Yoyetta robusta, Popple & Emery, 2022

Popple, Lindsay W. & Emery, David L., 2022, Five new species of Yoyetta Moulds (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadettinae) from south-eastern Australia, Zootaxa 5141 (5), pp. 401-441 : 433-436

Yoyetta robusta n. sp.

( Plate 5 ; Figs 2F , 3F , 4F , 19–21 )

Cicadetta sp. nr tristrigata sp. 16; Moss & Popple, 2000: 57.

Types. Holotype ♂, AUSTRALIA NSW, Dundee district , 29°36’19’’S 151°56’17’’E, roadside trees, 7.i.2016, recorded, [permit number] SL100704, L. W. Popple, 494-0009, K580347 ( AM).

Paratypes. NEW SOUTH WALES. 6♂, 5km W. of Torrington , 10.i.1993, A. I. Knight ( ANIC) . 2♂, Bald Knob, Gwydir Hwy, 27 km ENE. of Glenn Innes , 25.i.2000, J. Moss, L. Popple, 494-0001 & 494-0002 ; 4♂, Blatherarm Camp, Torrington , 29.2523°S 151.7072°E, L. W. Popple, at light, 494-0004, 494-0005, 494-0007, 494-0008 ; 1♂, same data as holotype, genitalia prep., 494-0010 ( LWP) . 1♂, Blatherarm Camp, Torrington , 29.2523°S 151.7072°E, L. W. Popple, at light, 494-0006 ; 1♂, Gwydir Hway, Glen Elgin , 29°38’30’’S 152°02’28’’E, 16.xii.2021, T. J. Bush ( EME0494-001 ) ; 7♂, same location, 30.xii.2021, T. J. Bush ( EME0494-002 to EME0494-008 ) (DE) . 1♂, same data as previous ( TJB) . QUEENSLAND: 2♂, Stanthorpe Q., V. Fanning ( UQIC) . 1♂, Wyber [b]a, in car, Stanthorpe, 20.x.[19]68, D. C. Lack ; 1♀, Glen Aplin Qld , 16.i.1963, R. J. Elder ( QM) . 1♂, Stanthorpe, Rose St , parkland beside lake, 28°39’47’’S 151°56’20’’E, 24.i.2010, L. W. Popple, 494-0003 ( LWP) . 1♂, Amiens State Forest , W. of Stanthorpe, 28°35’S 151°48’E, 1.xii.1985, G. Daniels ( MSM) .

Audio records (LWP). NEW SOUTH WALES. Torrington State Forest , 29°16’06’’S 151°39’55’’E, 6.i.2016 ; Blatherarm Camp, Torrington , 29.2523°S 151.7072°E, 6.i.2016 ; Dundee district, 29°36’19’’S 151°56’17’’E, 7.i.2016 ; Old Grafton Road, Glen Elgin , 29.65546°S 152.04396°E, 7.i.2016 . QUEENSLAND: Girraween National Park , 28°51’S 151°57’E, 6.i.2001 .

Aural records (LWP). NEW SOUTH WALES. Old Grafton Road, Glen Elgin , 29.65546°S 152.04396°E, 25.i.2000 ; Bark Hut Swamp , 28°53’44’’E 152°09’59’’E, 2.xii.1998, 7.i.2000, 21.xi.2001 ; Basket Swamp , 28°54’34’’E 152°09’12’’E, 2.xii.1998, 7.i.2000, 26.i.2000, 21.xi.2001, 8.i.2015 . QUEENSLAND. Mt Marlay, Stanthorpe , 28°39’14’’S 151°56’44’’E, 6.i.2001, 25.xi.2001, 24.i.2009 ; Cypress Ridge, Ballandean , 28°48’22’’S 151°52’01’’E, 23.i.2009, 22.i.2010 ; Rose St, Stanthorpe , 28°39’47’’S 151°56’20’’E, 24.i.2010 .

Distribution, habitat and seasonality ( Fig. 19 ). This species is known from the border region of New South Wales and Queensland, in the area bounded by Glen Elgin near Glen Innes in the south, Basket Swamp in the east, Stanthorpe in the north and the Torrington area in the west. Populations are associated with temperate eucalypt woodland. Adults have been found from October to January.

Etymology. A Latin adjective (feminine), meaning ‘robust’. This refers to the sturdy, stocky appearance of this species relative to many of its congeners.

