Yoyetta Moulds 2012
Creators: name: Emery, David L.
name: Emery, Nathan J.
name: Popple, Lindsay W.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Cicadidae
Yoyetta

description: Morphological key to species of Yoyetta cicadas
Specimens must be set with wings spread to begin using this key.A vernier calliper is required to check measurements. Male specimens must often be examined microscopically and may require dissection in some instances.
Key to males
1. Hind wing plagas white................................................................................ 2
- Hind wing plagas pale brownish, pinkish or grey........................................................... 19
2. Abdominal tergites 2–8 and sternites II–VII uniformly black or brown without orange-brown or yellow-brown markings; intersegmental membranes dark and inconspicuous.......................................................... 3
- Abdominal tergites 2–8 mainly black with contrasting orange-brown or yellow-brown markings, or contrasting intersegmental membranes; sternites II–VII mainly yellow-brown or orange................................................... 5
3. Fore wing basal membranes orange or pale orange-white............................................... Y. timothyi
- Fore wing basal membranes red.......................................................................... 4
4. When viewed from ventral side, tip of aedeagus strongly bifurcate, with apical arms splayed laterally, sometimes in a weak “v” shape, at an angle of 150–180 degrees............................................................. Y. denisoni
- When viewed from ventral side, tip of aedeagus undivided or weakly divided, without distinct lateral arms...... Y. kershawi
5. Tergites 5–7 partly black with contrasting, orange or yellow markings........................................... 6
- Tergites 5–7 entirely dark brown to black with yellow or orange coloration restricted to the intersegmental membranes.... 11
6. Opercula mainly pale grey to dark grey-brown.............................................................. 7
- Opercula mainly red or orange.......................................................................... 10
7. Dorsal surface of head, pronotum and mesonotum typically covered with dense gold pubescence; fore wing basal membranes orange or pink........................................................................................ 8
- Head, pronotum and mesonotum not covered in conspicuous pubescence; fore wing basal membranes pale grey.......... 9
8. Hind wing plagas narrow on ac2(v) (along vein 3); apex of theca blunt and club-like..................... Y. abdominalis
- Hind wing plagas broad on ac2 (along vein 3), though not quite as broad as on jugum; apex of theca tapered and angled 30° ventrally.................................................................................... Y. loftyensis
9. Lateral sides of tergites 3–7 mainly orange; tergite 8 with orange markings on anterodorsal side................. Y. aaede
- Lateral sides of tergites 3–7 mainly black (with yellow dorsolateral markings); anterodorsal side of tergite 8 black..................................................................................................... Y. serrata
10. Body length <23 mm; sternites III–VII bright reddish-orange without a continuous dark brown to black central marking............................................................................................... Y. spectabilis
- Body length> 23 mm; sternites II–VII yellowish-orange or reddish-brown with a continuous dark brown to black central marking....................................................................................... Y. regalis
11. Fore wing length ≤ 26 mm ............................................................................. 12
- Fore wing length> 26 mm ............................................................................. 14
12. Opercula mainly black on basal half, pale dull yellow over remainder; meracantha orange..................... Y. incepta
- Opercula almost entirely pale reddish-brown or pale grey; meracantha pale brown................................. 13
13. Pronotum dark brown to black with contrasting yellow-brown central marking; fore wing basal membranes orange.................................................................................................... Y. electrica
- Pronotum dark brown to black without contrasting yellow-brown central marking; fore wing basal membranes grey to smoky orange.................................................................................... Y. hunterorum
14. Dorsal surface of head, pronotum and mesonotum with an inconspicuous, sparse covering of pubescence; lateral depressions adjacent to cruciform elevation conspicuous, brown to pale brown....................................... Y. grandis
- Dorsal surface of head, pronotum and mesonotum typically with dense, black pubescence; lateral depressions adjacent to cruciform elevation inconspicuous, typically dark brown to black.............................................. 15
15. Hind wing plagas broad; with opaque white area expressed equally in cells ac3 and ac2(v) (either side of the jugal fold)............................................................................................... Y. subalpina
- Hind wing plagas narrow or predominantly expressed in ac3, with a narrow extent on ac2(v) (along vein 3a)............ 16
16. Tergite 8 black with a brown, reddish-brown or dark reddish-brown posterior lateral marking on each side; apex of theca distinctly club-shaped; transparent flange along margin of recurvature not quite as broad as thecal shaft........... Y. regalis
- Tergite 8 entirely dark brown to black without posterior lateral markings; apex of theca not club-shaped but narrow with ornamentation; transparent flange along margin of recurvature much broader than thecal shaft....................... 17
17. Hind wing plagas broad and occupying the jugum................................................... Y. douglasi
- Hind wing plagas narrow with jugum mainly hyaline........................................................ 18
18. Fore wings conspicuously broad, with bend in ambient vein about equal to bend in costa; sternites III–VII typically with dark brown to black central markings................................................................. Y. ngarabal
- Fore wings not conspicuously broad, with bend in ambient vein more pronounced than bend in costa; sternites III–VII usually without dark brown to black central markings........................................................ Y. verrens
19. Median lobe of uncus long, protruding conspicuously further ventrally than the claspers............................ 20
- Median lobe of uncus short, not protruding conspicuously further ventrally than the claspers......................... 23
20. Abdomen with sternite VIII entirely orange-brown or light orange brown............................. Y. darug sp. nov.
