Atrapsalta dolens ( Walker, 1850 ) 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 : 168-170

Atrapsalta dolens ( Walker, 1850) n.comb.

Fig. 30 , Pl. 6

Cicada dolens Walker, 1850: 190 ; Stål, 1862: 482 [as a junior synonym of Cicada juvenis Stål ] and 484 [as a junior synonym of Melampsalta arclus Stål ].

Pauropsalta dolens Walker : Goding & Froggatt 1904: 565 [as a junior synonym of Pauropsalta encaustica (Germar) ]; Ewart, 1989: 293, 310.

Atrapsalta dolens Owen et al., 2015: 274 , nomen nudum.

Material examined. Syntype male, King George’s Sound [ Albany , Western Australia], 40 12 16 257 [= 16th Dec. 1840, No. 257 in Register], [only known syntype specimen] ( NHM) . 2♂♂ (one genitalia prep.PAU301, molecular voucher 02.AU.WAU.PIN.05; one genitalia prep. PAU 304, molecular voucher 02.AU.WAU.PIN.06), Pinjarra , 33°38'S 115°52'E, 23 m, 31.xii.2002, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 2♂♂ (one genitalia prep. PAU 310, molecular voucher 03.AU.WAU.BOY.03; one genitalia prep. PAU 313, molecular voucher 03.AU.WAU.BOY.02; one molecular voucher 03.AU.WA.BOY.04; GenBank accessions: KM377198 , KM377382 , KM377432 , KM377615 , KM668224 ), nr Boyup Brook , 33°48'S 116°27'E, 210 m, 5.i.2003, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 2♂♂ (one genitalia prep. PAU 303, molecular voucher 02.AU.WAU. MRC.01; one genitalia prep. PAU311, molecular voucher 02.AU.WAU. MRC.08), Moore R. x-ing, near Nabaroo , 31°04'S 115°33'E, 66 m, 30.xii.2002, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 1♂ (genitalia prep. PAU244, molecular voucher 03.AU.WAU.LKA.04), Lake Douglas, nr Kalgoorlie , 30°51'S 121°23'E, 369 m, 15.i.2003, Moulds, Hill, Marshall & Vanderpool ; 1♂ (genitalia prep. PAU302, voucher 03.AU.WAU.CAT.05), Cataby , 30°44'S 115°33'E, 144 m, 19.i.2003, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 1♂ (genitalia prep.PAU300, molecular voucher 03.AU.WAU. JER.01), Jerramungup , 33°56'S 118°55'E, 324 m, 9.i.2003, Moulds, Hill, Marshall & Vanderpool ; 2♂♂ (one genitalia prep. PAU318, molecular voucher 09.AU.WA.MOI.02; one genitalia prep. PAU339, molecular voucher 09.AU.WA.MOI.01), Moir Rock, 56 km S of Norseman, 13 km SW of Esperance Hwy , 32°39.196'S 121°25.357'E, 7.ii.2009, K. Hill & D. Marshall ( AM) . 1♂, Collie , 11.xii.1985, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ( AE) . 1♂, Kings Park , 8.xii.1985, P. Yeoh ( LP) . 1♂, 20 km ESE of Boyup Brook , 6.xii.1985, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ; 1♂ (genitalia prep. PAU281), King’s Park , 6.i.1955, D.T. Gwynne ; 9♂♂, 1♀, Yarloop , 4.i.1991, 11.i.1991, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ; 2♂♂, Perth , 31°52'S 115°52'E, 66 m, 22.i.2003, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 2♂♂, Stirling Rgs, Chester Pass Rd. , 34°25'S 118°05'E, 242 m, 8.i.2003, Moulds, Hill, Marshall & Vanderpool ; 1♂, Stirling Rgs, nr Mt Hassell , 34°22'S 118°04'E, 373 m, 8.i.2002, Moulds, Hill, Marshall & Vanderpool ; 2♂♂, Stirling Rgs, Mt Magog Picnic Area , 34°24'S 117°55'E, 292 m, 7.i.2003, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 1♂, Stirling Rgs, Kalgan R. Rd. , 34°32'S 117°52'E, 175 m, 8.i.2003, Moulds, Hill, Marshall & Vanderpool ; 1♂, Stirling Rgs., Moingup Camp Area , 34°24'S 118°06'E, 282 m, 8.i.2003, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 1♂, West River , W of Ravensthorpe, 33°46'S 119°44'E, 262 m, 10.i.2003, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 1♂, Perth , 31°53'S 115°52'E, 88 m, 22.i.2003, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 3♂♂, 1♀, Pinjarra , 33°38'S 115°52'E, 23 m, 31.xii.2002, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 1♂, Wave Rock, Hyden , 32°27'S 118°54'E, 18.i.2003, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 1♂ (genitalia prep. PAU299), Kojunup , 33°50'S 117°10'E, 349 m, 5.i.2003, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 1♂ (genitalia prep. PAU277), Moir’s Rock , 42 km NNW Salmon Gums, 32°39'S 121°25'E, 2.i.1987, G. & A. Daniels ; 4♂♂, 3♀♀, Kalbarrie , 21.xi.1978, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ; 1♂, Capel , 11.xii.1985, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ; 1♂, Collie , 11.xii.1985, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ; 1♂, Kings Park , 8.xii.1985, P. Yeoh ; 2♂♂, Martins Lake , Yalgorup N.P., 23.xi.1986, G. R. Brown ; 2♂♂, 10 km N Preston Bch , 18.i.1991, M.R. W .; 2♂♂, 1♀, nr base of Mt Ragged , 33°28'S 123°28'E, 176 m, 13.i.2003, Moulds, Hill, Marshall & Vanderpool ; 1♂, heathland above escarpment, approx. 20 km WNW of Israelite Bay , 29.xii.1990, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ; 1♀, Israelite Bay , 17.xii.1995, M.S. & B.J. Moulds & K.A. Kopestonsky ; 1♂, Kalgoorlie , 13.i.1989, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ; 1♂, Wave Rock, nr Hyden , 32°27'S 118°53'E, 10.i.1986, G. & A. Daniels ; 1♂, 2 km N of Yanchep , 5.i.1995, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ; 1♂, Yanchep N.P., 2.i.1992, M.R.Williams; 1♂, W Bannister , 5.i.1961, M.S. Moulds ; 1♂, Nth Bannister , 5.i.1961, M.S.Moulds ; 1♂, Munday [Munday Brook], 4.ii.1976, M. Powell ; 2♂♂, Pinjarra , 33°38'S 115°52'E, 23 m, 31.xii.2002, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 1♂, Perth , 1°52'S 115°52'E, 66 m, 22.i.2003, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 1♂, nr Boyup Brook , 33°48'S 116°27'E, 210 m, 5.i.2003, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 1♂, Moore R. x-ing, near Nabaroo , 31°04'S 115°33'E, 66 m, 30.xii.2002, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ( MSM) . 1♂, Perth , 1°52'S 115°52'E, 66 m, 22.i.2003, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 1♂, Pinjarra , 33°38'S 115°52'E, 23 m, 31.xii.2002, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 1♂, Yarloop , 32°58'S 115°55'E, 76 m, 31.xii.2002, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ; 1♂, Yarloop , 32°56.562'S 115°54.506'E, 59 m, 31.xii.2002, Moulds, Marshall, Hill & Vanderpool ( WAM) .

