Yoyetta psammitica, Emery & Emery & Popple, 2025

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, Zootaxa 5590 (2), pp. 151-184 : 162-168

Yoyetta psammitica sp. nov.

( Plates 2C–D , 3C–D , 4B , 5 ; Figs. 1 , 2C–D , 6–9 )

Types. Holotype 1♂, Windamere Dam, Mudgee, NSW, 32 o 43’32’’S 149 o 46’19’’E, 8.i.2022, N. & D. Emery & C. Foster ( EME0490 -017 ) (K624931, AM).

Paratypes. NEW SOUTH WALES. 1♂ 1♀, same data as holotype, ( EME0490-030 , -031) (K.924932, K.924936, AM) ; 2♂, same location as holotype, 2.i.2022, S. & T. Corbin ( EME0490-001 – 2 ; genitalia prep 490-1) , 11♂ 1♀, same data as holotype ( EME0490-003 – 014 ) ; 16♂ 2♀, same location as holotype, 8.i.2022, N. & D. Emery & C. Foster ( EME0490-017 – 029 ; 032–035) ; 2♂, Goulburn R., nr Wollar , 32 o 19’43’’S 149 o 57’37’’E, 3.i.2022, T. Corbin ( EME0490-036 – 7 ) ; 4♂, Cassilis rest area, NSW, 32 o 02’15’’S 149 o 56’01’’E, 6.i.2013, N. C. & D. Emery ( EME0490-038 – 041 ; genitalia preps 490-3, 490-4) ; 3♂, same location, 15.xii, 2020, C. & D. Emery ( EME0490- 042 – 044 ) ; 5♂, same location, 23.i.2023, D. Emery ( EME0490-058 – 062 ) ; 1♂, Clandulla State Forest , 32 o 53’19’’S 149 o 56’37’’E, 7.i.2010, D. Emery & L. Popple ( EME0490-045 ) ; 3♂ 2♀, Cooper Drive, Clandulla , 32 o 54’27’’S 149 o 49’00’’E, 26.xi.2020, D. Emery ( EME0490-046 – 050 ; genitalia prep 490-5) ; 4♂ 1♀, same location, 15.i.2021, N. & D. Emery ( EME0490-051 – 055 ) ; 1♂ 1♀, Bocoble , 32 o 47’31’’S 149 o 42’43’’E, 1050m, 11.xii.2021, H. Ottersdorf ( EME0490-056 – 057 ) ; 1♂, Denman , 5.xi.2007, R. Chin ( EME0490-058 ) ; 4♂, Whitegum Lookout, Warrumbungle NPk, 31 o 17’33’’S 149 o 02’20’’E, 16.xi.2013, N. & D. Emery ( EME0717-059 – 062 ) ; 3♂, 14.xi.2013, N. & D. Emery ( EME0490-063 – 065 ; genitalia prep 490-2) ; 1♂, same location, 12.i.2014, N., C. & D. Emery ( EME0490-066 ) ; 1♂ 1♀, same location, 12.i.2014, N., C. & D. Emery, ( EME0490-067 – 068 ; genitalia prep 490-6) ; 1♂, same location, 8.xii.2015, C. & D. Emery ( EME0490-069 ) ; 2♂, same location, 5.xi.13, C. & D. Emery ( EME0490-070 – 071 ) ; 1♀, same location, 8.xii.2015, N. & D. Emery ( EME0490-072 ) ( DE) ; 1♂, same location as previous, 14.xi.2013, N. &. D. Emery ; 1♂, same data as previous, 30.xi.2013 ; 1♂, Cassilis rest area, NSW, 32 o 02’15’’S 149 o 56’01’’E, 6.i.2013, N. C. & D. Emery ; 1♂, same location as previous, 15.xi.2020, C. & D. Emery ; 1♂, Napolean Reef area via Bathurst , 33°26’20’’S 149°45’23’’E, 8.i.2010, Popple & Emery, open woodland ; 2♂, same location as holotype, 2.i.2022, S. & T. Corbin ( LWP) ; 2♂, same data as holotype ( EME0490-015 – 6 ) ; 1♂, Glen Davis Rd. between Airly Creek Rd. and Pinegrove Rd. , Capertee , NSW, 33°08’04’’S 150°04’04”E, 13.xii.2022, J. Poyitt, ( HEMC490.001 ) ; 4♂, same location as holotype, 11.i.2023, J. Poyitt ( HEMC490.004 – 007 ) ; 4♂, same location as holotype, 17.i.2023, J. Poyitt, ( HEMC490.008 – 011 ) ( JP) .

