Bioacoustics of Myopsalta albiventris

Distribution, habitat and behaviour ( Fig. 4 ). Myopsalta albiventris has a discontinuous distribution in Queensland and New South Wales . In Queensland , it occurs from Carnarvon National Park, Expedition Range National Park and the Biggenden district south-east to Maroon Dam and Mt Lindesay on the Queensland / New South Wales border. In New South Wales , it is recorded from the Kyogle district and from 48 km north of Singleton in the Hunter Valley. Populations occur in grassy woodland and on road verges where the adults are typically found in grass. Adults may be present from September to February. Males sing during warm, sunny weather. Calling song ( Figs 5 , 6 ). The calling song contains a set of continuously repeated phrases of variable duration. Each phrase contains 2–10 (typically 3 or 4) single macrosyllables, each 0.054– 0.080 s duration and separated by gaps of 0.048– 0.093 s duration (all statistics, n =10 recordings). The gaps are typically punctuated by 1 or 2 syllables, which occur immediately before production of the next macrosyllable. Sometimes the first macrosyllable of each phrase is also preceded by 1–2 syllables. Each phrase ends with a double macrosyllable. This is composed of an initial macrosyllable of 0.050– 0.066 s duration, a gap of 0.015– 0.025 s duration, and a second shorter macrosyllable of 0.029– 0.045 s duration. A gap of 0.084– 0.123 s duration separates each phrase. It is anticipated that females respond during the gap following the short macrosyllable at the end of each phrase, although there are presently no observations to support this expectation (see Marshall and Hill (2009) for an explanation on female response to male calling songs in the tribe Cicadettini ). This species calls during the day and is not known to sing at dusk. The calling song maintains an even frequency distribution throughout, with a high amplitude plateau of 10.4–15.2 kHz and a dominant frequency between 11.0 and 14.2 kHz.

Calling song (Figs 5, 6). The calling song contains a set of continuously repeated phrases of variable duration. Each phrase contains 2–10 (typically 3 or 4) single macrosyllables, each 0.054–0.080 s duration and separated by gaps of 0.048–0.093 s duration (all statistics, n =10 recordings). The gaps are typically punctuated by 1 or 2 syllables, which occur immediately before production of the next macrosyllable. Sometimes the first macrosyllable of each phrase is also preceded by 1–2 syllables. Each phrase ends with a double macrosyllable. This is composed of an initial macrosyllable of 0.050–0.066 s duration, a gap of 0.015–0.025 s duration, and a second shorter macrosyllable of 0.029–0.045 s duration. A gap of 0.084–0.123 s duration separates each phrase. It is anticipated that females respond during the gap following the short macrosyllable at the end of each phrase, although there are presently no observations to support this expectation (see Marshall and Hill (2009) for an explanation on female response to male calling songs in the tribe Cicadettini). This species calls during the day and is not known to sing at dusk. The calling song maintains an even frequency distribution throughout, with a high amplitude plateau of 10.4–15.2 kHz and a dominant frequency between 11.0 and 14.2 kHz.