Appearance Of Cicada Fauna (Homoptera: Cicadoidea) By

Altitudes In Johor National Park, Mount Ledang, Johor

ALIADI MOHD TAHIRa & AZMAN SULAIMAN

b

Centre for Insect Systematics, Faculty of Science & Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM Bangi

43600, Selangor

a)

aliadimohdtahir@siswa.ukm.edu.my b)

as@ukm.edu.my

Abstract. A total of 31 cicada species in 15 genera under two families (Cicadidae, 27 species in 11 genera; Tibicinidae,

four species in three genera) was recorded for Johor National Park, Mount Ledang, Johor. This was based on 666

individuals were obtained through six sampling occasions in November 2012 until October 2013, each time using light

trap set in six sampling locations (L1, L2, L3, L4a, L4b, L4c) that were selected based on altitudes. The most common

and abundant species in L1 is Pomponia sp1 and recognized as new species that need to be described as new to science.

Orientopsaltria saudarapadda Duffles & Zaidi appeared as the most common and abundant species in L2, represented

by 21 individuals which covers 34.43 % of the total cicadas specimen in that area. In the location of L3, Dundubia

vaginata (Fabricius) appeared as the most abundant species represented by 37 individuals or 26.81% while Abroma

maculicollis Guerin appeared as the most common species. Shannon’s Species Diversity Index (H’) in L3 was the highest

(H’=2.28) followed by L4b (H’=2.21), L2 (H’=1.93) L4a (H’=1.92), L4c (H’=1.84) and L1 (H’=1.58), and the evenness

index in L1 was the highest (E= 0.88), followed by L4b (E= 0.79), L3 (E= 0.77), L2 (E= 0.75), L4c (E= 0.74) and L4a

(E= 0.79). Margalef Species Richness Index in L3 was the highest (R’=3.65), followed by oleh L4b (R’=3.01), L4a

(R’=2.97), L2 (R’=2.92), L4c (R’=2.4), and L1 (R’=2.01). Generally shows that L3 at the altitude 350 m appear as the

best sampling site for cicadas species in Mount Ledang Johor with the highest value of species diversity and richness

index.

Keywords:, Cicada, Homoptera, Cicadoidea, altitude, Mount Ledang

Abstrak. Sejumlah 31 spesies riang-riang dalam 15 genus di bawah dua famili (Cicadidae, 27 spesies dalam 11 genus;

Tibicinidae, tiga spesies dalam tiga genus) telah direkodkan di Gunung Ledang, Johor. Rekod ini berdasarkan 666

individu riang-riang yang diperoleh melalui 12 siri persampelan iaitu pada November 2012 hingga Oktober 2013 dengan

menggunakan kaedah perangkap cahaya yang dipasang pada enam tempat yang ditetapkan mengikut altitud (L1, L2, L3,

L4a, L4b, L4c). Spesies yang paling melimpah dan umum di L1 (altitud 1000-1050m) ada Pomponia sp1 yang juga telah

dikenal pasti sebagai spesies baru dan perlu diperihalkan . Di L2 (altitud 700m), Orientopsaltria saudarapadda Duffles

& Zaidi, merupakan spesies umum dan melimpah, diwakili oleh 21 spesimen daripada 61 spesimen (34.43

%). Manakala di L3 (altitud 350m), Spesies yang paling melimpah dan umum adalah berlainan spesies. Dundubia

vaginata (Fabricius) Spesies yang paling melimpah diwakili oleh by 37 spesimen daripada 138 spesimen (26.81%).

Abroma maculicollis Guerin merupakan spesies yang paling umum di L3 (altitud 350m). Indeks kepelbagaian Shannon

(H’) di L3 adalah yang tertinggi (H’=2.28) diikuti L4b (H’=2.21), L2 (H’=1.93) L4a (H’=1.92), L4c (H’=1.84) dan L1

(H’=1.58), dan indeks kesamarataan spesies di L1 adalah yang tertinggi (E= 0.88), diikuti L4b (E= 0.79), L3 (E= 0.77),

L2 (E= 0.75), L4c (E= 0.74) dan L4a (E= 0.79). Indeks Kekayaan Spesies Margalef di L3 adalah yang tertinggi

(R’=3.65), diikuti oleh L4b (R’=3.01), L4a (R’=2.97), L2 (R’=2.92), L4c (R’=2.4), dan L1 (R’=2.01). Secara

keseluruhannya, L3 pada altitud 350 m merupakan tempat yang paling sesuai untuk persampelan spesies riang-riang di

Gunung Ledang, Johor kerana nilai indeks kepelbagaian dan kekayaan spesies yang tinggi.

