THERMAL RESPONSES OF THE DICEROPROCTA-CINCTIFERA SPECIES GROUP (HOMOPTERA, CICADIDAE)

We investigated the thermal responses (minimum flight, maximum volunta ry tolerance and heat torpor temperatures) of the cicada Diceroprocta cinctifera and made comparisons to the thermal responses determined fo r the varietal forms D. cinctifera var, viridicosta and D. cinctifera var. limpia. AII species inhabit riparian communities along the Rio Gr ande River or a tributary system. We found no significant difference b etween the mass or thermal responses of the three species. Similar the rmal responses could be expected because the species inhabit similar e nvironments and should therefore he exposed to similar thermal regimes . We conclude that although the varietal forms of D. cinctifera differ morphologically from the type species they do not differ in their the rmal physiology.