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17th July 2023 (7 Topics)

‘Cicada species’ proved an Indian identity

Context

According to the research led by Travancore Nature History Society, the discovery that involved correcting the mistaken identity of Purana cheeveeda with Purana tigrina (indigenous to India) has been corrected.

  • Approximately 250 kinds of cicadas are known to occur in India. They are distributed across many genera and Rustia is only one of them.

Historical background:

  • Purana tigrina was first described in 1850 from the Malabar Coast of south-western India by the English entomologist Francis Walker.
  • It occurs in primary lowland rainforest but is more often found in secondary forest, felled areas, parks and gardens.


About the Species:

  • Purana tigrina is a species of cicada found in Southeast Asia.
  • It was described from Malabar, South India.
  • It is a common species in the Malayan Peninsula and on Bunguran Island in the South China Sea.
  • The body length of a male is 5–29 mm and that of the female somewhat less at 18–23 mm.
  • They have a greenish-ochraceous head and thorax, and brownish-ochraceous abdomen.
  • The head and thorax are marked in black.

Do you know?

  • Cicada species make their sound by expanding and contracting a membrane called a tymbal.
  • They use their sound to attract females.
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