Kikihia cutora (Walker, 1850) and Kikihia paxillulae Fleming, 1984 - green foliage cicadas
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| K. cutora, male | K. cutora, female |
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| K. paxillulae, male | K. paxillulae, female |
| * Museum specimens above, with faded overall colour |
Kikhia cutora and K. paxillulae are two members of the green foliage cicadas, a group of species usually found on the foliage of broadleaf trees and shrubs in forests or at their margins and characterised by their overall green appearance (vivid green in live individuals), a usually reduced amount of dark dorsal markings, and the mesonotum with two posterior spots that are rather small and distant from (not fused or contiguous with) the outer obconical (conical with tip downward) marks.
Kikhia cutora and K. paxillulae are closely similar in overall external morphology but K. cutora is a larger species with fainter outer obconical marks on the mesonotum. Some other differentiating characters are noted below. Both species have a median yellow line on the pronotum and pinkish patches on the coxae of the forelegs
Kikihia cutora - Northern Snoring Cicada
Identification notes. External appearance very similar to K. paxillulae but larger in size. Green overall colour with dark markings (usually fainter than in K. paxillulae) on head, pronotum, and mesonotum. Head shorter than in K. paxillulae, about 0.3 times as long as pronotum along midline, and with broader (more widely rounded), shorter 'nose'. Pronotum with median yellow line and very faint, if any, dark markings; surface less deeply excavated than in K. paxillulae; collar ribbed (not so in K. paxillulae). Mesonotum with obvious dark inner obconical marks, usually faded or absent outer obconical marks, and two usually obvious posterior spots; a bright orange red patch between inner obconical marks (in live individuals; see photo in external hyperlink below). Coxae of forelegs with pinkish patches. Abdomen usually with well defined dorsal median silvery stripe. Male tymbals with 3 long and 2 short ridges. Body length: 17–21 mm (males); 20–23 mm (females). Wingspread: 43–52 mm (males); 49–59 (females).
Range. New Zealand. North Island (K. cutora cutora, K. cutora cumberi): Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Taupo, Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, Wanganui, Wellington, Wairarapa. Offshore Islands (K. cutora exulis): Kermadec Islands .
Habitat. Foliage of various broadleaf trees and shrubs, coastal scrub vegetation, and locally grass; also subalpine scrub vegetation.
External hyperlinks. Cicada Central website's Electronic Field Guide to the cicadas of New Zealand (Images of live individuals and MP3 song file). The 2010 Catalogue of New Zealand Auchenorrhyncha (more details on nomenclature, biology, distribution, and dispersal) and the virtual collection of primary types of Hemiptera (photos of primary types).
Close-up photos showing characters of head, pronotum and mesonotum. |
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K. cutora, male |
K. paxillulae, male |
kikihia paxillulae - Peg's Cicada
Identification notes. External appearance very similar to K. cutora but smaller in size. Green overall colour with darker markings on head, pronotum, and mesonotum than in K. cutora. Head longer than in K. cutora, about 0.4 times as long as pronotum along midline, and with narrower (more narrowly rounded), longer 'nose'. Pronotum with median yellow line and some dark markings; surface more deeply excavated than in K. cutora; collar unribbed (as opposed to ribbed in K. cutora). Mesonotum with obvious dark inner obconical marks and partly obliterated outer obconical marks, usually leaving a dark apical mark on the outer side of each of the two posterior spots; without a bright orange red patch between inner obconical marks (see photo of live specimens, external hyperlink below). Coxae of forelegs with pinkish patches. Abdomen usually with well defined dorsal median silvery stripe. Male tymbals as in K. cutora, with 3 long and 2 short ridges. Body length: 15–17 mm (males); 19–21 mm (females). Wingspread: 37–43 mm (males); 44–52 (females).
Range. New Zealand. South Island: Nelson, Kaikoura.
Habitat. Grasses (including long pasture grass), herbs and shrubs.
External hyperlinks. Cicada Central website's Electronic Field Guide to the cicadas of New Zealand (Images of live individuals and MP3 song file). The 2010 Catalogue of New Zealand Auchenorrhyncha (more details on nomenclature, biology, distribution, and dispersal) and the virtual collection of primary types of Hemiptera (photos of primary types).