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July 12, 2021

A new genus Vittagaeana and a new Cicada paper to go with it

Filed under: Gaeanini | Papers and Documents | Vittagaeana — Dan @ 12:51 pm

Recently a new paper was published with the authors Kathy B. R. Hill, David C. Marshall, Kiran Marathe, Maxwell S. Moulds, Young June Lee, Thai-Hong Pham, Alma B. Mohagan, Vivek Sarkar, Benjamin W. Price, J. P. Duffels, Marieke A. Schouten, Arnold J. de Boer, Krushnamegh Kunte and Chris Simon titled The molecular systematics and diversification of a taxonomically unstable group of Asian cicada tribes related to Cicadini Latreille, 1802 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) in Invertebrate Systematics, 2021, 35, 570—601. Link to the paper.

Here’s the abstract:

Abstract. The cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) related to tribe Cicadini exhibit some of the most remarkable phenotypes in the family, with many genera possessing striking colour patterns and unusual morphological features. This largely Asian group of 13 tribes has proven challenging for cicada taxonomists, in part because of likely convergent evolution or losses of these phenotypes. We present the first focused molecular phylogeny of this clade, including ~60 described genera. The genetic dataset contains 839 ingroup-informative sites (out of 2575) from mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, nuclear elongation factor-1 a, and nuclear acetyltransferase. We use Bayesian and maximum likelihood trees to test recent changes in tribe- and subtribe-level classification, and we reconstruct ancestral character states for potentially convergent traits influencing tribe descriptions. We use fossil and molecular clock calibrations to estimate the temporal and geographic context of the radiation. The tribes Gaeanini, Leptopsaltriini, Platypleurini, Psithyristriini, and Tosenini appear polyphyletic and in need of revision, in part because of convergent evolution of opaque wings and multiple convergent gains or losses of abdominal tubercles. Kalabita Moulton, 1923 is transferred from Platypleurini to Leptopsaltriini. Vittagaeana gen. nov. is established for Vittagaeana paviei comb. nov. and Vittagaeana dives comb. nov., formerly in Tosena. Sinosenini syn. nov. is synonymised with

As part of the paper, we get a new genus, Vittagaeana, made up of two cicadas formerly belonging to the genus Tosena. They were likely placed under Tosena because of the white line on their forewings, but after a review of genetics and other features, they have been given their own genus. They are closely related to the genera Ambragaeana, Callogaeana, Gaeana, Sulphogaeana and Trengganua. Also similar to Balinta, Paratalainga, and Talainga.

Vittagaeana dives (Westwood, 1842), formerly Tosena dives:
Tosena dives (Westwood, 1842)
More info: Vittagaeana dives (Westwood, 1842)

Vittagaeana paviei (Noualhier, 1896), formerly Tosena paviei:
Tosena paviei
More info: Vittagaeana paviei (Noualhier, 1896)

March 24, 2020

Vittagaeana dives (Westwood, 1842)

Filed under: Arenopsaltriini | Gaeanini | India | John O. Westwood | Tosena | Tosenini | Vittagaeana — Tags: , — Dan @ 7:36 pm

This is a Vittagaeana dives (Westwood, 1842) from the W.T. Davis cicada collection at the Staten Island Museum. I believe they can be found in India.

This cicada was formerly known as Tosena dives, but its name recently changed due to research done as part of the article: Hill Kathy B. R., Marshall David C., Marathe Kiran, Moulds Maxwell S., Lee Young June, Pham Thai-Hong, Mohagan Alma B., Sarkar Vivek, Price Benjamin W., Duffels J. P., Schouten Marieke A., de Boer Arnold J., Kunte Krushnamegh, Simon Chris (2021) The molecular systematics and diversification of a taxonomically unstable group of Asian cicada tribes related to Cicadini Latreille, 1802 (Hemiptera:Cicadidae). Invertebrate Systematics 35, 570-601.