Description of adult male ( Plates 5A, 5B, 5E ; Figs 2F , 3F , 4F , 20 ).

Head slightly narrower than lateral margins of pronotum; mainly brown to dark brown and black, with black areas surrounding the ocelli, and with a yellow-brown triangular marking between lateral ocelli, based on posterior margin; supra-antennal plates black, each with a brown spot near the base of the antenna; ocelli pinkish-brown; postclypeus mainly brown on dorsal side, with black anterior margin; ventral side with pale pinkish-brown lateral margins, and with an orange-brown spot on central anterior margin; anteclypeus shiny black; rostrum reaching to area between mid and hind coxae, medium brown basally becoming dark brown to black apically; antennae dark brown to black.

Thorax mainly brown to dark brown. Pronotum with a narrow yellow-brown fascia along midline surrounded extensively by black; interior of pronotum dark brown, with narrow black areas, especially along paramedian and lateral fissures; pronotal collar brown, with black anterior sublateral margins. Mesonotum brown to dark brown, with prominent black submedian and lateral sigilla; cruciform elevation pale brown to pale orange-brown apart from a broad black midline and black anterior arms; wing grooves mainly pale brown to brown. Metanotum mostly black. Thorax below mainly brown to pale brown.

Legs mainly pale brown with black longitudinal markings. Coxae variably black on anterior sides, pale brown over remainder; fore femora with anterior side black, posterior side pale brown, each a central dark brown longitudinal marking, and another more prominent marking on ventral margin; femoral spines dark brown; mid and hind femora dark brown on anterior side, pale brown on posterior side; fore tibiae dark brown; mid tibiae brown; hind tibiae pale brown; tarsi brown; claws brown to dark brown; meracantha black at base, otherwise pale brown, slightly overlapping opercula.

Wings with fore wing costal margin brown, tending pale brown at base; CuP+1A pale brown basally, otherwise all venation reddish-brown to dark brown; basal membrane orange. Hindwing venation brown to dark brown; plagas and margin of jugum light brown to pale orange or cream.

Opercula ( Fig. 2F ) black basally, plates pale brown and broad, plates rounded; each approximately 2.5 mm wide.

Timbals ( Fig. 3F ) with five long ribs, all separated ventrally; ribs 1–4 spanning the timbal membrane and attached to the basal spur, rib 5 unattached, shorter, occupying dorsal two thirds of timbal only; timbal plate with well developed, elongate dome bearing a distinct point of apodeme attachment near centre.

Abdomen mostly yellow. Tergite 1 dark brown to black, with margins pale yellow-brown; tergite 2 black with diffuse yellow-brown areas sublaterally, curved to follow outer margin of exposed timbals; tergites 3-7 predominantly yellow-brown, each with a black mark on dorsal midline, this sometimes narrowly extending along posterior margins of lateral sides where it merges into a diffuse black irregular marking, apex anterior facing; tergite 8 dark brown to black, sometimes with diffuse dark yellow-brown areas on posterior half of lateral sides. Sternite I mainly brown and yellow; sternite II mainly dark brown with yellow areas ventrolaterally; sternites III–VI yellow-brown; sternite VII yellow-brown, with a diffuse black spot at centre of posterior margin; sternite VIII brown.

Genitalia ( Figs 4F , 20 ) with pygofer brown; upper lobe of moderate size, broad and broadly rounded at apex; basal pygofer lobe comparatively small, broadly rounded; median lobe of uncus well developed but not as long as the distance between the apices of the upper pygofer lobe and dorsal beak, slightly concave dorsally, in lateral view straight, narrow, parallel-sided; claspers robust, claw-like, in ventral view clearly separated, with apices gradually tapering laterally; aedeagus recurved distally through 180 degrees, the vesica weakly toothed either side subapically, apex terminating in a short, transparent ‘beak’ pointing outwards and a pair of very small flat ear-like lobes pointing inwards, minutely toothed; pseudoparameres long, not quite reaching distal part of theca, transparent, slender, hairlike and broadly tapered apically.

Description of adult female ( Plates 5C, 5D ). Similar to male but differing as follows.

