Murmurillana Delorme

Delorme, Quentin, Mille, Christian & Jourdan, Hervé, 2016, Description of a new genus and two new species of high frequency cicada from New Caledonia (Insecta: Hemiptera, Cicadoidea, Cicadidae), Zootaxa 4126 (4), pp. 563-576 : 564-566

Family Cicadidae

Subfamily Cicadettinae Buckton, 1889

Tribe Cicadettini Buckton, 1889

Genus Murmurillana Delorme gen. nov.

Type species. Murmurillana inaudibilis Delorme sp. nov. [Type locality: Nouvelle-Calédonie, Province Nord, Ponérihouen, Massif de l’Aoupinié (750 m), (21°10’45’’S E 165°17’55’’E).

Included species: Two species coming from New Caledonia: M. paenetacita Delorme sp. nov., and M. inaudibilis Delorme sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Small sized cicada (body length 15 mm); more or less close to the genus Poviliana Boulard, 1997 , which is similar in wing venation but different in color (blackish) and male genitalia structure (Thecal pseudoparameres originating near thecal base).

Description. Head, broader than the mesonotum (eyes included); length slightly inferior to the pronotum; dorsal postclypeal area flat and about three times shorter than wide; postclypeus anterior profile in dorsal view nearly straight giving to the head a very blunt appearance. Paranota (lateral margins of pronotal collar) ampliate. Large ocelli; the distance between lateral ocelli longer than distance between lateral ocellus and median ocellus; distance between lateral ocelli equal to twice that of the ocelli and about equal to distance between lateral ocellus and eye; epicranial suture deep; postclypeus with at least five prominent black transversal grooves and no longitudinal furrow. On thorax, operculum roundish, covering tympal cavity, much longer than meracanthus. When viewed dorsally, lateral margin of pronotal collar smooth with only a rounded lateral lobe and completely lacking anterior lateral tooth or angular projection. Forewings hyaline, with eight apical cells. Median and cubital anterior vein shortly fused at bases of anterior angle of basal cell; pterostigma partially opaque, slender, progressively reduced and terminally sharpen; base of apical cell 1 located in the second third of pterostigma length. Radial cross-vein vertical; distance between r and r-m about equal to or longer than distance between r-m and m; base of first apical cell located before pterostigma mid-length; hindwing with six apical cells; anal cell 3 short, reaching the middle of anal cell 2. On fore legs, femur bearing three developed black spines and a fourth one (aborted) on the anterior base of third spine; primary spine strong and oblique, isolated, shorter than distance between its base and second spine; secondary spine oblique and much shorter than the primary spine; apical spine oblique, shorter than second spine. Hind legs similar to mid legs with three tibial spurs on anteromedian side and one at lateral exterior side. Male abdomen bullet shaped, sharply reduced posteriorly, not much wider than mesonotum. Timbales with long ribs 1 to 3 fused dorsally; long ribs 4 very short; three intercalary ribs. Male sternite 1 flat and smooth; sternite 7 much wider than long, apex roundish. Upper lobes of pygofer flat, very small, almost aborted, set well away from dorsal beak, rounded in lateral view; basal lobes undivided, not well 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 flat and obtuse, as long as wide. Thecal pseudoparameres originating near thecal base, filiform, much longer than theca, sharpened and terminally right angled anteriorly ( Fig. 1 ). Aedeagal basal plate in lateral view right-angled. Claspers curved and hooked anteriorly.

Derivation of name. From Latin “ murmurillum ” meaning “purring”, because of the high frequency of male calling song.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Murmurillana inaudibilis Delorme sp. nov., aedeagus (Drawing: Delphine Cury).