Talk:Aleeta curvicosta

Page contents not supported in other languages.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Featured articleAleeta curvicosta is a featured article; it (or a previous version of it) has been identified as one of the best articles produced by the Wikipedia community. Even so, if you can update or improve it, please do so.
Main Page trophyThis article appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page as Today's featured article on March 10, 2014.
Article milestones
DateProcessResult
June 28, 2013Good article nomineeListed
August 17, 2013Featured article candidatePromoted
Did You Know
A fact from this article appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the "Did you know?" column on August 21, 2009.
The text of the entry was: Did you know ... that the cicada Abricta curvicosta of eastern Australia is known as the floury baker from its appearance of being dusted with white powder?
Current status: Featured article

File:Floury Baker cicada side.JPG to appear as POTD[edit]

Hello! This is a note to let the editors of this article know that File:Floury Baker cicada side.JPG will be appearing as picture of the day on June 13, 2013. You can view and edit the POTD blurb at Template:POTD/2013-06-13. If this article needs any attention or maintenance, it would be preferable if that could be done before its appearance on the Main Page. Thanks! — Crisco 1492 (talk) 00:23, 27 May 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Abricta curvicosta
Aleeta curvicosta, commonly known as the floury baker or floury miller, is a species of cicada common in eastern Australia between November and May. Described by German naturalist Ernst Friedrich Germar in 1834, the name of the genus and its common names are derived from its appearance of having been dusted with flour. Adults average 9–10 cm (4 in) in length.Photograph: Toby Hudson
Archive – More featured pictures...

Offline refs[edit]

  • Emery, D.L., Emery, S.J., Emery, N.J. and Popple, L.W. (2005) A phenological study of the cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) in western Sydney, New South Wales, with notes on plant associations. Australian Entomologist, 32, 97–110.
  • Ewart, A. (2001a) Emergence patterns and densities of cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) near Caloundra, south-east Queensland. Australian Entomologist, 28, 69–84.
Anyone got access? --99of9 (talk) 13:06, 6 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
User:Casliber might. If not, try asking at WP:REX. SmartSE (talk) 13:12, 6 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Surprised - not in UNSW library. Might be able to be gotten on interlibary loan....will look into it. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 20:45, 6 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Wow, strange, I thought that would be a sure thing. I'm not in the country for another month and a half sorry. --99of9 (talk) 20:50, 6 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
It's at Sydney Uni if anyone can get there or interlibrary it. --99of9 (talk) 20:54, 6 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Have requested both by interlibrary request now. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 20:59, 6 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Cheers. --99of9 (talk) 21:18, 6 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]


GA Review[edit]

GA toolbox
Reviewing
This review is transcluded from Talk:Aleeta curvicosta/GA1. The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.

Reviewer: Yzx (talk · contribs) 17:12, 22 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I'll take a look at this one. Comments to follow. -- Yzx (talk) 17:12, 22 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]

