Myopsalta crucifera Popple 2017
Creators: name: Popple, Lindsay W.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Cicadidae
Myopsalta
Myopsalta crucifera

description: Myopsalta crucifera (Ashton, 1912)
(Figs 1D, 2D, 3G, 3H, 4, 9, 10; Plate 4)
Melampsalta crucifera Ashton, 1912: 226, 227, Pl. 9a.
Cicadetta crucifera (Ashton, 1912): Moulds, 1988; Moulds, 1990: 3, 5, 8, 11, 159, 160, 167–169, Pl. 1, Pl. 19, Fig. 4, Fig. 8, Fig. 8a.
Myopsalta crucifera (Ashton, 1912): Moulds, 2012: 15, 17, 21, 74, 151–154, Fig. 163; Marshall, 2016: 10, Fig. 2B.
Types. Holotype: ♀ ‘ M. crucifera Ashton type’, ‘ Holotype’, ‘ Ashton coll.’, ‘ K67573 ’ (AM). Other material. QUEENSLAND: 1♂ Mareeba (Railway carriage), ii.1911, Ashton Coll., K 295926; 1♀ Cairns, A.M. Lea, Ashton Coll., Melampsalta crucifera Asht.; 1♂ ([damaged] 1♀ Kuranda, 14.i. [19]51, J. C. Brooks, K296002, K296003; 1♂ Cairns, N.Q. [19]17, J. F. Illingworth Collector, [19]79, K296005; 1♀ Ashton Coll., K 296006; 1♀ [damaged] Cairns dist., A. M. Lea, Ashton Coll., K 296007; 1♀ 30km E. Georgetown, 9.ii.2005, J. Hasenpusch, K209141 (AM); 1♂ 3♀ Baldwin Swamp East Bundaberg, 24.xi.1971, H. Frauca, ANIC Database No. 20 0 0 5354, [♂] BOLD Proc. ID ANICY899-11; 2♂ Bundaberg Creek, Bundaberg, 11.xi.1971, H. Frauca; 2♂ 1♀ Bundaberg Creek, Bundaberg, 14.xi.1971, H. Frauca; 1♂ Foothills of Mt Walsh Nat. Park, 10 km S. by E. of Biggenden, 1–2.i.1972, H. Frauca; 2♀ Queen’s Park, Bundaberg, 4.xi.1971, H. Frauca; 1♀ Bundaberg, 1–2.xii.1971, H. Frauca; 1♀ Baldwin Swamp Fauna Reserve, Bundaberg, 2.iii.1979, H. Frauca; 1♀ 7–14 mi. W. of Herberton, via Watsonville, 1.v.1967, D. H. Colless; 1♂ Rockhampton, 4.ii.1923, J. L. F.; 1♂ Bundaberg, 24.52°S 152.21°E, iv.1971, H. Frauca, on Eucalyptus trunk; 2♀ 12 mi. E. of Duaringa, 18.iii.1958, I.F.B. Common; 3♀ Bundaberg, 26.i.1972, H. Frauca, Tea Tree Swamp, [1♀] ANIC Database No. 20 0 0 5352, BOLD Proc. ID ANICY897-11; 4♂ 2♀ Hedlow Ck nr Yeppoon, 22.iii.1958, I.F.B. Common; 1♂ Watalgan Ra, via Rosedale, 26.ii.1972, H. Frauca; 1♂ Baldwin Swamp nr Bundaberg, 7.iii.1973, H. Frauca; 2♂ Biggenden, Bluff Range, 9.i.1971, H. Frauca, [1♂] ANIC Database no. 0 0 5353, BOLD Proc. ID, ANICY898-11; 1♂ Biggenden, Bluff Range, 15.xii.1970, H. Frauca, Euc. Wdland; 1♀ Bundaberg, 17.x.1971, H. Frauca; 1♀ Bundaberg, 16.x.1971, H. Frauca; 1♂ Biggenden, Bluff Range fhills, 11.xii. 1972, H. Frauca; 2♂ Cordalba State Forest, SW of Bundaberg, 17.xii.1979, H. Frauca; 1♂ 2km S. Hors [es]hoe Lookout, Blackdown Tab., 23.46°S 149.06°E, 23–24.iv.1981, A. Calder; 1♂ 30 mi. SW. of Sarina, 27.iii.1962, Chinnick & Corby; 1♂ Annan River Cooktown, 1906, Brown, W. W. Froggatt