Yoyetta darug, Emery & Emery & Popple, 2025

Emery, David L., Emery, Nathan J. & Popple, Lindsay W., 2025, Description of three new cicada species in the genus Yoyetta Moulds (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadettinae), from eastern Australia, Zootaxa 5590 (2), pp. 151-184 : 153-159

Yoyetta darug sp. nov.

( Plate 1 ; Plate 2A–B ; Plate 3A–B ; Plate 4A ; Figs. 1 , 2C–D , 3–5 ).

Types. Holotype ♂, Silverdale NSW, 33 o 52’ 08’’S 150 o 37’11’’E, 14.xi.2007, D. Emery ( EME0489-002 ) (K.624928, AM).

Paratypes. NEW SOUTH WALES. 1♂ 1♀, Bourke St., Parramatta , 33°47’35’’S 151°00’00’’E, 6.xii.2022, D. Emery ( EME0489-017 , -018) (K. 624929–930, AM); 1♂, same location as holotype, 7.xi.2007, D. Emery & L. Popple ( EME0489-001 ; genitalia prep 489-1); 1♂, Castlereagh Nature Reserve , 33 o 40’52’’S 150 o 44’39’’E, 18.x.2015, N. Emery ( EME0489-003 ); 1♂, same location, 27.i.2019, N. Emery ( EME0489-004 ); 1♂, same location, 22.xi.2017, N. Emery & C. Foster ( EME0489-005 ); 1♂, same location, 23.x.2020, D. Emery ( EME0489-006 ); 1♂, Lake Parramatta Reserve, Sth James Ruse Drive , 33 o 793’S 150 o 010’E, 31.x.2020, J. Poyitt ( EME0489-007 ); 1♂, Longneck Lagoon, Scheyville NPk, 33°34’25’’S 150°33’37’’E, 27.xii.2018, J. Poyitt ( EME0489-008 , genitalia prep 489-2); 2♂, Carysfield Park, Bass Hill , 33°54’13”S 150°59’53”E, 6.xii.2022, D. Emery ( EME0489-019 – 020 ); 1♂, Bourke St., Parramatta , 33°47’35’’S 151°00’00’’E, 11.xi.2022, D. Emery ( EME0489-009 ); 2♂, same location, 24.xii.2022, D. Emery ( EME0489-010 – 011 ); 2♂ 2♀, same location, 28.x1.2022, D. Emery ( EME0489-012 – 014 ; 014 & 015 mating); 1♂, same location, 4.xi.2022, D. Emery ( EME0489-016 ); 2♂ same location, 6.xii.2022, D. Emery ( EME489-019 – 020 ); 3♂ 2♀, same location 11.xii.2022, D. Emery ( EME489-021 – 024 ; 021 & 022 mating); 1♂, Nattai , 33°04’12’’S 150°26’35’’E, 20.xii.2020, D. Emery ( EME0489-025 ); 1♀, Burragorang Nature Res. , 33°14’12’’S 150°26’35’’E, 29.xii.2010, D. Emery ( EME0489-026 ); 1♀, Avon Dam Rd. , 34°20’57’’S 150°37’30’’E, 23.xii.1998, D. Emery ( EME0489-027 ); 1♂, Mt Annan Botanical Gardens , 34°04’00’’S 150°46’01’’E 12.xi.2024, N. Emery ( EME0489-028 ) ( DE); 3♂, Silverdale, Nepean Basin , 2.xii.2003, L. Popple & D. Emery, 489-0001 to 489-0003 (1M genitalia prep 