at our University of Arizona Insect Collection front yard, where the population has been determined by experts (will find out who) to be cinctifera. Supposedly, apache starts further north, around Casa Grande. I will look into it
I have specimens

Hi Margarethe,

Regarding Diceroprocta species in Arizona, I would love to know what traits are being used to id several of these (are they morphological? audal? live individuals? pinned specimens?...) ....I would really appreciate any of the details you can offer. This Genus in particular is a mess and id's are all over the board. I do not know of any recent changes in the taxonomy (however, there is possibly some current research on a few species??).

Not to discredit another's id., - and I may well be wrong (and would like to know if I am), here's a quick break down of basics as have been conveyed to me via. a couple cicada specialists...and from my own observations (incl. call), I would not be shocked if 2 or more of these "currently distinct taxa" are in fact conspecific.

I believe the core of id problems for these species is rooted in misinterpretation of the older literature (incl. morphology, call and distribution). I question the wording & interpretation(s) myself.

Three taxa and lots of confusion.
Diceroprocta cintifera
*Diceroprocta apache
*Diceroprocta semicincta
*"Supposedly", based on collection efforts and records, these 2 taxa are most common in southeastern Arizona (per. comm.), and to date the only 2 from this group I have collected myself in Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima Co.'s (incl. Mt. Lemmon) were all identified as either apache or semicincta (based on lit. and review of specimens - ??).

All three are easily confused.
There has been some debate regarding several characters used for id - incl. but not limited to the following: coloration of the pronotal collar, whether the collar is solid or divided, opercula shape and pruinosity + the Question...How do these traits relate to these three taxa and across their ranges (esp. in areas of overlap).

Initially, my understanding was as follows:

"D. apache" specimens north of Tucson (Maricopa Co., AZ into Calif.)seem to have solid pronotal collars (as pictured) and "straight" or "non-convergent" pointed opercula (morphology and associated calls of specimens reviewed matched). In contrast, Cicadas identified (by several folks) as "D. apache" from Tucson & south of Tucson often have a bisected pronotal collar (anterior half is dark while the posterior half is light). Despite this difference, the opercular traits (being nonconvergent) and associated calls hold true.

"D. semicincta" (said to be the most common species in the immediate Tucson area) usu. has a solid colored pronotal collar (some debate??) and convergent opercula. Regarding apache and semicincta, several of the morphological traits can break down and may become ambiguous; unfortunately, deciding on differences between the two can be subject to interpretation. However, the pointed tips of the opercula in semicincta are convergent (the tips noticeably curve inward towards one another). Given the other variables, this character in opercula shape may be the "ONLY morphological constant" distinguishing semicincta from apache in areas of sympatry.

Important note - D. apache, semicincta and cinctifera DO NOT differ significantly from one another in call, if at all (in fact, it is not likely to distinguish them based on call alone). The congruence in call has raised questions concerning their taxonomic relationship.

In areas of question, identification of specimens may require combining the morphological attributes, habitats, range and calls (id. of specimens associated with particular calls and habitats is strongly recommended).

Great site for audal recordings of western cicadas.
Dave & Kathy have done a wonderful job on this site and lots more to come incl. pictures and range maps!
Songs of western cicadas - incl. Diceroprocta species in Arizona

Cheers,
bill

maybe we'll get somewhere this year. I just posted one from my back yard - definitely a different habitat from the urban UA campus - much drier.

Margarethe,

Do you mind picking up a few examples of your local cicadas?
I'd be very interested in representatives.

lots of different ones here

And some are easy to id and others not so much ;)