Abdomen mainly brown to orange-brown. Tergite 1 mainly black; tergites 2–7 black on anterior half and along dorsal midline, brown over remainder; tergite 8 mainly brown with black along midline and on anterior margin. Sternite II mainly yellow, dark brown to black medially; sternites III–VII yellow, each with a diffuse dark brown triangular central marking, apex facing anteriorly; abdominal segment 9 brown with a pair of sharply defined, paramedian black bands on anterior three-quarters, and a small black lateral spot below distal end of each black band. Ovipositor sheath black, not extending beyond apex of abdominal segment 9.

Measurements (in mm; range with mean in parentheses for 10 males and 1 female, including smallest and largest specimens). Length of body including head: male 21.9–25.9 (23.57); female 24.3. Length of fore wing: male 26.7–30.9 (29.28); female 32.2. Width of fore wing: male 9.3–10.9 (10.04); female 10.6. Width of head (including eyes): male 5.6–6.6 (6.20); female 6.9. Width of pronotum (across lateral angles): male 6.2–7.2 (6.79); female 7.7. Width of abdomen: male 6.2–7.3 (6.81); female 7.5. Length of ovipositor: female 6.1.

Morphological distinguishing features. Males can be distinguished from other species in the Y. tristrigata species group by the following combination of characters: (1) median lobe of uncus short, not as long as the distance between the apices of the upper pygofer lobe and dorsal beak; (2) fore wing length> 26 mm; (2) head width> 5.6 mm; (3) timbal long rib five present and about equal in width (thickness) to adjacent long rib 4; (4) pronotal collar brown; and (5) tergites yellow-brown with black markings. Females of Y. robusta n. sp. are easily distinguished from other species in the Y. tristrigata species group, with the exception of Y. celis and some specimens of Y. humphreyae and Y. corindi n. sp., by having a dark brown to black central marking on sternites III–VII. They can be distinguished from these remaining three species by having an ovipositor sheath that does not extend beyond the apex of abdominal segment 9.

Calling song ( Fig. 21 ). The male calling song of Y. robusta n. sp. has two modes. One mode (cadence mode; Fig. 21A ) contains phrases that each comprise a series of triple syllables followed by a soft echeme. The other mode (clicking mode, not illustrated) is composed entirely of triple syllables. The cadence mode is produced by stationary males, whereas the clicking mode (not illustrated), is produced mainly in flight.

The triple syllables ( Figs 21B, 21C ) have the same structure in both modes, with a repetition rate of 2.3–4.6 Hz (0.22– 0.43 s total duration; each syllable approximately 0.01 s; all statistics, n =11 recordings). Within each triple syllable, the gap between the first and second syllable (0.03– 0.07 s) is consistently longer than gap between the second and third syllable (0.02– 0.03 s); however, the gaps between each triple syllable are the longest (0.16– 0.27 s). Close inspection of the structure of each syllable reveals four pulses, each successively higher in amplitude. In clear recordings a weak fifth preceding pulse may be discernible.

The phrases in the cadence mode each contain between 14 and 26 triple syllables followed by an echeme (phrase duration 4.5– 16.5 s; n =4 recordings). At the end of each phrase there is a long gap after the final triple syllable (0.21– 0.55 s). The echeme (duration 0.18– 0.23 s) has a much lower amplitude than the preceding triple syllables ( Fig. 21C ). Close inspection of the structure of the long echeme reveals a series of evenly distributed pulses (total duration 0.18– 0.85 s). Occasionally the pulse structure is broken by a brief gap after the first 2–3 pulses near the start of each echeme. Each phrase is separated by gaps of approximately 0.9– 3.5 s.

The frequency distribution of the calling song differs slightly between the syllables and the echemes. The syllables have a frequency plateau approximately between 7.7 and 10.8 kHz and a dominant frequency of approximately 8.7 kHz ( Fig. 21D ). The echemes have a lower frequency plateau approximately between 5.7 and 8.7 kHz, and a dominant frequency of approximately 8.6 kHz ( Fig. 21E ).

