Atrapsalta furcilla, Owen & Moulds, 2016

Owen, Christopher L. & Moulds, Max S., 2016, Systematics and Phylogeny of the Australian Cicada Genus Pauropsalta Goding and Froggatt, 1904 and Allied Genera (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadettini), Records of the Australian Museum 68 (4), pp. 117-200 : 173-175

Atrapsalta furcilla n.sp.

Fig. 33

Pauropsalta sp. nr, collina / encaustica Haywood, 2006: 52–56 .

Atrapsalta furcilla Owen et al., 2015: 261 , nomen nudum.

Types. Holotype male (molecular voucher 11.AU.TS.FTN.01; genitalia prep 514), NW of Fern Tree on Huon Rd, SW edge of Hobart , 201 m, 42°54.070'S 147°17.628'E, 21.i.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ( AM) . Paratypes — NEW SOUTH WALES: 1♂, Cuumbean Nature Reserve , 35°21'34"S 149°15'59"E, 5.xii.2009, L. Popple, S12588 , 418-0013 ; 1♂, Granite hill in Grenfell district , recorded, 33°51'03"S 148°06'21"E, 31.x.2009, L. W. Popple, 418-0001 ; 1♂, c. 3 km SE. of Captains Flat , 35°36'23"S 149°27'57"E, 5.xii.2009, Low shrubs, L.W. Popple, 418-0014 ; 2♂♂, Frith St, Acton , 35°16'14"S 149°06'48"E, 22.xi.2010. LT2009371, L. W. Popple, D. Emery, 418-0016 to 418-0017 ( LP) . AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: 8♂♂, 2♀♀, Crown land (nr Jaeger Cct) Bruce , 35°15'09"S 149°05'00"E, 3.xi.2009, LT2009371, L.W.Popple,418-0003 to 418-0012 ; 1♂ Dryandra St, O’Connor , 35°15'33"S 149°06'37"E, 1.xi.2009, LT2009371, L. W. Popple, E. rossii , 418-0002 ; 1♂, Piccadilly Circus, Brindabella Range , 35°21'37"S 146°47'59"E, 28.xii.2009. L. W. Popple, 415-0014, LT2009371 ; 1♀, Frith St, Acton , 35°16'14"S 149°06'48"E, 7.xii.2010, LT2009371, L.W.Popple,418-0018 ; 1♀, Mt Majura Nature Res , 35°13'47"S 149°10'16"E, 11.xii.2010, LT2009371, L.W.Popple, 418-0019 ; 1♂, Cooma, 18 km ESE, Tom Groggin Rd , 36°20'47"S 148°13'57"E, 10.xii.2010, L. W. Popple, 418-0020 ( LP) . VICTORIA: 5♂♂ (one genitalia prep.PAU 257, 4 molecular vouchers 06.AU.VI.NCC.01, 06.AU. VI.NCC.02, 06.AU.VI.NCC.03, 06.AU.VI.NCC.06; GenBank accessions: KM377128 , KM377334 , KM377501 , KM668270 ), 12.6 km S of Hwy 1 on road to Cape Conran , 28 m, 37°47.889'S 148°43.904'E, 23.xi.2006, D. Marshall, K. Hill ; 1♂ (molecular voucher 06.AU.VI.GRD.01), c. 25.5 km N of Dunkeid, Grampians National Park , 297 m, 37°27.300'S 142°26.548'E, 1.xii.2006, D. Marshall, K. Hill ; 1♂ (genitalia prep.520, molecular voucher 06.AU.VI.BAY.01), E of Linton , c. 28 km SW of Ballarat, 4.xii.2006, 37°40.978'S 143°36.377'E, 413 m, D. Marshall, K. Hill ; 1♂, Brisbane Ranges , 11.i.2004, Stephen Smith ; 1♂, c. 5 km E of Hedley on B440, 9 m, 38°38.026' S 146°33.304'E, 5.xii.2006, D. Marshall, K. Hill ; 1♂ (molecular voucher 06.AU.VI.OMS.01), 8.8 km S of Omeo on road to Bruthen , 730 m, 37°09.551'S 147°39.067'E, 24.xi.2006, D. Marshall, K. Hill ( MSM and AM) ; 1♀, Killawarra, Warby Range , 7.xi.1978, M.S. Harvey ( ANIC) . TASMANIA: 1♂ (molecular voucher 11.AU.TS.POD.03), 8 km SW of Poatina on Poatina Rd , 345 m, 41°48.167'S 146°56.979'E, 23.i.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ; 1♂ (molecular voucher 11.AU.TS.BRS.01), Bridport Rd, 12 km S of Bridport, 3 km NW of Jetsonville , 103 m, 41°06.470'S 147°27.648'E, 24.i.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ; 1♂ (molecular voucher 11.AU.TS.WPR.01), SW of Marrawah, West Point Rd , 2.2 km W of Arthur River Rd, 40°56.196'S 144°38.938'E, 64 m, 19.i.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ; 2♂♂ (one genitalia prep. PAU 515, 2 molecular vouchers 11.AU.TS.WHI.01, 11.AU.TS.WHI.02), Jct Whites Rd & Bass Hwy , 2 km ESE of Montumana, 198 km, 40°57.348'S 145°32.277'E, 19.i.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ; 1♂ (molecular voucher 11.AU.TS.SCS.04), 4.2 km SE of St Marys on Elephant Pass Rd , 306 m, 41°36.501'S 148°12.742'E, 24.i.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ; 1♂ (molecular voucher 11.AU.TS.OUS.01), NW of Hamilton , 6 km NW of Ouse on Lyell Hwy, 247 m, 42°26.508'S 146°39.810'E, 26.i.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ; 1♂ (molecular voucher 11.AU.TS.CLE.01), 2.7 km, NW of Cleveland on Midland Hwy , 202 m, 41°47.152'S 147°22.846'E, 23.i.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ; 1♂ (molecular voucher 11.AU.TS.FTN.05), NW of Fern Tree on Huon Rd, SW edge of Hobart , 201 m, 42°54.070'S 147°17.628'E, 21.i.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ( MSM and AM) .

