October 29, 2018

Champaka aerata (Distant, 1888)

Champaka aerata (Distant, 1888) used to be called Dundubia aerata. Its name has changed since 1913.

It is found in Borneo.

Champaka aerata (Distant, 1888)
The image says Dundubia aerata, but the newest name of this cicada is Champaka aerata.

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Dundubiini
SubTribe: Dundubiina
Genus: Dundubia
Species: Dundubia aerata Distant, 1888

Dundubia genus description by W. L. Distant:

Characters. — Body long and robust; head somewhat triangularly elongate, about as long as pronotum, the front large and convex, about twice as broad at its base as the length of the anterior margins of the lobes of vertex, ocelli a little farther apart from eyes than from each other; pronotum almost as long as mesonotum, the lateral margins not prominently ampliated but distinctly toothed; abdomen a little longer than space between apex of head and base of cruciform elevation; tympana completely covered; opercula in male long and extending beyond middle of abdomen; rostrum scarcely reaching the posterior coxas; anterior femora spined; tegmina and wings hyaline, the first with the venation normal, the apical areas eight in number, the basal cell twice as long as broad.

References:

The illustration and genus description comes from the journal Genera Insectorum, and a specific article from 1913 by W. L. Distant titled Homoptera. Fam. Cicadidae, Subfam, Cicadinae. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
Current species name verified using Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).

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October 28, 2018

Diceroprocta cinctifera

Diceroprocta cinctifera is found in North America, specifically the south-western United States and Mexico. There are three subspecies. It was formerly known as Cicada cinctifera. Yes, its name has changed

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Cryptotympanini
SubTribe: Cryptotympanina
Genera: Diceroprocta
Species: Diceroprocta cinctifera
Subspecies: Diceroprocta cinctifera cinctifera (Uhler, 1892)
Subspecies: Diceroprocta cinctifera limpia Davis, 1932
Subspecies: Diceroprocta cinctifera viridicosta Davis, 1930

The image says Cicada cinctifera, but the name of this cicada is Diceroprocta cinctifera.

Song type: Call

Source: ©Insect Singers | Species: D. cinctifera cinctifera

Name, Location and Description

Cicada Name: Diceroprocta cinctifera cinctifera (Uhler, 1892)
Short Name: D. cinctifera cinctifera
Common Name: Scrub Cicada
Where it is found: NM, TX
Maps: Biogeography of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of North America, North of Mexico [PDF]
Description: Black with brown highlights and white pruinose.
Eye Color: brown, tawny
Pronotal Collar Color: black and white
Identification: Bug Guide
Taxonomic Information: Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Song: http://www.insectsingers.com/100th_meridian_cicadas/index.html

References:

The illustration and genus description comes from the journal Genera Insectorum, and a specific article from 1913 by W. L. Distant titled Homoptera. Fam. Cicadidae, Subfam, Cicadinae. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
Current species name verified using Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).
Full Binomial Names: ITIS.gov
Common names: BugGuide.net; The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Herschberger; personal memory.
Locations: Biogeography of the Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of North America, North of Mexico by Allen F. Sanborn and Polly K. Phillips.
Descriptions, Colors: personal observations from specimens or photos from many sources. Descriptions are not perfect, but may be helpful.

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October 27, 2018

Antankaria signoreti (Metcalf, 1955)

Filed under: Antankaria | Genera Insectorum | Madagascar | Tacuini (Cryptotympanini) | W. L. Distant — Dan @ 1:01 am

Antankaria signoreti (Metcalf, 1955) is found in Madagascar. It was formerly known as Antankaria madagascariensis. Yes, its species name has changed since 1913.

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Cryptotympanini
SubTribe: Cryptotympanina
Genus: Antankaria
Species: Antankaria signoreti (Metcalf, 1955)

The image says Antankaria madagascariensis, but its newest name is Antankaria signoreti.

