Tryella stalkeri ( Distant, 1907 ) Moulds, 2003

Moulds, M. S., 2003, An Appraisal of the Cicadas of the Genus Abricta Stål and Allied Genera (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadidae), Records of the Australian Museum 55, pp. 245-304 : 297-298

Tryella stalkeri ( Distant, 1907) , n.comb.

Figs. 14, 29, 63a–d, 67, 68, 105

Abricta stalkeri Distant, 1907: 415 ; Ashton, 1914: 349; Burns, 1957: 637; Metcalf, 1963: 210; Duffels & van der Laan, 1985: 235; Moulds, 1990: 122, pl. 15, figs. 5, 5a.

Type. Lectotype ♀ here designated and paralectotype 3 (in BMNH) (examined) . Lectotype ♀ (abdomen missing), bearing three labels: (1) “ Nicol Bay / West Australia ” handwritten in india ink; (2) “Distant Coll./1911-383” machine printed; (3) “ Abricta stalkeri Dist ” handwritten in india ink . Paralectotype 3, bearing three labels: (a) “ Alexandria /S. Australia /G.N. stalkeri/1907-261” handwritten in india ink; (b) “ Abricta /stalkeri/Dist./type” handwritten in india ink; (c) a small circular label with red border with “ Type ” machine printed .

Note. The syntype male and female are not conspecific. To fix the identity of this species the female is chosen as lectotype in preference to the male so as to retain the accepted concept of the species. The paralectotype male is a specimen of T. infuscata n.sp.

Material examined. Types and the following: WESTERN AUSTRALIA —1 3, K179962, 1♀, K179963, Fortescue R ., Hamersley Range, no date, W.D. Dodd, H. Ashton Coll.; 13, K179904, 1♀, K179905, De Grey R . crossing, 70 km E of Port Hedland , 6.iii.1984, at light, K. & E. Carnaby; all in AM . 13, Nanutarra Petrol Stn , 47 mi [les] NE of Barradale, 1.vii.1972, dead in spiders web, D. & N. McFarland, in ANIC . 1♀, Fortescue R ., Hamersley Range, W.D. Dodd, in BMNH . 1033 (1 male genitalic preparation no. AB50), 10♀♀, De Grey R . crossing, 70 km E of Port Hedland, 6.iii.1984, at light, K. & E. Carnaby; 1033, 5♀♀, W Peawah River , 90 km SW of Port Hedland, 3.iii.1984, K. & E. Carnaby; 233, 1♀, Millstream, Fortescue River S of Roebourne , 22.ii.1977, MBM ; 1133, 1♀, (13, 1♀, figured “ Aust Cicadas ” pl. 15, fig. 5), Marble Bar , 17,18. ii.1977, MBM ; 22 33 (2 male genitalic preparations Nos AB26, AB47), 4♀♀, Marble Bar , 3.ii.1972, 7.i.1973, 27.ii.1973, 13,18,28. i.1974, 3.i.1975, 1.i.1977, G. R . Jones ; all in MSM . 1033, 2♀♀, Marble Bar , 8.ii.1973, 11.iii.1975, 27,28. xii.1975, 4.i.1976, G. R . Jones; 233, 1♀, Fortescue R ., Hamersley Range, W.D. Dodd; all in SAM . 2♀♀, Dampier , 14.ii.1973, E.M. Exley; all in UQIC . 433, 4♀♀, reg. nos 34303–34310, Roy Hill, creek, i.[19]57, A. Douglas; 1♀, reg. no. 34315, Bamboo Creek , 20°56'S 120°13'E, 22.i.1974, A.M. & M.J. Douglas; 333, reg. nos 34312– 34314, Nullagine , 19–20.i.1974, A.M. & M.J. Douglas; all in WAM .

