Platylomia shaanxiensis, Wang, Xu & Wei, Cong, 2014

Wang, Xu & Wei, Cong, 2014, Review of the cicada genus Platylomia Stål (Hemiptera, Cicadidae) from China, with description and bioacoustics of a new species from Mts. Qinling, Zootaxa 3811 (1), pp. 137-145 : 139-143

Platylomia shaanxiensis sp. n.

( Figs 1–3 )

Material examined. Holotype: male ( NWAFU): China: Yangxian County, Shaanxi Prov., 950 m, 28.iv.2011, coll. Changqing Luo. Paratypes: 5 males ( NWAFU), same data as the holotype.

Measurements of types (in mm; 6 males): Body length: 38.1–42.2; fore wing length: 41.5–44.7; fore wing width: 12.5–13.8; width of head including eyes: 10.3–11.2; pronotum width (including pronotal collar): 11.1–12.9; mesonotum width: 9.7–10.4.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the type locality.

Description of male. Ratio of body length to head width about 3.73.

Head ( Fig. 1 A, C). Black with the following ochraceous markings: pair of large, median ochraceous spots near posterior margin of head; slightly smaller irregular-shaped spot laterad of median spot reaching corresponding eye. Eyes fuscous, ocelli red, antennae black. Postclypeus moderately swollen, black, with pair of ochraceous spots near frontoclypeal suture and a medial ochraceous spot in dorsal view and with narrow longitudinal, medial, black fascia and a series of 8–9 lateral, transverse grooves in frontal view. Anteclypeus black. Rostrum yellowish green with fuscous apical part, reaching beyond posterior coxae.

Thorax ( Fig. 1 A, C). Pronotum greenish ochraceous to ochraceous. Pronotum disk with following dark fuscous to black markings: pair of central longitudinal fasciae, extending from anterior margin of pronotum to pronotal collar, curved outward and dilated both anteriorly and posteriorly; pair of obliquely longitudinal fasciae between median parts of paramedian oblique fissures and posterior ends of lateral oblique fissures; pair of oblique markings along lateral fissures; pair of inwardly curved fasciae near lateral margins of pronotum disk. Pronotal collar generally ochraceous; posterior margin black, with two pairs of large, black markings laterally. Mesonotum ochraceous with following black markings: a medial longitudinal fascia dilated posteriorly; pair of large submedian sigilla dilated posteriorly; pair of broad fasciae on lateral sides of parapsidal sutures, extending to posterior margin of mesonotum; pair of very short fasciae laterad of submedian sigilla, with posterior ends connected to broad fasciae along parapsidal sutures subbasally; pair of large spots on scutal depressions. Posterior margin of mesonotum black and densely covered with short setae. Cruciform elevation ochraceous with pair of black markings on anterior angles. Thoracic sternites ochraceous, with short setae.

Legs ( Fig. 1 E). Fore legs mostly black with greenish ochraceous markings on coxae, trochanter, femora, and pretarsal claws. Fore femora with primary spine pointed and oblique to femur; secondary spine conical and subapical spine shortest, both angled slightly. Mid and hind coxae mostly black. Mid and hind trochanters black with large ochraceous paramedian spot. Middle and hind femora black with ochraceous fascia along ventral side. Mid and hind tibia mostly ochraceous with irregular black markings. Mid and hind pretarsal claws ochraceous apically.

Wings ( Fig. 1 A, B). Hyaline, fore wing with distinct large fuscous spot at bases of second, third, fifth, and seventh apical cells and a marginal series of minute pale fuscous spots near apices of longitudinal veins to apical cells. Wing venation dark brown in both fore wing and hind wing. Costal vein, radius and subcostal veins ochraceous. Basal cell and basal membrane slightly tinged with greenish ochraceous. Hind wing jugum greyish green.

Abdomen ( Fig. 1 A, B, D). Obconical, generally black dorsally, with three reddish brown, medial spots on tergite II. Timbal covers small and black; timbals concealed with timbal covers in dorsal view. Opercula ochraceous, widely apart from each other, with pointed apices passing the anterior margin of abdominal sternite V. Abdominal sternites mostly ochraceous, with large, black, lateral patches on sternites III, IV and VII.

Genitalia ( Fig. 1 F, G, H). Pygofer nearly spherical in ventral view, with a few scattered setae. Uncal lobes broad and separated from each other medially, narrowed distally and constricted at about 3/4 of its length, with medial margin nearly straight, and slightly oblique toward outer side. Aedeagus cylindrical, long and slender, tapering apically, protruding from venter of uncus.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. China (Shaanxi).

Biology and Ecology. The emergence of the adults of this new species gets started from early of April, which is much earlier than that of most other cicadas occurring in Mts. Qinling. This new species was found in the low mountains, with most individuals sitting and singing on high pines ( Pinus massoniana Lambert ), but also on other trees and on low vegetation as well.

Remarks. This new species is similar to P. plana , but can be easily distinguished from the latter by the shape of fasciae on mesonotum, the three dark reddish brown spots on tergite II of male abdomen, and the shape of male opercula.

Sound pattern. Based upon the observations and recordings obtained, this species usually lifts up its abdomen when make the calling song. The calling song comprises a lilting component, and the calling signal shows seven analyzed recording phrases under a time magnification. The spectrum of these acoustic signals includes frequencies from about 1 to 8 kHz, with a peak frequency of 2 kHz ( Fig. 3 ). The simple, repeated phrases comprise a long echeme (LE) with two or three short echemes (SE) at the end. LE duration is typically 0.9 s, and SE duration is 0.3 s ( Fig. 2 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Platylomia shaanxiensis sp. n. (male, holotype). A. habitus, dorsal view; B. habitus, ventral view; C. head and thorax, dorsal view; D. head and thorax, ventral view; E. left foreleg, showing the spines on fore femur; F. male pygofer, ventral view; G. male pygofer, lateral view; H. aedeagus.

FIGURE 2. Oscillograms of the calling song of Platylomia shaanxiensis sp. n. A. 8 seconds from the complete call, illustrating 7 analyzed recordings phrases; B. part enlarged in LE of section A; C. part enlarged in SE of section A; D. 0.04 seconds from section B, illustrating 5 amplitude bursts; E. 0.04 seconds from section C, illustrating continuous amplitude bursts.

FIGURE 3. Spectra (1 st row, A) and spectrogram (2 nd row, B) of the calling song of Platylomia shaanxiensis sp. n. to show the structure of the song and the frequency modulation.