Pauropsalta extrema ( Distant, 1892 )

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 : 151-152

Pauropsalta extrema ( Distant, 1892)

Fig. 21 , Pl. 3

Melampsalta extrema Distant, 1892: 323–324 .

Pauropsalta extrema (Distant) . Goding & Froggatt, 1904: 619; Ewart, 1989: 300–301; Moulds, 1990: 132–133; Owen et al., 2015: 261, 272.

Previously, the identity of Pauropsalta extrema erroneously included an undescribed species. True Pau. extrema is a species confined to localities west of the Great Sandy Desert in Western Australia, while those individuals previously considered to be Pau. extrema from east of the Great Sandy Desert clearly differ from Pau. extrema in the male genitalia and song and consequently are here recognized as Pau. similis n.sp. True Pau. extrema can be documented as follows.

Material examined. Lectotype male, Roebourne N.W.Aust. Saunders, Distant coll. 1911-383; designated by Ewart (1989: 300) ( NHM), and specimens from the following localities: WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Fortescue R., Hamersley Rg; ( MV). Millstream ; 0.5 km WNW of Millstream; 2 km ENE of Millstream Hsd; Mt Tom Price ; Mt Newman ( JM). House Ck , c. 60 km E of Nanutarra roadhouse, 22°32.646'S 115°29.981'E; Nanutarra roadhouse, 22°32.646'S 115°29.981'E; 54 km NW of Paraburdoo, 22°57.687'S 117°19.925'E; Minilya River x-ing, 23°49.108'S 114°0.483'E; 66.5 km N of Murchison Roadhouse, 26°19.884'S 116°0.3'E; 100 km N of Murchison Roadhouse, nr Byro Hsd, 26°05.146'S 116°09.516'E; Marble Bar; Millstream , Fortescue R., S of Roebourne; Sherlock R.; Yule R., approx. 160 km S of Port Hedland ( MSM & WAM). Fortescue R., Hamersley Rg ( SAM); 1♂ (molecular voucher 06.AU.WA.SFR.01; GenBank accessions: KM377099 , KM377369 , KM377424 , KM668301 ), Sandfire Roadhouse on Great Northern Hwy , -19.771° 121.092°, 9.ii.2006, Hill, Marshall, and Moulds ( UCS).

Distribution ( Fig. 21 ). Northwestern Western Australia, for the most part between the Murchison and De Grey Rivers. It occurs in both coastal districts (e.g., Roebourne, type locality) and inland as far as Newman and Byro Station (some 200 km inland from Shark Bay) (K. Hill and D. Marshall). The occurrence of the species at Sandfire roadhouse, about half way between Broome and Port Hedland and well within the Great Sandy Desert (Hill, Marshall and Moulds), is probably due to an accidental introduction with cultivated eucalypts and the species is considered unlikely to occur there naturally. Adults have been taken from late December to early March but the species almost certainly will be found to occur in other months, both before and after these dates.

Habitat. Usually on the upper branches or trunks of eucalypts growing along rivers, watercourses or in wellwatered gardens.

Distinguishing features

Size, colour and markings are indistinguishable from those of Pau. similis . However, males can be separated from Pau. similis by the shape of the distal end of the endotheca; that of Pau. extrema bears wing-like flanges that extend laterally beyond the shaft of the endotheca ( Fig. 21 ). In contrast, the distal end of the endotheca of Pau. similis is bi-lobed with the lobes not spreading laterally beyond the shaft ( Fig. 28 ). Females are indistinguishable morphologically and can only be identified to species by locality.

Song ( Fig. 21 ). A succession of buzz-like ticks followed by a longer buzz-like call, somewhat resembling the sound of typing followed by carriage return on a manual typewriter. The locals of Marble Bar call this species the Typewriter. The dominant song frequency ranges from 6–12 kHz.

Figures

Figure 21. Pauropsalta extrema (A) male genitalia, lateral view (genitalia prep PAU 26); (B) male genitalia, ventral view (genitalia prep PAU 26); (C) waveform of male calling song recorded from west side of Roebourne, WA; (D) spectrogram of male calling song; (E) species distribution map

Figure 28. Pauropsalta similis n.sp. (A) male genitalia, lateral view (genitalia prep PAU 329); (B) male genitalia, ventral view (genitalia prep PAU 329); (C) waveform of male calling song recorded from Dunmarra Roadhouse, Stuart Hwy (Hwy 87), NT; (D) spectrogram of male calling song; (E) species distribution map.