Punia limpida Moulds 2020, sp. n.
Creators: name: Moulds, M. S.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Cicadidae
Punia
Punia limpida

description: Punia limpida sp. n.
(Figs 3–5, 15–16, 27)
Punia “punia green” / punia_green_TSE01 Owen et al., 2015: 263, 267–270.
Punia _sp_STC07 Owen et al., 2015: 263, 267–270;
“tiny green”: Marshall et al., 2016: fig. 2.
Punia “green” Owen et al. 2017: 572, 580.
Punia “tennant Creek” Owen et al. 2017: 572, 580.
Types. Holotype male, Dunham River x-ing, 100 km S of Wyndham, Western Australia, 7.ii.1977, M.S. & B.J. Moulds (WAM). Paratypes as follows: WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 2 males, Kimberley Research Stn, via Wyndham, ii.1986, E.C.B. Langfield (ANIC). 81 males (1 genitalia prep. CI 105), 6 females, same data as holotype; 2 males (one genitalia prep. PU36) (Simon Lab. voucher 10.AU.WA. NCH.06), nr Nicholson R., 145 km E of Halls Creek, 18°08.41’S 128°42.003’E, 23.i.2010, Hill, Marshall, Moulds; 1 male (genitalia prep. PU40), AU.WA.GNE, 100 km SE Fitzroy Crossing, Great Northern Hwy, 18°44.829’S 126°08.442’E, 309m, 21.i.2010, Hill, Marshall, Moulds (MSM). 4 males, same data as holotype (WAM). NORTHERN TERRITORY: 4 males, 110 km E of Kununurra, Victoria Hwy, 26.xii.1991, M.S. & B.J. Moulds (AE). 4 males, 110 km E of Kununurra, Victoria Hwy, 26.xii.1991, M.S. & B.J. Moulds (AM). 4 males, 110 km E of Kununurra, Victoria Hwy, 26.xii.1991, M.S. & B.J. Moulds (ANIC). 4 males, 110 km E of Kununurra, Victoria Hwy, 26.xii.1991, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 6 males, 2 females, off Packsaddle Rd, Kununurra, 15°48’18”S 128°41’06”E, 5.ii.2020, S. Ong; 1male, same location 27.i.2020, S. Ong (DE). 4 males, 110 km E of Kununurra, Victoria Hwy, 26.xii.1991, M.S. & B.J. Moulds (JO). 4 males, 110 km E of Kununurra, Victoria Hwy, 26.xii.1991, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 3 males, 1 female, off Packsaddle Rd, Kununurra, 15°48’18”S 128°41’06”E, 1.ii.2020, S. Ong (LP). 4 males, Victoria Hwy, Dingo Ck, nr W.A. border, 1.i.1992, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 1 male (genitalia prep. PAU19), Keep R. x-ing, Victoria Hwy, 7.i.1986, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 175 males (3 genitalic preps CI104, PU3, PU4), 1 female, 110 km E of Kununurra, Victoria Hwy, 26.xii.1991, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 5 males, 2 females, 16 km W of West Baines R. x-ing, Victoria Hwy, 8.i.1986, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 1 female, West Baines R., Victoria Hwy, 8.i.1986, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 3 males, 2 females, 27 km W of Timber Creek, Victoria Hwy, 8.i.1986, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 10 males, Victoria R., 18 km W of Timber Creek township, 25.xii.1991. M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 49 males (1 genitalia prep. CI106), 40 km E of Timber Creek, Victoria Hwy, 8.i.1986, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 7 males (1 genitalia prep. PU34) (1 Simon Lab. voucher 08.AU.NT. SKU.07), 5 females, ~ 40 km E of Timber Creek, 15°44.047’S 130°45.144’E, 48m, 22.ii.2008, K. Hill. D. Marshall, M. Moulds, C. Owen, M. Humphrey; 1 male, Victoria Hwy, 10 km E Victoria R. Inn at river x-ing, 2.i.1992, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 6 males (1 genitalia prep. PU33), 1 female, NTR. TSE, 