Yoyetta serrata, Emery & Emery & Popple, 2019

Emery, David L., Emery, Nathan J. & Popple, Lindsay W., 2019, A Revision of the Yoyetta abdominalis (Distant) Species Group of Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadettinae), Introducing Eight New Species, Records of the Australian Museum 71 (7), pp. 277-347 : 320-322

Yoyetta serrata sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/ 8F5A0B58-EB74-4E08-8C9D-EDFFC425B441

Figs 2I , 3H , 26 , 32–34 , 52G, 53J

Holotype ♂, 5 km W Nimmitabel , NSW, 36°31'16"S 149°14'08"E, 30.xii.2009, L. W. Popple, Open eucalypt woodland, 518-0001 ( AM K.549269) . Paratypes VICTORIA: 1♀, Gisburn [Gisborne], Vic. 1896, Lyell ( ANIC) ; 1♀, Bemm River , 10.xii.1984, K. L. Dunn ( MSM) . NEW SOUTH WALES: 1♀, same data as holotype, 518-0012 ; 1♂, Thredbo, Snowy Mtns , 18 Dec 1999, E. Jeffreys ( AM K.307126) ; 1♂ 1♀, same data as holotype, 518-0005 (♂), 518-0011 (♀) ( QM) ; 3♂♂ 1♀, same data as holotype (518- 0003, 518-006, 518-008 [♀], 518-012) (DE) ; 4♂♂ 3♀♀, same data as holotype, 518-0002, 518-0004, 518-0007, 518-0009, 518-0010, 518-0013 ; 1♂, Tom Groggin Road , 18 km ESE of Cooma, 36°20'48"S 148°13'57"E, 10.xii.2010, L. W. Popple, 518-0014 ( LWP) ; 13♀♀, Frank Tetley Park, nr Fred Piper Lookout, Brown Mtn , nr Bega , 9.i.1982, M. S. & B. J. Moulds ; 1♀, same data, 12.i.1982 ; 1♀, Jenolan Caves , 23.xii.1973, G. Daniels ; 1♂, Yarrangobilly Caves road, Kosciuszko NP, 35°33.258'S 148°30.842'E, 17.i.2011, 1305 m [elev.], K. Hill, D. Marshall, AU.NS.YAX, C. Simon lab voucher, legs in ETOH, body pinned, Yoyetta “high pitched”, specimen recorded,11.AU.NS.YAX.06 ; 1♂, Yarrangobilly Caves road, Kosciuszko NP, 35°43.817'S 148°29.947'E, 1102 m [elev.], 17.i.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall, AU.NS.YAW, C. Simon lab voucher, legs in ETOH, body pinned, Yoyetta “high pitched”, specimen recorded, 11.AU.NS.YAW.01 ; 1♂, Yarrangobilly Caves road, Kosciuszko NP, 35°42.600'S 148°30.386'E, 1286 m [elev.], 16.i.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall, AU.NS.YAR, C. Simon lab voucher, legs in ETOH, body pinned, Yoyetta “high pitched”, specimen recorded?, 11.AU. NS.YAR.02 ( MSM) . AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: 1♀, Blundells Cr. Rd, Brindabella Rng ,ACT, 13.i.1984, J. Lawrence & T. Weir coll.,ANIC Database No. 20 005310 ( ANIC) .

Distribution, habitat and seasonality. Temperate areas from the Brindabella Ranges in the Australian Capital Territory, east and south to Gisborne in Victoria ( Fig. 26 ). Adults occur mainly on eucalypts, including smooth-barked species and stringybarks, typically on the upper branches and main trunk. They can be encountered during December and January.

Description

Male ( Figs 2I , 3H , 32A,B , 52G). Head almost as wide as mesonotum, black, with a central ochraceous fascia posterior to ocelli, being widest at posterior margin, reducing anteriorly, ocelli pink to red; dorsal postclypeus black, with a central brown-ochraceous triangular fascia, apex directed anteriorly; ventral postclypeus black, with ochraceous spot on anterior midline, and dull brown lateral margins; anteclypeus black, rostrum pale brown at base, dark brown to black at apex, extending beyond posterior margins of mid coxae; lora black with ochraceous lateral margin, gena black; eyes dull black; antennae black, supra-antennal plates black, ochraceous ventral area at junction with pedicel.

