Calipsalta brunnea

Calipsalta brunnea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hemiptera
Suborder:	Auchenorrhyncha
Family:	Cicadidae
Genus:	Calipsalta
Species:	C. brunnea
Binomial name
	Calipsalta brunnea; Moulds & Marshall, 2022

Last updated October 19, 2025

Calipsalta brunnea is a species of cicada, also known as the brown spinifex rattler, in the true cicada family, Cicadettinae subfamily and Cicadettini tribe. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 2022 by Australian entomologists Maxwell Sydney Moulds and David C. Marshall.^[1]^[2]

Etymology

The species epithet brunnea is derived from Latin brunneus ('dusky' or 'tawny'), with reference to the cicadas' colouration.^[1]

Description

The length of the forewing is 21–28 mm.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

The species' range covers much of arid central Australia, including the Great Sandy Desert in north-west Western Australia, through the southern Northern Territory and far north South Australia, through to the eastern margins of the Simpson Desert in western Queensland. The associated habitat is low, open, shrubland with spinifex and other grasses.^[2]^[3]

Behaviour

Adults may be heard from November to February, uttering fast, rattling calls during the day and especially at dusk.^[3]

References

1 2 3 Moulds, MS; Marshall, DC (2022). "New genera and new species of Western Australian cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae)". Zootaxa. 5174 (5): 451–507 [491]. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5174.5.1. PMID 36095386 . Retrieved 2025-09-26.
1 2 3 "Genus Calipsalta Moulds & Marshall, 2022". Australian Faunal Directory. Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia. 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
1 2 3 L.W. Popple (2025). "Brown Spinifex Rattler Calipsalta brunnea Moulds and Marshall, 2022". A web guide to the cicadas of Australia. Popple Creative Industries. Retrieved 2025-09-26.

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[m&m2022-1] 1 2 3 Moulds, MS; Marshall, DC (2022). "New genera and new species of Western Australian cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae)". Zootaxa. 5174 (5): 451–507 [491]. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5174.5.1. PMID 36095386 . Retrieved 2025-09-26.

[afd-2] 1 2 3 "Genus Calipsalta Moulds & Marshall, 2022". Australian Faunal Directory. Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia. 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-17.

[popple-3] 1 2 3 L.W. Popple (2025). "Brown Spinifex Rattler Calipsalta brunnea Moulds and Marshall, 2022". A web guide to the cicadas of Australia. Popple Creative Industries. Retrieved 2025-09-26.

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