- abdomen with sternite VIII dark brown to black at base grading to orange brown, becoming paler towards apex......... 21
21. Fore wings with weak to moderate infuscations along crossveins r and r-m; median lobe of uncus shorter than distance between dorsal beak and apex of upper pygofer lobe.................................................... Y. fumea sp. nov.
- Fore wings with or without infuscations along crossveins r and r-m (a weak infuscation may be present); median lobe of uncus about as long as the distance between the apices of the upper pygofer lobe and dorsal beak.......................... 22
22. Median lobe of uncus narrow at base, widest around mid length and tapering towards apex................ Y. humphreyae
- Median lobe of uncus narrow, slightly expanding distally, with rounded apex............................... Y. corindi
23. Head width <5 mm ................................................................................... 24
- Head width ≥ 5 mm ................................................................................... 33
24. Thorax mainly brown................................................................................. 25
- Thorax mainly black.................................................................................. 27
25. Tergite 1 pale brown; pronotum mainly pale brown...................................................... Y. celis
- Tergite 1 black or dark brown; pronotum mainly brown or black............................................... 26
26. Fore wing length> 20 mm; cruciform elevation and surrounding areas adjacent to wing grooves all much paler and brighter than remainder of thorax.......................................................................... Y. tristrigata
- Fore wing length <20 mm; cruciform elevation and surrounding areas adjacent to wing grooves not all distinctly paler than remainder of thorax........................................................................... Y. fluviatilis
27. Pronotum mainly brown, contrasting with mesonotum.................................. Y. tristrigata (dark specimen)
- Pronotum mainly dark brown to black, not distinctly paler than mesonotum...................................... 28
28. Lateral edges of tergites orange, with dark markings along posterior margin (broad or narrow, often diffuse)............ 29
- Lateral edges of tergites orange, without dark markings on posterior margin...................................... 30
29. Fore wing length usually> 20 mm; theca recurved distally through 180 degrees; apex weakly upturned.......... Y. delicata
- Fore wing length <20 mm; theca recurved distally through 120 degrees; apex downturned.................... Y. fluviatilis
30. Theca recurved distally through 180 degrees; apex straight or weakly upturned................................... 31
- Theca recurved distally through 120 degrees; apex straight or downturned....................................... 32
31. Fore wing length typically> 20 mm; apex of theca weakly upturned...................................... Y. delicata
- Fore wing length <20 mm; apex of theca straight................................................ Y. landsboroughi
32. Fore wing length> 20 mm; timbal long rib 4 appearing discontinuous, with dorsal and ventral areas connected by only a very narrow medial area........................................................................ Y. nigrimontana
- Fore wing length <20 mm; timbal long rib 4 clearly continuous, narrowing only slightly in medial area......... Y. fluviatilis
33. Timbal with four long ribs; fourth (anteriormost) long rib fused to the anterior cuticle.......................... Y. ignita
- Timbal with five long ribs, all separate from anterior cuticle and surrounded by pale timbal membrane................. 34
34. Timbal long rib 5 distinctly narrower than widest portion of adjacent long rib 4............................ Y. repetens
- Timbal long rib 5 about equal in width to adjacent long rib 4.................................................. 35
35. Thorax mainly brown to dark brown..................................................................... 36
- Thorax mainly black.................................................................................. 40
36. Fore wing length> 26 mm ............................................................................. 37
- Fore wing length ≤ 26 mm ............................................................................. 38
37. Fore wings hyaline, without smoky infusions or infuscations............................................ Y. robusta
- Fore wings with smoky infusion over distal apical cells, often with an infuscation present on crossveins r and r-m............................................................................................ Y. psammitica sp. nov.