Within the Y. tristrigata species group, the calling song of Y. robusta n. sp. is most similar to Y. robertsonae . The call of Y. robertsonae can easily be distinguished by the syllables having 6 prominent pulses (cf. a total of 4–5 pulses in Y. robusta n. sp., not all being prominent) and by the production of several echemes, produced successively between each triple syllable intermittently in the calling song ( Moulds et al., 2020) (cf. one echeme restricted to the end of each phrase in Y. robusta n. sp.).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Photos of male left opercula, with dorsal edge at left and posterior margin at bottom: (A), Yoyetta australicta n. sp., Mount Taylor, Australian Capital Territory (35°22’08’’S 149°03’52’’E); (B), Y. australicta n. sp., Glenalta, South Australia (35°01’S 138°38’E); (C), Y. corindi n. sp., Arrawarra, New South Wales (30°02’32’’S 153°11’22’’E); (D), Y. delicata n. sp., 4 km SSE. of Stannum, New South Wales, (29°21’12”S 151°48’11”E); (E), Y. ignita n. sp. Armidale, New South Wales (30°31’18”S 151°38’33”E); (F), Y. robusta n. sp., Blatherarm Camp, Torrington, New South Wales (29°15’08”S 151°42’26”E). Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Photos of male left timbals, with dorsal edge at left and posterior margin at bottom: (A), Yoyetta australicta n. sp., Mount Taylor, Australian Capital Territory (35°22’08’’S 149°03’52’’E); (B), Y. australicta n. sp., Glenalta, South Australia (35°01’S 138°38’E); (C), Y. corindi n. sp., Arrawarra, New South Wales (30°02’32’’S 153°11’22’’E); (D), Y. delicata n. sp., 4 km SSE. of Stannum, New South Wales, (29°21’12”S 151°48’11”E); (E), Y. ignita n. sp. Armidale, New South Wales (30°31’18”S 151°38’33”E); (F), Y. robusta n. sp., Blatherarm Camp, Torrington, New South Wales (29°15’08”S 151°42’26”E). Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 4. Lateral views of the caudal abdomen of: (A), Yoyetta australicta n. sp., Mount Taylor, Australian Capital Territory (35°22’08’’S 149°03’52’’E); (B), Y. australicta n. sp., Glenalta, South Australia (35°01’S 138°38’E); (C), Y. corindi n. sp., Arrawarra, New South Wales (30°02’32’’S 153°11’22’’E); (D), Y. delicata n. sp., 4 km SSE. of Stannum, New South Wales, (29°21’12”S 151°48’11”E); (E), Y. ignita n. sp. Armidale, New South Wales (30°31’18”S 151°38’33”E); (F), Y. robusta n. sp., Blatherarm Camp, Torrington, New South Wales (29°15’08”S 151°42’26”E). Scale bars = 1 mm.

PLATE 5. Yoyetta robusta n. sp. (A), paratype male, Bald Knob, New South Wales (29°38’22”S 151°57’15”E), dorsal habitus; (B), paratype male, as previous, ventral habitus; (C), paratype female, Glen Aplin, Queensland (28°44’S 151°53’E), dorsal ha- bitus (image taken by Susan Wright, Queensland Museum); (D), paratype female, as previous, ventral habitus (image taken by Susan Wright, Queensland Museum); (E), male, lateral view, Glen Elgin, New South Wales (29°38’34”S 152°02’33”E) (photo credit: T. J. Bush); (F), habitat, Glen Elgin, New South Wales (29°39’20”S 152°02’38”E); (G), habitat, Blatherarm Camp, Tor- rington, New South Wales (29°15’08”S 151°42’26”E); (H), habitat, Ballandean, Queensland (28°48’22”S 151°51’59”E). Scale bars = 10 mm.

FIGURE 19. Map of south-eastern mainland Australia showing the geographical distribution of Yoyetta robusta n. sp. (circles).

FIGURE 20. Yoyetta robusta n. sp.: illustration of male pygofer and internal genitalia; (a), viewed laterally from the left; (b), viewed ventrally; (c), aedeagus; (d), theca; (e), apex of theca. Characters depicted as in Figure 5. Specimen from Dundee district, New South Wales (29°36’19’’S 151°56’17’’E).

FIGURE 21. Male calling song structure of Yoyetta robusta n. sp. illustrated in waveform plots, including: (A), a 6.0 s sample of the stationary clicking song with s sequence of triple syllables followed by an echeme; (B), a 0.8 s sample expanded from the plot above showing the detailed structure of three triple syllables; (C), a 0.4 s sample expanded from (A) above showing the detailed structure of one triple syllable followed by the echeme; (D), a power spectrum illustrating the song frequency of the syllables; and (E), a power spectrum illustrating the song frequency of the echeme. The specimen was recorded in the field by LWP in the Dundee district, New South Wales (29°36’19’’S 151°56’17’’E) using RS2 (see Methods and Terminology).