Kata kunci: Riang-riang, Homoptera, Cicadoidea, altitud, Gunung Ledang

INTRODUCTION

Gunung Ledang or formerly known as Mount Ophir is a mountain located in Ledang District, at northwestern

part of Johor and near the border of Malacca. It is the highest mountain in southern part of Peninsular Malaysia with

the peak about 1,276 m above sea level and hence a popular eco-tourism destination among the local tourists and

amateur climbers. As the most climbed mountain in Malaysia, the 8611 ha of conservation area was under the

jurisdiction of Johor National Park Corporation since 2005. Thus, basic information on the biodiversity of the

mountain is essential. This obviously includes aesthetic insects, namely cicadas.

Cicadas are mostly tropical and sub-tropical insects, that best known for their ability to produce sound (Resh &

Carde, 2009). The sounds were only produced by male to attract females. Each species has its own distinctive song

to prevent interspecies copulation. To date, there has been no previous published record of cicadas from Mount

Ledang except the two species, Orientopsaltria saudarapadda Duffels and Zaidi (1998) and Puranoides jaafari

Azman and Zaidi (2002). Recently, however, starting in November 2012, opportunities have been made possible to

collect cicada specimens from the mountain, through twelve sampling occasions, between November 2012 until

October 2013. The results obtained, and hereby presented, provide an altitudinal distribution of the cicada fauna for

twelve months between November 2012 until October 2013 in Mount Ledang, Johor.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sampling Locations

Cicadas samplings in Mount Ledang were conducted within four range of altitudes namely L1, altitude 1000-

1050m near Plateau,; L2, altitude 700m, roadside; L3, altitude 350m, near the Ledang Dam; L4, altitude 100-120m

(L4a, altitude 120m camping ground of Park HQ, L4b, altitude 120m, near Asahan Dam; L4c, altitude 100m,

Ledang entrance at Jementah) (Fig. 1).

Samplings were done through twelve occasions, in November 15–19, 2012; December 13–17, 2012; January 10–

14, 2013; February 09–13, 2013; March 07–12, 2013; April 11–15, 2013; May 09–12, 2013; June 06–09, 2013; July

04–07, 2013; August 01–04, 2013; September 05–08, 2013; October 03–06, 2013.

Light trap comprises of a 160-watt mercury vapour bulb (powered by portable generator), were set in front of

white cloth screen and/or inside white mosquito net, with its lighting directed towards the surrounding areas.

Cicadas that came to the light traps were collected manually, by hand. Captured specimens were numerated

following species and only a few of the specimens were taken back to the Centre for Insect Systematics, Universiti

Kebangsaan Malaysia (CIS-UKM) for taxonomical purpose.

Identification and species naming of the cicada specimens were based on the standard taxonomic references (e.g.

Moulton, 1923; Overmeer & Duffels, 1967; Bregman, 1985; Beuk, 1996; Duffels & Zaidi, 1998, 1999; Zaidi &

Azman, 1998, 1999, 2000; Kos & Gogala, 2000; Azman & Zaidi, 2000, 2002; Salmah & Zaidi, 2002; Schouten &

Duffels, 2002; Schouten et al. 2004; Yaakop et al. 2005; Duffels et al. 2007). Classification of the cicada species is

in accordance to Duffels & van der Laan 1985. The cicada specimens collected are presently kept at CIS-UKM.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Cicada Fauna of Mount Ledang

A total of 666 cicadas individuals were recorded from Johor National Park, Mount Ledang as tabulated in Table

1, representing 31 species in 15 genera under two families (Cicadidae, 27 species in 11 genera; Tibicinidae, four

species in three genera) (Figs. 3 & 4). The location for altitude 1000-1050m (L1) was represented by 6 species in 6

genera and three of them are endemic to highland of Mount Ledang i.e. Orientopsaltria ruslani Duffles & Zaidi,

Pomponia sp.1 and Purana sp. The song of male Pomponia sp.1 can be heard as low as 800 m above sea level, just

before the dusk time. This species can be considered as indicator for highland area of Mount Ledang, just like

Terpnosia lactea (Distant) in Fraser Hill (Zaidi et al., 2001). Pomponia sp.1 can be used as a time indicator for

Muslim to perform Maghrib prayer.

