Luminary Oddities · Natural history & art
Becquartina versicolor cicada
Becquartina versicolor
Hemiptera / Cicadidae
Becquartina versicolor is a patterned Asian cicada with reddish forewing veins and variable hindwing coloration. Identified photographs and comparative taxonomy document the contrasting markings of its broad wings.
Read the species accountAt a glance
- Reference locality ↘
- An individually labelled adult photograph from Wiang Papao, Thailand. [2]
- Taxonomy ↘
- Becquartina belongs to Leptopsaltriini in the 2025 revision. [1]
Identity and classification
Morphology and identification
The reference adult has dark forewings with reddish veins and angular yellow markings. Long cream markings radiate across the dark hindwings. [2]
The 2024 comparison describes substantial hindwing variation, including white, dark red, orange-tinged and chestnut colour regions. [5]
Range and habitat
The labelled reference photograph documents an adult from Wiang Pa Pao, Thailand, collected in April. [2]
Research and notable features
The published comparison includes hindwings in which the contrasting basal region is extensive, reduced or absent. These differences form part of the described variation within B. versicolor. [5]
Nomenclature and history
Boulard described Becquartina versicolor in 2005. [4]
Specimen views
The identified adult photograph shows angular forewing markings and reddish veins against elongated pale hindwing streaks. [2]
Artistic interpretation
Angular forewing marks contrast with the radiating geometry of the hindwing streaks. Bold linework emphasizes the pattern within each wing field.
Display and care
Keep the enclosure closed and display it in indirect light, away from heat and damp conditions. Handle the frame by its edges and clean only its exterior according to the maker’s instructions.
Identification and evidence notes
Is the hindwing pattern constant? The 2024 comparative account describes substantial colour variation within the species. [5]
Where was the reference adult collected? Its photograph is labelled Wiang Pa Pao, Thailand, in April. [2]
Sources and evidence
The identified photograph records adult appearance and locality. ITIS supplies authorship, the 2024 comparative paper describes variation, and the 2025 study revises higher classification. [2][4][5][1]
- Phylogeny, diversification and biogeography of charming moth-like cicadas in Gaeanini ↗
Wang, Zhou, Zhang and Wei; Systematic Entomology, 2025 · Accessed 2026-10-09
- The butterfly cicadas: original photographs ↗
Photographs by Michel Chantraine and Jeff Blincow, hosted by Cicada Mania · Accessed 2026-10-09
- Rearing Cicadas ↗
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute · Accessed 2026-10-09
- Becquartina versicolor ↗
Integrated Taxonomic Information System · Accessed 2026-10-09
- Discovery of the cicada genus Becquartina Kato, 1940 in India with the description of a new species from Meghalaya ↗
Sarkar and colleagues; Zootaxa 5432(1):96–108 (2024) · Accessed 2026-10-11
Sources checked 2026-10-11. Illustrations · Luminary Oddities.
Return to the Entomological Atlas ↑