Cicadatra icari

Cicadatra icari, commonly known as Icarus cicada, is a species of cicada found in Greece, specifically on the islands of Ikaria and Samos.

The species name "icari" comes from Icarus, the figure in Greek mythology, from whom the name of the island (Ikaria) was derived and where most of the specimens were collected.^[1]

Cicadatra icari shares a similar external structure with other members of its genus, featuring a body color that varies from black to deep brown. Both males and females exhibit nearly identical physical traits and color patterns.

The head is primarily blackish-brown, with its width, including the compound eyes, being slightly narrower than the mesonotum but matching the front edge of the pronotum. The compound eyes range from brown to greenish-brown, while the ocelli have a reddish hue. The postclypeus is dark brown, sometimes with lighter shades around its grooves. Other facial parts, such as the anteclypeus, lora, and genae, are uniformly dark brown. The mentum and labium are also brown. A patch of golden hairs is visible where the epicranial suture meets the frontoclypeal suture, while silvery hairs cover the underside of the head, the sides of the postclypeus, and the area behind the eyes.

The pronotum varies from brown to dark brown, with a distinct yellow stripe running down the middle. The central part of the pronotum is lighter than the midline and collar, the latter typically being blackish-brown. The mesonotum has a glossy black or dark brown surface, sometimes with an orange line along the parapsidal sutures. The cruciform elevation is dark brown, fading to a lighter shade toward the rear. Golden and silvery hairs are present between its arms, with additional silvery hairs in the wing grooves. The metanotum and underside of the thorax remain dark brown.

The legs are brown with yellowish-brown streaks, usually lighter at the base and darker toward the tips. The forefemur has three prominent spines, occasionally with a small extra spine at the tip. The main spine is noticeably longer and thicker than the others.

The operculum is broad and rounded, dark brown, and does not meet in the middle. The forewings are transparent with brown to yellowish-brown veins that darken toward the edges. In males, the median vein (3+4) is especially thick and dark. Some specimens have faint darkening near certain crossveins. The hindwings are clear with brownish-yellow veins, though a few may show slight darkening at similar crossvein spots.

The tergites are blackish-brown, while the sternites and epipleurites are dark brown with yellowish edges. The timbals have ten golden ribs, and the timbal covers are dark brown and oval-shaped but incomplete.

The pygofer is dark brown with a spiny dorsal beak that extends past the anal styles. Its outer edge tapers into a very fine spine. The structure has no basal lobe and a short uncus. The claspers are brown, positioned close together, nearly touching before curving outward. The aedeagus has a flexible tip with four uneven, star-shaped spines and two longer projections where the longest one featuring a claw-like structure at its base.^[1]

Measurements taken from apex of crown to tegmina tips in resting position:

Body length: Male: 29–31 mm ; Female: 29 mm

Forewing:

Length:Male: 24–25 mm ; Female: 24 mm

Width:Male: 10–11 mm ; Female: 11 mm

Head width:Male: 6–7 mm ; Female: 7 mm

Mesonotum width:Male: 7–8 mm ; Female: 24 mm^[1]

Cicadatra icari is endemic to Greece, specifically on the islands of Ikaria and Samos.^[2]

The calling song of Cicadatra icari consists of an uninterrupted, continuous signal that can persist for several minutes. Spectral analysis reveals:

Frequency range: 5–17 kHz (dominant band)

Primary peak: Maximum energy at 9.4 kHz

Secondary peak: Significant energy concentration near 7 kHz

Males demonstrate the ability to transition from this continuous call to a distinct echeme song characterized by repeated echemes with progressively increasing amplitude, regular temporal patterning, mean repetition rate of 3.5 pulse units per second (in analyzed recordings).

The echeme song occupies a similar spectral range (5–17 kHz) but shows that shifted energy peak to approximately 8.5 kHz and broadband frequency characteristics maintain.^[1]