Yoyetta ignita, 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 : 427-432

Yoyetta ignita n. sp.

( Plate 4 ; Figs 2E , 3E , 4E , 15–18 )

Cicadetta sp. nr tristrigata sp. 5; Moss & Popple, 2000: 57.

Types. Holotype ♂, AUSTRALIA NSW, 6 km NW. of Torrington , 29.2956°S 151.6701°E, 5.i.2016, [permit no. SL100704), L. W. Popple, 495-0018, K594162 ( AM).

Paratypes. NEW SOUTH WALES. 1♀, Armidale , 1000 m, 30°31’30’’S 151°38’55’’E, 2.xii.[20]13, N. & D. Emery, 495-0013, K594163 ( AM) . 6♂, 1♀, Lookout, Armidale , 16.xii.1992, A. I. Knight ; 2♂, 1♀, Uralla , 20.xi.1914, Salisbury ; 2♂, Uralla , 25.xi.1914, W. W. Froggatt collection ; 4♂, 2♀, 5km W. of Torrington , 10.i.1993, A. I. Knight ; 4♂, 1♀, same data as previous, 18-22.xii.1990, A. I. Knight ; 1♂, 6km W. of Torrington , 3.xii.1991, A. I. Knight ( ANIC) . 2♂, 1♀, Armidale , 3.i.1988, J. Moss ; 1♂, 1♀, 10.5 km SW. Rockvale nr Armidale , 30°25.81’S 151°52.87’E, 5.xii.2001, A. E[wart] ; 1♂, Bald Knob, Gwydir Hwy, 27 km ENE. Glenn Innes , 25.i.2000, J. Moss, L. Popple, 495-0001 ; 4♂, 1♀, Armidale , 1000 m, 30°31’30’’S 151°38’55’’E, 2.xii.[20]13, N. & D. Emery, 495-0009, 495-0010 to 495-0012, 495-0014 ; 1♂, 1♀, same data as previous, 3.xii.[20]13, 495-0008 & 495-0015 ; 3♂, same data as holotype, 495-0016, 495-0017, 495-0019 [495-0019 is genitalia prep.] ; 1♂, Duck Creek Management Trail Torrington, 6.i.2016, 29.267362°S 151.669427°E, 6.i.2016, L. W. Popple, song recorded, 495-0020 ( LWP) . 1♂, Mt Kaputar , 30°16’31’’S 151°09’15’’E, 1200m, 01.xii.2012, N. & D. Emery ( EME 0495-001 ) ; 5♂ 2♀, Bundarra Rd., Armidale , 30°31’00’’S 151°38’18’’E, 1000m, 02.xii.2012, N. & D. Emery ( EME 0495-002 to -008) ; 11♂ 18♀, Armidale Arboretum , 30°31’19’’S 151°38’54E’ ’, 1020m, 03.xii.2012, N. & D. Emery (emerging, EME 0495-009 to -038) ; 1♀, Ebor Falls , 30°24’10’’S 152°20’34’’E, 1350m, 08.i.2018, D. Emery ( EME 0495-039 ) ; 1♂, UNE campus Armidale , 25.xi.2020. M. Betts ( EME0495-040 ) ; 1♂ Glen Elgin , 29°38’30’’S 152°58’40E’ ’, 10.xii.2021, T. J. Bush ( EME 0495-041 ) ; 1♂, 1♀, same location, 30.xii.2021, T. J. Bush ( EME0495-042 – 3 ) (DE) . 1♂, same data as previous ( TJB) . 1♂, Glen Innes , 3.xi.1965, [no collector named], genitalia preparation YO34 ; 1♂, Boonoo Boonoo Falls , 23.xi.1980, G. Daniels, genitalia preparation YO42 ; 1♀, Armidale , 29.xii.1978, M. Golding , 1♂, 1♀, Barrington Tops NSW, 1500 m, 13.xii.1976, A. B. Rose ; 1♂, 8 km W. of Ebor NSW, 4.i.1978, G. Daniels ( MSM) . AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY. 2♂, Mt Majura-Mt Ainslie , 35°14’47’’S 149°10’34’’E, 11.xii.2010, L. W. Popple, 495-0004 & 495-0005 ( LWP) . QUEENSLAND. 1♂, wet sclerophyll, Mt Tamborine , 500m, 15.xi.1979, [no collector named] ; 1♂, 1♀, Mt Tamborine , W. H. Donaldson, 1923 ; 1♂, Upper Dalrymple Ck via Goomburra , 21–22.xi.1987, G. B. Monteith ; 1♂, Cainbable Quarry, O[pen] F[orest], 16.xii.08–6.i.09, G. Monteith, Malaise; 1♀, Scenic Rim, Lamington Nat. Park, Green Mountain Sec., Lamington N.P. Road, Old Quarry, 28.142153°S 153.113844°E WGS 84, 700 m, 6.xii.2016, LEG. B. M. Fjellstad ( QM) . 1♂, Tamborine Mt, C. Deane ( UQIC) . 1♂, Binna Burra , 14–20.xii.[19]75, [A. Ewart] ; 1♂, Cunningham’s Gap , 12.xii.2001, J. Moss, L. Popple, mv lamp, 483- 0001 ; 1♂, 1♀, Governor’s Chair, Spicers Gap , 28°05’07’’S 152°25’03’’E, 2.i.2013, at light, L. Popple, A. McKinnon, 495-0006 & 495-0007 ( LWP) .