Antankaria genus description by W. L. Distant:

Characters, — Length of head about half the breadth between eyes and (including eyes) as wide as base of mesonotum; eyes circular, globular, moderately directed upward; pronotum a little narrowed behind eyes, about as long as mesonotum in front of the cruciform elevation; abdomen longer than space between apex of face and base of cruciform elevation; rostrum reaching posterior coxae ; anterior femora strongly toothed beneath; opercula in type not passing the base of metasternum; tegmina and wings talc-like.

References:

The illustration and genus description comes from the journal Genera Insectorum, and a specific article from 1913 by W. L. Distant titled Homoptera. Fam. Cicadidae, Subfam, Cicadinae. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
Current species name verified using Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).

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October 26, 2018

Psaltoda aurora Distant, 1881

Filed under: Australia | Genera Insectorum | Psaltoda | Tacuini (Cryptotympanini) | W. L. Distant — Dan @ 1:01 am

Psaltoda aurora Distant, 1881, is found in Northeastern Queensland Australia and is commonly known as the Red Roarer.

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Cryptotympanini
SubTribe: Cryptotympanina
Genus: Psaltoda
Species: Psaltoda aurora Distant, 1881

Psaltoda aurora Distant, 1881

Psaltoda genus description by W. L. Distant:

Characters. — Head including eyes a little wider than anterior margin of pronotum, more than half as long as space between eyes and about as long as pronotum, ocelli on middle of vertex and much farther apart from eyes than from each other, face longer than broad, strongly globose; pronotum shorter than mesonotum including the cruciform elevation, the lateral margins not convexly ampliated but considerably narrowed anteriorly; mesonotum with its base narrower than head including eyes; abdomen considerably longer than broad, beneath more or less obliquely depressed from base to apex;opercula short, not or scarcely passing base of abdomen ; tympana covered; tegmina about three times as long as broad, basal cell longer than broad, apical areas eight ; wings more than half the length of tegmina, apical areas six.

References:

Location information and common name provided by M.S. Moulds’ Australian Cicadas book. 1990. New South Wales University Press.
The illustration and genus description comes from the journal Genera Insectorum, and a specific article from 1913 by W. L. Distant titled Homoptera. Fam. Cicadidae, Subfam, Cicadinae. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
Current species name verified using Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).

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October 25, 2018

Macrotristria godingi Distant, 1907

Filed under: Australia | Genera Insectorum | Macrotristria | Macrotristriini | W. L. Distant — Tags: M. godingi — Dan @ 1:01 am

Macrotristria godingi Distant, 1907, is found in Northeastern Queensland Australia and is commonly known as the Tiger Prince! It looks like a Tiger, doesn’t it?

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Macrotristriini
SubTribe: ?
Genus: Macrotristria
Species: Macrotristria godingi Distant, 1907

Behold! The Tiger Prince!!

Macrotristria genus description by W. L. Distant:

Characters. — Length of head more than half the breadth between eyes, including eyes considerably broader than base of mesonotum; ocelli much more remote from eyes than from each other; face longer than broad, large and globose; pronotum about as long as mesonotum including the cruciform elevation and longer than head, the lateral margins with a distinct anterior lobe; abdomen about as long as space between apex of head and base of cruciform elevation; tympana concealed; opercula scarcely extending beyond base of abdomen; rostrum reaching or slightly passing the posterior coxae; tegmina three times as long as broad, basal cell longer than broad, apical areas eight; wings more than half the length of tegmina, apical areas six.

