Punia hyas, Moulds, 2020

Moulds, M. S., 2020, A revision of the Australian cicada genus Punia Moulds, 2012 (Cicadidae Cicadettinae: Cicadettini) with the description of four new species, Zootaxa 4860 (1), pp. 101-115 : 106-108

Punia hyas sp. n.

( Figs 6–7 , 13–14 , 26 )

Punia “nr hentyi” / hentyi MTE 09 Owen et al., 2015: 261, 267–270.

Punia hentyi Owen et al. 2017: 572 , 580. Nomen nudum.

Punia “sp. grey” Owen et al. 2017: 572, 580.

Types. Holotype male, 21 km W of Pentecost R. x-ing, Gibb R. road, Western Australia, 30.xii.1991, M.S. Moulds & B.J. Moulds ( WAM) . Paratypes as follows: WESTERN AUSTRALIA : 4 males, 1 female, same data as holotype ( AE) . 4 males, 1 female, same data as holotype ( AM) . 4 males, 1 female, same data as holotype ; 8 males, 1 female, Ord River , 15°43’42”S 128°42’20”E, 14.xii.2019, S. Ong ; 3 males, NAASRA creek, 15°45’54”S 128°17’13”E, 24.xii.2019, S. Ong (DE). 4 males, same data as holotype ( JO) . 4 males, 1 female, same data as holotype ; 2 males, Ord River , 15°43’42”S 128°42’20”E, 14.xii.2019, S. Ong ( LP) . 4 males, Durack R. x-ing, Gibb R. Road, E. Kimberley , 29.xii.1991, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ; 89 males (1 genitalia prep. CI103), 7 females, same data as holotype ; 1 female, Zebedee Springs, El Questro Stn , E. Kimberley, 28.xii.1991, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ; 7 males, 1 female, King R. x-ing, Gibb R. Road , 30.xii.1991, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ; 56 males, 2 females, Kununurra , 6.i.1986, M.S & B.J. Moulds ; 7 males, 2 females, Kununurra , 10.i.1986, 10.i.1986, 19.i.1987, 28.ii.1987, E.A. Henty ; 3 males (1 Simon Lab. voucher 11.AU.WA. BAR.08), Barnett River xing on Gibb River Road, 433m, 16°42.589S 125°56.143E, 20.xi.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ; 6 males (1 Simon Lab. voucher 11.AU.WA. ELL.01) , 1 female, ~ 196 km W of Great Northern Hwy on Gibb River Rd, W of Ellenbrae Stn rd, 411m, 15°56.765S 126°50.061E, 19.xi.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ; 8 males (1 Simon Lab. voucher 11.AU.WA. PCC.01) , 2 females, ~ 57 km E of Great Northern Hwy on Parry Ck Rd, SE of Wyndham , 15°59.194S 128°40.138E, 32m, 28.xi.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ( MSM) . 4 males, 1 female, same data as holotype ; 6 males (1 Simon Lab. voucher 11.AU.WA. ELL.01) , 1 female, ~ 196 km W of Great Northern Hwy on Gibb River Rd, W of Ellenbrae Stn rd, 411m, 15°56.765S 126°50.061E, 19.xi.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ( WAM) . NORTHERN TERRITORY: 23 males, 2 females, Tindal , 14°31’S 132°22’E, 1–20.xii.1967, W. Vestjens ; 1 male, 3 km SSW of Katherine , 14°30’S 132°15’E, 12.xi.1979, T. Weir ( ANIC) . 4 males, 1 female, 37 km E of Borroloola , 21.xii.1991, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ( NTM) . 1 male, Maud Ck, Katherine , 3.xii.1978, R. I. Storey ; 1 male, Larrimah , 4.xii.1978, R. I. Storey ( QDAF) . 3 males, Gurrandalng camping area, Keep River Nat. Park , 15°52S 129°03E, 3.i.1993, G. & A. Daniels ; 5 males, Keep River x-ing, Victoria Hwy , 7.i.1986, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ; 1 male, Berry Springs , 29.x.1993, G.A. Husbana ; 1 male (genitalia prep. PU15 ) , 3 females, Springvale Stn , 12 km W of Katherine, 8.xii.1982, A. Walford-Huggins ; 1 male (genitalia prep. PU13 ) , Maud Ck, Katherine , 3.xii.1978, R. I. Storey ; 2 males (genitalia preps PU11 , PU14 ) , Mainoru , ENE of Katherine, 14.xii.1982, A. Walford-Huggins ; 5 males (1 genitalia prep. PU9 ) , 2 females, Waterhouse River, Mataranka Hsd, 9.i.1986, 23,24. xii.1986, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ; 1 male (genitalia prep. PU12 ) , Larrimah , 4.xii.1978, R. I. Storey ; 39 males (2 genitalic preps PU25 , PU26 ) , 5 females, 37 km E of Borroloola , 21.xii.1991, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ; 14 males (1 genitalia prep. PU46 ) (1 Simon Lab. voucher 11.AU.NT. KWW.01) , Victoria Hwy ( Hwy 1), 30 km W of Katherine, 125m, 14°40.776’S 132°05.142’E, 30.xi.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ; 34 males (1 Simon Lab. voucher 11.AU.NT. KRX.01) , 2 females, 58 km SW of Katherine on Victoria Hwy , 127m, 14°49.762S 131°55.001E, 15.xi.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ; 15 males, (1 Simon Lab. voucher 11.AU.NT. GPB.02) , 3 females (1 Simon Lab. voucher 11.AU.NT. GPB.03), Bullita campground, Gregory NP, 46 km S of Vic. Hwy, 103m, 16°06.802S 130°25.406E, 16.xi.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ; 8 males (1 Simon Lab voucher 06.AU.NT. MTE.09) , 2 females, 76 km E of Mataranka , 14°54.888S 133°42.780E, 77m, 3.ii.2006, Hill, Marshall, Moulds ( MSM) . 14 males, Victoria Hwy ( Hwy 1), 30 km W of Katherine, 125m, 14°40.776’S 132°05.142’E, 30.xi.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ; 34 males, 1 female, AU.NT. KRX, 58 km SW of Katherine on Victoria Hwy , 127m, 14°49.762S 131°55.001E, 15.xi.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ; 15 males, (1 Simon Lab. voucher 11.AU.NT. GPB.02) , 2 females, Bullita campground, Gregory NP, 46 km S of Vic. Hwy, 103m, 16°06.802S 130°25.406E, 16.xi.2011, K. Hill, D. Marshall ; 9 males, 1 female, AU.NT. MTE, 76 km E of Mataranka , 14°54.888S 133°42.780E, 77m, 3.ii.2006, Hill, Marshall, Moulds ( NTM) . 19 males, 1 female, Groote Eylandt, N.B. Tindale ( SAM) .