Distribution ( Fig. 33 ). Far southeastern corner of South Australia between Gum Lagoon and Glencoe ( Haywood 2006), Australian Capital Territory and adjacent localities in New South Wales, in Victoria west to the Grampians and east to Omeo and Orbost, and in Tasmania where it is widely distributed throughout much of the State except the far southwest. The scattered records through Victoria suggest that it may be more widespread than is currently known. Adults have been taken from late October to late January.

Habitat. Eucalypt woodland where adults inhabit trees of various heights, sometimes low down but often high up.

Description

Male. Head wider than lateral margins of pronotal collar; dominantly black usually with muddy yellow or pale yellow spot at posterior midline. Postclypeus black with light brownish red or pale yellow markings; sometimes a brownish red spot on midline around most anterior portion; usually posterior and lateral margins brownish red or pale yellow; transverse ridges and central groove distinct. Anteclypeus jet black. Rostrum dark brown tending black distally, reaching to or slightly beyond apices of mid coxae. Antennae black. Supra-antennal plates black.

Thorax. Pronotum black, usually with brownish red or dull yellow markings; sometimes a fascia along midline brownish red or dull yellow, extending from near head towards pronotal collar to varying degrees; pronotal collar between lateral angles black, posterior margin usually edged brownish red to varying degrees, lateral margin of pronotal collar not ampliate. Mesonotum primarily black with brownish red markings; occasionally a brownish red marking on either side following parapsidal suture variable in length, sometimes extending near anterior arms of cruciform elevation; lower lateral area usually edged brownish red to varying degrees; cruciform elevation brownish red to dull yellow, occasionally all black, with black fascia along midline and black between arms to varying extent, anterior arms tending black distally, posterior arms sometimes partly black. Metanotum black at hind wing base, remainder dull yellow, brownish red or orange.

Legs. Fore legs mostly black with red or pale yellow markings; femora black except for pale yellow or red fascia along exterior and dorsal lengths, usually a pale yellow or red band along distal anterior margin; femora with spines black, sometimes brown distally; tibiae and tarsi black; pretarsal claws black tending dark brown distally. Mid and hind legs mostly black and brownish red; coxae and femora black, sometimes yellowish at distal end; tibiae black with a proximal pale yellow band; tarsi yellowish brown or black. Meracanthus mostly black tending pale yellow distally.

Wings hyaline. Fore wing with fused stem of veins M and CuA complete, the veins fused as one; venation black; very small infuscation distally on clavus; basal membrane grey to black. Hind wing with 5 apical cells; venation black except for reddish brown 2A and 3A; plaga muddy white to grey to pale brown; black infuscation on wing margin at distal end of vein 2A.