Description

Male ( Figs. 29, 67, 68, 63a–c). Head. Usually mid to dark brown but on some individuals nearly black, often with a small indistinct ochraceous blotch on midline against posterior margin; postclypeus light to dark ferruginous; anteclypeus similar in colour to postclypeus. Rostrum ochraceous to brown, tending dark or even black towards apex but usually with extreme apex pale; passing bases, but not reaching apices, of hind coxae. Antennae brown to nearly black. Often bearing some silver pubescence, especially below. Thorax. Pronotum often light ochraceous but on some individuals medium to dark ferruginous; occasional specimens with a ferruginous fascia on dorsal midline, this fascia spreading laterally both at its anterior end against pronotal margin as far as eyes, and at its posterior end against pronotal collar; pronotal collar medium to dark brown sometimes tending black but usually paler anterior of lateral angles. Mesonotum medium to dark ferruginous, sometimes with a slightly paler ochraceous area between cruciform elevation and anterior margin which often accentuates an adjacent pair of obconical brown markings based on anterior margin; cruciform elevation similar in colour to that dominating dorsal region of mesonotum. Thorax above often with some silver pubescence; below nearly always with an extensive silver pubescence. Wings. Hyaline. Fore wings always with a zigzag infuscation following basal veins of apical cells 2–4 and usually along the length of vein R1b forming apical cell 1; venation and costa light brown or yellowish; basal cell barely tinted brown; basal membrane similar to venation in colour. Hind wings with an infuscation at distal extremity of vein 2A against wing margin and sometimes also part way along the length of 2A; plaga off white; venation light brown or yellowish. Legs. Light brown to yellowish, without markings. Opercula. Muddy pale yellow to pale brown; almost meeting and barely concealing tympanal cavities; usually covered by fine silver pubescence not always obvious to naked eye. Abdomen. Tergites mid to dark brown, of even or nearly even tone but usually with tergite 2 paler laterally and tergite 8 darkened on posterior half with posterior margin narrowly edged black. Sternites mid to dark brown but often a broad band along midline darkest. Abdomen above and below often with silver pubescence not always obvious to naked eye. Tymbals ( Fig. 29). Usually 10 long tymbal ribs, otherwise as for generic description. Genitalia ( Figs. 67, 68). Pygofer ferruginous; upper pygofer lobes in lateral view very broad at base, gradually tapering to a blunt point or rounded apex, nearly straight, in ventral view angled inwards with division of terminal section not distinct; basal lobes without webbing fusing inner and outer lobes, outer lobe in lateral view like a very long thin finger, gently curved, not quite as long as upper pygofer lobe. Uncal lobes scoop-like and gently upturned at their distal ends; lateral processes of uncus in lateral view broad at base tapering to a thin rounded extremity. Conjunctival claws simple, sharply pointed, directed ventrally. Flabellum absent. Palearis on distal quarter of theca, the proximal end heavily chitinized as a small but prominent rounded lobe.

Female ( Figs. 14, 63d). Colour and markings similar to male. Abdominal segment 9 similar in colour to abdomen, sometimes with dorsal beak darkened or nearly black. Ovipositor sheath usually darker than abdominal segment 9 and sometimes black or nearly so; clearly extending beyond dorsal beak.

Measurements. n = 1033, 10♀♀ (includes smallest and largest of available specimens). Length of body: male 18.1– 21.1 (19.1); female 19.5–23.1 (20.8). Length of fore wing: male 20.4–25.0 (23.1); female 23.6–27.2 (25.3). Width of head: male 5.9–7.0 (6.4); female 6.1–7.5 (6.8). Width of pronotum: male 6.5–7.6 (7.1); female 6.9–8.3 (7.6).

Adult variability. The distinctive light ochraceous pronotum that contrasts with the darker head and mesonotum is found on specimens from all known localities. A darker form, which has the pronotum concolorous with the mesonotum, is known only from a series of specimens taken over a number of years at Marble Bar.

Distinguishing features. This species is most similar to T. noctua and T. occidens . Individuals with a pale pronotum are immediately distinguished by that feature. Individuals of uniform body colour differ from noctua and occidens by lacking black pigmentation on the hind wing adjacent to vein 3A. There is also some similarity to T. crassa but the fore wing infuscation of stalkeri reaches, or very nearly reaches, the top of 3rd ulnar cell whereas that of crassa does not approach anywhere near top of 3rd ulnar cell.

Distribution ( Fig. 105). North-western Western Australia between the De Grey and Ashburton Rivers. There are records from Dampier (= Nickol Bay, type locality), Fortescue River at Millstream and near the Hamersley Rg, the Peawah River, Marble Bar and Nullagine. The species is locally common in some seasons.Adults have been taken from late December to mid March.

Distant (1907) records this species from Alexandria, Northern Territory , but this record almost certainly pertains to T. infuscata n.sp., q. v. Distant’s mention of South Australia in regard to Alexandria stems from the fact that the Northern Territory was at the time under the administration of South Australia.

Habitat. Adults usually inhabit eucalypt trees, especially in the vicinity of watercourses, where the upper branches are often preferred.