Arenopsaltria pygmaea

Last updated

Arenopsaltria pygmaea
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Auchenorrhyncha
Family: Cicadidae
Genus: Arenopsaltria
Species:
A. pygmaea
Binomial name
Arenopsaltria pygmaea
(Distant, 1904) [1] [2]
Synonyms
  • Henicopsaltria pygmaeaDistant, 1904

Arenopsaltria pygmaea, also known as the pygmy sandgrinder, is a species of cicada in the true cicada family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 1904 by English entomologist William Lucas Distant. [2]

Contents

Description

The species has a forewing length of 14–18 mm. [3]

Distribution and habitat

The species is found in Western Australia from the Murchison River district near Geraldton south-east to near Corrigin. It occurs in tall heathland habitats on sandy soils. [2] [3]

Behaviour

Adults may be heard from November to January, clinging to the branches of heath vegetation, uttering continuous, high-pitched, hissing calls. [3]

References

  1. ↑ Distant, WL (1904). "Rhynchotal notes–XXVI". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 7 (14): 293–303 [303].
  2. 1 2 3 "Species Arenopsaltria pygmaea (Distant, 1904)". Australian Faunal Directory. Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia. 2025. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  3. 1 2 3 L.W. Popple (2025). "Pygmy Sandgrinder Arenopsaltria pygmaea (Distant, 1904)". A web guide to the cicadas of Australia. Popple Creative Industries. Retrieved 2025-08-24.


Cicadettana calliope calliope male US.IL.QHR male dorsal view.jpg

This Cicadidae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.