Distribution and habitat ( Fig. 26 ). The far north-east of Western Australia including the east Kimberley, and the Top End of Northern Territory south to Larrimah and west to Groote Eylandt and near Borroloola, but as yet unknown from Arnhem Land. There are records from late October to late February but most are for December. Adults inhabit eucalypts in open woodland.

Male ( Figs 6 , 13–14 ). Head with vertex black except for small light brown patch on midline adjacent to posterior margin and light brown supra-antennal plates (latter tinged red on some specimens); lora dark brown to black. Postclypeus with a broad central brown or black area ventrally that sometimes extends to dorsal surface; the most anterior part of postclypeus light brown. Anteclypeus smoky light brown to dark brown. Rostrum reaching apices of mid coxae; light brown or brown basally, becoming black towards apex. Antennae light brown to black. Thorax with pronotum light brown, the pronotal collar and anterior margin always palest; paramedian and lateral fissures black and sometimes with irregular black markings between fissures, usually a black fascia either side of a pale dorsal midline not reaching to pronotal collar, a black spot on midline adjacent to pronotal collar, and a blackish patch on lateral angles of pronotal collar. Mesonotum light brown; submedian and lateral sigilla usually distinct, both dark brown or black; scutal depressions marked brown or black; the area between anterior arms of cruciform elevation usually partly brown or black and sometimes extending to encompass scutal depressions. Wings hyaline, forewing venation brown to black except often for pale yellowish costa; forewing basal membrane very pale greyish to pale orange. Hindwing venation brown to black; plaga following veins 2A and 3A white and indistinct. Legs light to dark brown, coxae, trochanters and femora sometimes with a dark longitudinal stripe; meracantha pale yellow tending whitish. Opercula pale yellow tending whitish with base brown to nearly black. Timbals with three long ribs spanning timbal membrane and fused dorsally. Abdomen light brown with tergites 3–6 predominantly translucent pale yellow laterally; dorsal midline dark brown to black variable between individuals often with variable patches of pinkish red or reddish orange; dorsal markings widest on tergites 1–3, tapering distally on tergite 3, narrowest on tergites 4–7; tergites 2–8 also blackish sublaterally including auditory capsule and often extending to cover the greater part of tergites 6–8; tergites 3–7 narrowly edged pale yellow to pale light yellowish brown along posterior margin, tergite 8 less distinctly so. Sternites pale yellow to almost white except for sternites V–VIII usually with dark brown or blackish suffusion.

