Amphipsalta zelandica
| Chorus cicada | |
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| A chorus cicada, Amphipsalta zelandica | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Auchenorrhyncha |
| Infraorder: | Cicadomorpha |
| Superfamily: | Cicadoidea |
| Family: | Cicadidae |
| Genus: | Amphipsalta |
| Species: | A. zelandica |
| Binomial name | |
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Amphipsalta zelandica (Boisduval, 1835) |
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| Synonyms | |
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The chorus cicada, Amphipsalta zelandica, is the most common species of cicada in New Zealand where it is endemic and found in most areas. They typically live in forests and areas with open bush, where their left-over nymph skins can be seen on tree trunks and branches during the summer months. The males produce their cicada sound in unison, which can reach deafening proportions at the height of their population around February. Groups of cicada can suddenly transition from the typical cicada sound to synchronised clicks, using their wings to clap against the surface they are sitting on.
Amphipsalta zelandica have a nymph stage before their last molt and become an adult. During this nymph stage they are a soft and creamy white, and very similar looking to the adult form of the chorus cicada. The lengths of the adults are usually larger than 2 cm in length while the largest species are up to 4 cm; this includes the wings. Chorus cicadas’ wing span is about 6 cm and the wings of the chorus cicada only appear after molting to adult stage, they are membranous with veins and they filter out ultraviolet light. The colour of the chorus cicada can be black/green/brown and many have stripes along their body. The antenna of the Amphipsalta zelandica has seven segments with the seventh being constricted medially which means the last segment is tightened towards the middle. The adult male cicadas differ to the females by the presence of a clasper sheath, and also the females don’t have finger like extensions which the males do have. The song made by cicadas is the loudest noise made by an insect. Only the male Chorus cicada produces a communication song that is specific to their species. The species can be identified by their song. A pulse group of their song is made up of five clicks where the central click (third click) is stronger than the two on either side of it. The central click can become two clicks if the cicada is tired and has no energy. These clicks are made by the cicada hitting its wings against the surface it’s sitting on. These pulse groups can be produced quickly and continuously in a prolonged note during chorus sing. It is New Zealand's biggest cicada, their size is averaging around 40 mm.
The adults and immatures of the chorus cicada both feed on xylem sap made from plants, this sap is low in nutrients and doesn’t contain all the necessary amino acids so to make up for this the insects rely on an endosymbiotic bacteria to provide the lacking nutrients from the sap. This type of food makes the chorus cicada a generalist feeder as it has a range of host plants that it feeds on. An orchard root system provides a good food source the nymphs which live in the soil.
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Wikipedia