Cassinia Cicada (species complex) Chelapsalta puer (Walker, 1850)
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Male
Female
Previously known as Cicadetta puer. Species number (TNS): 251, 252. Fore wing length: 15–18 mm. Distribution and seasonality: From Kingaroy south along the Great Dividing Range and its foothills, in southern Queensland, south through the western slopes and tablelands of New South Wales to the Snowy River in north-eastern Victoria and west to Adelaide and the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. Adults occur from September to March. Notable localities: Crows Nest, Stanthorpe, Warrumbungle National Park, Barmedman, Jindabyne, Mount Remarkable (Simon lab). Habitat: Woodland and scrubland where adults occur in association with shrubs, particularly Cassinia spp. (Asteraceae). Species complex includes: Flinders Cassinia Cicada (TNS: 251): Known from the Flinders Ranges south to Adelaide in South Australia. Eastern Cassinia Cicada (TNS: 252): Found from Carnarvon National Park and the Bunya Mountains in southern Queensland south through New South Wales along the Great Dividing Range, western slopes and plains to the Snowy River region of Victoria. Calling song and behaviour: High-pitched, with monotonously repeated phrases; varying from a rapid flutter (Eastern Cassinia Cicada) to a call with more discrete phrases (Flinders Cassinia Cicada). Adults are not particularly mobile unless they are disturbed directly and can often be easily approached. Similar species: Copper Shrub-buzzer; members of the genus Simona are similar in appearance and occur in similar habitats.
Habitat
Eastern Cassinia Cicada
dr-pop.net database record
Currently known extent