Bioacoustics of Myopsalta platyptera

Distribution, habitat and behaviour ( Fig. 17 ). Myopsalta playptera n. sp. is known only from the original specimens collected by A. Ewart on a former Queensland Government experimental property known as Brigalow Research Station, which is located south of Moura on the junction of central and south-eastern Queensland . Populations occur in association with Brigalow ( Acacia harpophylla ), where it grows in dark, cracking clay soils. Adults have been collected during December. Males sing during warm conditions. Calling song ( Fig. 27 ). Males produce a sequence of long macrosyllables or short echemes (0.07– 0.12 s duration), evenly spaced by gaps (0.11– 0.13 s duration), giving an overall rate of repetition of 4–6 macrosyllables per second (all statistics, n =4 recordings). At sporadic intervals these macrosyllables or echemes are interrupted by a much shorter macrosyllable (0.02– 0.03 s duration) followed by a slightly longer gap (0.13– 0.14 s duration). It is considered likely that the female would respond with a wing-flick during these longer gaps. 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 11.6–15.7 kHz and a dominant frequency of approximately 12.8 kHz.

Calling song (Fig. 27). Males produce a sequence of long macrosyllables or short echemes (0.07–0.12 s duration), evenly spaced by gaps (0.11–0.13 s duration), giving an overall rate of repetition of 4–6 macrosyllables per second (all statistics, n =4 recordings). At sporadic intervals these macrosyllables or echemes are interrupted by a much shorter macrosyllable (0.02–0.03 s duration) followed by a slightly longer gap (0.13–0.14 s duration). It is considered likely that the female would respond with a wing-flick during these longer gaps. 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 11.6–15.7 kHz and a dominant frequency of approximately 12.8 kHz.