of Fitzroy Crossing , 7.ii.2006, 17°57.276'S 124°49.365'S, Hill Marshall, Moulds; 1♀ AU.WA.HCC, Duncan Rd, 12 km S. of Halls Creek , 6.ii. 2006, 380 m, 18°15.019'S 127°45.135'E, Hill, Marshall, Moulds; 1♂ AU.WA. GRS, 45 km S. of Gascoyne River , ~ 146 km NNE. of Meekatharra, 25°35.579'S 119°14.173'E, 18.ii. 2009, 545 m, K. Hill & D. Marshall (MSM).

Etymology. A feminine, Latinised, compound adjective composed of the Greek words xeros, meaning ‘dry’, and grasídi, meaning ‘grass’, referring to the dry grassland habitat that this species occupies.

Description. Male. ( Figs 1P , 21H , 22O, 22P ; Plates 16A–C ).

Head: Postclypeus predominantly black, brown to dark brown surrounding lateral and ventral margins, with a brown to dark brown spot medially, sometimes extending on to median dorsal area; supra-antennal plates black, brown to dark brown on margins; genae black; mandibular plates black, diffuse dull brown to dark brown centrally, with silver pubescence; vertex and frons variably pale brown to almost completely black, often pale brown to brown laterally, especially adjacent to compound eyes; ocelli pink; compound eyes brown; anteclypeus pale brown to black; rostrum brown, dark brown apically, extending to posterior margins of mid coxae; antennae brown to dark brown.

Thorax: Pronotum brown to pale brown, sometimes with mottled dark brown to black colouration surrounding paramedian and lateral fissures and on lateral margins; central fascia brown to pale brown, surrounded with black colouration, which broadens conspicuously towards anterior pronotal margin; pronotal collar mostly brown to pale brown, sometimes tending dark brown to black anteriorly, and typically dark brown to black on lateral angles; metanotum dark brown; mesonotum brown or pale brown; submedian sigilla black, or occasionally dark brown; lateral sigilla dark brown to black with diffuse reddish-brown or pale brown areas; cruciform elevation and wing grooves pale brown, sometimes dark brown anteriorly; posterior third of mesonotum with dense fine and sparse long silver pubescence.

Wings: Fore wings hyaline; basal cells predominantly light grey to grey, occasionally with yellow-brown intrusions; pterostigmata pale brown to diffuse orange-red; costal veins pale brown; other veins pale brown to brown, darker distally. Hind wing plagas and jugal folds translucent, cream to grey, hyaline apically; veins pale brown throughout.

Legs: Fore coxae entirely pale brown, or with anterior outer sides brown and posterior sides pale brown with dark brown longitudinal markings; mid and hind coxae pale brown, sometimes with dark brown markings on anterior and posterior sides; meracantha spikes pale brown to brown, often dark brown basally, overlapping opercula; fore femora pale brown with brown to dark brown longitudinal markings on outer anterior and sometimes posterior sides; mid and hind femora pale brown to brown, with brown to dark brown longitudinal markings on dorsal sides, pale brown apically; fore tibiae brown with pale brown areas, or entirely dark brown; mid and hind tibiae pale brown, sometimes with narrow brown to dark brown longitudinal markings; fore tarsi brown; mid and hind tarsi pale brown; pretarsi brown to dark brown; claws pale brown, darker apically.

Opercula ( Fig. 1P ): Broadly rounded; pale brown; plates undulating with medial areas slightly depressed.

Timbals ( Fig. 21H ): Anterior rib 5 vestigial; rib 4 abbreviated, with a prominent isolated remnant extension ventrally; ribs 1 and 2 joined ventrally and fused dorsally to basal spur; anterior termination of basal spur fused with ribs 3–4, with rib unattached; prominent intercalary short ribs in medial areas between ribs 1 and 2, 2 and 3, and 3 and 4 (three in total).

