Tettigarcta crinita

Tettigarcta crinita
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hemiptera
Suborder:	Auchenorrhyncha
Family:	Tettigarctidae
Genus:	Tettigarcta
Species:	T. crinita
Binomial name
Tettigarcta crinita Distant, 1883 [1] [2]

Tettigarcta crinita is a species of cicada, also known as the alpine hairy cicada, in the Tettigarctidae family, Tettigarctinae subfamily and Tettigarctini tribe. The species is endemic to Australia. It was described in 1883 by English entomologist William Lucas Distant. ^{[1] [2]}

Etymology

The specific epithet crinita comes from the Latin (“hairy” or “long-haired”), referring to the species’ appearance. ^{[1] [3]}

Description

The length of the forewing is 35–43 mm. ^{[4] [1]}

Distribution and habitat

The species has a montane distribution from the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, southwards through the Brindabella Range in the Australian Capital Territory into Victoria, then westwards to the Otway Ranges. Associated habitats include subalpine and cool temperate eucalypt forest and woodland, including areas with snow gums or mountain gums, as well as the margins of temperate rainforest. ^{[2] [4]}

Behaviour

Adults may be observed from January to May, hiding in crevices and beneath loose bark during the day and becoming active at night, communicating by vibration through the substrate. ^{[4] [2]}

References

1. Distant, WL (1883). "Contributions to a proposed monograph of the homopterous family Cicadidae". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1883 (1): 187–194 [188].
2. "Species Tettigarcta crinita Distant, 1883". Australian Faunal Directory. Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia. 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-29.
3. "Tettigarcta crinita Distant, 1883". World Auchenorrhyncha Database. TaxonWorks. 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-29.
4. "Alpine Hairy Cicada Tettigarcta crinita Distant, 1883". A web guide to the cicadas of Australia. Popple Creative Industries. 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-29.