Myopsalta platyptera Popple 2017, n. sp.
Creators: name: Popple, Lindsay W.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Cicadidae
Myopsalta
Myopsalta platyptera

description: Myopsalta platyptera n. sp.
(Figs 1L, 17, 21D, 22G, 22H, 27; Plate 12)
Types. Holotype: ♂ Brigalow Res. Stn. nr. Theodore, S.E.Q., western brigalow, 17 Dec 2000, A.E., 24°49.22'S 149°44.94'E, QM Reg. No. T239570 (QM); Paratypes: QUEENSLAND: 1♀ same data as holotype (QM); 3♂ 3♀ same data as holotype; 4♂ 2♀ Brigalow Res. Stn. nr. Theodore, 24°47.93’S 149°45.45’E, N.W. brigalow section, 18.xii.2000, A. Ewart; 1♀ same data as previous, 21.xii.2000 (AE); 1♂ same data as holotype (LWP); 1♂ same data as holotype (MSM).
Etymology. A feminine Latinised compound adjective of the Greek words platýs and pteros, which translates to ‘broad-winged’, referring to the unusually broad, rounded wings found in most examples of this species.
Description. Male. (Figs 1L, 21D, 22G, 22H; Plates 12A, 12B).
Head: Postclypeus predominantly brown, ventral and lateral margins pale brown, transverse grooves dark brown; supra-antennal plates pale brown on ventral sides, dark brown on dorsal sides; genae dark brown to black; mandibular plates black with dark brown lateral margins, covered by silvery pubescence; frons black with dense silver pubescence; vertex black, with a pale brown area extending along epicranial suture from median ocellus to posterior margin; ocelli pink; compound eyes brown; anteclypeus black, pale brown medially; rostrum brown to dark brown, darker apically, extending to anterior margins of hind coxae; antennae dark brown to black.
Thorax: Pronotum brown; central fascia dull yellow-brown, surrounded with dark brown colouration, which broadens towards anterior and posterior pronotal margins; interior pronotum with irregular dark brown patches near paramedian and lateral fissures; lateral margins partly black; pronotal collar dark brown, with brown posterior margins; metanotum dark brown; mesonotum brown to ochraceous; submedian sigilla, lateral sigilla and lateral edges of pronotum dark brown to dark reddish-brown; posterior third of mesonotum with dense fine and sparse long silver pubescence.
Wings: Fore wings hyaline; basal membranes pale orange; pterostigmata brown; proximal tenth of clavi opaque, brown, hyaline over remainder; veins, including costal vein, pale brown to orange-brown, darker distally. Hind wing plagas white at base, with pale grey colouration extending along medial areas and jugal folds terminating before apices; hyaline over remainder; veins pale brown basally, brown over remainder.
Wings: Fore wings hyaline; basal membranes pale orange; pterostigmata brown; proximal tenth of clavi opaque, pale brown to brown, hyaline over remainder; veins, including costal vein, pale brown to orange-brown, darker distally. Hind wing plagas white at base, with pale grey colouration extending along medial areas and jugal folds terminating before apices; hyaline over remainder; veins pale brown basally, brown over remainder.
Legs: Fore coxae brown, dark brown on inner anterior sides; mid coxae pale brown with dark brown markings on anterior edges and dark brown on posterior side; hind coxae pale brown, with dark brown longitudinal markings on anterior and posterior sides; meracantha spikes pale brown, overlapping opercula; fore femora brown on anterior sides, pale brown on posterior sides, with broad, brown to dark brown longitudinal areas on all sides, pale brown apically; mid femora brown with dark brown to brown longitudinal markings on dorsal sides, pale brown apices; hind femora brown, pale brown basally and apically; fore tibiae brown to dark brown; mid tibiae brown, each with two pale brown bands, one above base, another near apex; hind tibiae pale brown to brown; fore tarsi pale brown to brown; mid and hind tarsi pale brown; pretarsi and claws brown to dark brown.
