Oteana moana, Hoch, Hannelore, 2006

Hoch, Hannelore, 2006, New Cixiidae from Eastern Polynesia: Oteana gen. nov. and Manurevana gen. nov. (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha), Zootaxa 1209, pp. 1-47 : 22-25

Oteana moana sp. nov.

(figs 47–53)

Description

Body length.

Male 6.0– 6.4 mm (n= 5)

Coloration.

Vertex dark brown except posterior angles pale yellow. Frons sordid light brown to dark brown, in some individuals with a yellowish mark at lateral corners of frontoclypeal suture; carination yellow. Post­ and anteclypeus dark brown; in some individuals medially with a circular yellow­brown mark below frontoclypeal suture. Pronotum with discoidal and ventral areas dark brown; carinae of pronotum and posterior margin whitish. Mesonotum dark brown, carinae yellow­orange, in some individuals the area enclosed by lateral carinae on each side chestnut­brown to honey­yellow, posterior tip of mesonotum pale yellow. Tegmina hyaline, Y­vein brown at base, close to anterior margin suffusely brown. Angle between claval veins and commissural margin brown. Pterostigma brown, crossveins distad of nodal line overlayed with a brown suffusion. Wings hyaline, veins brown. Legs brown, distal end of femura and tibiae slightly lighter.

Head and thorax

Variation is observed between the populations from Mt. Aorai (Tahiti Nui), and Vaiufaufa (Tahiti Iti).

Proportions of head and thorax as described for the genus, in the specimen from Vaiufaufa the vertex is slightly longer and narrower than in specimens from Mt. Aorai . Venation of tegmina, especially distad of nodal line variable due to different degrees of (slight) reduction in length: the veinlets reach the posterior margin either branched or unbranched. Spinulation of hind legs as described for the genus.

Male genital complex (figs 47–53).

Genital segment (figs 47, 48) bilaterally asymmetrical, laterodorsal angle of subrectangular process produced into an acute tip on left side, rounded on right side; medioventral process dorsally ridged. Anal segment (figs 49, 50) slightly asymmetrical, elongately ovate. Parameres with distal portion apically produced into an acute tip directed mediad, median margin dentate (fig. 51, arrow). Aedeagus (figs 52, 53): shaft ventrally with 4 spines: right lateral spine (a1) long, slender, terete, curved dorsad (fig. 52a) (in the specimen from Vaiufaufa passing to the dorsal side underneath apical and subapical shaft spines: figs 52b, 53); median right spine (a2) short, slender, erect; median left spine (a3) and left lateral spine (a4) arising from a common base; median left spine conical, erect, rapidly tapering; left lateral spine more feebly developed, slender throughout, gradually curved mediad. Apical spine of shaft (a5) arising from a solid base, long, slender, terete, bent at a ca. 90º angle at midlength, curved laterobasad to left side. Subapical spine of shaft (a6) arising from a narrow base, slender, terete, ca. half the length of apical spine, directed laterad to left side. Flagellum in repose not reaching base of shaft; distal flagellum spine (b1) inconspicuous or absent (in specimens from Mt. Aorai ) or distinct (specimen from Vaiufaufa); flagellum at midlength with a distinct sclerotized ridge in the specimen from Vaiufaufa, this not as strongly expressed in the specimens from Mt. Aorai .

Etymology

“ Moana ” is the Polynesian word for Pacific Ocean.

Distribution

Endemic to Tahiti (Tahiti Nui and Tahiti Iti).

Ecology

On native vegetation including Weinmannia parviflora (Cunoniaceae) , Metrosideros collina (Myrtaceae) , Myrsine spec . ( Myrsinaceae ); 900–1650 m.

Remarks

In the configuration of the aedeagal spinulation, O. moana is most similar to O. euphranor but can be distinguished from this species by its larger body size as well as by its asymmetrical genital segment, details of the aedeagus´ventral shaft spines and a relatively longer apical shaft spine.

There is some variation observed between the specimens from Mt. Aorai and the (single) specimen from Vaiufaufa. In the latter, the vertex is slightly longer and narrower than in the males from Mt. Aorai , and the coloration is generally lighter, especially so that of the frons and postclypeus which is honey­yellow to light brown vs dark brown in the specimens from Mt. Aorai . Pertaining to the male genital complex, it displays the same arrangement of aedeagal shaft spines; however, the right lateral ventral shaft spine is bent dorsally underneath the apical and subapical spines (figs 52 b, 53). Also, the flagellum bears a distinct distal flagellum spine which is much less developed or even missing in the males from Mt. Aorai . Whether this variability is merely intraspecific or may be an indication of interrupted gene­flow between the two populations cannot be decided on the basis of the existing material.

Type material

Holotype ɗ, Society Is: Tahiti I., Mt. Aorai Trail [Tahiti Nui], 1400 – 1650 m, 12.V.1999, M. Asche, MNHN.

Paratypes. Tahiti Nui. 1 ɗ, same data as holotype; 2 ɗ, same data as holotype except 900 – 1400 m, 16.IV.1999, M. Asche & H. Hoch, AH. Tahiti Iti. 1 ɗ, Society Is: Tahiti I., Taiarapu, above Vaiufaufa, 900 m, 24. – 25. IX. 1977, S.L. Montgomery, BPBM.