New cicada fossils from Australia (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea: Cicadidae) with remarkably detailed wing surface nanostructure

Abstract

Australia hosts the richest diversity of extant cicadas in the world, but a scarcity of fossils means that little is known about their evolutionary history on the continent. Here we describe the first fossilized Cicadidae from Australia. Laopsaltria ferruginosa gen. et sp. nov., Burbungoides gulgongensis gen. et sp. nov. and Tithopsaltria titan gen. et sp. nov. were all found at McGraths Flat near Gulgong, New South Wales, a recently discovered Miocene Lagerstätte. These cicada fossils preserve remarkable detail, including setae and wing membrane surface structures. Wing size varies considerably between the three newly described species and, in T. titan sp. nov., reaches a maximum size beyond what is known from extant Australian cicadas (or any other known cicada fossil), indicating a disparate cicada fauna in Australia’s Miocene rainforests. Max Moulds [ msmoulds@gmail.com ], Australian Museum Research Institute, 1 William Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia. Michael Frese [ michael.frese@canberra.edu.au ], Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia; Australian Museum Research Institute, 1 William Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Health and Biosecurity, Black Mountain, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia. M. R. McCurry [ matthew.mccurry@australian.museum ], Australian Museum Research Institute, 1 William Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia; Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre, School of BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia; Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia 20560, USA.