38. Cruciform elevation and surrounding areas adjacent to wing grooves all much paler and brighter than remainder of thorax............................................................................................. Y. tristrigata
- Cruciform elevation and surrounding areas adjacent to wing grooves not all distinctly paler than remainder of thorax..... 39
39. Length of body typically> 18 mm; tergite 2 black medially......................................... Y. cumberlandi
- Length of body <18 mm; tergite 2 orange with black restricted to anterior margin.............................. Y. celis
40. Tergite 2 mainly orange.......................................................... Y. tristrigata (dark specimen)
- Tergite 2 mainly black................................................................................ 41
41. Opercula relatively small, each <1.9 mm wide....................................................... Y. delicata
- Opercula not relatively small, each ≥2.0 mm wide.......................................................... 42
42. Apex of theca very short lanceolate with a pair of upright basal lobes........................................... 43
- Apex of theca produced as a long spine with ornamentation and without a pair of upright basal lobes.......... Y. australicta
43. Pronotal collar brown; tergites 3–7 yellow-brown with black markings....................... Y. robusta (dark specimen)
- Pronotal collar dark brown to black; tergites 3–7 orange with black markings............................ Y. robertsonae
Key to females (excluding Y. enigmatica for which the female is unknown)
1. Hind wing plagas white................................................................................ 2
- Hind wing plagas cream, brown or orange to pink.......................................................... 17
2. Ovipositor sheath extends <1 mm beyond apex of abdominal segment 9.......................................... 3
- Ovipositor sheath extends ≥ 1 mm beyond apex of abdominal segment 9......................................... 13
3. Pronotum mainly black or dark brown with a contrasting yellow-brown central marking............................. 4
- Pronotum mainly black with central marking inconspicuous or similar in colour to other parts of pronotum, or brown with or without a pale brown central marking..................................................................... 9
4. Head width <6 mm .................................................................................... 5
- Head width> 6 mm .................................................................................... 7
5. Tergites 6 and 7 orange anteriorly with broad black bands extending to posterior margins...................... Y. aaede
- Tergites 6 and 7 black or dark brown anteriorly and orange or orange-brown posteriorly............................. 6
6. Fore wing length> 21 mm ...................................................................... Y. electrica
- Fore wing length <21 mm ....................................................................... Y. incepta
7. Fore wings with basal membranes pale whitish-grey; tergite 8 mainly black, without a marking that is similar in shape to the yellow markings on tergites 5–7................................................................... Y. serrata
- Fore wings with basal membranes orange, light orange or pink; tergite 8 with distinct orange lateral marking that is similar in shape to yellow markings on tergites 5–7.................................................................. 8
8. Dorsal surface of head, pronotum and mesonotum typically covered with dense gold pubescence........... Y. abdominalis
- Dorsal surface of head, pronotum and mesonotum typically with sparse, black pubescence or without conspicuous pubescence................................................................................... Y. loftensis
9. Fore wing length <21 mm ....................................................................... Y. incepta
- Fore wing length> 21 mm ............................................................................. 10
10. Tergites 5–7 black with distinctive, yellow triangular markings on dorsolateral sides, widening towards posterior margins............................................................................................. Y. spectabilis
- Tergites 5–7 mainly brown to reddish-brown, or black....................................................... 11
11. Fore wing basal membranes red or pink................................................. Y. denisoni or Y. kershawi
- Fore wing basal membranes pale orange-white or orange..................................................... 12
12. Tergites 3–8 brown, a combination of brown (or reddish-brown) and black or entirely black................... Y. timothyi
- Tergites 3–8 black with orange coloration on dorsolateral posterior margins, with the orange most conspicuous on tergite 6............................................................................................ Y. subalpina
13. Ovipositor sheath extends ≥ 2 mm beyond apex of abdominal segment 9......................................... 14
- Ovipositor sheath extends <2 mm beyond apex of abdominal segment 9......................................... 16
14. Hind wing plagas narrow, restricted to basal margins of anal cell 3 and vein 2A............................. Y. verrens
- Hind wing plagas broad, extending to cover almost the entire jugum............................................ 15
15. Ovipositor sheath extends approximately 3 mm beyond apex of abdominal segment 9..................... Y. hunterorum
- Ovipositor sheath extends approximately 3 mm beyond apex of abdominal segment 9....................... Y. douglasi
16. Fore wings distinctly angulated at costal nodes; costal veins mainly reddish-brown or orange-brown; dorsolateral sides of tergites mainly reddish-brown..................................................................... Y. regalis
- Fore wings gradually curved at node; costal veins mainly dark brown; dorsolateral sides of tergites mainly dull brown to black........................................................................................ Y. grandis
17. Ovipositor sheath extends> 2 mm beyond apex of abdominal segment 9.................................. Y. ngarabal
- Ovipositor sheath extends <2 mm beyond apex of abdominal segment 9......................................... 18
18. Ovipositor sheath extends ≥ 1 mm beyond apex of abdominal segment 9......................................... 19
- Ovipositor sheath extends <1 mm beyond apex of abdominal segment 9......................................... 20
19. Dorsal side of body mainly pale brown................................................................ Y. celis
- Dorsal side of body mainly brown............................................................ Y. darug sp. nov.
