Euterpnosia Ampla, a New Species of Cicada from Taiwan (Hemiptera: Cicadidae)

Euterpnosia ampla, a New Species of Cicada from Taiwan

(Hemiptera: Cicadidae)

Jian-Hong Chen

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut U.S.A.

(Received: 10 August 2006, accepted: 23 October 2006)

ABSTRACT

A new species of cicada, Euterpnosia ampla sp. nov., belonging to the varicolor group, was described from Northern Taiwan. This species is distinct from other allied species in its large body size and wider male abdomen shape. The species is similar to E. alpina in its dark coloration but the morphology of aedeagus shows that E. ampla should be more closely related to E. madawdawensis from Eastern Taiwan.

Key words: Euterpnosia, varicolor group, Dundubiini, taxonomy, male genitalia

Introduction

Euterpnosia is a cicadid genus belonging to

the tribe Dundubiini (Duffels and van der Laan, 1985; Moulds, 2005). Thirteen Euterpnosia species have been recorded from Taiwan and all of them are endemic (Lee and Hayashi, 2003; Chen, 2005).

Euterpnosia varicolor Kato, 1926, E. alpina Chen,

2005, and E. madawdawensis Chen, 2005 are recognized as a species group (Chen, 2005), sharing the following characters: forewing spotted with infuscations on cross veins R3-R4+5, R4+5-M1, M2-M3, and M4-CuA1, and on apical part of veins R4+5, M1, M2, M3, M4, CuA1, and CuA2 (Fig. 1A); projection on each lateral side of male 4th abdominal tergum is large and distinct (Fig. 1A-C); ventral lobe of male pygofer without subapical projection on inner side (Fig. 1E). Herein I described a new species belonging to this species group, i.e., the varicolor group, from Northern Taiwan.

Materials and Methods

Two males and one female of the new

Euterpnosia species were collected from the

Tsuifeng Forest Road near the Taipingshan Forest Recreation Area in Northern Taiwan by Dr. Wen-I Chou and Mr. Shu-Ping Wu. These three specimens were preserved with sorbic acid and frozen for a long time, leading to fading in coloration, especially

in green color. As a result, the coloration of this new species was not emphasized in the description. The type specimens of this new species are deposited in the National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS), Taichung, Taiwan. All high quality images of the type specimens can be requested from me.

The method of measurements on specimens follow Chen (2005). Male genitalia were examined and photographed by a dissecting microscope (Leica MZ16). The aedeagus of the male paratype (NMNS 4929-59) was mounted on a slide with Entellan (Merck, Germany), then examined and photographed by a light microscopy (Olympus BX1). Images of male genitalia (Fig. 1E, F) were processed by the software Auto-Montage (Syncroscopy Co., Cambridge, UK) to increase the depth of field.

Taxonomy

Key to males of the varicolor group of Euterpnosia from Taiwan

1.Aedeagus without apical and subapical projection ... E. alpina Chen - Aedeagus bearing apical and subapical projection (Fig. 1F)... 2 2.Vesica of aedeagus small, without proximal

extension... E. varicolor Kato - Vesica of aedeagus large, bearing proximal

extension (Fig. 1F)... 3 3.Thorax wider than 6th abdominal tergum width

(Fig. 1C, G); mesonotum green with black fascia (Fig. 1C)... E. madawdawensis Chen - Thorax narrower than 6th abdominal tergum width

(Fig. 1A); mesonotum black (Fig. 1A)... ………...E. ampla sp. nov.

Euterpnosia ampla Chen, sp. nov.

(Table 1-2; Fig. 1A, D-F)

Diagnosis: E. ampla (Fig. 1A) is similar to E. alpina (Fig. 1B) in coloration but can be

distinguished from E. alpina by following characters: body size larger (Fig. 1A-B); 6th abdominal tergum wider than thorax (Fig. 1A); male pygofer (3.4 mm in length) smaller than that of E. alpina (4.0 mm in length); apical and subapical projections present on the apical part of aedeagus (Fig. 1F). Moreover, E. ampla is similar to E. madawdawensis in the morphology of male genitalia, including the shape of uncus lobe (Fig. 1E) and the apical part of aedeagus (Fig. 1F). However, these two species are quite different in three aspects. First, the body length of male E. ampla (29.2-31.0 mm) is distinctly longer than that of male E.

madawdawensis (24.9-26.2 mm). Second, the male

abdomen of E. ampla is wider in shape. Male 6th abdominal tergum is wider than thorax in E. ampla (Fig. 1A), but narrower than thorax in E.

madawdawensis (Fig. 1C). Third, the coloration of

male E. ampla is more darkened (Fig. 1A, C). It is easy to distinguish E. ampla from E.

madawdawensis by the black mesonotum and

darker wing veins. See Table 1 for more comparison.