Other material. QUEENSLAND. 1♂, Carnarvon Stn, Homestd , 24.809°S 147.753°E, 747 m, 13.x.2014, J. Buchan, mv lamp, 37156, T199410 ; 1♀, Carnarvon Stn , nr homestead, 24.809°S 147.753°E, 747 m, 13.x.2014, B. Hawkins, hand collected, flowering flat, T199411 ; 1♂, Mt Moffatt NP, top shelter shed, 1000 m, 10–12.xii.1987, Monteith, Thompson, Yeates ( QM) .

Distribution, habitat and seasonality. The majority of specimens of Yoyetta psammitica sp. nov. have been found along the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales from around Capertee and Wollemi National Park, north to around Merriwa and Cassilis and further northwest into the Warrumbungle Range National Park (NPk; Fig. 1 ). An isolated population also occurs in the Carnarvon Range in central Queensland. In New South Wales, this species appears to favour smooth barked eucalypts, particularly Eucalyptus cannonii (Capertee Stringybark) around Mudgee (Windamere Dam and northern Cudgegong River) and Clandulla ( Fig. 2C–D ). At Cassilis Park rest area on the Golden Highway, specimens are also attracted to narrow-leaved ironbark trees ( E. crebra ), while in the Warrumbungle NPk, they are often found on white gums ( E. rossii ). Individuals call in flight and while moving constantly around the tree trunks. Single populations are mostly present at Cassilis rest area and Windamere Dam, but at Clandulla and Bocoble, Y. psammitica sp. nov. co-occurs with Y. humphreyae , Yoyetta timothyi Emery, Emery & Popple and two additional undescribed Yoyetta species. In the Warrumbungle NPk, Y. psammitica sp. nov. cohabits with Y. humphreyae and Y. australicta Popple & Emery. Most specimens of Y. psammitica sp. nov. have been collected from mid-November to late-January. It has been noted that since 2015, two years after wildfires burnt out over 80% of Warrumbungle NPk, specimens of this species have been difficult to find, with those of Y. australicta and Y. humphreyae being much more common. The reason(s) for this change in prevalence is not clear.

Etymology. The term “psammitica ” (adjective, “sandstone”) reflects the distribution of this species throughout the open sandstone woodlands of the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range of NSW and southern Queensland.

Description of adult male

( Plates 2C–D , 3C–D , 5A–D, G ; Figs. 2C–D , 6 )

Head slightly narrower than the lateral margins of pronotum; mostly light to dark orange-brown with extensive black colouration between and surrounding the ocelli, sometimes meeting medial margins of eyes, a triangular orange-brown fascia with a base on the posterior border narrows to an apex midway between the ocelli; supra-antennal plates black, edged dull orange-brown around base of antennae; ocelli dull red; eyes dull red to light brown; postclypeus orange-brown dorsally with a black horizontal stripe along the anterior margin, ventral surface black with an orange medial line and orange coloration over half of lateral margins; anteclypeus shiny black; lorum black, gena black; rostrum reaching anterior margins of hind coxae, dark brown proximally, becoming dark brown to black distally; antennae black.

Thorax mostly dark brown to black. Pronotum with a narrow orange-brown fascia along midline surrounded by black, resembling a vintage key lock; interior of pronotum orange to dark brown, with irregular black areas, especially along paramedian and lateral fissures and adjacent ridges, also bordering the lateral halves of the pronotal collar; pronotal collar black on anterior margin, orange-brown to dark brown over remainder. Mesonotum variably black with orange-brown intrusions; submedian and lateral sigilla black, intervening depressions orange-brown to dark brown; lateral margins sometimes orange-brown; scutal depressions black; cruciform elevation orange-brown, variably black along midline and into anterior depression, lateral depressions striated black transversely; wing grooves mainly dark orange-brown and black. Metanotum dark brown to black; black central “dot” with orange-brown ridges. Thorax below mainly orange-brown or dark brown.

Legs brown with variable longitudinal orange-brown to black markings between specimens. Coxae about half orange-brown and black; fore femora with inner surface black but sometimes striped dark orange-brown, the outer surface predominantly dull orange-brown, femoral spines dark brown basally and black tipped, upright; mid and hind femora dark brown to black anteriorly, paler orange-brown posteriorly; fore tibiae dark brown; mid and hind tibiae orange-brown; tarsi orange-brown to brown; claws black; meracantha variably black on base around medial half, remainder pale cream-brown, reaching anterior margin of opercula.