489-01); 1♀, Bourke St., Parramatta , 33°47’57’’S 151°00’00’’E, 11.xi.2022, D. Emery ( EME0489-015 , mating with -014); 1♂, Bass Hill , xii.2009, D. Emery ( LWP); 1♂, Sth. of James Ruse Drive, Lake Parramatta Reserve , NSW, 33°47’37”S 151°0’36”E, 17.ii.2018, J. Poyitt, ( HEMC489.001 ); 2♂ 1♀, same location, 29.xii,2018, J. Poyitt ( HEMC489.002 , 011 , 012 ); 1♂, same location, 31.x.2020, J. Poyitt ( HEMC489.009 ); 1♂, same location, 14.i.2021, J. Poyitt ( HEMC489.007 ); 4♂, same location, 22–30.x.2022, J. Poyitt ( HEMC489.017 – 020 ); 1♂, same location, 19.xi.2022, J. Poyitt ( HEMC489.044 ); 1♀, same location, 28.xi.2022, J. Poyitt ( HEMC489.022 ); 1♂, Lake Parramatta Reserve , NSW, 33°47’37”S 151°0’36”E, 26.xii.2018, S. Jones ( HEMC489.016 ); 1♂, same location, 24.xi.2019, J. Poyitt, ( HEMC489.010 ); 1♂, same location, 8.xii.2019, J. Poyitt, ( HEMC489.009 ); 2♂, same location, 10.i.2024, J. Poyitt ( HEMC489.044 , -045); 1♂, Castlereagh Nature Reserve , 33 o 40’ 55’’S 150 o 45’52’’E, 1.xii.2018, J. Poyitt, ( HEMC489.006 ); 1♂, Longneck Lagoon, Scheyville NPk, 33°34’25’’S 150°33’37’’E, 27.xii.2018, J. Poyitt ( HEMC489.003 ); 1♂, Norwest Blvd , 33°47’08’’S 150°57’41’’E, 10.xii.2018, J. Poyitt ( HEMC489.014 ); 1♂, Fred Caterson Res. , NSW, 33°43’14’’S 150°59’18’’E, 15.xi.2020, J. Poyitt ( HEMC489.013 ); 1♂, Lookout Trail, Cattai NPk., 33°32’56’’S 150°53’41’’E, 30.i.2021, J. Poyitt ( HEMC489.005 ); 1♂, Box Hill fire Stn. , 33°38’19’’S 151°54’02’’E, 30.x.2022, J. Poyitt ( HEMC489.021 ); 1♂, Redeemer Baptist School , 33°47’38’’S 151°00’48’’E, 30.xi.2022, J.Poyitt ( HEMC489.045 ); 3♂ 2♀, Century Cct., Norwest ,NSW, 33°47’38’’S 151°00’48’’E, 5–10.xii.2022, J. Poyitt (emerging on Eucalyptus crebra ; HEMC489.025 , 027 , 029 , 030 , 032 ); 4♂ 1♀, Solent Cct., Norwest , NSW, 33°44’10’’S 150°57’38’’E, 10–16.xii.2022, J. Poyitt (emerging on Eucalyptus crebra ; HEMC489.034 – 038 ); 2♂, Ted Horwood Res., Baulkham Hills , 33°45’38’’S 151°00’18’’E, 2.i.2023, J. Poyitt ( HEMC489.039 , 040 ); 1♂, Castle Hill Showground , 33°43’35’’S 150°59’10’’E, 9.i.2023, J. Poyitt ( HEMC489.041 ); 1♂, Douglas Park Drive, Douglas Park , 34°11’46’’S 150°42’25’’E, 10.i.2023, J. Poyitt ( HEMC489.042 ); 1♂, Cataract Dam Picnic Area , NSW, 34°15’41’’S 150°48’29’’E, 10.i.2023, J. Poyitt ( HEMC489.043 ) ( JP).

