Platypleurini Schmidt, 1918

Moulds, MS, 2005, An Appraisal of the Higher Classification of Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea) with Special Reference to the Australian Fauna, Records of the Australian Museum 57 (3), pp. 375-446 : 433-434

Tribe Platypleurini Schmidt, 1918

Platypleurini Schmidt, 1918: 378 .

Platypleurinae Handlirsch, 1925: 1117 .

Cryptotympanini Handlirsch, 1925 (partim).– Boulard, 1998: 117.

Type genus. Platypleura Amyot & Serville (type species Cicada stridula L.).

Included genera. Afzeliada Boulard , Attenuella Boulard , Brevisiana Boulard , Esada Boulard , Hainanosemia Kato , Ioba Distant , Kalabita Moulton , Karscheliana Boulard , Koma Distant , Kongota Distant , Muansa Distant , Munza Distant , Oxypleura Amyot & Serville , Platypleura Amyot & Serville , Pycna Amyot & Serville , Sadaka Distant , Severiana Boulard , Soudaniella Boulard , Strumosella Boulard , Suisha Kato , Ugada Distant , Umjaba Distant , Yanga Distant.

Diagnosis. Head with vertex laterally elongate so that eyes widely separated from supra-antennal plate. Postclypeus shape in transverse cross-section rounded; postclypeal ridges lacking transverse grooves towards distal ends. Pronotal collar with lateral margin strongly ampliate; lateral tooth absent. Fore wing pterostigma present; veins C and R+Sc close together; vein RA 1 aligned closely with subcosta (Sc) for its length. Hind wing with anal lobe broad and vein 3A usually curved at distal end, long, separated from wing margin. Fore leg femoral primary spine usually laying flat, prostrate, but sometimes erect. Meracanthus gradually tapering to a point, triangular or nearly so. Male opercula completely encapsulating meracanthus and completely covering tympanal cavity. Male abdominal tergites with sides straight or convex in cross-section; tergites 2 and 3 a little larger than tergites 4–7; epipleurites reflexed to ventral surface, without an inward V-shaped kink. Timbals extend below wing bases. Timbal covers flat; fully rounded dorsally, extending to metathorax, tightly closing the timbal cavity or nearly so; lower margin extending anteriorly from or very near auditory capsule. Pygofer with upper lobe absent; basal lobe moderately to well developed; distal shoulder rounded; dorsal beak a part of chitinized pygofer. Uncus digitate or basically tubular, large, dominant. Claspers absent. Aedeagus with basal portion of basal plate directed forwards away from thecal shaft; ventral rib completely fused with basal plate; theca straight or curved in a gentle arc; pseudoparameres absent; subapical cerci absent. Male reproductive system with length of accessory glands unknown. Female reproductive system with length of accessory glands of common oviduct unknown.

Distinguishing characters. Head, thorax and abdomen vertically compressed; pronotal collar with lateral margin strongly ampliate so that head is always narrower than the pronotum; fore leg femoral primary spine nearly always prostrate; theca straight or curved in an arc. In some genera the strongly ampliate lateral margin to the pronotal collar is characteristically sharply angular around mid point.

Discussion. Boulard (1998) has suggested that the Cryptotympanini be included in the Platypleurini . The cladistic analysis implies that the Thophini would also have to be included in such an arrangement. Although there is a lack of strong synapomorphies for distinguishing the Platypleurini , Cryptotympanini and Thophini I believe they are sufficiently different to warrant individual tribal status; males especially are easily recognized.

Former subtribal groupings within the Platypleurini [ Platypleurina , (= Platypleuraria auct.) and Hainanosemiina (= Hainanosemiaria auct.) are here abandoned as they lack sufficient differentiation.