Wings with forewing costal margin orange-brown to dark orange-brown; venation generally dark brown to orange-brown; basal cell translucent, tinged orange; basal membranes orange; smoky infusions throughout a1–a8; infuscations of variable intensity along crossveins r and r-m on the majority of individuals. Hind wing venation dark brown; v-shaped plagas tinged orange-grey visible along veins 2a and 3a and within anal cells.

Opercula ( Plate 2D ) variably black basally, plates pale yellow-brown, spatulate, curved medially, flexed ventrally, not meeting; approximately 1.5x larger than adjacent hind coxae.

Timbals ( Plate 2C ) with five long ribs; ribs 1-4 attached to basal spur, separated ventrally and spanning the timbal membrane, rib 5 unattached, extending over central half of membrane; timbal plate with well developed, elongate dome bearing a distinct point of apodeme attachment near centre.

Abdomen ( Plate 3C–D ) with tergite 1 orange centrally, with symmetrical, black diagonal striations posteriorly, black laterally; tergite 2 variably black along anterior third and laterally, becoming orange posteriorly, curved around outer margin of exposed timbals; tergites 3–7 predominantly pale orange-brown each with a distinct black mark on dorsal midline, this mark broadest on tergite 3 and equivalently narrower on tergites 4–7, tergites 3–5 sometimes also with a diffuse dark smudge on lateral sides; tergite 8 black over anterior half, tending dark orange-brown over remainder, with a black spot on lateral aspect; epipleurites orange, flexed ventrally. Sternite I orange-brown to black; sternite II orange with dark-brown to black areas medially and laterally; sternites III–VII pale orange-brown; sternite VIII darker orange-brown.

Genitalia ( Fig. 6 ) with pygofer black, upper lobe of moderate size with a broadly rounded apex, in ventral view angled medially ( Fig. 6A ); basal pygofer lobe small weakly developed, broadly rounded; median lobe of uncus enlarged, variably elongated with length around 1.0– 1.4mm, concave ventrally, in lateral view narrow basally, expanded around mid-length to its widest width, thereafter evenly tapering to a rounded apex with ratio of length from base divided by widest width ranging from 2.6–4.5; claspers robust, claw-like in lateral view ( Fig. 6B ), partially meeting, in ventral view their inner margins diverging with a “notch” around aedeagus and their outer margins gently turned outwards to a bluntly pointed apex; aedeagus recurved distally through 180 degrees with ornamentation distally from the recurvature, the vesica broadened and weakly toothed either side towards apically, apex terminating in a short, slender ‘beak’ pointing outwards, downturned>45 o viewed laterally, with a pair of very small flat ear-like flanges directed medially and minutely toothed; a “viking helmet” shape viewed laterally; pseudoparameres very long, reaching the distal recurvature of the aedeagus, very slender, hair-like, each with a rounded apical knob ( Figs. 6C–D ).

Description of adult female ( Plate 4B , 5E–F, H ). Head, thorax, wings and legs similar to male.

Abdomen. Tergite 1 orange, black laterally along posterior margin; tergite 2 orange suffused variably with black coloration, most prominent along posterior margin, a black spot on each lateral side; tergites 3–7 predominantly dark orange-brown each with a distinct black “double triangle” on dorsal midline, broadest on each anterior margin, narrowing centrally to an apex and joined to the apex of a posterior triangle with its base on the posterior margin of each tergite, most pronounced on tergites 3–5, reducing on successive tergite 4–7; a distinct black marking centrally located on each ventrolateral aspect; tergite 8 black over anterior half, tending dark orange-brown over remainder, with a black spot on lateral aspect. Sternite I black; sternites II–VII pale orange-brown with black infusion along midline; sternite VIII darker orange-brown; abdominal segment 9 dark ochraceous over dorsal two-thirds, orange-brown ventrally, dorsal beak black, a distinct black longitudinal marking either side of dorsal midline extending laterally along the anterior margin; a small black spot laterally near the posterior apex; ovipositor sheath dark brown, black posteriorly, ovipositor dark brown, becoming black posteriorly, extending <1 mm beyond abdominal segment 9.