Thorax mainly dull black with variable brown patterning. Pronotum black, lateral half or anterior margin brown, with a central ochraceous fascia from behind anterior margin to centre of pronotum, patchy dark brown markings over raised lateral areas of pronotum; paramedial fissures black; lateral fissures variably dark brown; pronotal collar black, margins of lateral angles brown, paranota black. Mesonotum black, parapsidal suture dark brown, scutal depressions and surrounds black; cruciform elevation black. Metanotum black.

Legs. Coxae mainly black, fore coxae black, longitudinal red lateral stripe; mid and hind coxae black; coxal membranes orange-red, basisterna black; katepisterna black with posterior half brown; meracantha small, narrow, proximal half black, pale cream distally, pointed, marginally overlapping opercula; trochanters black, orange-brown laterally; fore femora striped red-brown, black longitudinal markings around base of femoral spines femoral spines erect, black; mid femora black medially, red-brown strips over remainder; hind femora orange-brown with black posterior stripe and black distal markings, distal femoral joint orange-red; fore tibiae black; mid tibia black with proximal ochraceous spot on lateral border; hind tibia proximally black, becoming brown towards tarsi; fore and mid tarsi black; hind tarsi orange-brown becoming black towards claws; spines orange-brown; claws dark brown, black at tips.

Wings with fore wing costal veins black anteriorly, reddishbrown central rib, becoming brown distally, pterostigma mottled red, arculus black, brown at base; basal cell pale, translucent, black anterior border; basal membranes pale, whitish-grey; other veins dark brown to black, proximal segment of vein CuA pale grey, becoming brown distally, with eight apical cells; hind wing plaga white over jugum and vein 3A, thin along vein 2A, subcostal vein pale, other veins brown, with six apical cells.

Opercula ( Fig. 3H ) medium, spatulate, following body axis ventrolaterally, depressed centrally, black at base, tending variably pale grey to dark grey-brown across remainder with reddish posterior border in some specimens, clearly separated.

Timbals ( Fig. 2I ) with five distinct long ribs; long ribs 1–4 extending across surrounding membrane and fused dorsally along basal spur; long rib 5 independent of basal spur, comparatively shorter, extending ventrally across half of membrane; large ridged dome on posterior timbal plate extending across two-thirds of timbal; apodeme pit ovalshaped and conspicuous.

Abdomen with tergites 1 and 2 black; tergites 3–7 black with orange posterior margins, extending laterally to epipleurites, progressively increasing on either side of midline to reach anterior borders of tergites 6–7; tergite 8 black, with red spot located posterolaterally. Epipleurites 1–3 mainly black with orange lateral margins; epipleurites 4–6 mainly orange. Sternite II black; sternite III black medially, orange-red over central third posterior to timbal cavity, black laterally; sternites IV–IV orange, with diffuse black areas anteriorly; sternites V and VI orange; sternite VII orange, red posteriorly; sternite VIII fiery red, with brownish pubescence ( Fig. 52G).

Genitalia ( Fig. 33 ). Pygofer shiny black, upper lobe mainly black with dark brown posterior margin; basal lobe ochraceous; dorsal beak black, anal styles orange. Uncus black with posterior mid-section orange, in lateral view beak-like and stumpy; lobes in ventral view short and narrow, with rounded lateral termination; claspers clearly divided, short, pear-shaped, with apices gradually tapering laterally. Aedeagus with pseudoparameres extending around half the length of theca; theca recurved ventrally at 120° towards apex, with prominent transparent flange projecting from dorsal margin of recurvature, thin flange continuing almost to apex of theca; apex short, sclerotized, with 4–6 prominent cornuti on ventral surface.

Female ( Fig. 32C,D ). Head and thorax similar to male.

Abdomen. Tergites similar to male; tergite 8 with an orange spot on each posterolateral side. Sternites I and II black, posterior margins ochraceous; sternites III–VII orangered with midline black marking decreasing to sternite IV. Abdominal segment 9 black centrally, with small orange triangular markings either side of midline, decreasing posteriorly, black dorsally and laterally over anterior third, with posterior reddish spot, ventral aspect orangered, black posteriorly. Dorsal beak black; ovipositor dark brown, becoming black at tip, not extending beyond apex of abdominal segment 9. Anal styles orange-red; ovipositor sheath black, paler brown ventrally, gonocoxites black laterally, ochraceous along midline.