9 km E of Top Springs, 180m, 16°35.5’S 131°51.7’E, 25.i.2004, Cooley, Hill, Marshall, Moulds; 2 males, AU.NT.ILL, 7.8 km ESE of Top Springs, 16°35.392’S 131°50.958’E, 18.ii.2008, K. Hill, D. Marshall, M. Moulds, C. Owen, M. Humphrey; 6 males, 2 females, NTR. TSE, 9 km E of Top Springs, 179m, 16°35.487’S 131°51.728’E, 17.ii.2008, K. Hill, D. Marshall, M. Moulds, C. Owen, M. Humphrey; 4 males, NTR.PIT, 57 km E of Top Springs, 278m, 16 44.2’S 132 14.6’E, 25.i.2004, Cooley, Hill, Marshall, Moulds; 45 males, AU.NT.HTP, 74 km SW of Top Springs, 16°59.831’S 131°24.372’E, 179m, 17.ii.2008, K. Hill, D. Marshall, M. Moulds, C. Owen, M. Humphrey; 6 males (genitalia prep. PU35), 3 females, NTR.KAL, 15 km N of Daly Waters, 214m, 16°11.2’S 133°25.6’E, 20.i.2004, Cooley, Hill, Marshall, Moulds; 39 males, 6 females, Mataranka Hstd, Waterhouse River, 25.i.1977, 9.i.1986, 4.xii.1986, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 37 males, 1 female, Roper R. x-ing, 2 km W of Mataranka Hstd, 14:56S 133:04E, 11.i.1992, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 141 males (3 genitalia preps CI107, PU1, PU2), 1 female, 80 km S of Larrimah, 24.i.1977, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 1 female, AU.NT.TMQ, Tanami Road, 25 km SE of Rabbit Flat, 349m, 20°22.970’S 130°09.078’E, 26.i.2010, Hill, Marshall, Moulds; 36 males (2 genitalia preps PAU22, PAU23), October Ck, Carpentaria Hwy, 180 km E of Daly Waters, 11.i.1986, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 3 males, 1 female, AU.NT.TCW, 59 km W of Timber Creek, 15°46.131’S 130°01.512’S, 34m, 22.ii.2008, K. Hill, D. Marshall, M. Moulds, C. Owen, M. Humphrey; 1 male (Simon Lab. voucher 06.AU.NT. STC.07), 2 females (1 Simon Lab. voucher 06.AU.NT. STC.03), 60 km S of Tennant Creek, 20°10.932’S 134°13.125’E, 388m, 31.i.2006, Hill, Marshall, Moulds; 1 male, AU.NT.TTN, ~ 30 km N of Ti Tree, 21°54.421’S 133°33.928’E, 502m, 3.ii.2010, Hill, Marshall, Moulds (MSM). 6 males (1 genitalia prep. PU34) (1 Simon Lab. voucher 08.AU.NT. SKU.07), 4 females, ~ 40 km E of Timber Creek, 15°44.047’S 130°45.144’E, 48m, 22.ii.2008, K. Hill. D. Marshall, M. Moulds, C. Owen, M. Humphrey; 6 males (1 Simon Lab voucher NTR. TSE.01), 1 female, 9 km E of Top Springs, 179m, 16°35.487’S 131°51.728’E, 17.ii.2008, K. Hill, D. Marshall, M. Moulds, C. Owen, M. Humphrey; 45 males, AU.NT.HTP, 74 km SW of Top Springs, 16°59.831’S 131°24.372’E, 179m, 17.ii.2008, K. Hill, D. Marshall, M. Moulds, C. Owen, M. Humphrey (NTM). 4 males, 110 km E of Kununurra, Victoria Hwy, 26.xii.1991, M.S. & B.J. Moulds (QM). QUEENSLAND: 2 females, Cloncurry, 12.iii.1993, S. Lamond; 6 males (one genitalia prep PU44), 1 female, Mt Garnet, 26.ii.1993, S. Lamond; 1 male (genitalia prep. PU8), Chillagoe, 20.i.1988, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 4 males (1 genitalia prep. PAU18), 24 km N of Einasleigh, 31.xii.1989, M.S. & B.J. Moulds (MSM).
Distribution and habitat (Fig. 27). Eastern and southern margins of the Kimberley region of Western Australia south to Halls Creek, through much of the northern Territory but excluding the Top End north of Mataranka and the far south beyond Ti Tree, and across northern Queensland from Cloncurry to Forty Mile Scrub, Chillagoe and near Einasleigh. There are records from December to March but most specimens have been taken in December and January. Adults inhabit grass.
