Megapomponia macilenta Lee, 2012

Lee, Young June, 2012, A new species of the genus Megapomponia Boulard (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) from southern Vietnam, with a revised key to the species of Megapomponia, Journal of Natural History 46 (9 - 10), pp. 613-619 : 615-618

Megapomponia macilenta Lee , sp. nov.

( Figure 1 )

Type material

Holotype male: “Coll. R. I. Sc. N. B. (printed) // COCHINCHINE (printed) // Thudaumot (handwritten) // le (printed) 21– VI (handwritten) 191 (printed) 24 (handwritten) // R. Vitalis de Salvaza (printed)” ( IRSNB).

Etymology

The specific name is the feminine form of the Latin adjective macilentus meaning “thin” or “lean” in reference to the slender body and wings of this species.

Diagnosis

Body comparatively small (body length 58.5mm) for Megapomponia (body length 53–75mm) and slender (with small mesonotum and long, slender abdomen). Forewing slender (ratio of forewing length to forewing width: 3.09) and with more acutely angled apex than its congeners. Mesonotum with black marks small and rather indistinct (quite distinct and large in its congeners except for M. castanea , which has mostly dark brown mesonotum). Operculum more or less roundish. Infuscation on forewing less developed than its congeners: forewing without infuscation on mediocubital crossvein and without smoky area along hind margin. Basal membrane of forewing greyish brown.

Remarks

This species has some different characteristics from its congeners: body comparatively small, slender; forewing slender with acutely angled apex; forewing less infuscated; mesonotum with indistinct marks. However, they are considered infrageneric variations because little difference is found in the shape and characteristics of the male genitalia.

Description ( Figure 1 )

Head. Head slightly wider than mesonotum; reddish brown with the following fuscous marks: a large median spot enclosing ocelli, reaching frontoclypeal suture and posterior margin of head; a pair of oblique fasciae between the median spot and eye, reaching anterior margin of head; a pair of small spots on supra-antennal plate; a pair of small posterolateral spots; a pair of marks along posterior margins of eyes. Dorsal head covered with fine golden pile, longer posterior to eye. Antennae brown. Gena reddish ochraceous with a broad fuscous mark between base of antenna and eye. Postclypeus moderately swollen; reddish brown with fuscous fasciae along anterior eight transverse grooves, of which medial ends are connected to each other. Anteclypeus reddish brown. Labium ochraceous proximally becoming brown with fuscous margins apically; with tip not reaching centre of sternite II. Intermediate golden pile on gena, lorum, anteclypeus and lateral postclypeus.

Thorax. Thorax reddish brown. Inner area of pronotum with the following fuscous marks: a pair of central longitudinal fasciae, with their anterior ends widened laterad; a pair of longitudinal marks between median part of paramedian fissure and posterior end of lateral fissure; a mark along margin of inner area, except posterior margin; marks along fissures. Pronotal collar with a longitudinal narrow fuscous fascia medially, a transverse narrow fuscous fascia posteromedially and a pair of fuscous posterolateral spots. Anterolateral pronotal collar slightly developed and with an acute tooth, which is fuscous. Mesonotum with the following fuscous marks: a pair of fascia along submedian sigilla; a longitudinal median fascia extending posteriad to reach anterior margin of cruciform elevation; two pairs of longitudinally arranged small spots on lateral sigilla, with anterior one reaching anterior margin of mesonotum; a pair of spots enclosing scutal depression; a pair of spots along lateral margins of mesonotum; a pair of posterolateral spots. Cruciform elevation ochraceous with fuscous anterior and posterior subapical parts. Thoracic sternites ochraceous with fuscous lateral margins of prothorax.

Legs. Legs reddish ochraceous with indistinct brown marks. Fore-femur with proximal and distal dark brown marks connected through anterior narrow dark brown fascia. Primary and secondary spines and a small subapical spine dark brown. Fore-tibia dark brown except proximal ochraceous part. Mid-trochanter with a long elliptical spot posteriorly. Mid-tibia fuscous proximally and distally. Hind trochanter with a fuscous spot proximally. Hind tibia fuscous proximally and distally. Tibial spur reddish brown with fuscous tip. Fore-tarsus dark brown. Pretarsal claws dark brown with piceous tips. (Mid- and hind tarsi lost.)

Wings. Wings hyaline and slightly tinged with pale brown. Forewing without smoky distal regions along apical cells. Forewing with an infuscation each on radial, radiomedial and medial (very small) crossveins. Small spots, appearing on each hind margin of veins radius anterior 2 (RA 2), radius posterior (RP), median 1–4 (M 1–4) and cubitus anterior 1 (CuA 1), forming a series of spots on subapical margin of forewing. Venation reddish brown basally and dark brown distally with piceous marks at node, bifurcation of median (M) and median vein 1+2 (M 1+2), middle of median vein 3+4 (M 3+4) and cubitus anterior vein (CuA) posterior to split of cubitus anterior 2 (CuA 2), distal part of CuA 1 and arculus. Basal cell ochraceous. Basal membrane greyish brown. Hind wing jugum greyish ochraceous.

Operculum. ( Figure 1C ). Operculum ochraceous without marks; semi-circular with posterior margin slightly angled and lateral margin weakly sinuate at base, extending slightly beyond posterior margin of sternite II. Two opercula not meeting medially. Meracanthus ochraceous.

Abdomen. Abdomen dark reddish brown, cylindrical, about 1.39 times (n = 1) as long as head and thorax together. Posterior margin of tergite 3 much wider than anterior margin of mesonotum. Timbal cover quarter round with anterior angle rounded. Timbal concealed by timbal cover in dorsal view. Abdominal sternites brown.

Genitalia. ( Figure 1D–F ). Pygofer oblong in ventral view, ochraceous with brown to dark brown patches on ventral anal styles, uncus and lateral pygofer. Dorsal beak short, brown. Uncus bifurcate with uncal lobes protruding obliquely and slightly curved laterad, forming a V-shape with an angle of about 70 ◦ in ventral view and quarter round in lateral view.

Measurements

Measurements are given in mm (n = 1 male). Length of body: 58.5; length of forewing: 61.4; width of forewing: 19.9; median length of head: 6.4; median length of head and thorax together: 24.8; median length of abdomen: 34.5; width of head including eyes: 15.9; width of pronotum: 17.5; width of mesonotum: 14.9; wing span: 138.9.

Distribution

Southern Vietnam.

Figures

Figure 1. Megapomponia macilenta Lee, sp. nov., holotype, male, Thu Dau Mot, southern Vietnam (IRSNB). (A) Dorsal view; (B) ventral view; (C) lateroventral view of a male operculum; (D) ventral view of male pygofer; (E) lateroventral view of male pygofer; (F) lateral view of male pygofer.