FIGURE 1. Contour maps of Mount Ledang showing the cicadas sampling

locations

At L2 with an altitude of 700 m, a total of 13 species in 7 genera were recorded of which includes one endemic

species, namely Terpnosia sp. The area with altitude 350 m (L3) represent the second highest number of species i.e.

19 species in 9 genera, of which includes three endemic species namely Pomponia sp2, Trengganua sibylla

(Walker) and Nelcyndana sp. This area also shared one species with L1 namely Chremistica malayensis Yaakop &

Duffels. L4 (100-120m), 22 species in 10 genera (Table 1). The sampling area of lowest altitude at 100-120 m (L4)

consist of three sub location (L4a, Park HQ; L4b, Asahan Dam; L4c, Jementah entrance). A total of 22 cicada

species in 10 genera were recorded includes six endemic lowland species namely Platypleura nobilis (Germar),

Chremistica pontianaka (Distant), Cryptotympana aquila (Walker), Dundubia euterpe Bloem & Duffles,

Orientopsaltria padda (Distant), Heuchys sanguiena (De Geer).

The most common and abundant species in L1 is Pomponia sp1 and recognized as new species that need to be

described as new to science (Table 1, Fig. 3). Orientopsaltria saudarapadda Duffles & Zaidi appeared as the most

common and abundant species in L2, represented by 21 individuals which covers 34.43 % of the total cicadas

specimen in that area. In the location of L3, Dundubia vaginata (Fabricius) appeared as the most abundant species

represented by 37 individuals or 26.81% while Abroma maculicollis Guerin appeared as the most common species,

recorded in 11 out of 12 sampling occasions.

Uncertain weather condition in Mount Ledang especially at the altitude 850 m and above has lead to the very

low number of cicada species obtained during sampling occasion. Almost all sampling occasions at L1 were

disturbed by heavy wind and fogs, and/or unpredicted rainfalls.

Species Diversity, Evenness and Richness

As shown in Table 1, Shannon’s Species Diversity Index (H’) in L3 was the highest (H’=2.28) followed by L4

(H’=2.21), L2 (H’=1.93) and L1 (H’=1.58), and the evenness index in L1 was the highest (E= 0.88), followed by

L3 (E= 0.88), L2 (E= 0.88), and L4 (E= 0.88). Margalef Species Richness Index in L3 was the highest (R’=3.65),

followed by L4 (R’=3.43), L2 (R’=2.92), and L1 (R’=2.01). Generally shows that L3 at the altitude 350 m appear as

the best sampling site for cicadas species in Mount Ledang Johor with the highest value of species diversity and

richness index. Amount of rainfall factor that is high in late afternoon and prolonged after dusk influence the

presence of cicadas in lightrap and no. of cicadas had been captured.

TABLE 1. Species checklist of cicada and number of individual following sampling location in Mount Ledang, Johor.

NO TAXON

No. of individual following altitudes (♂:♀)

