Torresia Sanborn & Heath, 2014

Sanborn, Allen F. & Heath, Maxine S., 2014, The cicadas of Argentina with new records, a new genus and fifteen new species (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea: Cicadidae), Zootaxa 3883 (1), pp. 1-94 : 38-39

Torresia Sanborn & Heath , gen. n.

Type species. Torresia sanjuanensis Sanborn & Heath , sp. n.

Included species. Torresia lariojaensis Sanborn & Heath , sp. n.; T. sanjuanensis Sanborn & Heath , sp. n.

Etymology. The genus is named in honor of Belindo A. Torres for his extensive contributions to the knowledge of the Argentine cicada fauna. The gender of the genus is feminine.

Distribution. Currently the genus is known only from La Rioja and San Juan Provinces, Argentina.

Diagnostic characteristics. The new genus is most similar to Alarcta Torres and Tettigades Amyot & Audinet-Serville. Torresia can be distinguished from Alarcta by its trapezoid rather than rectangular basal cell, the apical cell 6 being longer than 7, the cruciform elevation that is not elongated anteroposteriorly, and the lack of dense, long pile on the head. The new genus can be distinguished from Tettigades by the less sulcate postclypeus, the stridulatory apparatus with 9–10 ribs, the lack of a thick pile on the body, the hyaline and not infuscated forewings, apical cell 5 of the forewing which is about half the length of apical cell 6, and the wing length to width ratio that is between 2.8–3.0:1.

The remaining genera of the Tettigadini can be distinguished by a few characters each. Torresia can be distinguished from Acuticephala Torres by the head that is narrower than the pronotum, the angled pronotal lateral margins, and the forewing apical cell 1 of about the same length as apical cell 2. The new genus differs from Babras Jacobi in the forewing apical cell 5 which is about half as long as apical cell 6, the forewing apical cell 8 with more than three times the size of apical cell 7, and the 12–13 timbal ribs. The new genus is two-thirds the body length of Calliopsida Torres , the postclypeus is shorter than the vertex, the pronotum is not broadly expanded, the forewings are without infuscation, the forewing length to width ratio is 2.8–3.0, and the stridulatory apparatus has 9–10 ribs. The head is slightly wider than the mesonotum, the pronotum lateral margins are rounded, and the abdomen is as long as the head-cruciform elevation length which distinguish the new genus from Chonosia Distant. The head being slightly wider than the mesonotum, the lack of distally expanded antennae and a globose postclypeus, the anterior pronotum being narrower than the posterior, the angled lateral margins of the pronotum, and the small opercula of the new genus distinguish it from Mendozana Distant. The new genus differs from Psephenotettix Torres in the wider head, the curved forewing cubitus anterior 2, and the stridulatory apparatus with 9–10 ribs. Finally, Torresia can be distinguished from Tettigotoma Torres in the fore femora having two spines, the pronotum is not vaulted, and the mesonotum lacks a saddle-like appearance as is found in Tettigotoma .

Description.

General body proportions (males).—Length of body: 15.6–18.0; length of forewing: 18.2–20.9; width of forewing: 6.6–7.2; length of head: 2.2–2.4; width of head including eyes: 5.8–6.4; width of pronotum including suprahumeral plates: 6.2–7.0; width of mesonotum: 5.1–6.0.

Head. —Head including eyes slightly wider than mesonotum, frons steeply angled from vertex. Postclypeus sulcate, truncated anteriorly, rostrum reaching to middle trochanter.

Thorax.—Pronotum not as long as mesonotum, pronotal collar wide with curved lateral margins. Mesonotum cruciform elevation elongated anteroposteriorly, anterior wider than posterior, stridulatory apparatus with 9–10 ribs. Metanotum mostly obscured by mesonotum.

Forewings and hind wings.—Forewings and hind wings hyaline with eight and six apical cells respectively, some hind wings with cells missing. Forewing basal cell trapezoidal, apical cells 2 and 3 about the same length, apical cell 5 half as long as apical cell 6, apical cell 6 longer than apical cell 7, apical cell 8 about three times the size of apical cell 7, radial and radiomedial crossveins forming a zig-zag pattern with veins of apical cells 1–4.

Legs.—Anterior femora with proximal spine against femur, secondary spine larger and upright.

Male operculum.—Operculum short, not extending beyond middle of sternite II, not meeting medially. Meracanthus wide and angulate.

Male abdomen.—Longer than head and thorax. About as wide as mesonotum at base, narrowing to apex at segment 6. Lacking timbal cover. Timbal with 12–13 long ribs extending below wing base laterally. Sternite VII with curved posterior margin.

Male genitalia.—Pygofer with distal shoulders not developed, basal lobe flattened against pygofer. Uncus extended, rounded at terminus, flattened with sinuate lateral margins in lateral view. Aedeagus with two basal, curved spines, the left possesing cornuti.

Female unknown.

Type species. Torresia sanjuanensis Sanborn & Heath.