Abdomen: Tergite 1 dark brown; tergite 2 wider along dorsal midline than tergites 3 to 7; tergite 2 entirely dark brown, or dark brown with brown to pale brown dorso-lateral areas extending to the posterior margin; tergites 3 to 7 entirely dark brown or brown to pale brown with dark brown medial areas, narrowing and becoming diffuse towards posterior margins; tergite 8 entirely dark brown, or dark brown with brown to pale brown dorso-lateral areas extending to the posterior margin; tergites 2 to 8 with dense short silver pubescence on dorso-lateral sides and with extensive long and short silver pubescence on lateral sides; intersegmental membranes pale yellow-brown; epipleurites pale brown to brown, often darker anteriorly, with sparse silver pubescence; sternite II black laterally, tending pale brown ventro-laterally, with a dark brown area medially; sternites III to VI pale brown with variable brown to dark brown areas medially, sometimes diffuse; sternite VII dark brown, typically with pale brown to brown lateral and posterior margins; sternite VIII dark brown, paler apically; anterior sternites visible in lateral view.

Genitalia ( Figs 22O, P ): Pygofer dark brown to black; upper lobes in ventral view relatively linear, with terminals directed dorsally and apically acute; basal lobes mildly swollen anteriorly and laterally; median lobe of uncus rounded, protruding gradually; claspers in ventral view conspicuous, diverging from point of downward deflection, with sharply developed apices; pseudoparameres projecting further (ventrally) than endotheca and ventral support; ventral support acute, projecting slightly beyond endotheca; endotheca fleshy.

Female ( Plate 16D ). Head matches description of male.

Thorax: Pronotum pale brown; central fascia pale brown, surrounded with a narrow area of dark brown to black colouration, which broadens towards anterior pronotal margin; pronotal collar mostly pale brown, tending dark brown on margins of lateral angles; metanotum dark brown; mesonotum pale brown; submedian sigilla brown to black, sometimes pale brown over posterior half; lateral sigilla pale brown to dark brown, typically with diffuse pale brown areas throughout; cruciform elevation and wing grooves pale brown; posterior third of mesonotum with dense fine and sparse long silver pubescence.

Wings: Fore wings hyaline; basal cells light grey, rarely with a scattering of orange; pterostigmata pale greybrown with diffuse orange intrusions; veins, including costal vein, pale brown, tending brown distally. Hind wing plagas and jugal folds translucent, cream, hyaline apically; veins pale brown throughout.

Legs: Fore coxae pale brown; mid and hind coxae pale brown, sometimes with brown markings on anterior sides; meracantha spikes pale brown to brown, often dark brown basally, overlapping opercula; fore femora pale brown with brown to dark brown longitudinal markings on inner and sometimes outer anterior sides; mid and hind femora pale brown to brown, with brown to dark brown longitudinal markings on anterior sides, pale brown apically; fore tibiae brown with pale brown areas; mid and hind tibiae pale brown; fore tarsi pale brown to brown; mid and hind tarsi pale brown; pretarsi brown to dark brown; claws pale brown, darker apically.

Abdomen: Tergite 1 brown to dark brown; tergites 2 to 8 pale brown, with brown to dark brown areas medially, broader on anterior half and tending reddish-brown on posterior half, narrowing towards posterior margin; auditory capsules dark brown to black; abdominal segment 9 pale brown, with dark brown dorso-lateral longitudinal markings; dorsal beak dark brown, sharply defined; sternite II pale brown; epipleurites pale brown; sternites III to VI pale brown with narrow brown to dark brown areas medially, broadening posteriorly; sternite VII pale brown; ovipositor sheath extends approximately 2.7–4.5 mm beyond termination of abdominal segment 9.

