Cicada, Cyprus (1 Viewer)

[Andy Adcock]

Based on size, this was a very large Cicada, I'd presumed it would turn out to be what is said to be the largest species on Cyprus, Cicada orni, but the wing pattern seems wrong, no dark areas between adjoining cells. They've only just started to sing here and wondered if these dark areas will develop as the insect gets older, anyone know? We also found a nice, fresh exuvia.

 

[pdwinter]

Looking in Brock - this matches Lyristes plebejus ("30-37mm - one of europe's largest cicadas, conspicuously marked") and is on the map for Cyprus. I found this image.

Added later: I see that it's also in southern spain so I'll look for that one - a striking insect.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Great stuff, many thanks again Paul.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Hi Paul,
Eddie John who collates the butterfly records here and has an imminent, new butterfly book for release, has a contact who specialises in Cicadas and he writes.

'This group of Cicadas cannot be identified from photos. It is one of three possibilities but orni is the least likely. I can do them on genitalia or song. A recording on the phone can help. Sorry I cannot be more helpful.’

Luckily, my wife has filmed one so we'll see what he say about this.

 

[pdwinter]

Interesting - I have used European Cicadas in the past, seems a good site.

 

[pdwinter]

Luckily, my wife has filmed one so we'll see what he say about this.

It sounds like C. orni to me - but hearing is not my strong point and no doubt when it's analysed and a sonogram produced it will not be

 

[Andy Adcock]

Cheers Paul, apparently the recording proved ,inconclusive'

 

[Andy Adcock]

This is a different species, considerably smaller.

 

[Tiraya]

The photos certainly look Lyristes to me, but I'd be pondering Lyristes gemellus as an option if it occurs in Cyprus, certainly with the song.

 

[Andy Adcock]

The photos certainly look Lyristes to me, but I'd be pondering Lyristes gemellus as an option if it occurs in Cyprus, certainly with the song.

Which one James, the smaller one or thee bigger one?

 

[Tiraya]

Which one James, the smaller one or thee bigger one?

The original suspect, the smaller one is so fresh that I can't figure it out, most images and descriptions use specimens that have lost their fresh coating (which is usually only a day after emergence).