Abstract
This is the first substrate-borne communication record of the troglobitic planthopper Typhlobrixia namorokensis in the caves of the Ambovonomby network, Namoroka Tsingy, Madagascar. A supplementary morphological description of the male genitalia is provided and, for the first time, female genitalia of T. namorokensis are characterized. Molecular data were obtained for T. namorokensis; molecular analysis also reveals the presence of another (yet unidentified) cavernicolous cixiid in the Antsifotra caves network. The evolutionary origin of T. namorokensis is discussed. Its adaptation to caves and its behaviour allows its identification as a true troglobiont. Its vibrational signal structure is compared to the calls of other cave-dwelling cixiids.
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Acknowledgments
Thank you very much to: Marc Gansuana (Madagascar, EWE earth & wildlife experiences: http://www.ewetour.com) for the logistics and the picture of the karst taken during a reconnaissance flight, Lucile Allorge (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, France) for organising the expedition, Charlotte Razafindrakoto (centre national de recherche appliquée pour le développement rural: FOFIFA, Madagascar) who assisted us in order to get the collecting permits, ANGAP (Association Nationale pour la Gestion des Aires Protégées, Madagascar) for allowing the access to the park and for the field assistance. We would like to thank Jérôme Sueur (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, France) who kindly and patiently introduced us into the intricacies of the seewave software. Financial support for this field expedition to Madagascar was provided for A. Soulier-Perkins by the Labex BCDiv MNHN. And last but not least, we are grateful to the referees who helped us to improve our manuscript with their questions, recommendations and the English clarity of the text.
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Soulier-Perkins, A., Ouvrard, D., Hoch, H. et al. Singing in the Namoroka Caves, First Record In Situ for a Cave Dwelling Insect: Typhlobrixia namorokensis (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Cixiidae). J Insect Behav 28, 704–721 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-015-9531-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-015-9531-3