Genitalia ( Figs 13–14 ). Pygofer dorsal beak variable, usually well formed but sometimes ill-defined; basal lobe large, in lateral view tending triangular, often a little elongated and gently upturned distally; upper pygofer lobe short but broad, flat, with a short accessory tooth variable in shape from sharply pointed to very blunt, about as long as the pygofer lobe. Uncus very short but broad, gradually tapering to a broadly rounded apex that barely projects beyond anal tube. Claspers small, broad basally, claw-like, tending triangular in dorsal view, diverging, distally gently curved downwards to a bluntly pointed apex, concave below. Aedeagus with endotheca strongly curved in an arc, its sclerotisation gradually reduced towards the apex, the apex a little sloping backwards towards the ventral surface; pseudoparameres about as long as or a little shorter than endotheca, more or less parallel, lying above endotheca, slender and not obviously flattened except a little before a downturned pointed apex.

Female ( Fig. 7 ). Similar to male but with much reduced dark markings and without translucent sides to abdomen. In some individuals prothorax with black or brown along median and lateral fissures and sometimes mesonotum with black or brown submedian and lateral sigilla; abdomen pale yellowish brown sometimes with irregular black or brown dorsal midline, and sometimes with a pinkish dorsal hue; abdominal segment 9 pale yellowish brown with an indistinct black or brown band either side of midline slightly turned outwards distally and not reaching distal margin, sometimes also with indistinct black or brown suffusion along anterior margin; ovipositor sheath yellowish brown to black, slightly protruding beyond apex of abdomen.

Measurements. Range and mean (in mm) for 10 males and 10 females (includes largest and smallest of available specimens). Length of body: male 9.3–11.3 (10.5); female (including ovipositor) 10.5–12.2 (11.1). Length of forewing: male 10.4–12.4 (11.7); female 12.6–14.3 (13.3). Width of head (including eyes): male 2.7–3.1 (2.9); female 2.9–3.3 (3.1). Width of pronotum (across lateral angles): male 2.9–3.3 (3.1); female 3.1–3.6 (3.3).

Etymology. From the Latin Hyas, one of the seven stars in the constellation Taurus, whose rising with the sun presaged rainy weather, and referring to the monsoonal climate that this species inhabits.

Distinguishing features. Differs from all Punia species except P. queenslandica in having the entire forewing venation (excluding costa) brown or blackish. Differs from P. queenslandica in being slightly larger, the male forewing being more than 11 mm long (usually 11.2 or more), female 12.3 mm or more long (usually 12.6 or more) whereas that of P. queenslandica probably never reaches those lengths. Forewing shape is also different, most notable in being narrower and with a less swollen costa at the node (compare Figs 6 and 7 with 8 and 9). The male genitalia of P. hyas have the endotheca strongly curved in an arc, its sclerotisation gradually reduced ventrally toward the apex leaving only a narrow distal ridge of sclerotization that is pointed apically, and the pseudoparameres lie above the endotheca. The distributions of the two species are widely separated, P. hyas being found in Western Australia and the Northern Territory whereas P. queenslandica is found only in Queensland.

Figures

FIGURES 1–10. Punia species, adults in dorsal view. (1) kolos sp.n., male; (2) kolos sp.n., female; (3) limpida sp.n., male, brown form; (4) limpida sp.n. male, green form; (5) limpida sp.n. female; (6) hyas sp.n., male; (7) hyas sp.n., female; (8) queenslandica sp.n., male; (9) queenslandica sp.n., female; (10) minima (Goding & Froggatt, 1904), male.

FIGURES 11–24. Punia species, 11–22 male genitalia, 23–24 male wings. (11) minima (Goding & Froggatt, 1904), lateral; (12) minima (Goding & Froggatt, 1904), ventral; (13) hyas sp.n., lateral; (14) hyas sp.n., ventral; (15) limpida sp.n., lateral; (16) limpida sp.n., ventral; (17) queenslandica sp.n., lateral; (18) queenslandica sp.n., ventral; (19) kolos sp.n., lateral; (20) kolos sp.n., ventral; (21) kolos sp.n., aedeagus, lateral; (22) kolos sp.n., basal plate, dorsal; (23) kolos sp.n., forewing; (24) kolos sp.n., hindwing. at anal tube; ath accessory tooth of upper pygofer lobe; bl basal lobe of pygofer; bp basal plate; c costa; cl clasper; CuA cubitus anterior vein; db dorsal beak; en endotheca; M median vein; ps pseudoparamere; th theca; un uncus.

FIGURES 25–29. Distribution of Punia species.