Distribution ( Fig. 30 ). Southwestern Western Australia south from Kalbarrie, throughout much of the southwest corner including coastal districts east to Israelite Bay, and inland to Kalgoorlie. It is usually a common species with records from mid-September to early February but it appears to be most abundant during late December and early January.

Habitat. Adults inhabit eucalypts, including mallee in drier districts. They are often found high up in the upper branches.

Description

Male (Pl. 19). Head wider than lateral margins of pronotal collar; dominantly black with muddy yellow spot at posterior midline. Postclypeus jet black, sometimes with a muddy yellow mark on midline around most anterior portion; lateral margins muddy yellow; transverse ridges and central groove distinct.Anteclypeus jet black. Rostrum black, occasionally tending brown proximally, reaching to about bases of hind coxae. Antennae black, sometimes brown distally. Supraantennal plates black, usually with dull yellow spot around mid length on anterior margin.

Thorax. Pronotum black, usually with muddy yellow markings; anterior margin edged narrowly edged yellow; fascia along midline pale yellow, usually extending from near head towards but not reaching pronotal collar; pronotal collar between lateral angles black with posterior margin edged brown or muddy yellow; lateral margin of pronotal collar not ampliate. Mesonotum primarily black with reddish brown or yellow muddy markings; sometimes a muddy yellow fascia along part of parapsidal suture; usually with a reddish brown or muddy yellow edging along lower lateral margin; cruciform elevation black with arms muddy yellow to reddish brown, but sometimes partly black; lower margin of wing groove partly or entirely muddy yellow or reddish brown. Metanotum black at hind wing base, remainder reddish brown or muddy yellow, sometimes black near dorsal midline.