Tosena dives (Westwood, 1842)

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Gaeanini
Genus: Vittagaeana
Species: Vittagaeana dives (Westwood, 1842)

See the related cicada: Vittagaeana paviei (Noualhier, 1896)

February 29, 2020

Mating Sulphogaeana sulphurea (Westwood, 1839)

Filed under: Gaeanini | Sulphogaeana — Tags: — Dan @ 12:10 pm

Sulphogaeana sulphurea (Westwood, 1839). Photo by Jeff Blincow, Taken in Bhutan.

Mating Gaeana sulphurea from Bhutan taken by Jeff Blincow

These cicadas are mating. Sulphogaeana sulphurea was previously known as Gaeana sulphurea.

March 19, 2019

Trengganua sibylla (Stål, 1863)

Filed under: Asia (Continent) | Gaeanini | Malaysia | Thailand | Trengganua — Tags: — Dan @ 6:48 am

Trengganua sibylla (Stål, 1863) is a cicada found in south-east Asia, specifically peninsular Malaysia and Thailand.

When found in the wild & alive its wings are green and black, but the green turns yellow after death.

Trengganua sibylla (Stål, 1863)

Here’s a video of a living T. sibylla.

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Gaeanini
Genus: Trengganua
Species: Trengganua sibylla (Stål, 1863)

March 3, 2019

Sulphogaeana sulphurea (Westwood, 1839)

Filed under: China | Gaeanini | India | John O. Westwood | Nepal | Sulphogaeana — Tags: — Dan @ 1:01 am

Sulphogaeana sulphurea is a cicada found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, and Nepal. Is was formerly known as Gaeana sulphurea. It is one of the cicadas known as “butterfly cicadas” because of their colorful wings. Sulphogaeana sulphurea are yellow like the mineral sulfur.

Photo by Jeff Blincow:
Mating Gaeana sulphurea from Bhutan taken by Jeff Blincow

Description:

Male. Body above black; lateral margins of the vertex of head,— continued to between eyes,— pronotum (excluding the fissures, margins, and a central hour-glass-shaped fascia), four linear spots to mesonotum (sometimes united in pairs), and the margins of the anal appendage, reddish-ochraceous. Body beneath and legs black; a fascia on each side of the face, sternal streaks, a spot at the base of tegmina, posterior segmental margins,- obliterated centrally,— and the anal appendage, ochraceous.

Tegmina and wings sulphureous; tegmina with the inner margin of the costal membrane, a curved and inwardly angulated fascia crossing center, and the whole apical area,— including the upper ulnar area,— blackish; costal membrane ochraceous, postcostal area blackish; wings with the apical area— broadly, and narrowing to anal angle— blackish.

Face with a narrow but distinct central sulcation; the rostrum reaching the posterior coxae.

Long. excl. tegm. Male 35 to 37 milHm. Exp. tegm. 85 to 92 millim.

This is a moderately scarce species, and it seems almost confined to the province of Bengal.

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Gaeanini
SubTribe: Gaeanina
Genus: Sulphogaeana
Species: Sulphogaeana sulphurea (Westwood, 1839)

For more information about this cicada, visit Cicadas of India.

References:

  1. The description and location information comes from A Monograph of Oriental Cicadas by W. L. Distant. 1889-1892. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.
  2. Species name information comes from Allen Sanborn’s Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).

February 26, 2019

Vittagaeana paviei (Noualhier, 1896)

Vittagaeana paviei is a cicada found in Burma, Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Note that the name of this cicada is changing due to research done as part of the article: Hill Kathy B. R., Marshall David C., Marathe Kiran, Moulds Maxwell S., Lee Young June, Pham Thai-Hong, Mohagan Alma B., Sarkar Vivek, Price Benjamin W., Duffels J. P., Schouten Marieke A., de Boer Arnold J., Kunte Krushnamegh, Simon Chris (2021) The molecular systematics and diversification of a taxonomically unstable group of Asian cicada tribes related to Cicadini Latreille, 1802 (Hemiptera:Cicadidae). Invertebrate Systematics 35, 570-601.