20. Thorax mainly black.................................................................................. 21
- Thorax mainly brown (with black sigilla)................................................................. 28
21. Fore wing length> 27 mm ............................................................................. 22
- Fore wing length <27 mm ............................................................................. 24
22. Tergites 3–7 predominantly black.............................................................. Y. robertsonae
- Tergites 3–7 predominantly orange...................................................................... 23
23. Specimen from South Australia ................................................. Y. australicta (larger specimens)
- Specimen from New South Wales ................................................................... Y. ignita
24. Fore wing length <22 mm ............................................................................. 25
- Fore wing length> 22 mm ............................................................................. 27
25. Legs with fore and mid tibiae mainly dark ochraceous to black..................................... Y. nigrimontana
- Legs with fore and mid tibiae brown to orange-brown........................................................26
26. Eyes clearly red or dull red...................................................................... Y. fluviatilis
- Eyes not clearly red or dull red; instead black, brown, grey or faded..................... Y. landsboroughi, Y. fluviatilis *
27. Head width <5.2 mm ...................................................................... Y. nigrimontana
- Head width> 5.2 mm ..................................................... Y. australicta, Y. delicata, Y. repetens *
28. Fore wings with weak to moderate infuscations along crossveins r and r-m....................................... 29
- Fore wings without infuscations along crossveins r and r-m................................................... 30
29. Ovipositor sheath extends conspicuously beyond anal styles.................................. Y. psammitica sp. nov. Ovipositor sheath does not extend noticeably beyond anal styles................................... Y. fumea sp. nov.
30. Fore wings with a weak to moderate smoky infusion over distal apical cells...................................... 31
- Fore wings without a smoky infusion over distal apical cells.................................................. 32
31. Ventral side of abdominal segment 9 dark brown to black.......................................... Y. humphreyae
- Ventral side of abdominal segment 9 orange-brown......................................... Y. psammitica sp. nov.
32. Sternites with dark triangular central markings (prominent or diffuse)........................................... 33
- Sternites without dark triangular central markings.......................................................... 34
33. Ovipositor sheath extends <0.5 mm beyond apex of abdominal segment 9................................. Y. robusta
- Ovipositor sheath extends 0.5 mm –<1 mm beyond apex of abdominal segment 9.............. Y. corindi, Y. humphreyae *
34. Ovipositor sheath extends 0.5 mm –<1 mm beyond apex of abdominal segment 9............... Y. corindi, Y. humphreyae *
- Ovipositor sheath extends <0.5 mm beyond apex of abdominal segment 9....................................... 35
35. Fore wing length> 27 mm ......................................................................... Y. ignita
- Fore wing length <27 mm ............................................................................. 36
36. Body length <17 mm, fore wing length <21 mm ..................................................... Y. fluviatilis
- Body length> 17 mm, fore wing length>21............................................................... 37
37. Thorax with cruciform elevation and surrounding areas adjacent to wing grooves distinctly paler and brighter than remainder of mesonotum............................................................................... Y. tristrigata
- Thorax with cruciform elevation and surrounding areas adjacent to wing grooves not noticeably paler than remainder of mesonotum......................................................................................... 38
38. Abdominal tergites 3–7 with black lateral markings clearly defined................................... Y. cumberlandi
- Abdominal tergites 3–7 with dull brown lateral markings diffuse and faded............................... Y. repetens
* These species cannot be reliably differentiated with female specimens alone. Male specimens are required. In some cases, checking information on geographical distributions may be helpful.
description: Published as part of Emery, David L., Emery, Nathan J. & Popple, Lindsay W., 2025, Description of three new cicada species in the genus Yoyetta Moulds (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadettinae), from eastern Australia, pp. 151-184 in Zootaxa 5590 (2) on pages 179-182, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5590.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14952986