Audio records (LWP). NEW SOUTH WALES. Torrington State Forest , 29°16’06’’S 151°39’55’’E, 6.i.2016 ; Bismuth Dam , 29°15’13’’S 151°38’20’’E, 6.i.2016 ; Mann River Nature Reserve , 29°39’49’’S 152°03’16’’E, 7.i.2016 ; Oaky Hill , 28°24’S 152°21’E, 1.xi.2003 . QUEENSLAND. Esme Conservation Park, Tamborine Mountain, 27°56’49’’S 153°11’42’’E, 22.xii.2009 ; Mt Cordeaux , 28°03’S 152°23’E, 28.x.2007 ; Queen Mary Falls , 28°20’30’’S 152°22’17’’E, 1.xi.2003, 12.xi.2011 ; Flinders Peak , 27°48’47”S 152°48’35”E, 21.x.2014 .

Aural records (LWP). NEW SOUTH WALES. 5 km N. of Deepwater , 29°24’23’’S 151°50’50’’E, 4.i.2016 ; 10 km ESE. of Dundee, 29°36’19’’S 151°56’17’’E, 7.i.2016 ; Mt Mackenzie , 29°04’S 151°58’E, 26.i.2000, 7.i.2001, 22–23.xi.2001 ; Gibraltar Range National Park , 29°29’S 152°22’E, 16–24.i.2000 ; Mt Kaputar , 30°16’33’’S 150°07’23’’E, 12.xi.2010 ; Bark Hut Swamp , 28°53’44’’E 152°09’59’’E, 7.i.2000 ; Basket Swamp , 28°54’34’’E 152°09’12’’E, 2.xii.1998, 7.i.2000, 26.i.2000, 8.i.2015 . QUEENSLAND. Teviot Brook , 28°13’12’’S 152°31’04’’E, 26.x.2001 ; Beechmont , 28°08’E 153°12’E, 6.x.2001 ; Beechmont Range , 28°02’E 153°14’E, 13.xi.2004 ; Binna Burra, 28°09’41’’S 153°11’45’’E, 12.xii.2017 ; North Tamborine , 27°54’53’’S 153°10’44’’E, 13.xi.2004, 26.xi.2007 ; Cunningham’s Gap , 28°03’S 152°24’E, 28.x.2007 ; Spicer’s Gap Road , 28°03’43’’S 152°27’17’’E, 2.i.2013 ; Witches Falls track, Tamborine Mountain , 27°55’36’’S 153°10’15’’E, 26.xi.2007 ; Cedar Creek , 27°53’45’’S 153°10’59’’E, 13.xi.2004 ; Daggs Falls , 28°20’47’’S 152°20’45’’E, 1.xi.2003 .

Distribution, habitat and seasonality ( Fig. 15 ). This species occurs on mountains and along mountain ranges (including Great Dividing Range) from Goomburra, Flinders Peak, Mt Tamborine and the McPherson Range in south-east Queensland south through the New England Plateau to the Armidale region and Barrington Tops in New South Wales, with an isolated population on Mt Kaputar. It also occurs on the eastern slopes of Mt Ainslie in the Australian Capital Territory. Adults have been found from October to January.

Etymology. A Latin adjective (feminine), meaning ‘ignited’. This refers to the particularly strong, orange, ember-like colouration, characteristic of the abdomens of this species.

Description of adult male ( Plates 4A, 4B, 4G ; Figs 2E , 3E , 4E , 16 ).

Head almost as wide as lateral margins of pronotum; mostly black with a yellow-orange triangular marking between lateral ocelli, based on posterior margin; two similar, smaller markings between lateral ocelli and adjacent compound eyes, these often reaching posterior margin; supra-antennal plates black, occasionally edged dull orange; ocelli pinkish-brown; postclypeus mainly black, inner dorsal side with a dull yellow triangular marking based on posterior margin, ventral surface with orange margins; anteclypeus shiny black; rostrum reaching posterior edges of mid coxae, brown basally becoming dark brown apically; antennae black.

