Stéphane Puissant

Cicadas from Portugal: revised list of species with eco-ethological data (Hemiptera: Cicadidae)

The cicada fauna from Portugal is reviewed, as a result of a joint Portuguese-French project. Thirteen species are reported (Lyristes plebejus, Cicada orni, Cicada barbara lusitanica, Tibicina tomentosa, Tibicina quadrisignata, Tibicina garricola, Melampsalta varipes, Tympanistalna gastrica, Euryphara contentei, Tettigetta argentata, Tettigetta estrellae, Tettigetta josei, Tettigetta mariae), while five taxa which were previously referred to in the literature, have not been found (Tibicina corsica fairmairei, Tibicina haematodes, Tibicina nigronervosa, Cicadetta flaveola, Cicadivetta tibialis). Based on morphological and acoustic features, the following synonymies are established: Tettigetta argentata (Olivier, 1790) = Tettigetta atra (Gomez-Menor, 1957) n. syn. and Tettigetta estrellae Boulard, 1982 = Tettigetta septempulsata Boulard & Quartau, 1991 n. syn. Data on time of emergence, geographical distribution, habitat occupation and acoustic calling behaviour are given for each species.

A hotspot for Mediterranean cicadas (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadidae): new genera, species and songs from southern Spain

Southern Spain exhibits high diversity and endemism. Based on a long-term field study, a review of nine regional cicada species hitherto placed in the genus Tettigetta is provided. According to morphological characters previously defined by Lee, none of these species belongs to the genus Tettigetta; they are placed instead in four new genera: Tettigettalna Puissant gen. nov., Tettigettula Puissant gen. nov., Tettigettacula Puissant gen. nov., and Pseudotettigetta Puissant gen. nov. Tettigetta parvula (Fieber, 1876) and Tettigetta carayoni Boulard (1982) are transferred to Cicadivetta Boulard, 1982, as Cicadivetta parvula (Fieber, 1876), comb. nov. and Cicadivetta carayoni (Boulard, 1982), comb. nov. Tettigetta manueli Boulard, 2000 is considered a synonym of Tettigettalna helianthemi helianthemi (Rambur, 1840), comb. nov., syn. nov. Three new endemics, Tettigettalna boulardi Puissant sp. nov., Tettigettalna armandi Puissant sp. nov., and Tettigettalna defauti Puissant sp. nov., are described. A new subspecies, Tettigettalna helianthemi galantei Puissant ssp. nov., is also reported. All species are described with information on their distribution, habitat selection, and acoustic behaviour. The high diversity of cicadas in southern Spain is discussed in terms of local geography and mating behaviour.

Biodiversity eavesdropping: bioacoustics confirms the presence of Cicadetta montana (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadidae) in France

Abstract Using bioacoustic methods only, we confirm the presence of Cicadetta montana s. str. in France, a cicada belonging to a complex of closely related species. Specimens of C. montana from France have probably been kept in collections for a long time but could not be identified with certainty by morphological characters alone. The species was discovered in a single locality but it is highly probable that it will be found in many other parts of the country in particular in the north and east of France. This simple study illustrates how much bioacoustic studies can help in monotoring biodiversity, in particular biodiversity of closely related species and/or of species living in habitats difficult to reach or where visual contact is highly limited.

Dimissalna, a cicada genus that remained unnoticed in France (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadidae)

Abstract The cicada Dimissalna dimissa (Hagen 1856) is reported for the first time in France. This cicada was previously thought to occur in Eastern Europe only. D. dimissa has been found in the Païolive wood close to Berrias-et-Casteljau and Les Vans, as well as in Vallon-Pont-d’Arc (Ardèche). Time and frequency parameters of the calling song are similar to the original acoustic description based on Caucasus specimens. D. dimissa went surprisingly unnoticed probably because of its high position in trees and a quiet calling song close to those of Cicadetta montana and C. brevipennis. A distribution map across the Mediterranean basin is provided for the first time. The distribution range of D. dimissa now extends over 3 700 km, from 4°to 49°E. This discovery increases the number of cicada taxa found in France up to 20.

Taxonomy, distribution and first eco-ethological data of Melampsalta varipes (Waltl, 1837), an unrecognized cicada (Hemiptera, Cicadidae)

The west Palaearctic cicada Melampsalta varipes (Waltl, 1837) has been studied for the first time in Spain. After a summary of its taxonomy and the designation of a neotype, its distribution and habitat in Spain and Portugal are given. M. varipes can be considered as a typical Mediterranean cicada essentially found in open fields, i.e. with low percentage of ligneous plants. The increase of tourism activities and the abrupt agricultural practice modification probably modify its habitat endangering the populations. Males call either when static on a perch or in flight. The song is attractive to both sexes, one singing male stimulating a chorus from surrounding males. The calling song consists of monotonous trains of short echeme and long echeme. Each echeme is composed of two parts: a successive short train of pulses and a sustained train of pulses. The structure of the signal varied among individuals in both temporal and frequency parameters suggesting individual acoustic markers. The duration of the inter-echeme silence may act as a simple specific recognition process. The frequency pattern show two groups of frequencies which could guide the female over long distances to males and then help them to localize males at close range.