Taphura hastifera ( Walker, 1858a )

Sanborn, Allen F., 2020, The cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of Peru including the description of twenty-four new species, three new synonymies, and thirty-seven new records, Zootaxa 4785 (1), pp. 1-129 : 51-52

Taphura hastifera ( Walker, 1858a)

Cicada hastifera Walker 1858a: 25 . (Santarém, Pará, Brazil)

Cicada frontalis Walker 1858a: 25 . (Pará, Brazil)

REMARKS. A species that is often common in collections and is distributed over a extensive geographic range. It is another small cicada with prominent eyes found in Peru. The claspers diverge laterally from their base terminating in a claw-like structure. The basal pygofer lobes are reduced in this species compared to other Taphura . The Species can be distinguished from T. sauliensis by the single transverse mark in the pronotal ambient fissure which is split into three parts in T. sauliensis and whose claspers bifurcating terminus rather than the claw-like structure of T. hastifera . Taphura boulardi can be distinguished quickly by the five spots on the head. Taphura nitida can be distinguished by the piceous transverse band on the anterior abdominal tergites and the drooping claspers found in this species. This species can be distinguished from T. attiguclava by the lack of a piceous transverse band on the anterior abdominal tergites and the shape of the claspers but the claspers in T. attiguclava adjoin at the base and only diverge distally while the claspers are not adjoining along the midline in T. hastifera ( Sanborn 2017a) . Pogue (1996) reported the species from Pakitza and Tambopata but these are considered to be specimens of T. attiguclava ( Sanborn 2017a) .

DISTRIBUTION. The species has been reported from across South America and will likely continue to be found in some of the remaining countries. It has been recorded from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela ( Metcalf 1963; Sanborn 2013; 2017a; 2018b; 2019b; Sanborn & Heath 2014). Jacobi (1907; 1951) reported the species from Pachitea, Urubamba, and Vilcanota in Peru.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. “ PERU: San Martin Dept. / Moyabamba, vic. / Ecológico “Rumipata” / 13–18-X-2012 J. E. Eger // S 06º 04’32.0”, W / 076º 58’ 07.5” 970 / m, MV & UV Light ” six males and seven females ( FSCA), two males and two females ( AFSC); “ PERU: San Martin Dept. / Tarapoto , vic. Cordillera / Escalera Lodge , 432 m / 11–13-X-2012 J. E. Eger // S 06º 28’08.1” / W 076º 21’16.4” / MV & UV Light ” nine males and four females ( FSCA), two males and one female ( AFSC).