Thorax mostly black. Pronotum with a narrow yellow fascia along midline surrounded extensively by black; interior of pronotum dark brown, with irregular black areas, especially along paramedian and lateral fissures; pronotal collar orange-brown to black. Mesonotum dark orange-brown to dark reddish-brown with bold 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 dark orange-brown suffused with black. Metanotum dull orange suffused with black. Thorax below mainly black with leg cavities bordered dull orange-brown.

Legs mainly orange-brown with bold, black longitudinal markings. Fore and mid coxae mainly black, with orange-brown to pale brown edges; hind coxae black with orange apex; fore femora with inner side mainly black, outer side orange-brown, each with a black longitudinal marking; femoral spines dark orange-brown; mid femora black on anterior side, dark orange-brown on posterior side; hind femora orange-brown with narrow, dark brown longitudinal markings; fore tibiae dark orange-brown; mid and hind tibiae mainly orange brown; tarsi orange-brown to pale brown; meracantha black on basal half, pale brown apically, partially overlapping opercula.

Wings with fore wing costal margin brown to orange-brown, tending pale brown at node; CuP+1A pale brown; all other venation dark brown; basal membrane mostly orange, tending dull orange-grey distally. Hindwing venation brown; plagas and margin of jugum light brown to pale orange-brown, near white at base of jugal fold.

Opercula ( Fig. 2E ) black basally, plates pale brown and broadly rounded; each 2.0– 2.8 mm wide.

Timbals ( Fig. 3E ) with four long ribs all attached to basal spur and separated ventrally; long ribs 1–4 spanning the timbal membrane, with long ribs 3 and 4 comparatively shorter than long ribs 1 and 2; long rib 4 fused to anterior sclerotised edge of timbal; timbal plate with well developed, elongate dome bearing a distinct point of apodeme attachment near centre.

Abdomen mostly orange. Tergite 1 black; tergite 2 mainly black, with orange-brown areas on anterior half, either side of midline, curved to follow outer margin of exposed timbals; tergites 3–7 predominantly orange each with a black mark on dorsal midline, this mark being broadest on tergite 3, narrowly extending along posterior margins of lateral sides; tergite 8 black, sometimes with diffuse orange areas on anterior lateral sides. Sternite I mainly dull orange; sternite II orange suffused with black medially and laterally; sternites III–VI orange; sternite VII orange with a small, diffuse black spot at centre of posterior margin; sternite VIII dark brown becoming brown to pale brown apically.

Genitalia ( Figs 4E , 16 ) with pygofer upper lobe of moderate size, broad and broadly rounded at apex; basal pygofer lobe small, weakly developed, broadly rounded; median lobe of uncus well developed but not excessively long, slightly concave dorsally, in lateral view straight, narrow, parallel-sided; claspers robust, claw-like, in ventral view tending parallel-sided, clearly separated; aedeagus recurved distally through 180 degrees, the vesica weakly toothed either side subapically, apex terminating acutely pointing outwards and downwards with a pair of small flat ear-like lobes pointing inwards minutely toothed; pseudoparameres spanning just over half the length of theca, transparent, very slender, hair-like and sometimes weakly knobbed apically.

Description of adult f emale ( Plates 4C, 4D, 4H ). Similar to male but differing as follows.

Abdomen appears orange banded with black. Tergite 1 mainly black with dark orange areas sublaterally; tergite 2 black suffused with orange laterally, black medially with orange markings either side of midline (submedially); tergites 3–8 orange with black along midline and extending laterally along posterior margins. Sternite II predominantly black; sternites III–VIII orange; sternite VIII with small, diffuse black, wedge-shaped markings adjacent to midline. Abdominal segment 9 orange-brown to pale orange-brown, with a black longitudinal marking on each side along the anterior lateral margin, extending posteriorly on dorsolateral sides. Ovipositor sheath dark reddish-brown to black, extending less than 0.5 mm beyond apex of abdominal segment 9.

Measurements (in mm; range with mean in parentheses for 20 males and 10 females, including smallest and largest specimens). Length of body including head: male 19.5–24.5 (22.30); female 19.4–25.1 (22.15). Length of fore wing: male 23.3–30.7 (27.56); female 27.3–33.5 (30.01). Width of fore wing: male 8.0–11.2 (9.48); female 8.6–11.0 (9.79). Width of head (including eyes): male 5.3–6.7 (6.15); female 5.9–7.1 (6.43). Width of pronotum (across lateral angles): male 5.5–7.4 (6.59); female 6.2–8.0 (6.90). Width of abdomen: male 5.1–7.4 (6.39); female 4.8–7.4 (6.35). Length of ovipositor: female 7.0–8.6 (7.68).

