Vastarena, Delorme, Quentin, 2016

Delorme, Quentin, 2016, Vastarena, a new genus for the New Caledonian cicada Abroma pumila Distant (Insecta: Hemiptera, Cicadoidea, Cicadidae), Zootaxa 4162 (1), pp. 197-200 : 198-199

Genus Vastarena gen. nov.

Type species. Tibicen pumila Distant, 1892 [Type locality: New Caledonia]

Name derivation. From Latin “vastare” meaning “devastating”, because of the damages done by this species on crops and fruit arboriculture. Gender feminine.

Male diagnosis. Small sized cicada (body length 10 mm); opercula not covering tympanal cavity; upper lobe of pygofer well developed and basal lobe almost insignificant; thecal pseudoparameres lateral to theca originating near thecal base.

Morphology. ( Figs 1–2 ) Head. About as wide as mesonotum between wings (eyes included); its length slightly inferior to pronotum length. Dorsal postclypeal area wider than long; its anterior border not prominent from the curve of supra-antennal plate. Postclypeus anterior profile in dorsal view well rounded giving the head an angular appearance; lateral margins of pronotal collar ampliate. Medium sized ocelli; distance between lateral ocelli longer than distance between lateral ocellus and median ocellus; distance between lateral ocelli equal to two ocelli size and about equal to distance between lateral ocellus and eye. Epicranial suture wide and deep. Postclypeus bearing at least six prominent transversal grooves and a longitudinal furrow.

Thorax. When viewed dorsally, lateral margin of pronotal collar smooth with only a rounded lateral lobe and completely lacking an inferior lateral tooth or angular projection. Operculum flat, not reaching margin of tympanal cavity, directed towards distomedial margin of tympanal cavity, apically broadly rounded, not meeting.

Wings. Forewings with eight apical cells; veins M and CuA meeting the basal cell clearly separated, immediately diverging; distance between r and r-m about equal to or longer than between r-m and m; no infuscation from crossvein r; pterostigma hyaline, shorter than the half of costal vein length; broad on almost its whole length, only reduced at its tip, terminally sharpened; first apical cell’s base located in the third of pterostigma length; radial crossvein vertical. Hindwing with six apical cells; anal cell 3 long, reaching almost distal margin of ac2.

Legs. On fore legs, femur bearing three developed black spines. Primary spine strong and oblique, isolated, shorter than the distance between its base and second spine. Secondary spine sub-perpendicular, shorter than the primary. Third spine triangular, much shorter than secondary spine. Hind legs bearing three tibial spurs on anteromedian side and two on lateral exterior side.

Abdomen. Ogival shaped, sharply reduced posteriorly, not much wider than mesonotum. Timbals bearing six long ribs free ventrally; ribs 1 to 5 fused dorsally; five intercalary ribs. Male sternite 1 flat and smooth; sternite 7 about as long as wide, apex roundish.

Genitalia. Upper lobe flat, well developed longer than wide, dominating pygofer between basal lobes and dorsal beak. Basal lobes undivided, shortly developed, rounded in lateral view, abutted against or partly tucked behind pygofer margin. Dorsal beak present as a developed apical spine or pointed apex and a part of chitinized pygofer. Median lobe of uncus short, flat and rounded, erect upwards, as long as wide. Thecal pseudoparameres ( Fig. 2 ), slender, apically strongly divergent and sharp, lateral of theca originating near thecal base. Aedeagal basal plate in lateral view angled at about 45°. Claspers smooth, slightly curved inwards.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Vastarena pumila (Distant, 1892) comb. nov. A: lateral view of aedeagus. B: dorsal view of aedeagus. (Drawing: Claire Motz)

FIGURE 2. Vastarena pumila (Distant, 1892) comb. nov., Nouvelle-Calédonie, Province Nord, Voh, Massif du Kopeto, 21. I. 2015 (MNHN). A: dorsal view of male. B: lateral view of pygofer. C: male operculum. D: ventral view of pygofer. (Photography: Quentin Delorme)