Collection; 1♂ Stannary Hills, Cairns 2, 1905, Brown; 1♂ 5♀ Cairns, 7.i.1962, Carne & Britton; 5♀ Kuranda, 7.i.1962, Carne & Britton; 1♂ Ravenshoe, 7.i.1962, Carne & Britton (ANIC); 1♂ Woodgate, 26.ix–3.x.1998, L. Popple, J. Moss, 284-0002; 1♀ Base of Blackbutt Range, W. of Moore, 26.i.2002, L. Popple, R. MacSloy, 284-0016; 1♂ Rifle Creek, 16°38'S 145°20'E, 3.iii.2004, L. & W. Popple, recorded, 289-0001; 4♂ 11♀ Isla Gorge National Park, NE. corner, 25°10'S 150°01'E, 240 m, 3.iii.1998, C.J. Burwell & S.G. Evans, mercury vapour lamp; 4♂ 4♀ same data as previous, 4.iii.1998, C.J. Burwell; 1♂ Taroom district, Boggomoss 19, 25°25'S 150°01'E, 12–14.i.1997, C.J. Burwell, 205, QM Reg. No. T32747; 2♀ Boggomoss 30 via Taroom, 25°29'S 150°08'E, 14.xi.1996 – i.1997, Cook & Monteith, flight intercept, 0 57, QM Reg. No. T36550, T36551; 4♂ 1♀ Finley Creek, E. base of Mt Abbott, 20°06'S 147°49'E, 13.iv.1997, C.J. Burwell; 1♂ Expedition Range National Park via Bauhinia, 25°18'10''S 149°04'32''E, 20– 28.i.2014, R. Hobson; 1♂ Caves nr Rockhampton, [no date], R.L. Higgins; 2♂ 2♀ Emerald Hill, Mareeba, 16°58'S 145°26'E, 420 m, 24–25.ii.2001, G.B. Monteith, mercury vapour lamp, 10525; 6♂ 3♀ 4 km S. of Moranbah, 22°00'S 148°03'E, 240 m, ii–iii.2000, E. Knuck, mercury vapour lamp, 9205; 1♀ Cairns, 1942; 1♀ Springsure, 12.ix.1950, D.G. Tulloch; 2♂ King Plains, Quinkan Bush Blitz Helipad 13, 37386, 15.492°S 144.828°E, 160m, 14.iii.2017, Wright & Popple, hand netting, open woodland/sandy creek, QM Reg. Nos T 236564, T236565; 2♂ Springvale, nr Quinkan Bush Blitz Helipad 14, 37388, 15.864°S 145.009°E, 197m, 15.iii.2017, Wright & Popple, hand netting, open woodland/rocky creek, QM Reg. Nos T 236560, T236562 (QM); 1♂ Maryborough, 27.i.1951, W. Mungomery; 1♂ Brisbane, 15.xi.1958, R. Metcalfe; 1♀ Bundaberg, 16.viii.1960, J.E. Connor; 1♂ Rockhampton, ii.1953, L.W. Rule; 1♀ Cleveland, 18.x.1953; 1♂ Brisbane, 1.i.1952, D. Teakle; 1♂ Nagoorin, i.1955, J.K. Leslie; 1♀ Gatton, 20.xii.1948, C.S. Andrew; 1♀ Mt Lind [e]say, 17.xi.1953, G. Hooper; 1♀ Mon to, i.1954, C. Flynn (UQIC); 1♂ Rifle Creek, 1 km N. of Mount Molloy, 16°40.04'S 145°19.71'E, 15.xii.1999, A. Ewart, recorded; 2♂ 1♀ Cattle Creek, 95 km N. of Marlborough, 22°10.24'S 149°30.40'E, 8.ii.2002, A. Ewart, grass; 3♂ 1♀ 6.2 km E. of Woodstock, Giru Road, 19°36.08'S 146°53.76'E, 3.ii.2002, A. Ewart, grass/woodland; 2♂ 1♀ Plantation Creek, 1.5 km W. of creek landing, via Ayr, 19°31.11'S 147°30.03'E,, 4.ii.2002, A. Ewart; 6♂ 2♀ same data as previous, 6.ii.2002; 6♂ 5♀ Plantation Creek, Ayr, 19°32.12'S 147°30.01'E, 14–16.v.2004, A. Ewart & I. Rattray; 2♂ 1♀ same data as previous, 