| Cicadetta montana | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Auchenorrhyncha |
| Family: | Cicadidae |
| Subfamily: | Cicadettinae |
| Tribe: | Cicadettini |
| Genus: | Cicadetta |
| Species: | C. montana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cicadetta montana (Scopoli, 1772)
| |
Cicadetta montana (also known as the New Forest cicada) is a species of Cicadetta found throughout Europe and in parts of Asia.[1]
It is regarded as endangered over large parts of Europe, and has vanished from several areas in Western Europe.[2] It is the only cicada species native to England and Finland (Åminnefors in Pohja).[3]
The adult females inject their eggs into the stems of food plants, and, when the larvae emerge, they burrow underground and as nymphs feeding on root sap. These underground cycles may last many years, differing for each species.
Females have a body measuring about 50 mm in length, with the males being much smaller. It has transparent wings with prominent veins, folded over the back when at rest, and a dark slate-grey or black body with dull orange rings around the abdomen. The legs are marked with dull orange as are the leading edges of the wings (costae).
As with all cicadas, the males produce the shrill, buzzing calls by rapidly flexing drumhead-like membranes, while the females are limited to producing clicks. The call of C montana sounds like static hiss to the unaided human ear and is sustained with relatively short lulls at irregular intervals.[4] Their shrilling was venerated by the ancient Greeks, but detested by Virgil.[5]
- ^ "Cicadetta montana Scopoli, 1772 Distribution: AT, BE, BG, DK, FI, FR, DE, GB, GR, HU, IT, NO, IL, PL, ES, SE, SLO, TR, AZ, GG, KG, MD, N-RU, M-RU, S-RU, TJ, UA, YU." The Fulgoromorpha and Cicadomorpha of Turkey - Emine Demir
- ^ An Encyclopedia of Natural History
- ^ The genus is also represented in Australia and New Zealand. Cicada sensations, behavior, song patterns[page needed]
- ^ "Sound clip from Songs of Cicadas". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
- ^ Taxonomy, distribution, biology and conservation status of Finnish Auchenorrhyncha - Guy Söderman Archived May 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine