Quesada gigas ( Olivier, 1790 )

Sanborn, Allen F., 2020, The cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of Peru including the description of twenty-four new species, three new synonymies, and thirty-seven new records, Zootaxa 4785 (1), pp. 1-129 : 46-47

Quesada gigas ( Olivier, 1790)

Cicada gigas Olivier 1790: 750 . (Java).

Cicada triupsilon Walker 1850: 103 . (Unknown collection locality)

Cicada sonans Walker 1850: 104 . (Unknown collection locality)

Cicada consonans Walker 1850: 106 . (West Coast of America)

Cicada vibrans Walker 1850: 107 . (Unknown collection locality)

Tympanoterpes sibilarix Berg 1879: 141 .

REMARKS. The type locality of Java is a mistake. The species is found over most of the New World ( Sanborn 2011a, b; 2013; 2014a; 2018b; 2019b; Sanborn & Heath 2014; 2017).

Quesada gigas is one of the largest of Peruvian cicadas. Body lengths up to 45 mm and wingspans of 120 mm have been reported for the species ( Sanborn & Heath 2017). The body is tawny marked with piceous, the male abdomen is widest at segments 3 and 4, and the male timbal covers recurve along the posterior timbal cavity forming a ribbon-like structure posterior to the timbals with a small triangular extension laterally. The pure-tone song sounds like a whistle and is primarily produced at dawn and dusk. The species is able to remain active without access to solar radiation through endothermic heat production to maintain body temperature ( Sanborn et al. 1995b). The lack of infuscation on the proximal and distal radius anterior 2, proximal median vein 1, medial crossvein and mediocubital crossvein of the fore wing quickly distinguish it from Q. sodalis ( Walker, 1850) .

DISTRIBUTION. This species may have the most extensive north to south range of any cicada species ranging from southern Texas to central Argentina. It has been reported from as far south as central Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Antilles, the West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, extending to the southern United States ( Metcalf 1963a; Duffels & van der Laan 1985; Maccagnan & Martinelli 2011; Sanborn 2011b; 2013; 2014a; 2018b; 2019b; Maccagnan et al. 2014; 2017; Monteiro et al. 2014; Sanborn & Heath 2014; Reis et al. 2015; Oliveira et al. 2017). Jacobi (1951) reported the species from Satipo, Peru. Pogue (1996) reported the species from Pakitza and Tambopata.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. “ PERU: San Martin Dept. / Moyabamba, vic. / Ecológico “Rumipata” / 13–18-X-2012 J. E. Eger // S 06º 04’32.0”, W / 076º 58’ 07.5” 970 / m, MV & UV Light ” one male and one female ( FSCA); “ PERU: San Martin Dept. / Tarapoto , vic. Cordillera / Escalera Lodge , 432 m / 11–13-X-2012 J. E. Eger // S 06º 28’08.1” / W 076º 21’16.4” / MV & UV Light ” four males and one female ( FSCA); “ Peru, Yurimaguas / nr. Huallaga riv. / VIII. 1988; S. Hoagland ” one male ( AFSC).