3.ii.2006, A. Ewart, grassland; 1♂ same data as previous, 7.ii.1999, A. Ewart; 4♂ 2♀ same data as previous, 9.ii.1999; 1♂ same data as previous, 9.ii.1998, recorded; 1♂ same data as previous, 7.ii.1999; 1♂ same data as previous, recorded; 2♂ Base of Flagstaff Hill, Bowen, 20°00.77'S 148°15.31'E. 21.ii.2003, A. Ewart, grass flats; 1♂ 41.5 km S. of Clairview, Bruce Highway, 22°27.14'S 149°28.91'E, 2.ii.2006, A. Ewart, grass; 1♂ 11.4 km W. of Mount Surprise, 18°11.01'S 144°13.27'E, 20.i.2005, A.
Ewart, low trees; 1♂ 0.5 km W. of Wyseby/ Rewan road junction, 24°58.25'S 148°31.42'E, 16.i.2005, A. Ewart, grass, recorded; 9♂ Mount Surprise Road, E. side of the Einasleigh River crossing, 18°11.15'S 144°00.77'E, 24.i.2005, A. Ewart; 4♂ same data as previous, 26.i.2005; 2♂ same data as previous, 27.ii.2003; 5♂ same data as previous, 2.iii.2003; 1♂ 60.2 km SE. of Greenvale (24 km SE. of the Clarke River), 19°13.73'S 143°26.90'E, 23.ii.2003, A. Ewart, grass; 4♂ 14.4 km NW. of Hann Creek via Charters Towers, 19°51.37'S 146°05.47'E, 2.ii.2002, A. Ewart, grass/low woodland; 2♂ 5 km S. of Tiaro, 30.i.1983; Maryborough airport, 3.xii.1977, low grass; 1♂ 2 mi N. of Ayr, 25.i.1981; 1♂ Jerona near Ayr, 26.i.1981; 5♂ Splitters Creek, 25.i.1979; 1♂ same data as previous, 2nd recording in field, grass cicada; 14♂ Plantation Creek, Ayr, 24.xii.1981, grass flats; 7♂ 9♀ same data as previous, 25.xii.1981; 4♂ Jerona near Ayr, 26.xii.1981; 1♂ Ayr, 29.i.1981; 2♂ Ayr, 20.ii.1986, A. Ewart; 13♂ 3♀ Isla Gorge National Park, NE. corner, 25°10.02'S 150°00.73'E, 17.xii.2000, A. Ewart, grass; 2♂ 3♀ Plantation Creek, ~ 1 km from boat landing, Ayr, 19°32.12'S 147°30.01'E, 23.ii.2000, A. Ewart, recorded, grassland; 4♂ 5♀ 1 km from Plantation Creek, Ayr, 19°32.11'S 147°30.06'E, 9.ii.1998; 6♀ 6♂ same data as previous; 1m # 1 km SW. of Alva Beach near Ayr, 19°27.72'S 147°28.58'E, 25.ii.2000, A. Ewart; 1♂ Alva Beach near Ayr, 19°27.37'S 147°28.08'E, 25.ii.2000, A. Ewart, grass; 1♂ 1♀ 35 km S. of Townsville, Mt Storth, base of microwave tower road, 8359/ 0 14553, 7.ii.1998; 1♀ Brigalow Research Station near Theodore, eastern brigalow section, 24°48.54'S 149°47.54'E, 21.xii.2000, A. Ewart, belah; 1♂ 1.7 km E. of Rewan/ Carnarvon National Park Road junction, 24°48.50'S 148°23.20'E, 18.xii.2004, A. Ewart, grass; 1♂ Cracow Univ. House, 18.ii.1979 (AE); 1♀ Julatten, N. Qld, 15.ii.1981, A. Walford-Huggins; 5♂ 2♀ Julatten NE. of Mt Molloy, B. Qld, 1.i.1977, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 59♂ 13♀ same data as previous, 9.i.1977, 1♂ genitalia prep. CI76; 1♀ Mt Molloy Qld, 4.i.1974, A. & M. Walford- Huggins, 1♂ 1♀ same data as previous, 9.i.1977, figured in A Guide to Australian Cicadas; 1♂ Trinity Beach nr Cairns, 27.ii.1982, M.S. & B.J. Moulds, 3♂ 2♀ same data as previous, 7.i.1984; 1♂ Kuranda, 10.ii.1975, G.R. Brown; 1♂ Kuranda, 13.i.1983, G. Wood; 1♀ Smiths Creek via Cairns, 16.iii.1973, A.