  • Images OK
  • References OK
  • Not a deal-breaker for GA, but generally articles shouldn't have references in the intro. The intro should be a summary of referenced facts in the article body
agree - I will work on this tomorrow - need to sleep now refs removed. all were duplicates apart from two tertiary sources which added nothing substantial. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 14:48, 25 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • medium-large-sized -- do you mean "moderately large" or "medium to large"?
Have removed that as the reference which is almost a monograph says "medium-sized", which is odd as I always thought they were pretty large. Have removed - might be best to just let stats speak for themselves Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 21:01, 22 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
One ref said medium, another said large, thus my wording. Isn't it useful to give some indication of size in the lead?--99of9 (talk) 22:30, 22 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Since Aleeta is a redirect to this article, it should be bolded in the taxobox and an authority provided
Aah, something I meant to get round to. There is reference to an undescribed second species...so was intending to make a genus page. Was looking to ask to gain consensus on that one done Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 21:15, 22 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Both the common names and the name of the genus are -- this construction is ambiguous, suggest "and the genus name are"
done Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 21:35, 22 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • dark infuscations at the base of two of their apical cells -- "infuscation" and "apical cell" are technical terms. In the intro, they should be linked or explained or replaced with more common terms
"apex/apical" and "cell" can be seen at the link Glossary_of_entomology_terms#apex (now linked in lead). "infuscation" is shorthand entomologically for dark brown to black discoloration. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 00:28, 23 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • larger animals associated with higher rainfall -- do you mean geographical areas with higher rainfall, or time periods of higher rainfall?
the former. clarified. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 21:01, 22 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • typically emerge throughout a three-month period from late November to late February -- I'm not sure how this relates to the earlier statement about how they are common from November to May
the latter is when they emerge ...and hence can be seen for some time afterwards, hence the first period is longer. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 01:20, 23 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Perhaps it would be clearer then to combine the two sentences as "Mature individuals typically emerge through a three-month period from late November to late February, and live for two to four weeks"? -- Yzx (talk) 05:32, 27 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
ok, I like that - changed. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 11:40, 27 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry, I reverted. We don't have a lifespan for this species - the 2-4 weeks is typical of large cicadas, but there is variation between species. The 2-4 week info in the main body is able to couch and explain this, but we don't have space in the lead, and it might mislead readers into thinking that this species lives 2-4 weeks, whereas without further study, that's just a reasonable guess.--99of9 (talk) 11:47, 27 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
ok. agree we need to stick to sources. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 19:32, 27 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • They are preyed upon -- it would be better for this statement to be singular, since the rest of the intro is
singularised. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 00:44, 23 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Germar had not specified a location within Australia -- it sounds like the type locality is somewhere in Australia? In that case it's not completely unknown, and the previous sentence should reflect this
hmmm, Australia is a continent and the range is nearly 3000 km. I added 'exact'. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 00:47, 23 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • The fact that tephrogaster is a junior synonym is never mentioned (it would also be helpful to rearrange the taxobox synonym list so that recombinations of the original name are grouped together)
added. taxobox synonyms were in chronological order - rearranged. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 01:30, 23 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Thus the species was known as Tibicen curvicostus, T. tephrogaster and finally Abricta curvicosta from 1906 -- this implies that the name of the species changed chronologically as Tibicen curvicostus -> Tibicen tephrogaster -> Abrica curvicosta, which doesn't sound right to me. Are you certain it wasn't that C. tephrogaster was moved to Abricta/Tibicen and then was synonymized with A. curvicostus? -- Yzx (talk) 05:32, 27 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Reorganized - slightly out of chronological sequence. Can't find date the two names were synonymised, but source indicates it's a long time Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 11:34, 27 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • However, a review of the genus in 2003 showed it to be a disparate group of species -- what "it" refers to is ambiguous here
clarified Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 00:02, 23 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Information about the size is split up between two paragraphs, disrupting the flow; the same for coloration
rejigged now - is that better? Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 14:46, 25 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Terms like "infuscation", "periodic array" should be explained, "ovipositor" should be linked in its first occurrence, and "cuticle" should be linked
'infuscation' explained, 'periodic array' replaced with 'repeating pattern' which it essentially is, 'ovipositor' now linked at first instance. working on last....Arthropod cuticle Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 14:54, 24 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • The article on opercula doesn't explain what this structure is in insects; putting a short note there would be helpful
started a bit - more needed Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 15:09, 24 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • What is a "distress call"?
The noise it makes when it is in distress (eg when a bird has it in its beak). Reworded.--99of9 (talk) 13:08, 24 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • "dominant frequency" should be linked or explained
The cicadas book I borrowed from the lirary some time ago. I will try and fetch it tomorrow and check this out. I think it is fairly clear what the term means but agree on double checking with source Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 00:40, 26 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
✔ done, sourced to a paper dealing with the physics of cicada song. --99of9 (talk) 15:27, 26 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • The abdominal air sacs act as a resonant chamber -- the article hasn't previously established that the species has these sacs
expanded a little and established how the floury baker uses theirs Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 14:42, 25 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • What is a "free song"?
free song explained now Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 14:25, 25 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • when clustered together can attain sufficient volume to repel birds -- is this intentional? And how does this occur?
  • I'd say it's been evolutionarily selected for, I doubt the cicadas are thinking about birds when they decide to cluster. The volumes of each cicada simply add up. However... I included that info from a general ref about cicadas in general, and have since seen that the floury baker is "solitary", so maybe this doesn't apply at all to them. --99of9 (talk) 22:35, 22 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
✔ removed because I cannot confirm that this species ever has sufficient density to do this. --99of9 (talk) 12:13, 24 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Seems like the discussion of the differences between Aleeta and Tyrella belongs under taxonomy, since it's the justification for splitting up Abricta
rejigged now Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 14:19, 25 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • but are most commonly on species in the Myrtaceae family -- should be "are most common on" or "most commonly on"
done Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 21:35, 22 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • It may be better to put life cycle before behavior, so that readers know what emergence and nymphs are before they get to the section about nymphal food plants and such
done Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 12:13, 23 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Putting all information on emergence together under life cycle would make it easier to read
done Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 12:13, 23 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • I think the sentence on the effects of oviposition on branches should be put under life cycle with the rest of the oviposition information
done Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 12:13, 23 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • and these are expected to also be nymphal food plants -- this should be a separate sentence
split Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 12:23, 23 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • find a crack in the soil which they burrow down -- awkward wording
rejigged by Ceoil Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 00:46, 24 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • "moulting" and "metabolic rate" should be linked
done Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 00:09, 23 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Bird predation of the adult cicada is a common sight -- maybe just "is common"?
trimmed Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 21:35, 22 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Since you didn't capitalize the common names of the cicada, you shouldn't capitalize the names of the birds or lizard for consistency
✔ done (apart from Torresian which seems to be a proper noun) --99of9 (talk) 13:31, 24 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Australian cicadas are also preyed on by the cicada killer wasp (Exeirus lateritius), which stings and paralyses cicadas high in the trees, making them drop to the ground where the cicada-hunter mounts and carries them, pushing with its hind legs, sometimes over a distance of 100 meters, until they can be shoved down into its burrow, where the numb cicada is placed onto one of many shelves in a 'catacomb', to form the food-stock for the wasp grub that grows out of the egg deposited there -- this is a very long run-on sentence that should be split up
split Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 12:58, 23 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • I don't like the title "Cultural uses and references" since there's also a "References" section. Suggest "human interactions" or "relationship to humans" or some such
changed to "In popular culture" Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 21:35, 22 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • A poem dedicated to the Floury Baker -- common name is capitalized here when it isn't earlier. Also, who was the author?
lowecased now ..... author added...obviously an interesting nom de plume.... Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 02:40, 24 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Is The Catholic Press a newspaper? Magazine? Also it should be italicized
A newspaper published in Sydney. italicized now Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 21:12, 23 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • It's not mentioned under behavior that the adults feed on sap
✔ done (at the end of life cycle) --99of9 (talk) 13:12, 24 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • The Commons link should be fully under "see also" or "external links"
✔ done. --99of9 (talk) 12:13, 24 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]