Measurements. N= 15♂ 15♀. Ranges and means (in parentheses), mm; BL: ♂ 12.1–14.9 (13.6); ♀ 17.5–21.1 (19.0). FWL: ♂ 13.2–16.9 (15.4); ♀ 16.3–20.6 (17.9). HW: ♂ 3.5–4.3 (4.0); ♀ 4.0–4.5 (4.2). PW: ♂ 3.5–4.4 (4.0); ♀ 4.1–4.9 (4.4). AW: ♂ 4.0–4.8 (4.5); ♀ 4.0–5.0 (4.6). FWL/W: ♂ 2.49–2.89 (2.70); ♀ 2.55–3.08 (2.80). OL: ♀ 8.4–10.9 (9.8).

Morphological distinguishing features. Myopsalta xerograsidia n. sp. can be distinguished from all other species in the genus apart from M. atrata , M. binotata , M. chrysopedia n. sp., M. coolahensis , M. gordoni n. sp., M. lactea , M. libritor , M. parvula n. sp. and M. waterhousei by the colour of the basal membranes of the fore wings, which is mainly white to pale grey (cf. pale brown or pale orange). It can be distinguished from M. binotata , M. coolahensis , M. lactea , M. libritor and M. waterhousei by having completely hyaline fore wings (including the basal cells). Males and females can be separated from M. chrysopedia n. sp. by having a head width <4.6 mm. Males can be separated from M. atrata by the colouration of the posterior margins of the tergites and also the lateral edges of the sternites, which is pale brown rather than orange. They can be differentiated from the superficially similar M. gordoni n. sp. by the colour of sternite VII, which is dark brown centrally with contrasting pale brown margins (cf. uniform dark brown to black in M. gordoni n. sp.). They can be separated from M. parvula n. sp. by the colouration on the lateral halves of sternites III–V, which is predominantly pale brown rather than almost exclusively dark brown. Females can be separated from M. atrata and M. parvula n. sp. by the long ovipositor sheath, which extends 3.0– 4.5 mm beyond the termination of abdominal segment 9 (cf. <0.5 mm in M. atrata ). They can be distinguished from the similar M. gordoni n. sp. by the colouration of the lateral edges of the sternites, which is pale brown rather than reddish-brown.

Distribution, habitat and behaviour ( Fig. 28 ). Myopsalta xerograsidia is the most widespread species in the genus, being found from southern Queensland ( Surat) north to drier coastal and subhumid inland areas to Cape York and west to through much of the Northern Territory (though avoiding the humid Top End and the arid far south) to the Kimberley region, with an isolated population in the Pilbara of Western Australia. Populations occur in open grassland, grassy woodland, roadsides and river channels where the adults are typically found on low vegetation, particularly in grass. Adults have been encountered between September and May.

Calling song ( Figs 34 , 35 ). This species exhibits a high-pitched, ‘reeling’ song, with a distinct build-up and variable phrase duration. Each phrase is composed of an introductory syllable or syllable sequence followed by a series of 2–10 subphrases (all statistics, n =62 recordings). On infrequent occasions only a single subphrase is produced. The introductory syllable sequence contains a series of 1–10 (rarely up to 18) syllables (0.005– 0.011 s duration) separated by successively decreasing gaps (0.005– 0.057 s duration), with a total duration of 0.014– 0.354 s. In some instances, the introductory syllable sequence is omitted and the phrase commences abruptly the first subphrase. Each subphrase comprises a long echeme (0.043– 0.152 s) followed by a long syllable sequence with gaps of 0.004– 0.017 s between each syllable and a total duration of 0.080– 0.695 s. The final subphrase of each phrase typically exhibits a more condensed syllable sequence, with gaps between each syllable of 0.002– 0.020 s and an extended total duration of 0.096– 2.559 s. This is followed by a gap of 0.012– 0.041 s, a short echeme of 0.019– 0.052 s and a longer gap of 0.023– 0.161 s duration. It is expected that the female would respond during the long gap following the short echeme; however this interactions has not yet been recorded in this species. Occasionally, the gap at the end of the final subphrase is interrupted by an additional syllable.

