Songs of Insects

Robust Shieldback (Atlanticus gibbosus)

Song of a Robust Shieldback (scroll down for explanation and additional recordings!).

The Robust Shieldback is perhaps the best-looking member of the genus Atlanticus. It is long and lean in comparison to other shieldbacks, and it is clothed in rich browns and salmon reds, typically accented by dark patches on the sides of its midsection. Fairly com- mon in sandy pine woods of the Southeast, where males sing from the ground or from low vegetation. Note that the forewings are almost completely hidden by the shield.

Robust Shieldback

 
Song: A series of about five to fifteen dry swishy rattles, delivered in a measured sequence. There are usually thirty seconds or so of silence between each song-series. The peak energy of the song is around 15 kHz.

 
 
Sonogram of a Robust Shieldback. © Wil Hershberger.