Cassinia Cicada (species complex)
Chelapsalta puer (Walker, 1850)
© Popple Creative Industries 2014–2024
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