The calling song is produced with a persistent level of amplitude throughout. It also maintains an even frequency distribution, without apparent modulation, exhibiting a high amplitude plateau within the bounds of 11.6 and 17.8 kHz, typically 12.1–16.2 kHz.

The song recordings of this species show remarkably consistent structure considering the widespread distribution of this cicada, a phenomenon noted for some other arid zone cicadas including Arenopsaltria nubivena (Walker) ( Ewart et al., 2015a) and Simona erema Ewart, Popple and Marshall (Ewart et al., 2015b) . The most notable anomaly is present in the recordings from near Alice Springs, which differ in that the syllable sequences within each subphrase exhibit successively decreasing gaps between each syllable. This trait is not present in the recordings from populations further to the east.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Photographs of male right opercula. (A) Myopsalta albiventris n. sp., Mt Moffatt (25 ° 12 ' S 148 ° 59 ' E); (B) M. bassiana n. sp., Acton (35 ° 16 ' S 149 ° 07 ' E); (C) M. chrysopedia n. sp., Lake Douglas (30 ° 52 ' S 121 ° 24 ' E); (D) M. crucifera (Ashton), Plantation Creek, Ayr (19 ° 32 ' S 147 ° 30 ' E); (E) M. gordoni n. sp., 82 km N. of St George (27 ° 23 ' S 148 ° 52 ' E); (F) M. leona n. sp., Expedition Range NP (25 ° 12 ' S 148 ° 59 ' E); (G) M. longicauda n. sp., Mt Moffatt (24 ° 58 ' Sx 148 ° 00 ' E); (H) M. mackinlayi (Distant), Boonah Road turnoff west of Ipswich (27 ° 40 ' S 152 ° 44 ' E); (I) Myopsalta majurae n. sp., Mt Majura – Mt Ainslie (34 ° 15 ' S 149 ° 11 ' E); (J) M. melanobasis n. sp., 14.6 km W. of Drillham Creek (26 ° 39 ' S 149 ° 50 ' E); (K) M. parvula n. sp., Acton (35 ° 16 ' S 149 ° 07 ' E); (L) M. platyptera n. sp., Brigalow Research Station (24 ° 49 ' S 149 ° 45 ' E); (M) M. riverina n. sp., 33 km SSW. of Rankins Springs (33 ° 55 ' S 145 ° 56 ' E); (N) M. septa n. sp., Tannymorel (28 ° 19 ' S 152 ° 08 ' E); (O) M. umbra n. sp., Hurdle Gully (24 ° 55 ' Sx 151 ° 00 ' E); (P) M. xerograsidia n. sp., Plantation Creek, Ayr (19 ° 32 ' S 147 ° 30 ' E). Scale bars = 1 mm.

PLATE 1. Myopsalta albiventris n. sp.: (A) male holotype, Expedition Range (24 ° 38 ' Sx 149 ° 00 ' E), dorsal view; (B) male holotype, ventral view; (C) female paratype, Mt Moffatt (24 ° 55 ' S 148 ° 03 ' E), dorsal view.

FIGURE 2. Photographs of male left timbals, with dorsal edge at right and posterior margin at bottom. (A) Myopsalta albiventris n. sp., Mt Moffatt (25 ° 12 ' S 148 ° 59 ' E); (B) M. bassiana n. sp., Acton (35 ° 16 ' S 149 ° 07 ' E); (C) M. chrysopedia n. sp., Lake Douglas (30 ° 52 ' S 121 ° 24 ' E); (D) M. crucifera (Ashton), Woodgate (25 ° 06 ' S 152 ° 33 ' E); (E) M. gordoni n. sp., 82 km N. of St George (27 ° 23 ' S 148 ° 52 ' E); (F) M. leona n. sp., 4 km W. of Binjour (25 ° 32 ' S 151 ° 26 ' E); (G) M. longicauda n. sp., Expedition Range (24 ° 38 ' Sx 149 ° 00 ' E); (H) M. mackinlayi (Distant), Boomer Range (23 ° 12 ' S 149 ° 45 ' E).