Male (Figs 3–4, 15–16). In two colour forms, either light yellowish brown or green. BROWN FORM. Head with vertex pale yellowish brown, often extensively mottled brown, sometimes almost entirely so but excluding supra-antennal plates; lora pale yellowish brown to pale brown. Postclypeus pale yellowish brown with a broad, brown to blackish midline from or near frontoclypeal suture to about postclypial centre. Anteclypeus pale yellowish brown to pale brown, sometimes with black midline and apex of variable extent. Rostrum brown becoming black towards apex; reaching apices of mid coxae. Thorax with pronotum, mesonotum and metanotum pale yellowish brown; mesonotum sometimes with submedian and lateral sigilla sometimes partially and weakly pigmented pale brown. Wings hyaline; forewing venation whitish on basal half or more, distally (including ambient vein) brown to blackish with RA 1, RA 2, RP and crossveins r and r-m weakly infuscated brown sometimes extending to apical cells 1–3; basal membrane white. Hindwing venation whitish; plaga white. Legs pale yellowish brown to light brown; pretarsal claws pale brown on basal half, dark brown to blackish on distal half. Meracantha whitish. Opercula whitish. Timbals with three long ribs spanning timbal membrane and fused dorsally; pale brown tending translucent. Abdomen pale yellowish brown to light brown; tergites 3–6 laterally translucent and very pale brown; a broad, dull dark brown to blackish band dorsally along tergites 2–7, sometimes also with a capping of orange red replacing brown on distal half or less; tergites 3–7 often narrowly edged pale yellow along posterior margin; tergites 4–7 partly dull black laterally, extensively so on 7 but gradually reducing to sublateral region on 4; tergite 8 usually partly dull black, sometimes extensively so. Sternites I-VI translucent light brown, sometimes with a little dull black laterally; sternite VII and VIII pale brown. GREEN FORM. Head pale green; vertex pale green or pale green extensively mottled brown between lateral ocelli and supra-antennal plates but excluding the latter; lora pale green or pale brown. Postclypeus pale green to yellowish brown with a broad, brown band on midline from or near frontoclypeal suture to about postclypial centre. Anteclypeus pale green to pale brown. Rostrum pale brown becoming dark towards apex; reaching apices of mid coxae. Thorax with pronotum, mesonotum and metanotum pale green; mesonotum sometimes with submedian and lateral sigilla sometimes partially and weakly pigmented pale brown. Wings hyaline; forewing venation pale green on basal half or more, distally (including ambient vein) brown, and RA 1, RA 2, RP and crossveins r and r-m weakly infuscated brown sometimes extending to apical cells 1–3; basal membrane white. Hindwing venation very pale green; plaga white. Legs with coxae pale green; femora and tibiae pale green to pale brown; tarsi light brown; pretarsal claws very pale brown on basal half, dark brown on distal half. Meracantha pale yellow tending white. Opercula pale green tending whitish. Timbals with three long ribs spanning timbal membrane that are fused dorsally; whitish tending translucent. Abdomen predominantly pale green; tergites 3–6 laterally translucent and very pale green to almost colourless; a broad dull blackish band dorsally along tergites 2–6; tergites 4–7 partly dull black laterally, extensively so on 7, less so on 6, and reduced to sublateral region on 4 and 5; tergite 8 usually partly dull black, sometimes extensively so. Sternites I–VI translucent pale green, sometimes with a little dull black laterally; sternite VII partly or completely pale brown; sternite VIII pale brown.
Genitalia (Figs 15–16). Pygofer dorsal beak well developed; basal lobe large, in lateral view tending triangular; upper pygofer lobe broad, flat, much reduced and dominated by a very large accessory tooth. Uncus well developed and clearly projecting beyond anal tube, broad and often sharply down-turned across apical region. Claspers broad basally, claw-like, triangular in dorsal view, diverging, distally gently curved downwards to a bluntly pointed apex, concave below. Aedeagus with endotheca gently curved, sclerotized to apex, apically tapering ventrally to become sharply pointed; pseudoparameres slender, lateral of endotheca, about as long or a little longer than endotheca, flat, becoming a little broader before a down-turned and pointed apex, sometimes slightly diverging distally.
Female (Fig. 5). Similar to male but usually smaller and a little darker green (doubtfully in a brown form), with very few markings and without translucent sides to abdomen. In some individuals head bearing black or brown markings; sometimes prothorax with black or brown along median and lateral fissures; sometimes mesothorax with black or brown submedian and lateral sigilla. Abdominal segment 9 light yellowish brown without markings; ovipositor sheath translucent pale yellowish brown with black ovipositor, clearly extending a little beyond apex of abdomen.
Measurements. Range and mean (in mm) for 10 males and 10 females (includes largest and smallest of available specimens). Length of body: male 10.4–13.2 (12.0); female (including ovipositor) 11.2–13.5 (12.2). Length of forewing: male 12.2–14.0 (13.1); female 12.2–13.7 (12.7). Width of head (including eyes): male 2.7–3.1 (3.0); female 2.9–3.3 (3.0). Width of pronotum (across lateral angles): male 2.9–3.6 (3.4); female 3.3–3.9 (3.5).
Etymology. From the Latin limpidus meaning clear, transparent, pure, and referring to the translucent abdominal tergites of the males.
Distinguishing features. This is the only Punia species so far known to occur in a green form. Brown individuals differ from all other Punia species except P. kolos in having forewing veins M and CuA both very pale. Small brown specimens of P. limpida are very similar to those of P. kolos but can be separated by the extent of the brown marking on the postclypeus that covers no more than half its surface, and always with a broad pale lateral border, never a narrow even border extending around entire length of ventral margin. In addition, the uncus of P. limpida is long and projects far beyond the anal tube (only P. minima has a similar uncus), whereas that of P. kolos barely projects beyond the anal tube.
description: Published as part of Moulds, M. S., 2020, A revision of the Australian cicada genus Punia Moulds, 2012 (Cicadidae Cicadettinae: Cicadettini) with the description of four new species, pp. 101-115 in Zootaxa 4860 (1) on pages 108-110, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4860.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/4413571