References:

Location information and common name provided by M.S. Moulds’ Australian Cicadas book. 1990. New South Wales University Press.
The illustration and genus description comes from the journal Genera Insectorum, and a specific article from 1913 by W. L. Distant titled Homoptera. Fam. Cicadidae, Subfam, Cicadinae. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
Current species name verified using Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).
Tribe information comes from: MARSHALL, DAVID C. et al.A molecular phylogeny of the cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) with a review of tribe and subfamily classification.Zootaxa, [S.l.], v. 4424, n. 1, p. 1—64, may 2018. ISSN 1175-5334. Available at: https://www.biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.4424.1.1

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October 24, 2018

Thopha sessiliba Distant, 1892

Filed under: Australia | Genera Insectorum | Thopha | Thophini | W. L. Distant — Tags: T. sessiliba — Dan @ 8:20 pm

Thopha sessiliba Distant, 1892 is found in northern Austalia and is commonly known as the Northern Double Drummer. Like other members of the Thophini tribe, T. sessiliba has prominent sack-like tymbal covers, from which they get their common name “drummers”.

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Thophini
Genus: Thopha
Species: Thopha sessiliba Distant, 1892

Thopha sessiliba Distant, 1892

Thopha genus description by W. L. Distant:

Characters. — Head short, broad, equal in width to apex of pronotum; eyes more or less pedunculated, prominent; ocelli four times more distant from eyes than from each other; apex of clavus acuminate; front destitute of a longitudinal sulcus; pronotum with the lateral margins almost truncate or slightly convex, widened forwardly; tegmina vitreous, basal area not twice longer than broad, interior ulnar area broadened towards apex; ulnar veins distant at base; wings vitreous, with six apical areas; opercula short, transverse; tympanal coverings very strongly developed and sac-like, projecting beyond the lateral abdominal margins in male.

References:

The illustration and genus description comes from the journal Genera Insectorum, and a specific article from 1913 by W. L. Distant titled Homoptera. Fam. Cicadidae, Subfam, Cicadinae. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
Current species name verified using Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).

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October 23, 2018

Cyclochila australasiae (Donovan, 1805)

Cyclochila australasiae (Donovan, 1805) is found in Australia and is remarkable for its variety of color morph, including green (Green Grocers), yellow (Yellow Mondays), blue (Blue Moons), and orange (Masked Devils).

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Cyclochilini
Genus: Cyclochila
Species: Cyclochila australasiae (Donovan, 1805)

A Green Grocer:
C. australasiae (Donovan, 1805)

Cyclochila australasiae
Green Grocer Photo by Kevin Lee.

A Green Grocer Specimen:

Cyclochila australasiae, Blue Moon, by David Emery
Rare Blue Moon variety. Photo by David Emery.

Cyclochila genus description by W. L. Distant:

Characters. — Head about long as breadth between eyes, including eyes distinctly narrower than pronotum but almost as wide as its anterior margin, ocelli close together near middle of vertex, very much more remote from eyes than from each other; face longer than broad, moderately globose; pronotum about as long as mesonotum including the cruciform elevation, its lateral. margins moderately convexly ampliated ; abdomen about as long as space between apex of head and base of cruciform elevation, beneath moderately convex ; opercula short, not passing base of abdomen ; tegmina about or nearly three times longer than broad, basal cell scarcely longer than broad, apical areas eight; wings more than half the length of tegmina, apical areas six.

References:

The illustration and genus description comes from the journal Genera Insectorum, and a specific article from 1913 by W. L. Distant titled Homoptera. Fam. Cicadidae, Subfam, Cicadinae. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
Current species name verified using Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).

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October 22, 2018

Tugelana butleri Distant, 1912

Filed under: Genera Insectorum | Platypleurini | South Africa | Tugelana | W. L. Distant — Dan @ 1:01 am

Tugelana butleri Distant, 1912, is found in South Africa.