& M. Walford-Huggins; 1♂ Kamerunga, Cairns, 19.ii.1973, A. &M. Walford-Huggins; 1♂ 2♀ 16°21’S 144°43’E, Cape York, Mt Carbine, Harbord Ck, 21.iii.2007, D.C.F. Rentz, J. Hasenpusch, Stop 9; 1♂ AU.QL.CRX, Carnarvon Ck xing, ~ 25 km NE. of Carnarvon Gorge, 24°58.703'S 148°23.258'E, 309 m, 28.xii.2008, Hill, Marshall, Moulds, Owen; 1♂ Bundaberg, 31.i.1982, C.E. Hagan; 14♂ Kilkivan, 25.xii.1993, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 1♂ 2♀ Little Laura River, ‘Jowalbinna’, 15°46’S 144°14’E, 8.v.1989, G. and A. Daniels; 1♂ Black River nr Townsville, 18.ii.1993, T. Woodger; 1♂ same data as previous, 21.iv.1990; 1♂ same data as previous, 22.ii.1992; 1♂ 1♀ Tinaroo Ck road, 20 km SE. of Mareeba, 12.ii.1989, H. & A. Howden; 1♂ Wondecla nr Herberton, 6.i.1990, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 1♂ Fairymead Plantation, Bundaberg, ex sugar cane field, 20.x.1977, R. M. Bull; 1♂ Lotus Creek S. of Sarina, 4.ii.1975, Walford-Huggins; 1♂ 11 km N. of Tully, 15–16.xii.1984, R. de Keyzer; 1♂ China Camp, C.R.E.B. road, SW. of Bloomfield, 2.i.1984, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 1♀ Laura R., at old h’stead, 4.iv.1984, A. Walford-Huggins; 1♂ Habana, Mackay, i.1984, B. Van Moolenbrock; 1♀ Townsville, 1.ii.1981, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 1♂ Rockhampton, 23.xii.1972, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 1♀ Rifle Ck, 20.ii.1975, G.R. Brown; 1♀ Ravenswood, 17.ii.1999, T. Woodger; 1♂ Rockhampton, 26.iii.1973, A. Atkins; 1♀ ‘Mourangee’ Hsd, nr Edungalba, 16.iii.1983, E. E. Adams; 2♂ 1♀ same data as previous, 19.iii.1988, M.S. & E.E Adams; 1♂ 1♀ Bakerville, 2.iii.1970, J.D. Brown, water trap; 1♂ same data as previous, iii.1970; 1♀ 15 km W. of Charters Towers, 19.iii.1984, A. Hiller; 4♂ 1♀ 'Silver Hills', Richmond, 14.iii.2000, T. Woodger (MSM); 1♂ Woodgate, 26.ix–3.x.1998, L. Popple, J. Moss, 284-0001; 4♂ Mt Minto, 19.xii.1998, J. Moss, L. Popple, 284-0003 to 284-0006; 1♂ Glebe Weir near Taroom, 4–5.xii.1999, J. Moss, L. Popple, 284-0007; 3♂ Brigalow Research Station WNW. of Theodore, 5–12.xii.1998, J. Moss, L. Popple, 284- 0 0 0 8 to 284-0010; 1♂ 10 km SE. of Brigalow Research Station via Theodore, grassy floodway adjacent to a bus stop, 11.xii.1999, J. Moss, L. Popple, 284-0011; 2♂ Peak Crossing, 18.i.2001, L. Popple, J. Moss, 284-0013, 284- 0014; 1♀ Base of Blackbutt Range, W. of Moore, 