Distribution, habitat and seasonality. Restricted to central eastern New South Wales, where it is known subcoastally from around Illawarra and Burragorang regions, north to the Hunter River area ( Fig. 1 ). It is most prevalent in Greater Western Sydney. Adults occur in open forest, mainly on rough-barked eucalypts, especially ironbarks ( Eucalyptus siderophyloia , E. fibrosa in Western Sydney and E. crebra around Parramatta and the Hills District) and stringybarks (e.g. Eucalyptus obliqua ) ( Figs. 2A–B ). Females actively fly to ironbarks and secrete themselves vertically along the grooves in the rough bark on the main trunk at around 2–5 m, from which they wingflick to attract males (two mating couples were captured in these grooves). In this position they are extremely well camouflaged and difficult to dislodge when attempts are made by human observers to capture them using a longhandled net. Males fly to the locations of the females and continuously move, tick and buzz, leaving if no further encouragement occurs. Males respond to simulated wing-flicks (e.g. finger snapping) and playback of their song recordings, but are quite wary.

This species has been encountered from late October to early February and co-occurs with several related and similar looking Yoyetta species, including Yoyetta humphreyae , Yoyetta repetens and Yoyetta cumberlandi .

Etymology. The specific epithetic honours a language of the traditional peoples of the Sydney Basin bioregion where this species is found (a noun in apposition).

Description of adult male ( Plate 1A–B, E–G ; Plate 2A–B ; Plate 3A–B ; Plate 4A ; Fig. 3 ).

Head slightly narrower than the lateral margins of pronotum; mostly brown to orange-brown with extensive black colouration between and surrounding the ocelli; supra-antennal plates black, occasionally edged dull orange-brown; ocelli pale red; eyes dark brown to black; postclypeus mainly black, dorsal side dark orange-brown, ventral surface with narrow orange lateral margins and medial line; anteclypeus shiny black; rostrum reaching bases of hind coxae, brown basally becoming dark brown or black apically; antennae black.

Thorax mostly black. Pronotum with a narrow orange-brown fascia along midline surrounded by black; interior of pronotum brown to dark brown, with irregular black areas, especially along paramedian and lateral fissures; pronotal collar black on anterior margin, orange-brown to dark brown over remainder, black around margins of lateral angles. Mesonotum orange-brown to black; submedian and lateral sigilla black, separated by narrow orange-brown to dark brown areas; lateral margins sometimes orange-brown; cruciform elevation pale brown to pale orange-brown, black centrally, ridges pale brown; scutal depression black; wing grooves mainly dark orange-brown and black. Metanotum dark brown to black. Thorax below mainly orange-brown or dark brown.

Legs brown with dark brown to black markings variable between individuals. Coxae about half brown, half dark brown or black; fore femora with inner surface usually black but sometimes dark orange-brown, the outer surface predominantly dull orange-brown, femoral spines dark brown to black; mid and hind femora dark brown to black on anterior sides, paler brown on posterior; fore tibiae dark brown; mid and hind tibiae orange-brown; tarsi orange-brown or brown suffused with black; meracantha black on about basal half, otherwise pale brown.

Wings with forewing costal margin a mixture of orange-brown and dark orange-brown; venation generally dark brown to orange-brown; basal membrane light orange-brown. Hind wing venation dark brown; plagas and adjacent area surrounding vein 3a brown.

Opercula dark brown to black basally, plates pale brown; approximately 1.5x larger than adjacent hind coxae ( Plate 2B ).

Timbals ( Plate 2A ) with five long ribs; ribs 1–4 attached to basal spur, separated ventrally and spanning the timbal membrane, rib 5 short, unattached, occupying dorsal half of timbal only; timbal plate with well developed, elongate dome bearing a distinct point of apodeme attachment near centre.

Abdomen ( Plate 3A–B ) with tergite 1 black; tergite 2 predominantly black, sometimes with diffuse orange areas sublaterally on posterior margin, curved to follow outer margin of exposed timbals; tergites 3–7 predominantly pale orange-brown each with a narrow, rectangular, black mark on dorsal midline, this mark being broadest on tergite 3 and narrowing slightly on each subsequent tergite towards the posterior, tergite 3 often with a diffuse dark smudge on lateral areas (noted consistently on Parramatta specimens, Plate 3B ), highly variable in extent between individuals; tergite 8 black, tending dark orange-brown towards posterior margin; epipleurites flexed ventrally, pale orange-brown, diffusely smudged with black. Sternite I orange-brown; sternite II orange with dark-brown to black areas medially and laterally; sternites III–VII pale orange-brown with a small black spot on VII at centre of the posterior segment; sternite VIII orange-brown.

