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Subpsaltria yangi

Description Subpsaltria yangi Chen (Cicadidae: Tettigadinae) is an endemic, Chinese cicada species (Chen, 1943, Chou et al., 1997). This species is unusual in that, besides the tymbal organs, the males also possess a well-developed stridulatory mechanism, i.e. a striated area (file) situated on each side of the mesonotum and a projecting scraper formed by the base of each tegmen (Chen, 1943, Chou et al., 1997). As usual, the females do not have tymbal organs, but possess the same stridulatory organs as males (Chou et al., 1997). Previously known from just a few museum specimens collected from Shaanxi Province, China, this cicada species had not been seen in the field since 1989 and was thought to be extinct. A survey of the insect fauna of Helan Mountains (located at the border of Ningxia and Inner Mongolia Nationality Autonomous Regions of northern China) led to the discovery of two populations of S. yangi in June 2011. This rediscovery of S. yangi provides a unique opportunity for further investigation of this little-known cicada species.

Habitat Large population of S. yangi in Chunshugou valley (38°33.699′N, 105°55.217′E) located in the Helanshan National Nature Reserve, Ningxia Hui Nationality Autonomous Region, China, occurring mainly at elevations of 1400–1600 m above sea level. Vegetation in the dry habitat occupied by S. yangi consists primarily of drought-tolerant dwarf shrubs and herbaceous plants. Adults of this cicada species feed mainly on Ephedra lepidosperma (Ephedraceae) which is the dominant plant species in this habitat.

Pair Formation Males use both their timbal and stridulatory organs to produce acoustic signals, which constituted the first step in pair formation (Supplementary Video S1). When the first male in the population began to call, more and more surrounding males followed (chorusing behaviour). Within the chorus, males of this species did not signal from stationary perches. Rather, they frequently flew from perch to perch, calling on each perch visited (‘call-fly’ behaviour).

Attracted by human voice Males are also attracted to human simulations of female calls. This behaviour exposes the mating system to impacts from anthropogenic noise systems which could disrupt mating activity of this species.