Measurements (in mm; range with mean in parentheses for 26 males and 10 females, including smallest and largest specimens). Length of body including head: male, 18.9–24.2 (22.5); female, 20.2–25.1 (23.7). Length of forewing: male, 25.0–29.6 (27.8); female, 26.1–32.4 (29.9). Width of forewing: male, 7.8–9.6 (9.1); female, 8.3–9.9 (9.5). Width of head (including eyes): male, 5.3–6.5 (6.1); female, 5.9–7.5 (6.7). Width of pronotum (across lateral angles): male, 5.7–6.5 (6.2); female, 6.2–7.6 (6.8). Width of abdomen: male, 5.6–6.6 (6.3); female, 5.7–6.8 (6.4). Length of ovipositor: female, 6.3–8.6 (7.5).

Morphological variation within and between populations. The morphological appearances of Y. psammitica sp. nov. specimens are consistent within and between the populations around Clandulla, Cassilis and the Warrumbungle NPk. However, males from the northern sites (Warrumbungle NPk and Carnarvon Range, Queensland) have a smaller body length (BL; 18.9–22.4 mm; n=11) than those from Clandulla and Cassilis (BL> 22.4 mm; n=15). Females from the northern sites are also substantially smaller (BL 20.2–22.9 mm; n=3) than those from the two southernmost populations (BL> 24.1 mm; n=7).

Morphological distinguishing features. Male specimens of Y. psammitica sp. nov. most closely resemble Y. corindi , Y. humphreyae , Y. ignita , Y. robertsonae and Y. robusta , Y. darug sp. nov. and Y. fumea sp. nov., which are all similar in size and have brown hind wing plagas. They can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: (1) median lobe of uncus well developed but not particularly elongate (extending ventrally to the same extent as claspers; Fig 6B ), (2) fore wings with a weak to moderate smoky infusion over distal apical cells, and (3) fore wing length> 26 mm. Notably, in the Warrumbungles, male specimens of Y. psammitica sp. nov. can only be confidently differentiated from cohabiting Y. humphreyae males by their shorter median lobe of the uncus. Females can be distinguished from all other Yoyetta species apart from Y. fumea sp. nov. by having (1) fore wings with a weak to moderate smoky infusion over distal apical cells, (2) ventral side of abdominal segment 9 orange-brown, (3) ovipositor extending <1 mm beyond abdominal segment 9 and (4) more pronounced black markings along the midline of the sternites. Females of Y. psammitica sp. nov. can be distinguished from Y. fumea sp. nov. by their slightly longer ovipositor, which extends <1 mm beyond the apex of abdominal segment 9 (cf. not extending noticeably beyond the anal styles in Y. fumea sp. nov.).

Calling song ( Figs. 7–9 ). The male calling song of Y. psammitica sp. nov. has three modes. The first mode (“clicking” mode) comprises a series of repetitive clicking, which is produced whilst in flight and occasionally when stationary on the trunk or branches of Eucalyptus species. The second mode is the same as the first mode but includes a short soft buzz after each click (“click and buzz” mode) and only occurs while stationary. The third mode is a variant of the second mode that commences with a buzz followed by a series of clicks (“buzz and click” mode; Fig. 9 ).

Closer examination of the clicking mode (all statistics, n =9 recordings from the Warrumbungles, Mudgee and Clandulla localities) shows each click is a syllable as illustrated in Figs 7–9 . Both in flight and at rest, each short syllable (0.012 – 0.023 s, 8–9 pulses, sometimes with 1-2 preceding soft pulses) is separated by a gap of roughly half a second in duration.

The click and buzz mode is illustrated in Fig. 8 , and is described as follows (all statistics, n =5 recordings from the type locality). Following a syllable that is equivalent to that in the clicking mode is a short gap (0.04– 0.16 s), then a short soft buzz (0.07– 0.18 s), followed by a longer gap (0.32– 0.50 s). The third “buzz and click” mode is illustrated in Fig 9 (n =1) has only been recorded in the Warrumbungles, though it has also been observed at Napoleon Reef near Bathurst. The song begins with a long buzz (8.0 s) followed by a series of short syllables.

The frequency plateau is consistent between modes. It ranges broadly from approximately 6.5 to 12.5 kHz, with a dominant frequency between 7 and 11.5 kHz.

Y. humphreyae co-occurs with Y. psammitica sp. nov., but Y. humphreyae produces fewer (5–6) pulses (cf. 8–9 pulses in Y. psammitica sp. nov.). The song is also close to Y. corindi (which lacks the “long buzz” component) and the clicking structure may be indistinguishable from Y. darug sp. nov., although these species do not overlap in geographical distribution with Y. psammitica sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Map of south-eastern New South Wales, Australia showing the geographical distribution of Y. darug sp. nov. (circles), Y. psammitica sp. nov. (triangles), Y. fumea sp. nov. (squares).