Genitalia ( Fig. 3 ) with pygofer upper lobe of moderate size, gradually tapering to a broadly rounded apex ( Fig. 3A ); basal pygofer lobe small weakly developed, broadly rounded; median lobe of uncus enlarged, very long (1.5– 2mm), concave ventrally, in lateral view narrow basally, expanded around mid-length to widest width, thereafter evenly tapering to a bluntly pointed apex, with ratio of length from base divided by widest width being>5.0 ( Fig. 3B ); claspers robust, claw-like, partially meeting, in ventral view their inner margins diverging with an indentation midway along the length and their outer margins gently turned outwards; aedeagus recurved distally through 180 degrees, the vesica weakly toothed either side subapically, apex terminating in a short, slender ‘beak’ downturned>45 o when viewed laterally, with a pair of very small flat ear-like lobes pointing inwards, minutely toothed posteriorly; pseudoparameres very long, nearly reaching most distal part of theca, very slender, hair-like and weakly knobbed apically ( Figs. 3C–D ).

Description of adult female ( Plate 1C–D , Plate 4A ).

Head, thorax, wings and legs similar to male, except with greater amounts of ochraceous-brown fascia around ridges on mesonotum.

Abdomen with more pronounced annular markings on tergites ( Plate 4A ). Tergite 1 orange, black medially and diffusely black along anterior margin of lateral third; tergites 2–7 predominantly dark orange-brown each with a distinct black marking on the dorsal midline, broadest on tergite 3, extending laterally over the anterior half of each tergite and blending into dark orange-brown along the posterior half with a thin lighter orange-brown posterior margin; tergite 8 black over anterior half, tending dark orange-brown over remainder, with a black spot on lateral aspect. Sternite I black; sternites II–VII pale orange-brown with a black triangular marking along the midline, base widest anteriorly, apex posteriorly; sternite VIII darker orange-brown; abdominal segment 9 pale brown over dorsal two-thirds, darker brown ventrally, dorsal beak black, a distinct black longitudinal marking either side of dorsal midline, extending laterally along the anterior margin, enclosing a pale brown longitudinal triangle along the midline; a small black spot laterally near the posterior apex; ovipositor sheath dark brown, black posteriorly, ovipositor dark brown, becoming black posteriorly, extending 1–1.5 mm beyond abdominal segment 9 ( Plate 4A ).

Measurements (in mm; range with mean in parentheses for 12 males and 12 females, including smallest and largest specimens). Length of body including head: male, 19.7–22.1 (21.5); female, 23.5–25.8 (24.6). Length of forewing: male, 21.6–26.1 (24.5); female 28.5–32.4 (30.0). Width of forewing: male, 7.7–8.9 (8.0); female, 8.5–10.2 (9.4). Width of head (including eyes): male, 5.3–6.2 (5.8); female, 6.1–7.1 (6.6). Width of pronotum (across lateral angles): male, 5.4–6.2 (5.8); female, 5.8–7.6 (6.7). Width of abdomen: male, 5.4–6.4 (5.8); female, 6.2–6.7 (6.4). Length of ovipositor: female, 7.5–9.3 (8.3).

Morphological variation within and between populations. Both male and female specimens exhibit a colour range from medium brown to dark brown to black over the head and pronotum. The dorsal abdominal markings of all females captured to date range from black to grey.

Figures

PLATE 1. Yoyetta darug sp. nov., (A), holotype male, Silverdale, NSW (33o 52’S 150o37’’E), dorsal habitus; (B) holotype male, ventral habitus; (C), female, Lake Parramatta, NSW (33o47’S 150o01’E), dorsal habitus; (D) female, ventral habitus; (E), male, live specimen, darker variant, Lake Parramatta; (F), male, live specimen, lighter variant, Lake Parramatta (G), male, live specimen, dark variant, Castlereagh Nature Reserve; (H), female, live specimen, Lake Parramatta. Photos of live specimens by NJE. Scale bars = 10 mm.

