Cicadettinae

Buckton, 1890

Largeclasper Cicadas

Tribe Guides

Cicadettini(True Largeclasper Cicadas)
Lamotialnini(Widehead Cicadas)

Cicadettinae is a large of cicadas containing approximately 230 and 1,200 described . Members are distributed globally across diverse including eucalypt forests, grasslands, arid regions, and tropical woodlands. Male calling songs are species-specific and function in mate recognition; song structures vary from simple ticking or clicking to complex multi-element compositions. Many species are small to medium-sized and exhibit cryptic , often remaining inconspicuous in vegetation.

Magicicada tredecula by (c) Rebecca Gimenez Husted, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Rebecca Gimenez Husted. Used under a CC-BY license.

Lamotialnini by (c) Donald Hobern, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Magicicada neotredecim by no rights reserved, uploaded by Kirill Levchenko. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Cicadettinae: //ˈsɪkəˌdɛtɪnaɪ//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Identification to level requires examination of male genitalia, specifically the structure of claspers and . Conjunctival claws on the aedeagus and reduced or absent uncus are characteristic features of some tribes within Cicadettinae. -level identification relies heavily on male calling song analysis and detailed morphological comparison. Many contain superficially similar species that are distinguished primarily by acoustic signals.

Images

Habitat

Diverse including eucalypt forests and woodlands, arid and semi-arid shrublands, grasslands, tropical and subtropical forests, and seasonal riverine floodplains. Some are associated with specific plants such as wattles (Acacia spp.) or eucalypts. Habitat specificity varies by and species, with some having restricted distributions and others spanning thousands of kilometers across inland Australia.

Distribution

Global distribution including Australia, Africa, southern Asia, the Americas, and the Caribbean. Australian representatives are particularly diverse and widespread across eastern, central, and western regions. African occur in South Africa, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and extend into other regions. Asian species documented from Pakistan and surrounding areas. Caribbean and Central/South American species assigned to tribe Lamotialnini.

Life Cycle

Nymphal stages are spent underground, feeding on xylem fluids from plant roots. emerge to mate and reproduce. have been described for some , indicating typical .

Behavior

Males produce -specific calling songs used for mate attraction and species recognition. Song production occurs variously while stationary, in , or both depending on species. Some species are highly mobile and wary, inhabiting low dense shrubland. Others are relatively sedentary. Many species remain inconspicuous in the or vegetation. Calling song structures include ticking, clicking, buzzing, and complex multi-element compositions.

Similar Taxa

TibicininaeFormerly included the tribe Hemidictyini, which has been reassigned to Tibicininae based on morphological characters. Distinguished by genitalia structure and other features.
CicadinaeOther of Cicadidae; Cicadettinae distinguished by specific male genitalia features including structure of claspers and .

More Details

Taxonomic complexity

Cicadettinae contains numerous recently described and , particularly from Australia. Genera such as Yoyetta, Simona, Chelapsalta, Graminitigrina, Ewartia, Gudanga, and Mugadina have been established or revised since 2012. Many species groups remain under active taxonomic study.

Acoustic diversity

The exhibits remarkable diversity in male calling songs, which serve as primary isolating mechanisms. Song types range from simple ticking and clicking to complex songs with multiple echemes per phrase. Statistical analyses of song parameters are frequently used to distinguish cryptic .