The Cicadas of Thailand, Volume 2 Taxonomy and Sonic Ethology

About this book

The present work is the second volume by the author on the cicadas of Thailand. Volume 1, published in 2007, was subtitled General and Particular characteristics. This second volume is the culmination of approximately 13 years of research and provides detailed coverage of the taxonomy and sonic ethology of all currently known species of thai cicadas. Thai cicadas are here represented by 142 species in 42 genera, 6 tribes and 15 subtribes. They are divided between the two main subfamilies: cicadinae (the vast majority) and cicadettinae (which account for less than 5% of the species). Various new taxonomic contributions are proposed including the description of several new species.

Cicadas were previously characterized by the author as "entomophonators par excellence" because they have an organ complex specifically for the emission and reception of sounds. This is devoted mainly to procreation and forms a heterosexual apparatus which is complete in males but not in females. The latter are equipped only with the auditory part of the structure. Cicadas emit species-specific tymbalizations (songs), which are available online as supporting material to The Cicadas Of Thailand, Volume 2 (111 downloadable audio tracks). These are highly distinctive and can be used for taxonomic identification, largely because of the work of the author and his students. The sonic ethology for each cicada species is illustrated by a graphic transcription (sonogram), corresponding to identity cards and sound ethology cards, with each sonogram described in detail.

Bio-ethological monitoring in the field resulted in the discovery of new and sometimes surprising behaviours, some of which defy comprehension. Ethno-zoological notes are also provided for some species, for example, edible cicadas that can be very popular in local Thai markets. Bio-ecological studies of Thai cicadas helped create a unique image archive and 96 colour plates enrich the work with 400 eco-photographs (snapshots of cicadas in their natural environments), representing a unique and interesting pictorial contribution for an otherwise poorly known tropical insect fauna.

Contents

List of figures, plates & audio tracks (available online)
Acknowledgments

1. Introduction and Technical Notes

2. Simplified Classification of Thai Cicadas
2.1 Brief outline
2.2 Table summarizing the simplified classification

3. Taxonomy and Sonic Ethology
a Cicadinae Latreille
A. Cryptotympanini
A1. Cryptotympanina
A2. Platypleurina
A3. Polyneurina
A4. Formotosenina
B. Dundubiini
B1. Tosenina
B2. Pomponiina (see also: three additional new Thai Pomponia species)
B3. Aolina new subtribe
B4. Dundubiina
B5. Leptopsaltriina
C. Cicadini
C1. Cicadina
C2. Gaeanina
C3. Balintina new subtribe
C4. Becquartinina
C5. Talaingina
C6. Moganniina
ß Cicadettinae Buckton: Moulds
D. Huechysini
E. Taphurini
(Three additional new Thai Pomponia species)
[F]. Sinosenini

4. conclusion

Notes
References

Appendix 1: List of Thai cicadas studied in this work
Appendix 2: Volume1 errata & corrigenda

Taxonomic index
Colour plates

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Biography

Professor Michel Boulard is a retired Director of the Laboratoire de Biologie et Evolution des Insectes at l’Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (Sorbonne, Paris) and Head of the Department of Homoptera Auchenorhyncha at the Paris National Museum of Natural History (Paris, France). He is a leading world expert in Cicadomorpha taxonomy and bio-ethology/acoustics and has also studied the phenomena of camouflage and mimicry.