FIGURE 1. Map of south-eastern New South Wales, Australia showing the geographical distribution of Y. darug sp. nov. (circles), Y. psammitica sp. nov. (triangles), Y. fumea sp. nov. (squares).

PLATE 2. Photos of male left timbals, with dorsal edge at left and posterior margin at bottom, and left opercula: (A) Yoyetta darug sp. nov., Silverdale (33o 52’S 150o37’’E), timbal; (B) Yoyetta darug sp. nov., opercula; (C) Y. psammitica sp. nov., Windemere Dam, (32o43’S 149o46’E), timbal; (D) Y. psammitica sp. nov., opercula; (E) Y. fumea sp. nov., Windellama (34o57’S 149o54’E), timbal; (F) Y. fumea sp. nov., opercula. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 2. Locational habitats; for Yoyetta darug sp. nov. at (A), Silverdale (33°52’S 150°37’’E); (B), Mt Annan (34°04’S 150°46’E); for Y. psammitica sp. nov. at (C), Windamere Dam (32°43’S 149°46’E); (D), Clandulla (32°54’S 149°57’E); for Y. fumea sp. nov. at (E–F), Marulan (34°29’S 150°16’E).

PLATE 3. Lateral views of male left abdomens: (A), Yoyetta darug sp. nov., Silverdale (33o 52’S 150o37’’E); (B), Y. darug sp. nov., Lake Parramatta, NSW (33o47’S 150o01’E); (C), Y. psammitica sp. nov., Windamere Dam, (32o43’S 149o46’E); (D), Y. psammitica sp. nov., Cassilis rest area (32o02’S 149o56’E); (E), Y. fumea sp. nov., Tarago (35o05’S 149o54’E 149o02’E; (F), Y. humphreyae, Blaxland (33o44’S 150o37’E). Scale bars = 5mm.

FIGURE 3. Yoyetta darug sp. nov.: illustration of male pygofer and internal genitalia; (a), viewed laterally from the left; (b), viewed ventrally; (c), aedeagus; and (d,e), apex of theca. Characters include: aed, aedeagus; bpl, basal lobe of pygofer; cl, clasper; db, dorsal beak; mlu, median lobe of uncus; ps, pseudoparameres; th, theca; upl, upper lobe of pygofer. Specimen from Silverdale (33°52’S 150°37’E).

FIGURE 4. Male calling song structure of Yoyetta darug sp. nov., illustrated in waveform plots, including (A) typical click followed by a macrosyllable (while stationary); (B) expanded section from (A) showing a single syllable and macrosyllable. The final subfigure (C) is a spectrogram displaying song frequency. (A) and (B) were recorded from a specimen in captivity in Parramatta NSW (33o47’S 150o01’E) by Joel Poyitt using RS4, and (C) was produced using a field recording at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan (33o04’S;150o46’E) by NJE using RS2 (see Methods and Terminology).

FIGURE 5. Male calling song structure of Yoyetta darug sp. nov., illustrated in waveform plots, including (A) typical rapid ticking song (in flight); (B) expanded section from (A) showing one of the syllables comprising 8 pulses. The final subfigure (C) is a spectrogram displaying song frequency. This specimen was recorded in the field at Bass Hill (33o54’S;150o59’E) by LWP using RS1 (see Methods and Terminology).

PLATE 4. Lateral views of female left abdomens: (A), Yoyetta darug sp. nov., Lake Parramatta, NSW (33o47’S 150o01’E); (B), Y. psammitica sp. nov., Windamere Dam, (32o43’S 149o43’E); (C), Y. fumea sp. nov., Windellama (34o57’S 149o54’E); (D), Y. humphreyae, Blaxland, NSW (33o45’S 150o37’E. Scale bars = 5mm.