Moved from Diceroprocta cinctifera.

I have been researching the differences between the three most common species of Diceroprocta to be found in Arizona and I found a paper published by William T. Davis in 1928 that describes all three.

All three species have triangular shaped opercula in males extending about half-way the distance of the underside of the abdomen.

W.T. Davis writes:

Diceroprocta cinctifera
Opercula with the outer edges nearly parallel to each other; 8th segment and middle base of tergum pruinose. Collar and costal margin of fore wing usually bright orange in color.

Diceroprocta apache
Hind margin of pronotum or collar yellowish, or straw colored; eyes reddish and membranes at base of both pair of wings pale; often straw-colored. Pubescence at base of abdomen golden.

Diceroprocta semicincta
Hind margin of pronotum or collar with anterior portion blackish and posterior portion pale. Eighth segmen pruinose, and pubescence at base of abdomen silvery. Eyes darker than in apache (not redish in dried specimens), and membranes at base of all wings darker gray. Usually smaller than apache and with opercula more extended at tips.

I would also like to add that based on my personal observations of several examples that I have in my collection is that D. apache differs from D. semicinta in the following ways.

D. apache

Has a thin line of black that bisects the anterior portions of the pronotal collar with the posterior portion being orange or straw colored.

D. semicincta

Has an all straw or bone colored pronotal collar with no bisection of black in the anterior portions. D. semicincta maculations (patterns of reds and browns) on the mesonotum are less prominent than in D. apache.

This image is missing the distinct pruinose spot at the base of the abdomen indicative of D. cinctifera as mentioned above by Davis.

So with all the above, these images key to D. apache.

Moved from Diceroprocta.

The bold, white band across the tip of the abdomen is distinctive; see http://bugs.bio.nau.edu/Homoptera/azhomoptera.htm

Too bad you couldn't keep your fingers out of the photo!

The most common genus around here is Diceroprocta, and D. semitincta is in Tucson, singing up a storm right now. Dr. Andy Hamilton can confirm or deny when he visits this site again. My opinion on cicadas is not to be trusted to-o-o much:-)