Cicadetta cantilatrix Sueur &Puissant, 2007

Hertach, Thomas & Nagel, Peter, 2013, Cicadas in Switzerland: ascientific overview of the historic and current knowledge of apopular taxon (Hemiptera: Cicadidae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 120 (2), pp. 229-269 : 252-253

Cicadetta cantilatrix Sueur &Puissant, 2007

German common name: Honigader-Bergzikade ( Hertach, 2010)

Cicadetta cantilatrix can often be distinguished from C. montana s. str. by a yellow to brown colouration of the basal venation of the fore wing (“Honigader” = honey coloured venation).

DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 9)

C. cantilatrix was described very recently and separated from C. cerdaniensis by acoustic characters (Sueur & Puissant, 2007a). For the acoustic description Sueur & Puissant integrated recordings from Switzerland (Martigny-Combe, VS), but the holotype and paratype were collected in France. The taxon has been discussed critically due to intermediary song patterns observed several times in northern Switzerland ( Hertach, 2007). These intermediary song patterns are now interpreted as courtship songs of C. cantilatrix ( Trilar et al.,2006; Hertach, 2011) which are very close to the calling songs of C. cerdaniensis .Therefore, C. cantilatrix is avalid species ( Hertach, 2011).

It is possible that Bremi (1849) and his German colleague Siebold already knew about this species. There is an older reference to a population in Diegten (BL, Jura Mountains; Artmann, 1987) where the species is still present and frequent. C. cantilatrix is not rare in Switzerland and it is surprising that it was not detected earlier ( Hertach, 2007). It is well distributed in the Jura Mountains including the Randen massif in the east and entering to the eastern part of the hilly Swiss Plateau. We have found 17 local populations solely in the Canton of Aargau, some of them abundant. It also occurs quite regularly in the lower Valais and in the Chablais (VD). The main distribution is split into two big disjunct metapopulations in Switzerland (Jura and Chablais/ Valais). Additionally,there are three supposedly isolated local populations: Immenberg(TG, discovered by Keist), Uetliberg(ZH, discovered by Rey) and Epesses (VD).

ECOLOGY AND THREAT

C. cantilatrix is specialized on sparse Scots Pine forests with a grass-rich understorey on marl (= Molinio-Pinion,see Delarze &Gonseth, 2008) and variable

FIG.9 Distribution map of Cicadetta cantilatrix including solely acoustically checked records.

edges of the forest along extensively used semidry meadows normally with Upright Brome (Bromus erectus)(= Mesobromion,see Delarze &Gonseth, 2008) in the Jura Mountains and in the Chablais and on sparse woods with Downy Oak ( Quercus pubescens )in the Valais ( Hertach, 2007). In contrast to C. montana ,it scarcely occurs on rocky cliffs and ridges. It is a stenoecious species whose abundance is often correlated with nature conservation measures and traditional land use.

Beyond Switzerland, the distribution area is large, but acomparable abundance is not known. It therefore seems that the Swiss responsibility for its conservation is high. As in C. montana s. str., it benefits from recent improvements of suitable habitats ( Hertach, 2007). The very active role of cantonal authorities in thinning out pine forests might create an important positive factor for the current frequency in the Cantons of Aargau and Basel-Land.