Vol. 47 No. 1, 2008

Variation in the Acoustic Properties of the Calling Songs of Cicada barbara and C. orni (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) at the Individual and Population Levels

Sofia G. Seabra*, Genage André, and José A. Quartau

Centro de Biologia Ambiental and Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal

Sofia G. Seabra, Genage André, and José A. Quartau (2008) W.Variation in the time and frequency properties of the calling songs of 2 Cicada species, C. barbara and C. orni, was examined at the individual and population levels.  Individual males were recorded in the field at different times of day, and within-individual coefficients of variation were generally lower than among-individual variation.  The effect of temperature on calling song properties was also assessed, with time variables being more consistently related to temperature than the frequency variable.  No significant differences among years within populations were detected in most populations.  Studies of female preference in these species are necessary to assess the biological significance of the detected variation in the properties of these calling songs.

Key words: Cicada barbara, Cicada orni, Cicadas, Insects, Song.

*Correspondence: E-mail:sgseabra@fc.ul.pt