[page ]

Royal Society of Victoria

SOME NEW AUSTRALIAN
CICADIDAE

[page [221]]
[[Proc. Roy. Soc. Victoria, 24 (N.S.), Pt. II., 1911.]]

Art. XVII.-Some New Australian Cicadidae
By HOWARD ASHTON.
(With Plates XLIX-LI.)
[Read 14th September, 1911.]

For most of the material from which the following new
species of Cicadidae are described, I have to thank Mr. F. P.
Dodd (queensland) and Mr. H. Elgner, of the same State.
Amongst them it will be noticed is a new species of Cyclochila
from Queensland, and also a species of Prasia, a genus so far
unrecorded in Australia, though common in New Guinea. I
have had some difficulty in deciding upon the generic deter-
mination of Psaltoda pulchra, as it has strong affinities with
Thopha in the structure of the head and the proportions of the
tegmina and wings. The abdomen, however, is unadorned with
the sacs which hide the tympana in the division Thopharia,
so I have placed the species tentatively in the genus Psaltoda.
The types of all these species are in my collection

Sub-family Cicadinae.
Division Cyclochilaria.
Cyclochila laticosta, sp. nov.

Similar in colour and size to C. australasiae, Donov, from
which it differs chiefly in the immense breadth of the tegminal
costal membrane, which is as wide as the radial area. The
front is far less prominent than in Donovan's species, the mem-
branous margins of the tegmina and wings very much nar-
rower, the opercula broader, not sinuate on the exterior mar-
gins and more obtusely rounded posteriorly.

Long. (excluding tegmina)- [male] 44 [female] 41 mm.; exp. teg.
[male] 125 [female] 122 mm.

Hab.-Queensland (Evelyn Scrub), Mr. F. P. Dodd.

[page 222]
[Howard Ashton:]

Psaltoda pulchra, sp. nov.

[male] Head, pro-and mesothorax olivaceous-green. Head with
a broad black fascia between eyes, and including region of
ocelli, another black fascia across base of front. Pronotum with
sulci, anterior border of posterior margin, and spot before
centre of same, black. Mesonotum with two central anterior
ochraceous obconical spots margined with black, on each side
a small marginal spot and a long sublateral fascia (extending
to anterior angles of cruciform elevation), a median slender
fascia, and two black spots within anterior angles of cruciform
elevation, black. Cruciform elevation chocolate brown. Abdo-
men with lateral areas and posterior segmental margins
covered with silvery hairs, the first two segments and tympanal
coverings greenish, a broad black fascia running between these
two segments and behind the tympanal covers, and a rounded
spot on each lateral margin of second segment, black. Remain-
ing segments chocolate-brown, broadly margined with black
posteriorly. Tegmina hyaline, tale-like, venation chocolate
brown, costal membrane and longitudinal veins and basal
vein to lower ulnar area green, veins at bases of first and
second apical areas, apices of longitudinal veins to all the
apical areas, exterior membranous margin and tips of tegmina
infuscated. Wings hyaline, talc-like, venation chocolate-brown,
abdominal area tinged with deep, rich orange, exterior mem-
branous margin darkly infuscate. Head, thorax, legs and oper-
cula beneath greenish. A broad fascia from face to eyes, cen-
tral sulcus and transverse striae to face, soxae beneath, stripes
to femora and bases of tarsi, median line and tip of rostrum,
black. Abdomen beneath transparent ochraceous, posterior
margin of first segment broadly black. Rostrum reaching apices
of posterior coxae, opercula overlapping internally.

Long.-(excl. teg.) 49 mm.; ex. teg. 140 mm.

Hab.-Queensland (Evelyn Scrub).

Psaltoda fumipennis, sp. nov.

[male] Head, pronotum and mesonotum olivaceous-green.
Head with eyes black, front and broad fascia across vertex,
black. Pronotum with anterior margin, sulci, anterior border

[page 223]
[Australian Cicadidae]

Long.-(excl. teg.) 32 mm.; exp. teg., 86 mm.

Hab.-Port Darwin (?). Mr. F. P. Dodd

This species may be easily recognized by fuscous tips to
tegmina and wings.

Division Cicadaria
Macrotristria doddi, sp. nov.

[male] Head ochraceous, area of ocelli, with short fasciae reaching
half-way to eyes, black. Pronotum light castaneous, two black
spots before centre of posterior margin; central fascia, broad-
ened anteriorly, and posterior margin, ochraceous. Mesonotum
ochraceous, two longitudinal central fasciae (which meet a
lateral fascia in front of cruciform elevation), black, on each
side a large anterior marginal black spot, and a broad suffusion
about it castaneous. Cruciform elevation fuscous. Abdomen
piceous, thickly greyishly pilose. Tegmina and wings hyaline,
venation reddish fuscous, veins at base of second, third,

[page 224]
[Howard Ashton:]

Long.-(excl. teg.), 33 mm.; exp.; 94 mm.