Legs. Fore legs mostly black with a muddy yellow or yellowish brown fascia to varying degrees along anterior length of femora and lateral exterior of femora; femora with spines black tending brown distally; pretarsal claws brown. Mid and hind legs mostly black or brown tending yellowish brown; coxae with proximal margin edged pale reddish brown or yellowish brown; yellowish brown fascia along anterior and exterior length of femora; tibiae and tarsi brown tending yellowish brown. Meracanthus pale yellow, mostly black near base.

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

Opercula. For the most part just reaching distal margin of tympanal cavity; widely separated; flat other than a low rounded swelling of epimeron 3; black basally, muddy yellow distally, the proportions of each considerably variable.

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 muddy yellow or reddish brown markings. Tergites 1–2 black; tergites 3–8 black with posterior margin narrowly edged yellow or reddish brown to varying degrees. Sternites I–II brown or black; sternites III–VI black to brownish black to varying degrees with posterior margin yellow; sternite VII black, sometimes posterior margin edged yellow; sternite VIII brown or black basally becoming yellowish brown distally.

Genitalia ( Fig. 30 ). Pygofer upper lobe black, long, blinker-shaped with distal portion broadened and rounded. Basal lobe spike-like, projecting inwards and backwards. Pygofer secondary basal lobe in lateral view substantially hidden, in ventral view large, apically broadly rounded. Median lobe of uncus short, wider than long. Claspers claw-like, flattened in dorsal view, apices pointed and slightly turned outwards. Aedeagus with pseudoparameres as long as or slightly longer than endotheca, in lateral view flattened, arched high above endotheca with apices turned downwards, in dorsal view fused for almost half their length, parallel to each other but subapically slightly broadened and angled outwards, thereafter tapering to a point. Endotheca nearly straight, parallel-sided, circular in cross-section, apex chamfered so that the lip is ventral, the sides turned outward and slightly expanded into marginal flanges with a very small mid ventral keel, both the flanges and keel with their margins in part finely serrated.

Female (Pl. 6). Similar to male. Abdominal segment 9 black. Ovipositor sheath short, extending some 0.5–0.75 mm beyond apex of abdomen; dark brown to black.

Measurements. Range and mean (in mm) for 10♂♂ and 7♀♀; includes smallest and largest of available specimens. Length of body: male 12.6–15.6 (13.9); female 12.5–15.3 (13.9). Length of fore wing: male 13.2–16.0 (14.6); female 14.4–16.7 (15.4). Width of fore wing: male 5.0–6.4 (5.7); female 5.4–6.6 (5.9). Ratio length/width of fore wing: male 2.5–2.7 (2.6); female 2.5–2.7 (2.6). Width of head (including eyes): male 3.7–4.9 (4.2); female 4.2–4.9 (4.4). Width of pronotum (across lateral angles): male 3.8–5.0 (4.4); female 3.8–4.5 (4.0).

Distinguishing features

This species is confined to the south–west of Western Australia where it is similar to Pau. accola , Pau. confinis , Pau. conflua , Pau. contigua , Pau. juncta and Pau. infuscata .

It differs from all in its smaller size; its maximum fore wing length being 16.0 mm while the shortest known wing length of any of the other species is 16.6 mm. Also differs from Pau. accola , Pau. conflua and Pau. juncta in lacking dark red patches on the interior of the pronotum (view under magnification). It differs from Pau. contigua , Pau. confinis and Pau. infuscata in having fore wing veins M and CuA fused as one on reaching the basal cell rather than closely abutted (view under magnification).

The male genitalia differ from all other species in having the pseudoparameres arched high above the endotheca plus the unique structure of the endotheca apex which is minutely flanged either side and keeled ventrally, the flanges and keel very finely serrated.

Song ( Fig. 30 ). The song is composed of a series of echemes and clicks.A single click precedes each echeme and echemes range from 0.3– 0.6 s. Approximately 2 phrases occur every second. The song frequency primarily occurs between 8 kHz and 18 kHz.

Figures

Figure 30.Atrapsalta dolens (A) male genitalia, lateral view (genitalia prep PAU 310);(B) male genitalia, ventral view (genitalia prep PAU 310); (C) endotheca apex; (D) waveform of male calling song recorded from Moore River Crossing near Nabaroo, WA; (E) spectrogram of male calling song; (F) species distribution map.