Yoyetta nigrimontana, Emery, Nathan J., Emery, David L. & Popple, Lindsay W., 2015

Emery, Nathan J., Emery, David L. & Popple, Lindsay W., 2015, A redescription of Yoyetta landsboroughi (Distant) and Y. tristrigata (Goding and Froggatt) (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) and description of four new related species, Zootaxa 3948 (3), pp. 301-341 : 319-323

Yoyetta nigrimontana sp. nov.

( Figures 2 , 4 , 10–12 )

Holotype: ♂ Australia ACT, Frith St Acton, 22.xi.2010, LT2009371, L. W. Popple, D. Emery, 35°16’14”S 149°06’48”E, 716-0001 ( ANIC; Database No. 20-004336).

Paratypes: AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: 1♀ Australia ACT, Frith St Acton, 23.xi.2010, LT2009371, L. W. Popple, 35°16’14”S 149°06’48”E, 716-0004 ( ANIC; Database No. 20-004337); 1♂ Frith St O’Connor, ACT, 35° 16.07S; 149° 06.32E, 22.xi.2010, D. Emery & L. Popple ( DE); 2♂ Australia ACT, Frith St Acton, 22.xi.2010, LT2009371, L. W. Popple, D. Emery, 35°16’14”S 149°06’48”E, 716-0002 to 716-0003; 1♂ Australia ACT, Frith St Acton, 23.xi.2010, LT2009371, L. W. Popple, 35°16’14”S 149°06’48”E, 716-0005; 1♂ same data as previous, 24.xi.2010; 1♀ same data as previous, 8.xii.2010 (all LWP).

Description. Male ( Figures 2 C, 10A–B, 11). Head approximately as wide as to slightly wider than mesonotum; dorsally mainly black, with a thin, brown fascia posterior to ocelli; ocelli pinkish-red; postclypeus dorsally ochraceous with thin brown median fascia, ventral surface black, sometimes with thin medial orangebrown marking and dull brown lateral margins; anteclypeus black; rostrum dark brown, black at apex, reaching anterior edge of hind coxae; lorum dull black; eyes variably dull black to dark brown; antennae black, supraantennal plates black.

Thorax predominantly shiny black. Pronotum dorsally with brown fascia not reaching pronotal collar and with variable narrow ochraceous markings between sutures; pronotal collar black, with dorsolateral proximal margin tending dark brown. Mesonotum black, sometimes with weak dark brown colouration between submedian and lateral sigilla; cruciform elevation black, sometimes with edges and lateral areas brown; metanotum ochraceous to brown, sometimes black centrally.

Legs. Coxae black with orange basal and apical margins; meron 2 distinctly reddish-brown; fore femora with outer side black, inner side orange-brown to pinkish-brown with dark brown marking along centre, orange at joints; mid and hind femora with outer side black, inner side dark brown to brown; fore and mid tibiae black to dark ochraceous, with spines variably dull ochraceous and black at tips; hind tibiae paler brown; tarsi ochraceous to claws, claws ochraceous, black anteriorly.

Wings with fore wing costal veins tending orange-brown with dark brown margins, basal membranes bright orange, with black spot at anterior base, other veins mainly black, with eight apical cells; hind wing plaga with orange brown to pale cream colouration extending broadly along margins, becoming transparent towards apical third, with six apical cells.

Opercula small, spatulate, following body axis ventrolaterally, depressed centrally; black at base, contrastingly brown across remainder; clearly separated. Meracanthus small, narrow, ochraceous, black at base, pointed, overlapping half of opercula.

Timbals ( Figure 2 C) with five distinct long ribs; long ribs 1–4 extending across surrounding membrane and fused dorsally along basal spur; long rib 5 independent of basal spur, comparatively shorter, extending ventrally across half of membrane; large ridged dome on posterior timbal plate extending across two-thirds of timbal; apodeme pit oval-shaped and conspicuous.

Abdomen with tergite 1 mainly black, orange-brown at posterior margins; tergite 2 black with weak dark orange-brown colouration on dorsolateral sides posterior to timbals; tergites 3–6 orange-brown with constrasting black median markings, most pronounced behind anterior margins and becoming slightly diffuse towards posterior margins; tergites 7–8 shiny black, with a small amount of orange-brown colouration on the anterior lateral side of tergite 7. Sternite I black, orange at lateral margins and through tympanal cavity; sternite II black, with orangebrown colouation on lateral posterior margins; sternites III–VI orange-brown; sternite VII orange with weak dark brown marking on median posterior; sternite VIII black, tending dark brown to brown towards apex, with orangebrown, slightly opalescent pubescence.

Genitalia ( Figure 11 ). Pygofer mainly dark brown to black; dorsal beak brown, anal styles yellowish; upper lobe mainly black; basal lobe dark ochraceous to black. Uncus orange-brown; in lateral view beak-like and stumpy; lobes in ventral view bulbous, with rounded lateral termination; claspers clearly divided, with apices gradually tapering laterally. Aedeagus with pseudoparameres not extending as far as theca; theca recurved ventrally at 120° towards apex, with transparent flanges along margin of recurvature, these broadly smooth along dorsal and posterior edges, finely serrated and broadening to> 2x width of theca ventrally, with dorsal ornamentation restricted to termination adjacent to apex of theca; apex short, sclerotised, transparent, spine-like, without ornamentation.

Female ( Figure 10 C–D). Head and thorax similar to male, with areas of slightly pale brown colouration on pronotum between sutures.