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Platypleurini
Genus: Tugelana
Species: Tugelana butleri Distant, 1912

Tugelana genus description by W. L. Distant:

Characters. — Head short and broad, including eyes about as broad as base of mesonotum, between eyes three times as broad as long, ocelli farther apart from eyes than from each other, eyes obliquely directed backward; face a little longer than broad, very broadly longitudinally sulcate. lateral areas transversely striate ; pronotum almost as long as mesonotum, the lateral margins roundly ampliate, twice as broad at base as long, the fissures profound, anterior margin truncate, posterior margin very slightly sinuate at middle; abdomen in male about as long as space between the apex of head and base of cruciform elevation; tympana partly exposed, the coverings being a little shorter and considerably narrower inwardly; rostrum reaching the posterior cocÅ“; opercula in male scarcely extending beyond base of abdomen, not meeting inwardly, obliquely transverse, laterally and apically rounded; anterior femora incrassated, with two short but broad teeth at apex; tegmina more than twice as long as broad, opaque, basal cell slightly longer than broad, ulnar areas moderately elongate, apical areas eight, the uppermost long’and narrow; wings a little more than half the length of tegmina, apical areas six. This is one of the few Ethiopian genera belonging to the subfamily Gseaninas, and may be placed near the genus Hamza; like that genus, apart from the tympanal structural characters, it has a superficial resemblance to the genus Platypleura.

References:

The illustration and description comes from the journal Genera Insectorum, and a specific article from 1914 by W. L. Distant titled Homoptera. Fam. Cicadidae, Subfam, Gaeaninae. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
Species name verification comes from Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).

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October 21, 2018

Taona versicolor Distant, 1909

Filed under: China | Gaeanini | Genera Insectorum | Taona | W. L. Distant — Dan @ 1:01 am

Taona versicolor Distant, 1909, is found in China. Like other members of the tribe Gaeanini, its wings are colorful and reminiscent of butterflies.

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Gaeanini
SubTribe: Gaeanina
Genus: Taona
Species: Taona versicolor Distant, 1909

Taona versicolor Distant, 1909

Taona genus description by W. L. Distant:

Characters. — Head (including eyes) about as wide as base of mesonotum and as long as pronotum, the front not obliquely deflected but horizontally produced in front of and a little below the anterior margin of the vertex; ocelli somewhat close together near middle of vertex; face prominent, somewhat compressed, strongly transversely ridged; clypeus strongly compressed and reaching the anterior coxae; pronotum about as long as mesonotum, its lateral margins nearly straight; rostrum- reaching the posterior cox

References:

The illustration and description comes from the journal Genera Insectorum, and a specific article from 1914 by W. L. Distant titled Homoptera. Fam. Cicadidae, Subfam, Gaeaninae. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
Species name verification comes from Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).

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October 20, 2018

Talainga binghami Distant, 1890

Talainga binghami Distant, 1890, is found in Burma, Vietnam, and south-east Asia, in general.

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Gaeanini
SubTribe: Talaingina
Genus: Talainga
Species: Talainga binghami Distant, 1890

Tailanga binghami

Photo by Michel Chantraine.

Talainga binghami Distant, 1890

Talainga genus description by W. L. Distant:

Characters. — Head (including eyes) a little narrower than base of mesonotum, about as long as breadth between eyes, front globose and prominent, shorter than vertex; pronotum about as long as mesonotum, its lateral margins a little convex, angularly incised before ‘posterior angles which are ampliated; abdomen somewhat cylindrical, longer than space between apex of head and base of cruciform elevation; tympanal coverings small and lateral; anterior femora robustly spined beneath; tegmina talc-like, semi-opaque, the apical half with the venation reticulate and forming a mass of small cellular areas, sometimes the ulnar areas are crossed by transverse veins, basal cell about twice as long- as broad; wings with the posterior margin deeply sinuate near the abdominal area; apical areas six, sometimes broken up by transverse veins into a more numerous and reticulate series.

References:

The illustration and description comes from the journal Genera Insectorum, and a specific article from 1914 by W. L. Distant titled Homoptera. Fam. Cicadidae, Subfam, Gaeaninae. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
Species name verification comes from Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).
Tribe information comes from: MARSHALL, DAVID C. et al.A molecular phylogeny of the cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) with a review of tribe and subfamily classification.Zootaxa, [S.l.], v. 4424, n. 1, p. 1—64, may 2018. ISSN 1175-5334. Available at: https://www.biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.4424.1.1

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