Spectacular song pattern from the Sicilian Mountains : the new cicada species Cicadetta anapaistica sp. n. (Hemiptera: Cicadidae)

Acoustic investigations of Cicadetta montana s. l. have revealed the presence of morphologically cryptic species in thelast few years. This work describes the new cicada Cicadetta anapaistica sp. n. which was detected in the Madonie andNebrodi Mountains (Italy, Sicily). The characteristic and sophisticated song is composed of three phrases, modulated onfour typical power levels and three frequency ranges. The song pattern is compared with those of the closely related Cicadettacerdaniensis and Cicadetta cantilatrix. Quantitative and even qualitative intraspecific differences of the songstructure among individuals exist which appear to allow individual-specific recognition in many cases. As in other speciesof the complex, reliable morphological differences between the new species and others in the complex have not beenfound. The species is currently only known to be endemic to forest and ecotone habitats in a small mountain range. Becauseof this limited distribution the species is likely to be vulnerable to habitat and climate changes.