PLATE 2. Photos of male left timbals, with dorsal edge at left and posterior margin at bottom, and left opercula: (A) Yoyetta darug sp. nov., Silverdale (33o 52’S 150o37’’E), timbal; (B) Yoyetta darug sp. nov., opercula; (C) Y. psammitica sp. nov., Windemere Dam, (32o43’S 149o46’E), timbal; (D) Y. psammitica sp. nov., opercula; (E) Y. fumea sp. nov., Windellama (34o57’S 149o54’E), timbal; (F) Y. fumea sp. nov., opercula. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 2. Locational habitats; for Yoyetta darug sp. nov. at (A), Silverdale (33°52’S 150°37’’E); (B), Mt Annan (34°04’S 150°46’E); for Y. psammitica sp. nov. at (C), Windamere Dam (32°43’S 149°46’E); (D), Clandulla (32°54’S 149°57’E); for Y. fumea sp. nov. at (E–F), Marulan (34°29’S 150°16’E).

PLATE 3. Lateral views of male left abdomens: (A), Yoyetta darug sp. nov., Silverdale (33o 52’S 150o37’’E); (B), Y. darug sp. nov., Lake Parramatta, NSW (33o47’S 150o01’E); (C), Y. psammitica sp. nov., Windamere Dam, (32o43’S 149o46’E); (D), Y. psammitica sp. nov., Cassilis rest area (32o02’S 149o56’E); (E), Y. fumea sp. nov., Tarago (35o05’S 149o54’E 149o02’E; (F), Y. humphreyae, Blaxland (33o44’S 150o37’E). Scale bars = 5mm.

PLATE 4. Lateral views of female left abdomens: (A), Yoyetta darug sp. nov., Lake Parramatta, NSW (33o47’S 150o01’E); (B), Y. psammitica sp. nov., Windamere Dam, (32o43’S 149o43’E); (C), Y. fumea sp. nov., Windellama (34o57’S 149o54’E); (D), Y. humphreyae, Blaxland, NSW (33o45’S 150o37’E. Scale bars = 5mm.

PLATE 5. Yoyetta psammitica sp. nov.: (A) male holotype, Windamere Dam (32°43’S 149°46’E), dorsal habitus; (B) male holotype, ventral habitus; (C) male, Cassilis rest area (32o02’S 149o56’E), dorsal habitus; (D), male, Cassilis, ventral habitus; (E), female, Windamere Dam (32°43’S 149°46’E), dorsal habitus; (D), female, ventral habitus; (E) male, live specimen, Windamere Dam, live specimen; (F), female, live specimen, Windamere Dam. Live photos by NJE. Scale bars = 10 mm.

FIGURE 6. Yoyetta psammitica sp. nov.: illustration of male pygofer and internal genitalia; (a), viewed laterally from the left; (b), viewed ventrally; (c), aedeagus; and (d), apex of theca. Characters as depicted in Figure 3. Specimen from Windamere Dam (32°43’S 149°46’E).

FIGURE 7. Male calling song structure of Yoyetta psammitica sp. nov. illustrating the “clicking” mode. This is presented in waveform plots, including (A) typical rapid ticking song (in flight); (B) expanded section from A showing the syllable structure. The final subfigure (C) is a spectrogram displaying song frequency. This specimen was recorded in the field at Windamere Dam (32°43’S 149°46’E) by NJE using RS2 (see Methods and Terminology).

FIGURE 8. Male calling song structure of Yoyetta psammitica sp. nov. illustrating the “click and buzz” mode. This is presented in waveform plots, including (A) click and buzz song (while stationary); (B) expanded section from A showing the structure of the click and buzz components; (C) expanded section from B showing detailed structure of the buzz component. The final subfigure (D) is a spectrogram displaying the song frequency. This specimen was recorded in the field at Windamere Dam (32°43’S 149°46’E) by NJE using RS2 (see Methods and Terminology).

FIGURE 9. Male calling song structure of Yoyetta psammitica sp. nov. illustrating the third “buzz and click” mode. (A) prolonged “buzz” followed by the “click” song; (B) expanded section from A showing the structure of the syllables. A single recording was obtained in the field at Warrumbungle NPk (31o17’’S 149o02’E) by NJE using RS3.