Morphological distinguishing features. Males of Y. ignita n. sp. can be distinguished from all other described species in the genus Yoyetta by their timbal structure, which has four long ribs instead of five (with the fourth rib fused to the anterior cuticle). Females can be distinguished from most other species in the Y. tristrigata species group by having (1) a fore wing length> 27 mm, (2) tergites 3–7 predominantly orange, and (3) ovipositor sheath extending less than 0.5 mm beyond apex of abdominal segment 9. They may be impossible to distinguish from some larger specimens of Y. australicta n. sp.

Calling song ( Figs 17 , 18 ). Yoyetta ignita n. sp. produces a clicking song, which contains evenly spaced syllables that are periodically interspersed with echemes ( Fig. 17A ). Each syllable is of consistent duration (10–17 ms), with gaps of 0.05– 0.23 s between syllables when no echeme is produced between them (all statistics, n =25 recordings). When an intervening echeme is produced, the gap between syllables is sometimes increased (up to 0.5 s). Only a single echeme is ever produced between two syllables ( Fig. 17B ). The echemes (of 0.05– 0.25 s duration) are produced 0.02– 0.05 s after the preceding syllable and 0.02– 0.2 s before the next syllable. In sequences containing echemes, typically 2–3 (rarely 1) syllables are produced between each echeme ( Figs 17A–C ).

The frequency distribution of the calling song differs slightly between the syllables and the echemes. The echemes have a broad frequency plateau approximately between 5.0 and 10.3 kHz, and a dominant frequency of approximately 5.8 kHz ( Fig. 17D ). The syllables have a frequency plateau approximately between 5.7 and 9.6 kHz and a dominant frequency of approximately 7.4 kHz ( Fig. 17E ).

Considerable geographical variation exists in the amplitude of the syllables relative to the echemes ( Fig. 18 ); however, this does not appear to fit an obvious pattern. The recording from Mt Ainslie is exceptional in that the echemes have a higher amplitude than the syllables ( Fig. 18E ). Cage recordings and more distant field recordings from the Torrington area appear to show the same pattern, so it does not appear to be an artefact of recording distance from the insect. Further recordings would be required to investigate this variation in more detail.

Within the Y. tristrigata species group, the calling song of Y. ignita n. sp. is most similar to Y. robertsonae Moulds, Popple, & Emery. The call of Y. robertsonae can easily be distinguished by the syllables being arranged into repeated triplets (cf. single syllables of Y. ignita 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.

PLATE 4. Yoyetta ignita n. sp. (A), holotype male, 6 km NW. of Torrington, New South Wales (29°17’44”S 151°40’12”E), dor- sal habitus; (B), holotype male, ventral habitus; (C), paratype female, Armidale, New South Wales (30°31’18”S 151°38’33”E), dorsal habitus; (D), paratype female, as previous, ventral habitus; (E), habitat, 6 km NW. of Torrington, New South Wales; (F), habitat, Flinders Peak, Queensland (27°48’47”S 152°48’35”E); (G), male, dorsal view, 6 km NW. of Torrington, New South Wales; (H), female, lateral view, Spicers Gap, Queensland (28°05’07’’S 152°25’03’’E). Scale bars = 10 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.

FIGURE 15. Map of south-eastern mainland Australia showing the geographical distribution of Yoyetta ignita n. sp. (circles).

FIGURE 16. Yoyetta ignita 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 6 km NW. of Torrington, New South Wales (29°17’44”S 151°40’12”E).

FIGURE 17. Male calling song structure of Yoyetta ignita n. sp. illustrated in waveform plots, including: (A), an 8.5 s sample of the clicking song illustrating syllables interspersed by echemes; (B), a 0.8 s sample expanded from the plot above showing the detailed structure of three loud syllables and two soft echemes; (C), a 0.4 s sample expanded from (A) above showing the detailed structure of two syllables; (D), a power spectrum illustrating the song frequency of an echeme; and (E), a power spectrum illustrating the song frequency of the syllables. The specimen was recorded in the field by LWP at Bismuth Dam, Torrington, New South Wales (29°16’06’’S 151°39’55’’E) using RS2 (see Methods and Terminology).

FIGURE 18. Wave plots illustrating the calling song of Yoyetta ignita n. sp. from five different locations, including:(A), Flinders Peak, Queensland (27°48’47”S 152°48’35”E); (B), Bismuth Dam, Torrington, New South Wales (29°15’13’’S 151°38’20’’E); (C), Mann River Nature Reserve, New South Wales (29°39’49’’S 152°03’16’’E); (D),Armidale, New SouthWales (30°31’18.0”S 151°38’33.0”E); and (E), Mt Ainslie, Australian Capital Territory (35°15’48’’S 149°10’10’’E). Recordings were obtained using RS2 (A–C) and RS2 (D, E). Recording (D) was provided by N. J. Emery; all other recordings by LWP.