Opercula for the most part not reaching distal margin of tympanal cavity; widely separated; slightly depressed below meracanthus; a low rounded swelling of epimeron 3; pale yellow to yellowish brown with black epimeron 3 swelling.

Timbals grey to muddy white in colour; four long ribs spanning the width of timbal membrane and one shorter anterior rib terminating level with lower end of adjacent intercalary rib.

Abdomen. Tending triangular in cross section with epipleurites reflexed inwards from junction with tergites. Tergites black with yellow to muddy yellow markings; tergites 1 and 2 black, occasionally with posterior edged muddy yellow; tergites 3–8 black with posterior margin edged yellow to muddy yellow to varying degrees. Sternite I black; sternite II black with lateral posterior margin muddy yellow to varying extent; sternites III–VII black with posterior edged yellow to muddy yellow to varying degrees, usually more yellow at intersection of epipleurite and sternite; sternite VIII yellow to muddy yellow.

Genitalia ( Fig. 33 ). Pygofer upper lobe muddy yellow; large, in later view longer than wide, terminally asymmetrically dilated, more concave along the lower margin, somewhat roundly hooked in general appearance. Pygofer basal lobe spike-like, in ventral view turned inwards. Pygofer secondary basal lobe barely projecting in lateral view, in ventral view longitudinally ridged, broad and evenly rounded. Median lobe of uncus wider than long, in lateral view not projecting. Claspers claw-like; in lateral view not projecting. Aedeagus with pseudoparameres a little longer than endotheca, slender, flattened in cross section, lying immediately above endotheca in lateral view, in dorsal view gradually diverging and distally curved outwards. Endotheca gently curved, parallel sided, circular in crosssection for most of length, fleshy outer covering; in lateral view apex slightly sloping backwards dorsally; apex viewed end on wider than tall, lateral margins thicker than dorsal and ventral margins, small spines covering outer face.

Female. Similar to male. Abdominal segment 9 yellow to light brown with black dorsally and a small black spot laterally. Ovipositor sheath not extending beyond apex of abdomen; dark brown to black.

Measurements. Range and mean (in mm) for 10♂♂, 5♀♀; includes smallest and largest of available specimens. Length of body: male 14.4–17.1 (15.9); female 15.1–18.0 (16.6). Length of fore wing: male 16.3–19.2 (18.1); female 16.4–22.0 (19.2). Width of fore wing: male 6.0–7.5 (7.1); female 7.0–8.5 (7.7). Ratio length/width of fore wing: male 2.5–2.7 (2.6); 2.4–2.6 (2.56). Width of head (including eyes): male 4.8–5.6 (5.2); female 5.0–6.0 (5.4). Width of pronotum (across lateral angles): male 4.7–5.5 (5.1); female 4.9–5.9 (5.3).

Distinguishing features

Distinguished from other small black cicadas except Pauropsalta accola and Atrapsalta encaustica by its yellowish upper pygofer lobes; those of other species are brown or black. Males differs from accola (which is confined to dryer areas of southwestern Western Australia) by the shape of the upper pygofer lobes (visible without dissection) that tend to be parallel-sided and widen distally compared to those of Pau. accola that taper throughout most of their length to a rounded point. Males differ from those of A. encaustica in the apex of the endotheca (visible only with dissection), which is thick-lipped with spines across the entire surface when viewed end on, while that of A. encaustica is thin-lipped with no spines across its dorsal surface. Females differ from those of Pau. accola in having an ovipositor that terminates near the end of the abdomen rather than projecting about 1 mm. Females of A. furcilla are indistinguishable from those of A. encaustica as well as those of A. collina and A. corticina .

Etymology. From the Greek furcilla , meaning yellow, referring to the yellow upper pygofer lobes of male specimens.

Song ( Fig. 33 ). Each song is composed of a series phrases with clicks leading to an echeme. The song introduction is composed of a series of echemes that can last as long as 7 s. Each introductory echeme lasts for less than 0.5 s. The body of the song consists of consecutive phrases each with 5–6 clicks leading to an echeme. The echeme is c. 0.25 s in length. The frequency of the song ranges between 4 kHz and 20 kHz.

Figures

Figure 33. Atrapsalta furcilla n.sp. (A) male genitalia, lateral view (genitalia prep PAU 514); (B) male genitalia, ventral view (genitalia prep PAU 514); (C) waveform of male calling song recorded from NW of Fern Tree (NW of road to Mt. Wellington) on B64, TAS; (D) spectrogram of male calling song; (E) species distribution map.