Kikihia subalpina
Kikihia subalpina, commonly known as the subalpine green cicada, is a species of cicada that is endemic to New Zealand.
Taxonomy
This species was first described by George Hudson in 1891 and named Cicada muta sub-alpina.
Description
Green overall colour with lighter markings in grooves of pronotum and bold dark markings on mesonotum ; with shorter, lighter body pubescence than K. horologium. Pronotum with median yellow line. Mesonotum with trace of a narrow bright orange-red patch between nearly touching inner obconical marks. Underside of head with brownish to purple-pink genae on each side of frons. Pro- and mesosternum with nearly triangular black patches. Coxae of forelegs usually with pinkish red patches. Abdomen usually with well defined dorsal median silvery stripe. Male tymbals with 2 long and 1–2 short ridges. Female pygophore generally with a thick black longitudinal mark on each side of middle dorsally. Body length: 18–22 mm ; 20–24 mm. Wingspread: 46–57 mm ; 50–62.
Range
New Zealand. North Island: Taranaki, Taupo, Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, Rangitikei, Wellington. South Island: Marlborough Sounds, Nelson, Kaikoura, Buller, Westland, Mid Canterbury, South Canterbury, Mackenzie, Otago Lakes, Dunedin, Fiordland. Stewart Island.
Habitat
Subalpine scrub vegetation, sometimes also in the canopy of Nothofagus solandri cliffortioides ; in scrublands on ridges down to about 100 m elevation ; in forest canopy from tree line to sea level, but rarely in true subalpine environments.