9.i.2002, L. Popple, M. Moulds, J. Moss, J. Cooley, D. Marshall, K. Hill, 284-0015; 1♀ same locality as previous, 26.i.2002, L. Popple, R. MacSloy; 1♂ Mt Flinders Road N. of Peak Crossing,, 9.i.2003, L.W. & J.M. Popple, 284-0018; 1♂ Lake Dyer via Laidley, 22.ii.2003, L. Popple, R. MacSloy, 284-0019; 1♂ Kilcoy district (Jimna Road), 2.iii.2003, L. Popple, R. MacSloy, 284-0020; Mareeba, 17°00'S 145°26'E, 2.ii.2004, L. & W. Popple, 284-0021; 2♂ East Mary Road, 16°34'S 145°13'E, 4.iii.2004, L. & W. Popple, 284-0022, 284-0023; 1♂ Kilcoy district, 26°55'31''S 152°33'59''E, 19.ii.2005, L. Popple, R. MacSloy, 284-0024; 1♂ Herberton district, 17°23'22''S 145°21'02''E, 26.xii.2010, L. Popple & A. McKinnon, 284-0025; 1♂ Corrumburra, 23°02.103'S 149°55.108'E, 13.iii.2013, P. Lloyd, 291-0013 (LWP); NEW SOUTH WALES: 1♂ Kyogle, 1.xii.1954, Talbot (QM).
Description. Male. (Figs 1D, 2D, 3G, 3H; Plates 4A–C).
Head: Postclypeus predominantly orange-brown to pale brown, dark brown to black anterio-laterally and ventro-medially, sometimes pale brown medially; supra-antennal plates brown to pale brown; genae black or predominantly pale brown; mandibular plates principally pale to dark brown, dark brown to black centrally, with silver pubescence; vertex and frons dark brown to black, tending pale brown anterio-laterally, surrounding epicranial suture and sometimes on outer margins near compound eyes and also along medial line; ocelli pink; compound eyes brown; anteclypeus pale brown to orange-brown; rostrum brown, dark brown apically, extending to posterior margins of mid coxae; antennae brown to dark brown.
Thorax: Pronotum brown to pale brown with mottled dark brown to black colouration surrounding paramedian and lateral fissures and dorso-laterally anterior to pronotal collar; central fascia brown to pale brown, surrounded with black colouration, which broadens conspicuously towards anterior pronotal margin; pronotal collar mostly brown to pale brown, tending dark brown anteriorly and on lateral angles; metanotum dark brown; mesonotum predominantly brown to pale brown; submedian sigilla black, or occasionally brown; lateral sigilla dark brown to black with diffuse dark reddish-brown or pale brown areas; cruciform elevation and wing grooves pale brown; posterior third of mesonotum with dense fine and sparse long silver pubescence.
Wings: Fore wings hyaline; basal membranes orange to pale orange-brown; pterostigmata orange; costal veins pale brown; other veins pale brown to brown, darker distally. Hind wing plagas white at base, grey medially; jugal folds white to grey, hyaline apically; veins pale brown to dark brown throughout.
