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Moth-like Cicada

Gaeana maculata

Hemiptera / Cicadidae

A dark, yellow-patterned cicada currently treated as Gaeana maculata maculata. Northern Thai field observations and wing-surface experiments were published under the name Gaeana cheni.

Read the species account
Gaeana maculata, dorsal view
Golden tesseraeGaeana maculata · Dorsal view.

At a glance

Current treatment ↘
Gaeana maculata maculata [2]
Thai behaviour ↘
Sunny-canopy activity and a rattling call [4]
Surface study ↘
Structured silicone replicas were more water-repellent [5]

Taxonomy and related species

The current World Auchenorrhyncha Database treats Gaeana cheni as a subjective synonym of Gaeana maculata maculata, following the 2025 revision. [2]

Adult morphology

The northern Thai account describes a dark body, yellow forewing markings and paler hindwings with brown areas. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Boulard’s field observations were made in the forested Doi Mon Kia hills of northern Thailand. [4]

Development

At Doi Mon Kia, nymphs emerged from the ground at night and adults appeared during the local spring season. [4]

Behaviour

The Doi Mon Kia account records sunny-canopy activity, slow flapping flight and a rhythmic rattling call. The reported adult season ran from March to late April or early May. [4]

Research findings

Replicas of the wing’s microscopic relief were more water-repellent than flat PDMS, a silicone polymer. Watson and colleagues tested structures approximately 750 nanometres high. [5]

Electron microscopy showed different structure dimensions in the yellow and brown wing regions, with differences of approximately 110 nanometres in height and 300 nanometres in width. [5]

Taxonomic history

The name cheni identifies the material described in the Thai field account and the 2011 wing-surface study. The 2025 treatment places that name in the synonymy of maculata maculata. [2][4][5]

Illustration notes

Midnight and Gold are edition titles for the framed composition. The illustration emphasizes the cicada’s broad, patterned wings.

Specimen care

Keep the enclosure away from direct sunlight, dampness and large changes in temperature or humidity. Handle the frame, clean only its exterior, and inspect for loose fragments, moisture and pests. Retain the specimen’s original labels and follow the enclosure maker’s care instructions. [7]

Sources and further reading

  1. Wang and colleagues 2025: phylogeny and revised cicada classification ↗

    Wang and colleagues; Systematic Entomology (2025) · Accessed 2026-10-09

  2. World Auchenorrhyncha Database: Gaeana maculata maculata ↗

    World Auchenorrhyncha Database · Accessed 2026-10-09

  3. ITIS: Gaeana cheni ↗

    Integrated Taxonomic Information System · Accessed 2026-10-04

  4. Boulard 2003: Thai cicadas including Gaeana cheni and Cryptotympana aquila ↗

    Boulard; Annales de la Société entomologique de France (2003) · Accessed 2026-10-09

  5. Anti-Wetting on Insect Cuticle—Structuring to Minimise Adhesion and Weight ↗

    Jolanta A. Watson, Hsuan-Ming Hu, Bronwen W. Cribb and Gregory S. Watson; On Biomimetics, chapter 18 (2011); James Cook University author repository · Accessed 2026-10-11

  6. Australian Museum: Cicadas ↗

    Australian Museum · Accessed 2026-10-09

  7. Caring for natural history collections ↗

    Canadian Conservation Institute; Fiona Graham · Accessed 2026-10-11

Artworks in the collection

Framed and digital artworks featuring this species. Current options and prices are listed on Etsy.

Related species

Sources checked 2026-10-11. Illustrations · Luminary Oddities.

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