FIGURE 3. Photographs of male pygofer, viewed laterally from left and ventrally. Myopsalta albiventris n. sp., Mt Moffatt (25 ° 12 ' S 148 ° 59 ' E), (A) lateral, (B) ventral; M. bassiana n. sp., Acton (35 ° 16 ' S 149 ° 07 ' E), (C) lateral, (D) ventral; M. chrysopedia n. sp., Kalgoorlie (30 ° 45 ' S 121 ° 28 ' E), (E) lateral, (F) ventral; M. crucifera (Ashton), Woodgate (25 ° 06 ' S 152 ° 33 ' E), (G) lateral, (H) ventral; M. gordoni n. sp., 82 km N. of St George (27 ° 23 ' S 148 ° 52 ' E), (I) lateral, (J) ventral; M. leona n. sp., 4 km W. of Binjour (25 ° 32 ' S 151 ° 26 ' E), (K) lateral, (L) ventral; M. longicauda n. sp., Expedition Range (24 ° 38 ' Sx 149 ° 00 ' E), (M) lateral, (N) ventral; M. mackinlayi (Distant), Boomer Range (23 ° 12 ' S 149 ° 45 ' E), (O) lateral, (P) ventral.

FIGURE 6. Wave plots illustrating the calling song of Myopsalta albiventris n. sp. from four different locations, including (A) Maroon Dam (28 ° 10 ' S 152 ° 39 ' E), (B) Mt Moffatt (24 ° 52 ' S 148 ° 01 ' E), (C) Carnarvon Gorge (25 ° 04 ' S 148 ° 15 ' E), and (D) Robinson Gorge (25 ° 13 ' S 148 ° 59 ' E). Recordings were obtained by the author using RS 2 (A) and RS 1 (B), and by A. Ewart using RS 3 (C, D) (see Methods).

FIGURE 7. Male calling song structure of Myopsalta bassiana n. sp. from a recording obtained at Acton (35 ° 16 ' S 149 ° 07 ' E) by the author using RS 5 (see Methods). (A) Wave plot of two complete phrases, each containing a sequence of discrete syllables that condenses into a long echeme, which builds in amplitude before ending abruptly and being followed by a short echeme or macrosyllable. (B) Expanded wave plot showing the structure of the latter half of a phrase, including the conspicuous amplitude modulation of the long echeme and the short echeme that follows. (C) Spectrogram showing the highest amplitude frequency plateau and dominant frequency.

PLATE 16. Myopsalta xerograsidia n. sp.: (A) male paratype, 22.5 km E. of Alice Springs (23 ° 46 ' S 134 ° 04 ' E), dorsal view; (B) male holotype, 4.3 km W. of Cloncurry River (20 ° 43 ' S 140 ° 27 ' E), dorsal view; (C) male holotype, ventral view; (D) female, 10.1 km E. of Cloncurry (20 ° 44 ' S 140 ° 38 ' E), dorsal view.

FIGURE 16. Wave plots illustrating the calling song of Myopsalta longicauda n. sp. from four different locations, including (A) Possum Park (26 ° 30 ' S 150 ° 06 ' E), (B) Myall Park (27 ° 12 ' S 149 ° 39 ' E), (C) Geham (23 ° 23 ' S 152 ° 01 ' E), and (D) 8 km E. of Stockinbingal (23 ° 30 ' S 147 ° 59 ' E). Recordings were obtained by the author using RS 1 (A, C), RS 2 (B) and RS 5 (D) (see Methods).

