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Luminary Oddities · Natural history & art
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 account
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]
The labelled reference photograph documents an adult from Wiang Pa Pao, Thailand, collected in April. [2]
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]
Boulard described Becquartina versicolor in 2005. [4]
The identified adult photograph shows angular forewing markings and reddish veins against elongated pale hindwing streaks. [2]
Angular forewing marks contrast with the radiating geometry of the hindwing streaks. Bold linework emphasizes the pattern within each wing field.
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.
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]
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]
Wang, Zhou, Zhang and Wei; Systematic Entomology, 2025 · Accessed 2026-10-09
Photographs by Michel Chantraine and Jeff Blincow, hosted by Cicada Mania · Accessed 2026-10-09
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute · Accessed 2026-10-09
Integrated Taxonomic Information System · Accessed 2026-10-09
Sarkar and colleagues; Zootaxa 5432(1):96–108 (2024) · Accessed 2026-10-11
Sources checked 2026-10-11. Illustrations · Luminary Oddities.
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