Legs: Fore coxae with anterior outer sides brown, posterior sides pale brown with dark brown longitudinal markings; mid and hind coxae pale brown with dark brown markings on anterior and posterior sides; meracantha spikes pale brown, dark brown basally, overlapping opercula; fore femora pale brown with broad brown to dark brown longitudinal markings on outer anterior and posterior sides; mid femora brown, darker on dorsal side, with pale brown apices; hind femora pale with narrow dark brown longitudinal markings on anterior and dorsal sides; fore tibiae brown to dark brown; mid and hind tibiae pale brown; fore tarsi brown; mid and hind tarsi pale brown; pretarsi brown to dark brown; claws pale brown, darker apically.
Opercula (Fig. 1D): Broadly rounded; pale brown; plates undulating with medial areas slightly depressed.
Timbals (Fig. 2D): Anterior rib 5 abbreviated; rib 4 also abbreviated, with a prominent isolated remnant extension ventrally; ribs 1 and 2 joined ventrally and fused dorsally to basal spur; anterior termination of basal spur fused with ribs 3–4, with rib unattached; prominent intercalary short ribs in medial areas between ribs 1 and 2, 2 and 3, and 3 and 4 (three in total).
Abdomen: Tergite 1 dark brown; tergite 2 wider along dorsal midline than tergites 3 to 7; tergites 2 to 7 dark brown, with orange-brown to yellow-brown areas on dorso-lateral posterior margins; tergite 8 dark brown with brown areas on dorso-lateral sides, not reaching anterior margin; tergites 2 to 8 with dense short silver pubescence on dorso-lateral sides and with extensive long and short silver pubescence on lateral sides; intersegmental membranes pale yellow-brown; epipleurites dark brown anteriorly grading to orange-brown posteriorly, with sparse silver pubescence; sternite II black laterally, pale brown ventro-laterally, with a dark brown area medially; sternite III pale brown with a narrow brown area medially, broadening posteriorly; sternites IV to VI pale brown with brown areas medially; sternite VII dark brown with pale brown lateral margins; sternite VIII dark brown to black; anterior sternites visible in lateral view.
Genitalia (Figs 3G, 3H): Pygofer brown to dark brown; upper lobes in ventral view relatively linear, with terminals directed dorsally and apically acute; basal lobes in ventral and lateral views outwardly curved and slightly bulbous; median lobe of uncus rounded, protruding slightly; claspers in ventral view conspicuous, diverging in apical half, with narrow, thoroughly relatively blunt, apices; pseudoparameres projecting further (ventrally) than endotheca and ventral support; ventral support acute, projecting slightly beyond endotheca; endotheca fleshy.
Female (Plate 4D): Head, wings and legs match description of male.
Thorax: Pronotum brown to pale brown; central fascia pale brown, surrounded with black colouration, which broadens conspicuously towards anterior pronotal margin; pronotal collar mostly brown to pale brown, tending dark brown on margins of lateral angles; metanotum dark brown; mesonotum brown to pale brown; submedian sigilla dark brown to black; lateral sigilla pale brown to dark brown, typically with diffuse pale brown areas; cruciform elevation and wing grooves pale brown; posterior third of mesonotum with dense fine and sparse long silver pubescence.
Abdomen: Tergite 1 brown to dark brown; tergites 2 to 8 pale brown to brown, with brown to dark brown areas medially, broader on anterior half and up to three times narrower on posterior half, narrowing towards posterior margin; auditory capsules dark brown to black; abdominal segment 9 pale brown to brown, with dark brown dorsolateral longitudinal markings; dorsal beak dark brown, sharply defined; sternite II pale brown; epipleurites brown to pale brown; sternites III to VI pale brown with brown to dark brown areas medially, broadening posteriorly; sternite VII pale brown; ovipositor sheath extends approximately 2.0– 2.5 mm beyond termination of abdominal segment 9.
Measurements. N= 15♂ 15♀. Ranges and means (in parentheses), mm; BL: ♂ 11.9–14.5 (12.93); ♀ 14.1–18.5 (16.15). FWL: ♂ 14.0–18.8 (15.53); ♀ 15.3–19.2 (17.11). HW: ♂ 3.6–4.2 (3.86); ♀ 3.9–4.4 (4.08). PW: ♂ 3.7–4.6 (4.03); ♀ 3.9–4.9 (4.30). AW: ♂ 3.8–4.9 (4.34); ♀ 4.0–4.9 (4.39). FWL/W: ♂ 2.55–2.96 (2.74); ♀ 2.64–3.00 (2.85). OL: ♀ 6.4–8.4 (7.29).