Measurements (in mm; range with mean in parentheses: 8 males, 6 females).

Body length: male 19.0–22.9 (21.7); female 24.1–25.1 (24.6). Fore wing length: male 23.8–26.8 (25.8); female 28.3–31.4 (29.6). Head width: male 5.4–6.4 (5.9); female 6.6–7.3 (7.0). Pronotum width: male 5.4–6.5 (5.9); female 6.8–7.7 (7.3). Abdomen width: male 5.4–6.4 (6.1); female 6.5–8.0 (7.4). Ovipositor length 6.2–7.7 (7.1).

(a) viewed laterally from the left; (b) viewed ventrally; (c) aedeagus; and (d) apex of

theca. Characters as depicted in Fig. 4 . Specimen from Nimmitabel (36°31'S 149°14'E) .

Etymology. From the Latin word “ serratus ” meaning serrated, referring to the sharp-edged yellow markings on the lateral edges of the abdomen of this species.

Distinguishing features. Within the Y. abdominalis species group, Y. serrata sp. nov. is most similar in appearance to Y. abdominalis and Y. spectabilis sp. nov. The following combination of characters distinguishes Y. serrata sp. nov. from all other species in the Y. abdominalis species group: (1) Fore wings with distinct, pale grey-white basal membranes, (2) body length <23 mm, (3) female ovipositor does not extend noticeably beyond abdominal segment 9, (4) pubescence (when present) black, (5) tergite 8 almost entirely black, without contrasting markings, (6) tergites 5–7 back with yellow markings (not mainly orange), (7) opercula pale grey to dark grey-brown.

Calling song ( Figs 34 , 53J ). Two song modes typify the calling song of male Y. serrata sp. nov. Based on available recordings (n = 11), One of the modes (the ratchet mode) is a long echeme, which is composed of a series of closely emitted, discrete syllables ( Fig. 34A,C ). On commencement, the echeme increases in amplitude and is sustained for several seconds before diminishing towards the end ( Fig. 34 ). For recordings made in southern New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, the single echeme comprises between 32 and 121 syllables over a period between 0.38 and> 5.0 s duration. A small period of silence from 0.011 –0.372 s duration signals the end of the echeme and this mode. The other mode (ticking) is formed by a repeated series of 4–13 syllables, each being a doublet pulse of 0.006 –0.021 s duration (n = 11). A gap of 0.167 –0.348 s duration separates each syllable ( Fig. 34A,B ). The highest amplitude frequency plateau for this species is 9.6–16.4 kHz, with a dominant frequency of 12.5–14.7 kHz ( Fig. 34D ) .

There are no other known species in the Y. abdominalis species group that produce a song similar to Y. serrata sp. nov. Indeed, despite being similar in appearance, there are no clear similarities between the songs of Y. abdominalis , Y. serrata sp. nov. and Y. spectabilis sp. nov.

Figures

Figure 2. Photos of male left timbals, with dorsal edge at left and posterior margin at bottom: (A) Yoyetta timothyi sp. nov., Gordon (33°76'S 152°15'E); (B) Y. denisoni (Distant), O’Connor (35°16'S 145°06'E); (C) Y. regalis sp. nov., Blackheath (33°35'S 150°50'E); (D) Y. spectabilis sp. nov., Barren Grounds (34°41'S 150°44'E); (E) Y. subalpina sp. nov., Cooma (36°20'S 148°14'E); (F) Y. verrens sp. nov., Torrington (25°15'S 153°11'E); (G) Y. abdominalis (Distant), Hobart (42°52'S 147°19'E); (H) Y. kershawi (Goding & Froggatt) stat. rev., comb. nov., Toolangi, (37°32'S 145°28'E); (I) Y. serrata sp. nov., Nimmitabel (36°31'S 149°14'E); (J) Y. aaede (Walker), Mt Lofty (34°59'S 138°43'E); (K) Y. electrica sp. nov., Arrawarra (30°02'S 153° 11'E); (L) Y. grandis sp. nov., Forrest (38°31'S 143°43'E). Scale bars = 200 µm; J= 500 µm.