FIGURE 21. Photographs of male left timbals, with dorsal edge at right and posterior margin at bottom. (A) Myopsalta majurae n. sp., Mt Majura – Mt Ainslie (34 ° 15 ' S 149 ° 11 ' E); (B) M. melanobasis n. sp., 14.6 km W. of Drillham Creek (26 ° 39 ' S 149 ° 50 ' E); (C) M. parvula n. sp., Acton (35 ° 16 ' S 149 ° 07 ' E); (D) M. platyptera n. sp., Brigalow Research Station (24 ° 49 ' S 149 ° 45 ' E); (E) M. riverina n. sp., 33 km SSW. of Rankins Springs (33 ° 55 ' S 145 ° 56 ' E); (F) M. septa n. sp., Tannymorel (28 ° 19 ' S 152 ° 08 ' E); (G) M. umbra n. sp., Binjour Plateau (25 ° 32 ' Sx 152 ° 30 ' E); (H) M. xerograsidia n. sp., 4.3 km W. of Cloncurry River (20 ° 43 ' S 140 ° 27 ' E).

FIGURE 22. Photographs of male pygofer, viewed laterally from left and ventrally. Myopsalta majurae n. sp., Mt Majura – Mt Ainslie (34 ° 15 ' S 149 ° 11 ' E), (A) lateral, (B) ventral; M. melanobasis n. sp., 14.6 km W. of Drillham Creek (26 ° 39 ' S 149 ° 50 ' E), (C) lateral, (D) ventral; M. parvula n. sp., Acton (35 ° 16 ' S 149 ° 07 ' E), (E) lateral, (F) ventral; M. platyptera n. sp., Brigalow Research Station (24 ° 49 ' S 149 ° 45 ' E), (G) lateral, (H) ventral; M. riverina n. sp., 33 km SSW. of Rankins Springs (33 ° 55 ' S 145 ° 56 ' E), (I) lateral, (J) ventral; M. septa n. sp., Tannymorel (28 ° 19 ' S 152 ° 08 ' E), (K) lateral, (L) ventral; M. umbra n. sp., Binjour Plateau (25 ° 32 ' Sx 152 ° 30 ' E), (M) lateral, (N) ventral; M. xerograsidia n. sp., 4.3 km W. of Cloncurry River (20 ° 43 ' S 140 ° 27 ' E), (O) lateral, (P) ventral.

FIGURE 28. Map of mainland Australia showing the geographical distributions of Myopsalta riverina n. sp. in New South Wales, M. septa n. sp. in Queensland and New South Wales, M. umbra n. sp. in Queensland, and M. xerograsidia n. sp. in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Large symbols represent specimen records and smaller symbols denote audio recordings or aural observations.

FIGURE 34. Male calling song structure of Myopsalta xerograsidia n. sp. from a recording obtained at 4.3 km W. of Cloncurry River (20 ° 43 ' S 140 ° 27 ' E) by A. Ewart using RS 3 (see Methods). (A) Wave plot of two complete phrases, each containing four subphrases followed by a short echeme. (B) Expanded wave plot showing the detailed structure of the introductory subphrase. (C) Expanded wave plot showing the detailed structure of the final subphrase followed by the short echeme. (D) Spectrogram showing the highest amplitude frequency plateau and dominant frequency.

FIGURE 35. Wave plots illustrating the calling song of Myopsalta xerograsidia n. sp. from six different locations, including (A) Laura River (15 ° 35 ' S 144 ° 27 ' E), (B) Herberton (17 ° 21 ' S 145 ° 25 ' E), (C) Musselbrook (18 ° 37 ' S 137 ° 59 ' E), (D) 8 km W. of Alice Springs (23 ° 42 ' S 133 ° 48 ' E), (E) Cravens Peak (23 ° 10 ' S 138 ° 14 ' E), and (F) Surat (27 ° 09 ' S 149 ° 04 ' E). Recordings were obtained by the author using RS 1 (B), RS 2 (F) and RS 6 (A), and by A. Ewart using RS 3 (C) and RS 4 (D, E) (see Methods).