Morphological distinguishing features. Myopsalta crucifera can be distinguished from M. atrata, M. binotata, M. coolahensis, M. gordoni n. sp., M. lactea, M. libritor, M. waterhousei and M. xerograsidia n. sp. by the colour of the basal membranes of the fore wings, which is pale brown or pale orange rather than white to pale grey. It can be distinguished from M. melanobasis n. sp. and M. platyptera n. sp. by the appearance of the fore wing clavus, which is entirely hyaline and not opaque at the base. Males and females can be separated from M.
albiventris n. sp. and M. wollomombii by the colouration of the sternites, which is predominantly dark brown (cf. almost entirely pale brown). Males can be distinguished from M. bassiana n. sp., M. chrysopedia n. sp. M. longicauda n. sp., M. mackinlayi, M. majurae n. sp., M. parvula n. sp., M. riverina n. sp. and M. umbra n. sp. by the colouration of sternite VII, which is brown to dark brown and bordered with pale brown on the lateral margins rather entirely dark brown to black. In south-east Queensland, they can be distinguished from the closely similar M. septa n. sp. by the colour of the dorso-lateral sides of the tergites, which is brown (not black). Females can be distinguished from M. bassiana n. sp., M. mackinlayi n. sp., M. longicauda n. sp., M. parvula n. sp., M. septa n. sp. and M. umbra n. sp. by the length of the ovipositor sheath, which extends approximately 2.0– 2.5 mm beyond the apex of abdominal segment 9; this length being approximately equal to the length of abdominal segment 9 (in other species the sheath extension is noticeably longer or shorter than the abdominal segment). They can be differentiated from M. chrysopedia n. sp. and the superficially similar M. leona n. sp. by the colouration of the thorax and dorsal abdomen, which is pale brown rather than dark brown to brown or black.
Distribution, habitat and behaviour (Fig. 4). Myopsalta crucifera is found from near Cooktown south through coastal and subcoastal Queensland to Kyogle in northern New South Wales. It has also been recorded further inland in the vicinity of Mount Surprise and from near Carnarvon Gorge in northern and central Queensland respectively. Populations occur in open grassland, grassy woodland, paddocks, crops (e.g. Sugarcane; see Moulds, 1990), in mangrove communities and in open forest where the adults are typically found on low vegetation including grass. Adults have been found from September to April. Males sing frequently during warm, sunny conditions.
Calling song (Figs 9, 10). The song of this species contains simple, repetitive buzzing phrases, each beginning softly then rising sharply to a constant amplitude for the remainder. Each phrase commences with a long echeme of 0.800– 6.150 s duration, followed by a brief gap (0.008– 0.040 s) and a syllable or macrosyllable of 0.006– 0.028 s duration (all statistics, n= 49 recordings). Occasionally, an additional syllable or macrosyllable is produced at the end of the phrase. Each phrase concludes with a gap of 0.021– 0.191 s duration. When short gaps occur, the phrases often appear to follow on continuously. In the absence of direct observations, it is presumed that the female would respond with a wing flick during longer gaps at the end of each phrase. Close inspection of the structure within the long echeme at the start of each phrase often reveals that the beginning of this echeme contains a series of discrete syllables, although in some cases these syllables at the beginning of each long echeme may be entirely coalesced. Indeed, there is a progression from isolated short syllables to isolated longer syllables, to coalesced syllables.
The calling song typically exhibits a highest amplitude frequency plateau between 12.0 and 18.6 kHz. There appears to be no dramatic modulation in frequency during production of the calling song.
description: Published as part of Popple, Lindsay W., 2017, A revision of the Myopsalta crucifera (Ashton) species group (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadettini) with 14 new species from mainland Australia, pp. 1-98 in Zootaxa 4340 (1) on pages 23-30, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4340.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1037793