Cicadetta sp.

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 : 253-254

Cicadetta sp. aff. cerdaniensis Puissant &Boulard, 2000

TAXONOMY

Cicadetta cerdaniensis was described recently as an endemic species from the Pyrenees (Puissant &Boulard, 2000). A taxon with avery similar song pattern occurs in Italy and the southernmost parts of Switzerland ( Hertach, 2007; Trilar &Hertach, 2008; Hertach, 2011; Hertach &Pollini Paltrinieri, 2012). During the last years we have gathered much data on acoustic, morphologic and genetic characters and the spatial distribution from many locations across the whole range of this taxon. This will allow abetter taxonomic understanding.

DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 10)

The Swiss distribution of C.sp. aff. cerdaniensis is well known. In the Lugano region, the species is the most common representative of the C. montana complex but there are only nine local populations. The Monte San Giorgio (TI) population is one of the most numerous of the Alps (up to 50 singers). Additionally the species was found north of Monte Ceneri (TI) three times with isolated singers (Castaneda, GR, Juillerat, pers. comm.; Gudo, TI; Tegna, TI). The location in Castaneda (Mesocco Valley,GR) might be areproductively viable population.

ECOLOGY AND THREAT

Cicadetta sp. aff. cerdaniensis is specialized on sunny and sparsely vegetated woodland (Orno-Ostryon) and semidry meadows with shrubs or forest edges in Switzerland. Similar to C. cantilatrix ,this species prefers low trees and bushes when singing. Almost all habitats are situated on calcareous soils.

The species probably already suffered in the Celto-Latin period, when early settlers transformed open deciduous woodland into forests of European Chestnut (Castanea sativa)(e.g. Hegg et al., 1993). A serious decline may have taken place after the abandonment of semidry meadows and the expansion of settlement areas in the last century. These last two adverse processes have been mitigated but not stopped by nature conservation measures and stricter land use planning regulations. C. sp. aff. cerdaniensis is endangered in Switzerland.