The black prince was originally described by German naturalist Ernst Friedrich Germar in 1834 as Cicada argentata,[2] the species name derived from the Latin argentum "silver".

[6] Psaltoda mossi is similar to P. plaga in colour and brown discoloration on the wing, but has its prominent postclypeus and large abdominal tergite 3 suggest a closer relationship with P.

[9] It was reported by McKeown in 1942 as referring to a dark form of the green grocer (Cyclochila australasiae forma spreta), but was later linked to Psaltoda plaga.

Further north from Brunswick Heads to Coolum Beach, the black prince exhibits more green markings instead of brown, and is lighter overall in coloration.

[6] The species was associated with white feather honeymyrtle (Melaleuca decora) and swamp sheoak (Casuarina glauca) in a study at three sites in western Sydney.

[6] The cicada spends seven years underground in nymph form drinking sap from the roots of plants before emerging from the Ground as an adult.

[13] A 1995 paper found that the black prince and related redeye (Psaltoda moerens) are favoured food items of the noisy friarbird, which swallows them head-first and whole.

[14] Noisy miners, blue-faced honeyeaters, little wattlebirds, grey and pied butcherbirds, magpie-larks, Torresian crows, white-faced herons and even the nocturnal tawny frogmouth, have all been reported as significant predators.

[17] Highly regarded by schoolchildren,[10] the black prince was valued at "three cherrynoses, four floury bakers, five yellow mondays or a thousand green grocers" by Australian journalist Peter FitzSimons in his childhood.