Kikihia angusta (Walker, 1850), Kikihia longula (Hudson, 1950), Kikihia muta (Fabricius, 1775), Kikihia rosea (Walker, 1850) - grass and scrub cicadas
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| K. angusta, male | K. longula, male |
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| K. muta, male (dark form) | K. rosea, male |
| * Museum specimens above, with faded overall colouration. | |
| ** Above photos represent only one of several possible variations for each species. Background colour, dark markings, and intensity of yellow stripe on pronotum and silvery stripe on abdomen vary greatly within species (including between sexes) and the range of this variation overlaps between species. | |
Fleming's (1975, 1984) grass and scrub cicada group is composed of mainly South Island species, occurring in grass- and scrubland habitats from the lowland to the subalpine zone. Although Kikihia angusta, K. longula, K. muta, and K. rosea are closely similar in external morphology, they may not be closely related based on ancestry (see molecular phylogeny of Arensburger et al., 2004).
Kikihia angusta, K. longula, K. muta, and K. rosea can apparently be characterised morphologically as a "group" by the presence of a posterior spot on each side of the mesonotum (just anterior of the cruciform elevation), fused or contiguous with each outer obconical marking.
This character, if indeed diagnostic, is more obvious in females than in males where obconical markings and posterior spots appear fused more often than not, making the latter almost unobservable.
The species in this "group" have for long been regarded as varieties or subspecies of K. muta, which remains an unresolved complex taxonomical entity, probably representing several described and undescribed species and/or subspecies. Kikihia angusta, K. longula and K. rosea also all potentially have close relatives that are undescribed (see Arensburger et al., 2004), and at least K. angusta and K. rosea appear to vary greatly morphologically according to material examined in entomological collections. Consequently, a thorough taxonomic assessment based on further sampling of these species and of putative species or subspecies of the K. muta complex, and probably combining morphological, molecular and acoustic data, is needed before any attempt can be made to find characters offering more solid grounds for morphological identification.
In the meantime, the image gallery associated with this website will hopefully assist identifiers, especially when used in conjunction with the location guide (e.g., only K. longula is known from the Chatham Islands; only the K. muta complex is recorded from the North Island).
Kikihia angusta - Tussock Cicada
Identification notes.
Body narrower and rather more parallel-sided than K. longula, K. muta, and K. rosea; the smallest of the grass and scrub cicadas. Overall colouration greyish black with straw-coloured markings (most males) or the reverse (most females). Mesonotum with inner obconical marks almost as long as outer marks, nearly touching posterior spots. Male tymbals with 2 long and 2 short ridges as in K. muta. Body length: about 17 mm in males; about 18 mm in females. Wingspread: about 39 mm in males; about 42 in females. Ratio of wingspread to body length: about 2.3 in males; about 2.4 in females.
Range. New Zealand. South Island: Marlborough, Buller, North Canterbury, Mid Canterbury, South Canterbury, Mackenzie, Otago Lakes, Central Otago, Dunedin, Fiordland, Southland. Stewart Island.
Habitat. Mostly tussock grasslands (e.g., snow tussock); Aciphylla habitats; also recorded on Dactylis glomerata and Medicago sativa.
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).
Kikihia longula - Chathams Cicada
Identification notes. Body rather broad and stoky, although overall smaller and slenderer than in K. rosea; resembling that species in overall colouration, but without the pinkish orange tinge.. Mesonotum with inner obconical marks shorter than outer marks, distant from (not nearly touching) posterior spots. Male tymbals with 3 long and 2 short ridges. Body length: about 18 mm in males; about 20 mm in females. Wingspread: about 48 mm in males; about 52 in females. Ratio of wingspread to body length: about 2.7 in males; about 2.6 in females.
Range. New Zealand. Offshore Islands: Chatham Islands.
Habitat. On grass; sand dune vegetation; scrub vegetation, including tall bushes (several specimens seen); roadside vegetation.
External hyperlinks. 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).
Kikihia muta - Variable Cicada
Identification notes. A highly variable species; overall smaller than K. longula and K. rosea, slightly larger than K. angusta and often similar to it in colour. Overall colouration varies from pale yellowish to yellowish brown, brownish yellow, or green with bold (most males) or faint (most females) dark markings. Mesonotum with inner obconical marks shorter or longer than outer marks, distant from or nearly touching posterior spots. Male tymbals with 2 long and 2 short ridges as in K. angusta. Body length: about 17 mm in males; about 19 mm in females. Wingspread: about 45 mm in males; about 47 in females. Ratio of wingspread to body length: about 2.6 in males; about 2.5 in females.
Range (K. muta muta, K. muta pallida). New Zealand. North Island: Taranaki, Rangitikei, Wanganui, Wellington, Wairarapa. South Island: Marlborough Sounds, Nelson, Marlborough, Kaikoura, Buller, Westland, North Canterbury, Mid Canterbury, Mackenzie, Otago Lakes, Central Otago, Dunedin.
Habitat. Mostly on monocots, e.g., Carex, grasses (including pasture or coastal sand dune grasses), and Phormium, often in marshy or humid environments; occasionally found on various low herbages, sometimes on 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).
Kikihia rosea - Pink Cicada
Identification notes. Body broader and stockier than K. angusta, K. longula, and K. muta; the largest of the grass and scrub cicadas. Overall colouration pinkish to orange-brown heavily marked with dark; males often appearing blackish with pinkish orange marks rather than the reverse; females usually pinkish orange or sometimes yellowish green, with very few markings. Mesonotum with inner obconical marks shorter than outer marks, distant from posterior spots. Male tymbals with 3 long and 1-2 short ridges. Body length: about 19 mm in males; about 22 mm in females. Wingspread: about 47 mm in males; about 57 in females. Ratio of wingspread to body length: about 2.5 in males; about 2.6 in female.
Range. New Zealand. South Island: Westland, Mid Canterbury, Mackenzie, Otago Lakes, Central Otago, Dunedin, Fiordland, Southland. Stewart Island.
Habitat. On grass (including roadside grass), in Hebe-Dacrydium bog, on Leptospermum, Olearia, scrub vegetation, Senecio, tussock; also on treeline vegetation.
External hyperlinks. 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).