The article is good on comprehensiveness. It could just use some tweaks to readability and flow. -- Yzx (talk) 18:18, 22 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Re "compared to some other Australian species nearly two orders of magnitude more dense, and some American Periodical Cicadas occurring at "super-abundant" densities of over one million per hectare" - is this context necessary. Ceoil (talk) 21:26, 23 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Hmmm, I'm divided on this one - yes I suppose the speech is a little flowery (floury?) but there is a pretty stark difference in numbers and I think that might be worth really highlighting for the reader Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 14:14, 25 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
There are always outliers, I'd leave out the "super-abundant" factoid. Ceoil (talk) 20:21, 26 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
✔Ok - the super abundant ones don't occur in Australia, so they're a less relevant comparison anyway. Removed. --99of9 (talk) 10:09, 27 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
"with forewings between 3 and 5.1 cm (1.4–2 in) long" - "spanning"? Ceoil (talk) 20:21, 26 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I'm not sure I get what you're suggesting here, but "spanning" implies it is at both ends of the range, which obviously cannot apply to an individual cicada, whereas the current wording can apply to both the individual cicadas, and the species as a whole. --99of9 (talk) 10:04, 27 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I'm satisfied that my issues have been addressed, so I'm promoting the article. Great job! -- Yzx (talk) 05:54, 28 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]

"The floury baker's distinctive appearance and loud call make it popular with children"....Maybe with pugsly addams.....a giant hairy scary looking bug popular with children? Right. I'd think if there was ever a call for a source on a claim, this would qualify. 96.39.10.138 (talk) 14:39, 10 March 2014 (UTC) Zencycle[reply]

It is sourced down the bottom of the article - yes kids collect these critters and trade them. Probably not so much these days with the advent of the Nintendo DS but still....Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 19:17, 10 March 2014 (UTC)[reply]

distribution map[edit]

what's the best way to make a distribution map?

Funny - I was just looking at the article and thinking the same thing. I can make one as I have been doing them for alot of banksia articles. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 12:57, 23 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Great. --99of9 (talk) 14:12, 23 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Aleeta_curvicosta&oldid=1204677085"