Description: Male. Head width same to

mesonotum width; vertex black, with some irregular brown marks between lateral ocelli and eyes; postclypeus slightly protruding anteriorly, with a tawny triangular spot in front of central ocellus in dorsal view and a wide longitudinal black fascia situated centrally in ventral view; anteclypeus almost entirely black; rostrum extending to coxa of hind leg.

Pronotum entirely black in inner area except central fascia; pronotum collar tawny, bearing two black spots on each posterolateral lobe. Mesonotum black except a pair of paramedian patches in the holotype; cruciform elevation bearing a median black fascia and a black base. Lateral edge of operculum rounded; operculum pale brownish with black edge in the holotype, much darkened in the male paratype. Wings hyaline; wing veins black or fuscus; forewing slightly tinged and spotted with infuscations on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th cross veins, on apical part of veins R3, R4+5, M1, M2, M3, M4, CuA1, and CuA2, and on distal end of clavus.

Abdomen brownish, clothed with sparse silver Table 1. Morphological differences of males among Euterpnosia ampla sp. nov. and the congeners of the varicolor

species group.

* Pygofer and hypandrium are excluded Characters E. ampla sp. nov. E. alpina Chen, 2005 E. madawdawensis Chen, 2005 E. varicolor Kato, 1926 Body length* (mm) 29.2-31.0 25.6-28.3 24.9-26.2 25.3-28.0 Wing-spread width (mm) 71.7-75.9 65.4-69.9 65.5-68.7 66.8-72.2 Coloration of

mesonotum Black Usually black

Green with

black fascia Variable 6th abdominal

tergum width

Wider than thorax width

Narrower than thorax width

Narrower than thorax width

Narrower than thorax width Uncus lobe of pygofer Narrowed or not

narrowed at base Narrowed at base Not narrowed at base Narrowed at base Apical projection

of aedeagus Present Absent Present Present

Subapical projection

of aedeagus Present Absent Present Present

Vesica of aedeagus Large Small Large Small

Proximal extension of

Figure 1. (A) Holotype of Euterpnosia ampla sp. nov., NMNS 4929-58; (B) holotype of E. alpina, NMNS 4929-4; (C)

holotype of E. madawdawensis, NMNS 4929-1; (D) male abdomen of E. ampla in ventral view, holotype; (E) male genitalia of E. ampla in ventral view, holotype; (F) apical part of aedeagus of E. ampla in lateral view, paratype, NMNS 4929-59; (G) measurements applied in the key to species. (ap) apical projection; (AW6) 6th abdominal tergum width; (pe) proximal extension of vesica; (sap) subapical projection; (TW) thorax width; (v) vesica. Scale bars represent 10 mm for (A-C), 1 mm for (E), and 100μm for (F), respectively.

Table 2. Measurements of male Euterpnosia ampla sp. nov.

* Pygofer and hypandrium are excluded

pile in dorsum; black, wide transverse fasciae present on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th terga centrally; black, narrow transverse fasciae present on anterior and posterior edges of 5th and 6th terga; a black spot present on each sublateral area of 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th terga; tymbal cover slightly everted, pilose, entirely black; projection on each lateral side of 4th tergum large, with black tip and a distinct notch; posterior half of 5th tergum projecting laterally; 7th tergum black; 8th tergum covered with white wax. Venter of abdomen brownish, slightly translucent; sterna covered with erect hairs and sparse white wax.

Male genitalia. Pygofer oval; uncus lobe not narrowed at base and entirely black in the holotype (NMNS 4929-58), but narrowed at base and bearing a longitudinal obscure fascia situated centrally in the paratype (NMNS 4929-59); inner edge of ventral lobe smooth without subapical projections; apical part of aedeagus bearing one apical and one subapical sclerotized projections; both projections flat, with slightly indented edge; membranous vesica hyaline, large, and bearing obvious folds and a proximal extension.

Measurements: 2 ♂, 1 ♀. Body length: ♂, 29.2-31.0 mm (pygofer and hypandrium excluded); ♀, 25.6 mm (ovipositor included). See Table 2 for details.

