Bioacoustics of Myopsalta melanobasis

Calling song (Figs 24, 25). When calling, males produce a rapid and fairly constant emission of short macrosyllables (0.012–0.021 s duration), evenly spaced by gaps (0.027–0.041 s duration), giving an overall rate of repetition of 18–24 macrosyllables per second. Close examination of the calling song reveals that the bursts of macrosyllables are occasionally interrupted by a longer gap of 0.05–0.11 s duration. It is postulated that the female would respond with a wing-flick during the longest examples of these gaps, which are typically preceded by a single isolated macrosyllable (e.g. Fig. 25f). This species calls during the day and it is not known whether it also sings at dusk. The calling song maintains an even frequency distribution throughout, with a high amplitude plateau of 9.6–15.1 kHz and a dominant frequency of approximately 11.2–13.9 kHz.

Distribution, habitat and behaviour ( Fig. 17 ). Myopsalta melanobasis n. sp. is known only from south-east Queensland in the area bordered by Drillham in the west, near Taroom in the north, Southwood National Park in the south and the township of Brigalow in the east. Populations occur perhaps exclusively in association with Brigalow ( Acacia harpophylla ), which grows in dark, cracking clay soils. Adults have been found from October to January. Males sing in bursts during warm sunny conditions. They typically sit on twigs and thin branches amongst foliage. Calling song ( Figs 24 , 25 ). When calling, males produce a rapid and fairly constant emission of short macrosyllables (0.012– 0.021 s duration), evenly spaced by gaps (0.027– 0.041 s duration), giving an overall rate of repetition of 18–24 macrosyllables per second. Close examination of the calling song reveals that the bursts of macrosyllables are occasionally interrupted by a longer gap of 0.05– 0.11 s duration. It is postulated that the female would respond with a wing-flick during the longest examples of these gaps, which are typically preceded by a single isolated macrosyllable (e.g. Fig. 25f ). This species calls during the day and it is not known whether it also sings at dusk. The calling song maintains an even frequency distribution throughout, with a high amplitude plateau of 9.6–15.1 kHz and a dominant frequency of approximately 11.2–13.9 kHz.