Analysis of Acoustic Signals Produced by the Cicada Platypedia putnami Variety lutea (Homoptera: Tibicinidae)

Abstract

Most male cicadas produce calling songs to attract females, and most cicadas use a specialized timbal organ to produce sound. However, several cicada genera can produce acoustic signals through stridulation or crepitation either in addition to or in place of the timbal song. We analyzed the acoustic signals produced by a crepitating cicada, Platypedia putnami variety lutea Davis. Peak frequency of the sound pulses produced by crepitation were determined to be 10.18 and 9.66 kHz for males and females, respectively. Individual pulse duration was ≈10 ms. Males produced pulses at a rate of 8.68 Hz and females produced pulses at a rate of 18.76 Hz. We found a delay of ≈40 ms between a male pulse and the response by a female. The mean sound pressure level (89.7 dB) of crepitating P. putnami variety lutea did not differ significantly from the predicted value, based on the regression of call intensity as a function of body mass for cicadas producing timbal songs previously published.