Dundubia dubia, Lee, 2009

Lee, Young June, 2009, A checklist of Cicadidae (Insecta: Hemiptera) in Palawan with five new species, Journal of Natural History 43 (41 - 42), pp. 2617-2639 : 2631-2633

12. Dundubia dubia sp. nov.

( Figures 9 , 10 )

Type material

Holotype: male ( Figure 9 ), southwestern Palawan, 5 km east of Port Barton , 110 m, 10°22.581′ N, 119°11.091′ E, 13–14 December 2007, J.H. Lourens ( IRSN) . Paratypes: one male, two females, same data as holotype ( IRSN) ; one female, southwestern

Palawan, Brgy Piag, 7 km east of Sicud, foot of Mt Mantalingajan , cleared forest farm, 40 m, 08°51.011′ N, 117°32.154′ E, 7 December 2007, J.H. Lourens ( IRSN) .

Etymology

The specific name is from Latin dubius meaning “doubtful” or “dubious” in reference to the fact that we often go through a time of doubtfulness before determining a species as new to science.

Measurements of types (two males or three females)

Length of body: male 33.9 (32.9–34.9), female 28.5 (26.5–29.6); length of forewing: male 35.2 (34.3–36.0), female 34.5 (32.1–36.0); width of forewing: male 11.7 (11.2–12.1), female 11.0 (10.4–11.4); width of head including eyes: male 9.7 (9.4–10.0), female 9.6 (9.0–10.0); width of pronotum: male 10.3 (9.9–10.6), female 10.2 (9.7–10.6); width of mesonotum: male 9.0 (8.8–9.1), female 8.8 (8.1–9.2); wingspan: male 80.2 (77.9–82.4), female 77.7 (72.3–81.1).

Diagnosis

This species is closely allied to Dundubia gravesteini Duffels, 1976 from Borneo but is distinguished by the following differences: head and thorax green; uncal lobes of the male genitalia laterally curved; operculum shorter, not reaching anterior margin of sternite VII. The uncus of this species resembles that of Dundubia cochlearata Overmeer and Duffels, 1967 , but is distinguished by the much smaller body and differently shaped male operculum. In having well-developed basal lobe of pygofer, of which apex pointed, this species is distinguished from all known species of Dundubia sensu stricto (constituted by Dundubia vaginata and its relatives).

Description of male ( Figure 9 )

Ratio of body length to head width about 3.50 (3.49–3.50). Head green. Distance between lateral ocelli and compound eyes slightly wider than distance between two lateral ocelli. Postclypeus much swollen. Antennae dark brown. Ventral part of head green. Rostrum greenish ochraceous but fuscous apically; reaching or slightly passing anterior margin of hind coxae.

Pronotum green. Anterolateral pronotal collar slightly developed and dentate. Mesonotum green but partly with yellowish patches. Cruciform elevation green. Ventral part of thorax green.

Legs green except ochraceous tarsi and pretarsal claws. Pretarsal claws with fuscous apical part. Fore-femur with a tiny subapical spine as well as primary and secondary spines.

Wings hyaline. Forewing vein R+Sc mostly green. Basal membrane and hindwing jugum light green.

Operculum ( Figure 10C ) mostly green partly with ochraceous patches; with largest width about 1.5 times the smallest width; extending to about middle of sternite VI, concavely sinuate on each side in about basal one-third, apex rounded. Two opercula apart from each other.

Abdomen long, obconical, much longer than distance from head to cruciform elevation; mostly ochraceous partly with green patches. Posterior margin of tergite 3 wider than anterior margin of mesonotum. Timbal cover green mixed with yellow; quarter round with lateral side nearly straight. Timbal mostly concealed by timbal cover in dorsal view. Ventral part of abdomen ochraceous or green mixed with ochraceous.

Male genitalia ( Figure 10A, B ): pygofer rounded in ventral view. Uncus bifurcate; uncal lobe narrow, with its apex acutely pointed and curved laterad in ventral view. Upper lobe of pygofer roundish. Basal lobe of pygofer well developed with apex pointed.

Description of female

Ratio of body length to head width about 2.96 (2.93–3.02). Operculum green with ochraceous patches; triangular with apex rounded; slightly passing posterior margin of sternite II. Ventral part of abdomen ochraceous. Abdomen about as long as or slightly shorter than distance from head to cruciform elevation. Abdominal segments 3–7 with a pair of lateral, sometimes indistinct, fuscous spots. Ovipositor sheath ochraceous; extending beyond anal styles. Dorsal beak about as long as protruding part of ovipositor sheath.

Distribution

Philippines (Palawan).

Figures

Figure 9. Dundubia dubia Lee, sp. nov., holotype, male, Palawan, 2007 (IRSN). (A) Dorsal view; (B) ventral view.

Figure 10. Male pygofer and abdomen of Dundubia dubia Lee, sp. nov. (A) Male pygofer in ventral view; (B) male pygofer in lateral view; (C) male abdomen in lateroventral view.