Observations by barred_looper

A red eyed male Amphipsalta cingulata observed in South Brighton singing on the trunk of a Cabbage Tree. I have noticed variation in eye colour of these cicadas, but this was by far the most striking. Unfortunately when I recorded the sound, I held the microphone a bit close, so we have some distortion.

Location is approximate for this observation. Shed nymph skins on the trunk of a Ngaio shrub, and two fresh emergent burrows in the vicinity. There were some further shed skins on the soil beneath this Ngaio. I have noticed that they lay eggs on the stems of this plant also.

Found singing on the corner of a storage container of the Yacht Club, South Brighton Park, Christchurch.

I was able to locate several others within this area of South Brighton, and although no female specimens have been found as yet, hopefully we can document an observation soon of one.

Confirmed colony on Amphipsalta cingulata resident in South Brighton Park, Christchurch, and most likely the general area. Several were heard and recorded this afternoon. Thanks to Dustin Lamont for mentioning this area, and this interesting observation https://inaturalist.nz/observations/147982369 which brought me out here for a look see. It would seem they have been here a while, as there are a number of them present in the park and surrounds.

I wonder whether this colony of cingulata and the Pegasus/Woodend colony are connected in any way.

Maoricada spp. found in clay banks, singing, many heard, but very difficult to approach. Song, zeep zeep zeep zeep chhrrrrr teep. I know that's not very useful! i took a video of it and may be able to get it on here at some stage.

The location is approximate for this cicada, found singing in the long grass on the side of the road, Teviotdale. Song is distinctive, and has been included here. It is not of the best quality, with other sounds in the background, but hopefully portrays the song sequence sufficiently. It has been very interesting to find these cicadas outside of their range, as they are noted to be in the Kaikoura region, and I have seen them there many years ago, so finding them this far south was fascinating. There are a good number of them around this roadside area.
It is a remarkable area for cicada species, with a number of other species heard.

A somewhat surprising find of the Peg's Cicada, Kikihia paxillulae on the side of the road, Teviotdale. This was singing in the long grass along with several others, distinctive song, which I will upload in the next ob from the following day.

Several tunnels of these spiders were present in the clay bank along the right hand side of the road. These burrows about 1.5cm in diameter, some a little larger.

It looks like a tunnel web spider species. I noticed there were many other burrows further back on the cliffs near Kate Valley.

This is the best photo that I have of it, it is a still shot taken from a video made of it pouncing out at a fly that I caught to bring the spider out for a picture.

The Lat Longs are approximate for this observation.

Over the past few years I have been monitoring a localised South Island population of this species in the township of Woodend and Pegasus, Nrth Canterbury. They appear to have been present in the area for some time, and generations of these cicadas have been consistent over the past few years of observation, however, they don't appear to be spreading very far at this stage. The location marker for this observation is approximate.

These observations have been confirmed as the species by David Marshall, David Lane, and Chris Simon.