L1 >1000m

L2 700m

L3 350m

L4 100-120 m TOTAL

L4a L4b L4c

Cicadidae

1 Platypleura nobilis (Germar) - - - 1 0 0 1:0

2 Platypleura sp. - - 0:1 0 3 1 0:5

3 Chremistica echinaria Yaakop & Duffels - - 1:0 2 7 0 8:2

4 Chremistica malayensis Yaakop & Duffels * 0:1 - 1:0 0 0 0 1:1

5 Chremistica umbrosa (Distant) - - 0:2 3 4 1 2:8

6 Chremistica pontianaka (Distant) - - - 0 8 3 4:7

7 Chremistica nesiotes Breddin - - 1:3 3 3 0 3:7

8 Cryptotympana aquila (Walker) - - - 2 0 0 1:1

9 Dundubia vaginata (Fabricius) 0:2 3:0 13:24 47 25 26 62:78

10 Dundubia rufivena Walker - 0:1 0:1 5 2 8 3:14

11 Dundubia euterpe Bloem & Duffles - - - 0 3 0 2:1

12 Orientopsaltria padda (Distant) - - - 0 2 1 3:0

13 Orientopsaltria saudarapadda Duffles & Zaidi* - 7:14 3:2 1 0 0 11:16

14 Orientopsaltria ruslani Duffles & Zaidi 1:0 - - 0 0 0 1:0

15 Platylomia abdullahi (Distant) - 0:1 3:1 6 11 15 18:19

16 Platylomia spinosa (Fabricius) - 1:0 0:1 1 8 2 6:7

17 Platylomia flavida (Guerin) - 0:1 - 1 0 0 0:2

18 Pomponia sp1 3:2 - - 0 0 0 3:2

19 Pomponia sp2 - - 1:0 0 0 0 1:0

20 Terpnosia sp. - 1:0 - 0 0 0 1:0

21 Purana guttularis (Walker) 1:1 5:0 - 1 0 0 6:2

22 Purana nebulilinea (Walker) - 2:3 4:0 0 1 0 7:3

23 Purana tigrina (Walker) - 10:6 5:6 19 51 6 57:46

24 Purana ubina (Walker) - 3:1 1:3 18 5 2 15:18

25 Purana sp. 0:1 - - 0 0 0 0:1

26 Puranoides jaafari Azman & Zaidi * - 1:0 10:6 1 20 1 24:15

27 Trengganua sibylla (Walker) - - 1:1 0 0 0 1:1

Tibicinidae

28 Abroma maculicollis Guerin - - 13:17 44 47 0 72:80

29 Muda obtusa Walker - 0:1 4:6 0 0 31 4:7

30 Heuchys sanguiena (De Geer) - - - 0 3 0 2:1

31 Nelcyndana sp. - - 1:2 0 0 0 1:2

Total no. of individual (♂:♀) 5:7 33:28 62:76 220:235 666

Total no. of species 6 13 19 22 31

Total no. of genera 5 7 9 10 15

Shannon Diversity Index (H’) 1.58 1.93 2.28 2.21 2.46

Shannon Evenness Index (E’) 0.88 0.75 0.77 0.71 0.72

Margalef Species Richness Index (R’) 2.01 2.92 3.65 3.43 4.61

Note: * = Previously recorded species; # = proposed as a new species.

FIGURES 3: Photographs of some of cicada species recorded in Johor National Park, Mount Ledang, Johor. a. Platypleura

nobilis; b. Ch. Echinaria; c. Ch. Nesiotes; d. Ch. Malayensis; e. Platypleura sp.; f. Ch. Umbrosa; g. Ch. Pontianaka; h. Cr.

Aquila; i. O. padda; j. O. saudarapadda; k. O. ruslani; l. Pomponia sp.1; m. Pomponia sp.2; n. D. vaginata; o. D. rufivena; p.

D. euterpe; q. Ps. jaafari

a b c d

e f g h

i j k l m

n o p q

r s t u

v w x y z

FIGURES 4: Photographs of some of cicada species recorded in Johor National Park, Mount Ledang, Johor. r. Pl.

abdullahi; s. Pl. spinosa; t. T. sibylla; u. Pu. Ubina; v. Pu. guttularis; w. Pu. nebulilinea x. Pu. tigrina; y. Abroma

sp.; z. M. obtusa

CONCLUSION

In terms of species diversity and distribution of the cicada fauna in Johore National Park, Mount Ledang, it is

concluded that at the altitude 350 m appear as the best sampling site for cicadas species in Mount Ledang Johor due

to the highest value of species diversity and richness index. More extensive surveys, each conducted over longer

duration and covering over more areas would provide a better representation of the cicada fauna for this protected

area. With such surveys the current species checklist could be further extended and most likely, with the additions of

many new records or findings for this region.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank the Johor National Park Corporation, for allowing us to conduct this study from November 2012 to

October 2013 and logistic supports. Thanks are also extended to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for the financial

and logistic of this work through School of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology.

Gratefully appreciated were the kind cooperation and assistance rendered by the officers and staff of Johore National

Park Gunung Ledang during the study period.

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