Hab.-Port Darwin (Mr. F. P. Dodd.)

Sub-family Tibicininae
Division Chlorocystaria.
Owra, gen. nov.

[female] Head, including eyes, broader than base of mesonotum,
front broader than half the space between eyes, not prominent,
ocelli equidistant from eyes and from one another. Pronotum
rather longer than head, lateral angles almost as broad as eyes.
Mesonotum a little shorter than pronotum and head together,
abdomen about as long as thorax and head together. Rostrum
reaching base of lined coxae. Tegmina and wings hyaline.
Tegmina with no membranous margin, ulnar areas somewhat
reticulate, nine apical areas. Wings with five apical areas, and
narrow membranous margin.

Type-O. insignis

Owra insignis, sp. nov.

[female] Head, pro- and mesonotum green, eyes piceous, abdomen
ochraceous. Tegmina hyaline, costal membrane rufous, broad-
ened at apex, post-costal area transparent and somewhat cell-
like, remaining venation of tegmina and wings piceous, basal
membranes of tegmina rufous. Head beneath green, sternum
anteriorly green, shading posteriorly to ochraceous, abdomen
ochraceous, legs ochraceous, tarsi reddish.

[page 225]
[Australian Cicadidae]

Long.-(excl. teg.), 12 mm.; exp. teg., 37 mm.

Hab.-Queensland. (Mr. F. P. Dodd.)

Thaumastopsaltria glauca, sp. nov.

[male] Body light greyish-green, eyes brown. Tegmina hyaline
with pale green tinge and green neuration. Apical cells very
long, 13 in number. Wings similar in colour, with 7 apical
areas, very long. Body below inclining to yellowish. Rostrum
just passes intermediate coxae; opercula obsolete; abdomen in
[male] moderately inflated, and laterally depressed more than twice
as long as head and thorax together.

Long.-(excl. teg.), [male] 26, [female] 20 min., exp. teg., [male] [female] 55 min.

Hab.-North Queensland (Cape York). Mr. H. Elgner.

Division Melampsaltraria
Melampsalta brevis, sp. nov.

[male] Head above black, with greenish yellow spot behind ocelli
and yellow central longitudinal stripe to front. Pronotum
light castaneous, anterior and posterior borders and central
longitudinal fascia (enclosed by two black stripes ampliated
anteriorly and posteriorly), ochraceous, lateral margins inwardly
black. Mesonotum centrally ochraceous, laterally castaneous,
the ochraceous portion containing two central anteriorly con-
tiguous obconical spots, joined posteriorly to two triangulate
spots before cruciform elevation, and disc of cruciform eleva-
tion, black. The castaneous lateral portions containing each a
black fascia outwardly concave, and a sublateral anterior mar-
ginal spot, black. Abdomen with basal and second segment
stramineous, a spot behind cruciform elevation, and short
transverse fascia on posterior margin, basal segment black,
remaining segments castaneous with posterior margins black.
Tegmina and wings hyaline, basal membranes red, venation
fuscous, costal area ochraceous. Head beneath black, face
fuscous, lateral striae black, margins of face ochraceous. Ster-
num, legs and opercula greyish ochraceous, legs streaked to
piceous. Abdomen ochraceous, obsolete central fuscous longi-

[page 226]
[Howard Ashton:]

Long.-(excl. teg.), 12 mm.; exp. teg., 46 mm.

Hab.-North Queensland, Cape York. (Mr. H. Elgner.)

Remarkable for the extreme shortness of the abdomen.

Melampsalta viridis, sp. nov.

[male] Body above green, beneath green, inclining to yellow,
eyes pale brownish. Tegmina and wings hyaline, talc-like,
venation on basal third green, thence becoming fuscous. The
only markings are two small black spots, one on each side
of the anal appendage. Pronotum and head deeply centrally
sulcate, rostrum reaching intermediate coxae, opercula lunate,
much narrower than abdominal orifices, curved inwardly.

Long.-(excl. teg.), 13 mm.; exp. teg., 31 mm.

Hab.-Queensland (?) Mr. F. P. Dodd.

Allied to M. sulcata, Dist., with the same narrow crescent-
shaped opercula, but differing in the shorter tegmina, as well
as in colour. M. froggatti, Dist., and M. capistrata, Ashton,
have similar curiously shaped opercula.

Melampsalta crucifera, sp. nov.