Type series: Holotype: 1 ♂, Taiwan, Ilan Hsien (county), Nanao Hsiang (township), Tsuifeng Forest Road, alt. 1900 m, 1 V 2004, WI Chou leg., NMNS 4929-58 (ex JHCC 1003). Paratypes: 1 ♂, same data as for holotype, NMNS 4929-59 (ex

JHCC 1004); 1 ♀, Tsuifeng Forest Road, start of hiking trail to Mt. Sanhsingshan, by light trap, at 19:00, 10 V 2002, SP Wu leg., NMNS 4929-54 (ex JHCC 0460).

Distribution: Only known from the Tsuifeng

Forest Road near the Taipingshan Forest Recreation Area, Ilan County, Taiwan.

Etymology: The Latin ampla refers the large

size of this species (Lat. amplus, ~a, ~um, large, big, impressive in size and splendour).

Biology: The dominant vegetation along the

Tsuifeng Forest Road is coniferous plantation, but the preferred habitats and host plants of E. ampla remain unknown. According to the collectors, two males were collected from broad-leaved trees by netting, and the female was attracted to mercury-vapor light traps at night.

Discussion

Although only two male specimens are available, the large body size, which is the largest among Taiwanese Euterpnosia species, and the wider male abdomen shape make E. ampla distinct from other species of the varicolor group. However, more specimens should be obtained to confirm stable characters in this species, especially those characters used in the key.

E. ampla is very similar to E. alpina in its

darker coloration, but the morphology of aedeagus shows that E. ampla should be more closely related to E. madawdawensis. These two species share following genital characters: proximal extension of vesica present, vesica large and bearing many folds, apical and subapical projections present on the apical part of aedeagus. The darker coloration of E.

ampla and E. alpina may be adaptive for cool

alpine habitats (e.g. Ellers and Boggs, 2004). Both species inhabit high mountain regions and adults of both species occur in early May. Males of E. alpina usually call on high twigs in the sunshine, but they are often quiet when it is cloudy and cold (pers. obs.). Such melanization may help these alpine cicadas to raise body temperature more efficiently for diurnal activities when basking. In contrast to males, females of E. alpina and E. ampla do not have entirely melanized mesonotum.

It is still impracticable to make an unambiguous key to identify species of the

varicolor group without using microscopic

characters of male genitalia, making species Variables (mm) Holotype NMNS 4929-58 Paratype NMNS 4929-59 Body length* 31.0 29.2

Head and thorax length 11.8 11.1

Abdomen length 19.2 18.1

Head width 7.6 7.1

Thorax width 7.7 7.1

3rd abdominal tergum width 8.6 8.5 Abdominal projection width 10.8 10.7 5th abdominal tergum width 8.9 8.9 6th abdominal tergum width 8.0 7.9 Forewing length 35.3 33.6 Wing-spread width 75.9 71.7

identification inconvenient for ecologists. Male calling songs are species-specific in E. varicolor, E.

alpina, and E. madawdawensis (Chen, 2005). It is

likely that the calling song of E. ampla is distinct as well and can be useful for species identification.

Acknowledgements

I deeply thank Dr. Wen-I Chou and Mr. Shu-Ping Wu for their specimens. I also appreciate Miss Yu-Hsiu Lin, Ms. Hua-Lan Fang, Dr. Jane O'Donnell, and Ms. Mei-Ling Chan. I acknowledge the University of Connecticut’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology for providing me excellent facilities. This material is based upon work partially supported by the USA National Science Foundation under Grants No. 0529679 and 0422386.

References

Chen JH. 2005. Redescription of Euterpnosia

varicolor, and description of two new

species of cicadas from Taiwan (Hemiptera: Cicadidae). Coll. and Res. 18: 37-50. Duffels JP and van der Laan PA. 1985. Catalogue of

the Cicadoidea (Homoptera, Auchenorrhyncha) 1956-1980. Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands.

Ellers J and Boggs CL. 2004. Functional ecological implications of intraspecific differences in wing melanization in Colias butterflies. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 82: 79-87.

Lee YJ and Hayashi M. 2003. Taxonomic review of Cicadidae (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha) from Taiwan, part 2. Dundubiini (a part of Cicadina) with two new species. Ins. Koreana 20: 359-392.

Moulds MS. 2005. An appraisal of the higher classification of cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea) with special reference to the Australian fauna. Rec. Aust. Mus. 57: 375-446.

台灣的新蟬種－翠峰姬春蟬（半翅目：蟬科）

陳建宏

varicolor 種群中本種偏暗的體色與高山姬春蟬（E. alpina）的體色十分近似，但陽莖形態顯示本種

可能與台灣東部所產的新港山姬春蟬（E. madawdawensis）較為近緣。