Calling songs of some South African cicadas (Homoptera: Cicadidae)

Abstract

The spectral and temporal characters of the calls of 12 species of cicada are illustrated and described. Variation within populations of conspecifics appears to be greater in temporal than in spectral properties. Conspecific calls recorded at widely separated localities have essentially the same characteristics. Details of behaviour during singing are also noted. Cicada calling songs are very useful in the identification of species in the field.