CICADA MACULATA. Atra, thorace elytris alisque flavo maculatis. (Expans.
Alar. 3 unc. 9 lin.)
SYN. Cicada maculata, _Drury_, _App. vol._ 2. _Germar in Silberm. Rev.
Ent. Donovan Ins. China._
Tettigonia maculata, _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ 20. 12. _Syst. Rhyng._ 37. 18.
HABITAT: China.
_Upper Side._ Head black. Eyes yellow brown, round, and projecting from
the head a little; between them are two small orange spots. Antennæ small
and short. Thorax black, with four orange spots in a row, placed across
it, and behind them two others. Abdomen black, consisting of seven annuli
or rings, besides the tail part, the last of which is edged with orange.
Anus orange-coloured, and furnished with a bristle for oviposition. Wings
black, spotted, and streaked with orange; the anterior having a row of
streaks along the external edges, and five distinct orange spots crossing
the middle, near the shoulders: the posterior having a large orange patch
on the abdominal edges, and a small round spot above it, with five small
fainter ones placed along the external edges.
_Under Side._ Head black, terminating in a long slender beak, which
extends between the legs, to the abdomen; two small orange spots are
placed just below the eyes. Thorax with an orange spot on each side. Legs
and abdomen black; the latter having six orange spots, three on each
side. Wings as on the upper side.
The larger species of this family are often mistaken for locusts and
grasshoppers, in consequence of the loud chirping noise which they make,
and which is sometimes so strong that Mr. Smeathman had no doubt that it
might be heard a mile. They are occasionally, he continues, very numerous
in the woods, where they make the hills and vallies ring, continuing their
noise for hours together; at other times, when they are more scarce,
bursting forth only at intervals. This chirp or whistle is in general harsh
and dissonant, though sometimes, like Thomson's Stock Dove, their note,
"Discordant heard alone, aids the full concert."
Amongst the planters and English settlers of the West Indies they are
however called the razor-grinders, their noise being by these persons
likened to that made in grinding knives and razors. Kalm evidently alludes
to these insects in his Tour of North America, where he says in some places
they make so much noise, that unless two persons meeting together can speak
louder than the insect can chirp, they cannot hear each other.
{75}CICADA STRIDULA.
Plate XXXVII. fig. 2.
ORDER: Hemiptera. SUBORDER: Homoptera. FAMILY: Cicadidæ.