Abdomen similar to male; tergites dark orange-brown, with broad, conspicuous, black central markings and dusky lateral posterior edges; tergite 8 black with dull brown to orange-brown central longitudinal fascia, tapering posteriorly and broad, dull brown lateral areas; dorsal beak medium to dark brown. Sternite I mainly black; sternite II black, with orange-brown colouration on lateral posterior margins; sternites III–VII dull yellow-brown to orange- brown; abdominal segment 9 black with brown triangular fascia along midline, apex extending almost to dorsal beak, black laterally with contrasting brown spot. Ovipositor ochraceous, tending to black towards apex, barely extending beyond apex of abdomen. Anal styles brown; ovipositor sheath black.

Measurements (in mm; range with mean in parentheses: five males, two females). Body length: male 16.3– 18.1 (17.0); female 15.9–16.8 (16.4). Fore wing length: male 20.7–22.3 (21.3); female 20.7–23.2 (22.0). Head width: male 4.5–4.9 (4.7); female 4.6–5.0 (4.8). Pronotum width: male 4.1–4.7 (4.4); female 4.1–4.7 (4.4). Abdomen width: male 4.8–5.2 (4.9); female 4.6–4.9 (4.8).

Etymology. A conjunction of two Latin words, nigrus and montanus, which literally translates to Black Mountain. All specimens in the type series of this species have been collected only on the lower slopes of Black Mountain in Canberra.

Distinguishing features. The following combination of characters can be used to distinguish Y. nigrimontana from all other Yoyetta species; (1) Fore wings with basal cells bright orange, (2) thorax mainly black, (3) legs with fore and mid tibiae predominantly black to dark ochraceous, and (4) abdomen predominantly orange-brown. The short, spine-like termination of the theca and dorsal ornamentation at the apical termination of flanges, is also diagnostic by comparison with species that are closely similar in appearance, such as Y. landsboroughi and dark specimens of Y. fluviatilis sp. nov.

Distribution, habitat and behaviour. Known only from specimens taken from the Australia Capital Territory in the vicinity of Black Mountain and recordings obtained from Mt Majura north of Canberra ( Figure 4 ). Populations occur in cool temperate open eucalypt forest and woodland with a grass understorey. Adults sit on the main trunks and upper branches of eucalypts, occasionally also resting on artificial poles. Males call whilst stationary and also in transit. Specimens have been obtained during November and December only.

Calling song. The call structure of this species comprises a simple, repeated short syllable sequence ( Figure 12 ). Each syllable sequence typically contains six to nine syllables (each syllable being 3–5 milli-seconds (ms) duration, two pulses, n = 7 recordings). The syllable repetition rate becomes progressively faster throughout the sequence. The period of silence between the first two syllables typically ranges from 20 to 27 ms duration, and the period of silence between the last two syllables ranges between 5 and 9 ms duration. Each syllable sequence is separated by a period of silence of 400 to 600 ms duration.

The phrase duration for the calling song ranges from 550 to 780 ms. The frequency spectrum of the calling song ranges from 8.5 to 15 kHz, with the highest energy between 9.5 and 13 kHz, and a dominant frequency at approximately 11 kHz ( Figure 12 ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Photos of male left timbals, with dorsal edge at left and posterior margin at bottom: (A) Yoyetta landsboroughi (Distant), St. Marys (33 ° 50 ’ S 150 ° 45 ’ E); (B) Yoyetta fluviatilis sp. nov., Roma (26 ° 33 ’ S 148 ° 47 ’ E); (C) Yoyetta nigrimontana sp. nov., Canberra (35 ° 16 ’ S 149 ° 06 ’ E); (D) Yoyetta tristrigata (Goding & Froggatt), Mt. Molloy (16 ° 40 ’ S 145 ° 19 ’ E); (E) Yoyetta repetens sp. nov., St. Marys (33 ° 50 ’ S 150 ° 45 ’ E); (F) Yoyetta cumberlandi sp nov., Prospect (33 ° 48 ’ S 150 ° 54 ’ E). Scale bars represent 1 mm.

FIGURE 4. Map of central and eastern mainland Australia showing the geographical distribution of Y. landsboroughi (Distant) (open triangles), Y. fluviatilis sp. nov. (closed circles), Y. nigrimontana sp. nov. (open squares), and Y. tristrigata (Goding & Froggatt) (open circles).

FIGURE 10. Yoyetta nigrimontana sp. nov., (A) male holotype, Canberra (35 ° 16 ’ S 149 ° 06 ’ E), dorsal habitus, BL 16.3 mm; (B) male holotype, ventral habitus; (C) female, Canberra, dorsal habitus, BL 16.8 mm; (D), female, ventral habitus.

FIGURE 11. Yoyetta nigrimontana sp. nov., illustration of male pygofer and internal genitalia; (a), viewed laterally from the left; (b), viewed ventrally; (c), aedeagus; and, (d), apex of theca. Characters as depicted in Figure 3. Specimen from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (35 ° 16 ’ S 149 ° 06 ’ E).

FIGURE 12. Male calling song structure of Yoyetta nigrimontana sp. nov., illustrated in waveform plot form. Each lower plot is expanded from the one above, to illustrate the finer temporal structure of each song comparison. The spectrogram at the bottom of the figure displays song frequency. The specimen was recorded in the field on the eastern slopes of Black Mountain in Canberra (35 ° 16 ’ S 149 ° 06 ’ E) by LWP using RS 3 (see Materials and Methods).