#kikihia

A large and cleverly camouflaged cicada that Purrdence didn't spot despite it being 3 cm away from her elbow.

First described by George Hudson in 1891 as Cicada muta sub-alpina. Kikihi (or kihikihi) is the traditional Māori onomatopoea for cicadas.

NZ endemic, on most of the islands. Despite the common name, not often found in actual subalpine habitats, but it IS found in scrub habitat and forests from the tree line down to sea level.