[female] Body above ochraceous. Head with oblique black fasciae
to front, joining with fasciae on vertex towards eyes, at inner
angles of which the fasciae turn inwardly, the whole series
forming a square interrupted by the two posterior ocelli. From
these two ocelli run two slender fasciae forward through the
third ocellus, and continuing on to near base of front, forming
a cross of which the anterior ocellus is the centre. Pronotum
with two broken central longitudinal fasciae and irregular
markings to incisures, anterior border of posterior margin

[page 227]
[Australian Cicadidae]

Long.-(excl. teg. and incl. ovipositor), 18 mm.; exp. teg., 40
mm.

Hab.-Queensland (?). Mr. F. P. Dodd.

Allied to M. binotata, God. and Frogg., but differing in the
longer and uncoloured tegmina and the distinct yellow coloura-
tion.

Pauropsalta elgneri, sp. nov.

[male] Head greyish yellow, region of ocelli black, pilose. Prono-
tum very light ferruginous, margins and central longitudinal
fascia pale greenish ochraceous. Spot on centre of posterior
margin and incisures brokenly black. Mesonotum greyish
ochraceous, two central anterior obconical spots black, two
outer longer fasciae light castaneous, with bases and tips
black. Tegmina and wings hyaline, talc-like, venation reddish
at base, and fuscous towards apex, anal apex of wings infus-
cated. Abdomen reddish-yellow, greyishly pilose, base of anal
appendage broadly black. Body beneath ochraceous, head and
sternum thickly greyishly pilose, base of anal
appendage broadly black. Body beneath ochraceous, head and
sternum thickly greyishly pilose, face piceous, anterior coxae
and femora streaked with fuscous. Opervula narrow, directed
strongly inwards, apices sub-acutely convex.

Long.-(excl. teg.), 19 mm.; exp. teg., 53 mm.

Hab.-Queensland, Cape York. (Mr. H. Elgner.)

This species is somewhat allied to P. melanopygia, Germ.
It differs in the longer and narrower tegmina, the narrower
opercula and the laterally depressed abdomen.

[page 228]
[Howard Ashton:]

Pauropsalta subolivacea, sp. nov.

[male] Head black, pilose, eyes fuscous. Pronotum testaceous, a
central black fascia dilated anteriorly and posteriorly (enclos-
ing a pale central stripe). Some spots about the incisures
black, posterior margin very narrow, ochraceous. Mesonotum
testaceous, two central obconical spots on anterior margin
cruciform elevation sordid pale fuscous. Abdomen testaceous,
pilose, segments with basal margins black, apex of first and
second segment narrowly ochraceous, lateral margins suffused
with greenish olive. Body beneath yellow, suffused on legs,
opercula and lateral margins of abdomen with greenish olive.
Tegmina and wings hyaline, costa dull ochraceous margined
with black, interior venation black, apical paler. Head, exclud-
ing eyes, as broad as long, front much produced, vertical mar-
gins continuous. Pronotum as wide as head, and as long.
Mesonotum as broad as pronotum, and, from base of cruciform
elevation, as long as pronotoum and head together. Abdomen
long, slender, tapering, as long as head and thorax.

Long.-(excl. teg.), 14 mm.; exp. teg., 38 mm.

Hab.-New South Wales.

Division Hemidictyaria
Prasia vitticollis, sp. nov.

[female] Body pale fuscous yellow. Eyes brown, front and an-
terior margins of vortex of head tinged with dull green, central
sulcus from between ocelli to base of pronotum dull piceous,
two spots before cruciform elevation and central longitudinal
segment, and ovipositor also piceous. Body beneath pale
fuscous yellow, face tinged with piceous anteriorly, sternal
margins tinged with dull green, apices and bases of tibiae and
tarsi and apex of rostrum spotted with piceous. Tegmina
opaque, venation ochraceous to fuscous, closely spotted with
darker colour. Wings somewhat milky, venation very pale
fuscous. Head strongly produced, longer than breadth between
eyes. Pronotum more than twice as broad at base as anteriorly,

[page 229]
[Australian Cicadidae]

Long.-(excl. teg.), 28 mm.; exp. teg., 88 mm.

Hab.-Queensland (?). Mr. F. P. Dodd.

EXPLANATION OF PLATES

Plate XLIX.

Fig. 1, a, b.-Cyclochila laticosta.

2, a, b.-Psaltoda fumipennis.

Plate L.

3, a, b.-Psaltoda pulchra.

5, a, b.-Macrotristria doddi.

Plate LI

4, a, b.-Prasia vitticollis.

6, a.-Owra insignis.

7, a, b.-Melampsalta brevis.

8, a, b.-Thaumastopsaltria glauca.

9, a.-Melampsalta crucifera.

10, a, b.-Pauropsalta elgneri.

11, a, b.-Pauropsalta subolivacea x 3/2.

[Proc. R.S. Victoria, 1911. Plate XLIX.]

[Proc. R.S. Victoria, 1911. Plate L.]

[Proc. R.S. Victoria, 1911. Plate LI.]