Figure 3. Photos of male left opercula, with dorsal edge at left and posterior margin at bottom: (A) Yoyetta timothyi sp. nov., Gordon (33°76'S 152°15'E); (B) Y. denisoni (Distant), O’Connor (35°16'S 145°06'E); (C) Y. regalis sp. nov., Blackheath (33°35'S 150°50'E); (D) Y. spectabilis sp. nov., Barren Ground (34°41'S 150°44'E); (E) Y. subalpina sp. nov., Cooma (36°20'S 148°14'E); (F) Y. verrens sp. nov., Torrington (29°15'S 151°42'E); (G) Y. abdominalis (Distant), Hobart (42°52'S 147°19'E); (H) Y. serrata sp. nov., Nimmitabel (36°31'S 149°14'E); (I) Y.electrica sp. nov.,Arrawarra (30°2'S 153°11'E); (J) Y. grandis sp. nov., Forrest (38°31'S 143°43'E); (K) Y. aaede (Walker), Mt Lofty (34°59'S 138°43'E); (L) Y. kershawi (Goding & Froggatt) stat. rev., comb. nov., Toolangi, (37°32'S 145°28'E). Scale bars; A–J =200 µm; K=500 µm.

Figure 4. Yoyetta denisoni (Distant):illustration of male pygofer and internal genitalia;

Figure 26. Map of eastern Australia showing the geographical distribution of Yoyetta subalpina sp. nov. (open triangles), Y. serrata sp. nov. (closed squares) and Y. grandis sp. nov. (open circles).

Figure 32. Yoyetta serrata sp. nov., (A) male, Nimmitabel (36°31'S 149°14'E), dorsal habitus; (B) male, Nimmitabel, ventral habitus; (C) female, Nimmitabel, dorsal habitus; (D), female, Nimmitabel, ventral habitus. Scale bars = 2 mm.

Figure 33. Yoyetta serrata sp. nov., illustration of male pygofer and internal genitalia;

Figure 34. Typical male calling song structure of Yoyetta serrata sp. nov. illustrated in waveform plots, including (A) a complete rendition of one bout of the “ticking” mode, followed by the “ratchet” mode (further detail in text); (B) expanded section from A showing two syllables from the ticking mode; (C) expanded section from A showing four discrete syllables within the long echeme.The final subfigure (D) is a spectrogram displaying song frequency.The specimen was recorded in the field at Nimmitabel (36°31'S 149°14'E) by LWP using RS2 (see Methods and terminology).

Figure 53. A comparative sample of wave plots illustrating the temporal song structure of cicadas in the Yoyetta abdominalis (Distant) species group (for species where song recordings were available). These include (A) Y. denisoni (Distant), recorded in the field at Canberra (35°16'S 149°07'E) by LWP using RS2; (B) Y.timothyi sp. nov., recorded in the field at Glen Elgin (29°39'S 152°03'E) by LWPusing RS3; (C) Y.electrica sp. nov., recorded in captivity atArrawarra (30°02'S 153°11'E) by LWP using RS2; (D) Y.hunterorum (Moulds), recorded in the field at Garie Beach (34°11'S 151°04'E) by B. Smith using RS5; (E) Y. grandis sp. nov., recorded in the field at Brindabella Range (35°20'S 148°50'E) by LWP using RS2; (F) Y. verrens sp. nov., recorded in captivity at Torrington (25°15'S 151°44'E) by LWP using RS3; (G) Y. subalpina sp. nov., recorded in the field at Talleganda (35°37'S 149°30'E) by LWP using RS2; (H) Y. aaede (Walker), specimen captured in Adelaide (34°56'S 138°39'E) and recorded in captivity by NJE using RS6; (I) Y. abdominalis, recorded in the field at Nimmitabel (36°31'S 149°14'E) by LWP using RS2; (J) Y.serrata sp. nov., recorded in the field at Brown Mountain (36°36'S 149°23'E) by LWP using RS2; (K) Y. spectabilis sp. nov., recorded in the field at Kanangra Boyd National Park (33°53'S 150°03'E) by LWP using RS2; and (L) Y. regalis sp. nov., recorded at Wises Track,Audley (34°08'S 151°03'E) by LWP using RS1.An explanation of recording systems (RS1–6) is provided in Methods and terminology.