Female V. paviei. Photo by Dan Mozgai:
Tosena paviei

Male T. paviei. Photo by Michel Chantraine:
Tosena paviei

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Gaeanini
Genus: Vittagaeana
Species: Vittagaeana paviei (Noualhier, 1896)

See the related cicada: Vittagaeana dives (Westwood, 1842)

February 25, 2019

Gaeana cheni Chou & Yao, 1985

Filed under: China | Gaeana | Gaeanini | Michel Chantraine | Thailand | Vietnam — Tags: — Dan @ 1:01 am

Gaeana cheni is a cicada found in China, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Photo by Michel Chantraine:
Gaeana cheni

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Gaeanini
SubTribe: Gaeanina
Genus: Gaeana
Species: Gaeana cheni Chou & Yao, 1985

A nice comparison of Gaeana & Callogaeana:

February 24, 2019

Gaeana atkinsoni Distant, 1892

Filed under: Asia (Continent) | China | Gaeana | Gaeanini | India | Raghu Ananth | Thailand | Vietnam | W. L. Distant — Dan @ 1:01 am

Gaeana atkinsoni is a cicada found in China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam, and likely adjacent nations.

Photos by Raghu Ananth.
Gaeana atkinsoni Distant, 1892 from Uttara Kannada district in India by Raghu Ananth

Gaeana atkinsoni Distant, 1892 from Uttara Kannada district in India by Raghu Ananth

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Gaeanini
SubTribe: Gaeanina
Genus: Gaeana
Species: Gaeana atkinsoni Distant, 1892

For more information about this cicada, visit Cicadas of India.

February 16, 2019

Callogaeana festiva festiva (Fabricius, 1803)

Callogaeana festiva festiva is a cicada found in China, Thailand, India, Laos, Malaysia, Indochina, Bhutan, and likely adjacent countries. They are part of a group of cicadas known as “butterfly cicadas” because of their colorful wings.

Photo of a Callogaeana festiva festiva (orange) by Michel Chantraine:
Callogaeana festiva festiva (orange)

Callogaeana festiva festiva (white) by Michel Chantraine:

Photos by Dan Mozgai:
Callogaeana festiva festiva

Callogaeana festiva festiva

Callogaeana festiva festiva

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Gaeanini
SubTribe: Gaeanina
Genus: Callogaeana
Species: Callogaeana festiva festiva (Fabricius, 1803)

Note: there is another sub-species of Callogaeana festiva, but it is not named.

Here is a description of this cicada from A Monograph of Oriental Cicadas by W. L. Distant. 1889-1892. Read it on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.

Male: Body above black; ocelli, eyes and a broad fascia behind them reddish-ochraceous; margins of pronotum and four discal fasciae to mesonotum— of which the two central ones are angulated and connected with the anterior angle at the basal cruciform elevation — greenish-ochraceous. Body beneath and legs lack; apical half of face and a spot between face and eyes reddish-ochraceous.

Tegmina greenish-ochraceous; the radial area, a transverse fascia crossing center from the apex of the radial area, near which is a large triangular spot, apex, and outer and inner margins, and two small spots near the base, blackish. The black area at the apex is more or less broken, sometimes including a small greenish-ochraceous spot. Wings pale bluish-green; the apex broadly black — containing a pale bluish spot — and the margin continued more narrowly black to anal angle.

The face is coarsely transversely striate, and broadly sulcated at the base.

For more information about this cicada, visit Cicadas of India.

A nice comparison of Gaeana & Callogaeana:

February 15, 2019

Becquartina versicolor Boulard, 2005

Filed under: Becquartina | Gaeanini | Michel Boulard | Michel Chantraine | Thailand — Dan @ 1:01 am

Becquartina versicolor is a cicada found in Thailand. They are part of a group of cicadas known as “butterfly cicadas” because of their colorful wings.

Becquartina versicolor photo by Michel Chantraine:
Becquartina versicolor Boulard, 2005

Scientific classification:
Family: Cicadidae
Subfamily: Cicadinae
Tribe: Gaeanini
SubTribe: Becquartinina
Genus: Becquartina
Species: Becquartina versicolor Boulard, 2005

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