Opercula (Fig. 1L): Broadly rounded; partially dark brown over basal third, pale brown over remainder; plates undulating, medial areas weakly depressed.
Timbals (Fig. 21D): Anterior rib 5 abbreviated; rib 4 also abbreviated, with a prominent isolated remnant extension ventrally; ribs 1 and 2 joined ventrally and fused dorsally to basal spur; anterior termination of basal spur fused with ribs 3–4, with rib 5 unattached; prominent intercalary short ribs in medial areas between ribs 1 and 2, 2 and 3, and 3 and 4 (three in total).
Abdomen: Tergite 1 dark brown to black; tergite 2 wider along dorsal midline than tergites 3 to 7, black over medial half and laterally, otherwise reddish brown; tergite 3 black, lateral and dorso-lateral posterior sides reddishbrown; tergites 4–8 a diffuse brown or reddish-brown, with black areas medially, narrowing towards posterior margins and with diffuse black areas on anterior lateral sides; all tergites with dense short golden pubescence on medial areas, silver pubescence on dorso-lateral sides and with extensive long and short silver pubescence on lateral sides; epipleurites mixed brown and dark brown, with orange-brown to pinkish-brown infusions in some specimens, sparse silver pubescence; sternite II dark brown to black, brown to pale brown ventro-laterally; sternites III to VI brown laterally and along posterior margins, with dark brown areas medially, which each increase in size distally in each successive sternite; sternite VII dark brown; sternite VIII brown; anterior sternites visible in lateral view.
Genitalia (Figs 22G, H): Pygofer dark brown anteriorly, tending black towards dorsal beak, becoming orangebrown to brown posteriorly; upper lobes in ventral view partially enclosing uncus, with terminals directed dorsally, broadly tapering; basal lobes in ventral and lateral views gradually curved, slightly expressed; median lobe of uncus rounded, relatively narrow; claspers in ventral view conspicuous, weakly diverged, with acute apices; pseudoparameres projecting further (ventrally) than endotheca and ventral support; ventral support acute, projecting slightly beyond endotheca; endotheca fleshy.
Female (Plate 12C). Head: Postclypeus predominantly pale brown, transverse grooves and anterio-lateral sides dark brown to black; supra-antennal plates pale brown, each with a dark brown area on dorsal sides; genae dark, pale brown laterally; mandibular plates dark brown to black, lateral margins pale brown, with silvery pubescence; frons dark brown; vertex brown to pale brown with areas of dark brown to black colouration, especially surrounding the ocelli; vertex and frons with sparse silvery pubescence; ocelli pink; compound eyes brown; anteclypeus black, pale medially; rostrum brown, dark brown apically, extending to anterior margins of hind coxae; antennae dark brown.
Thorax: Pronotum brown to pale brown, median lateral areas with a diffuse network of dark brown markings; central fascia pale brown, surrounded with dark brown colouration; pronotal collar brown to pale brown; metanotum dark brown to black; mesonotum brown to pale brown; submedian and lateral sigilla dark brown; posterior fifth of mesonotum with dense fine and sparse long silver pubescence.
Legs: Fore coxae brown, pale brown on outer edges, with a dark brown longitudinal marking on outer posterior sides; mid and hind coxae pale brown each with a dark brown marking anteriorly; meracantha spikes pale brown; fore femora pale brown with dark brown longitudinal areas on anterior and outer sides; mid and hind femora pale brown with dark brown longitudinal markings on anterior and posterior sides; fore and mid tibiae brown to dark brown; hind tibiae pale brown; tarsi pale brown; pretarsi and claws brown.
Abdomen: Tergite 1 black medially, grading to pale brown on lateral sides; tergites 2 to 8 brown, with dark brown central markings extending along anterior dorso-lateral margins and medially to posterior margins; tergites 7 and 8 with conspicuous long silver pubescence; auditory capsules dull brown; abdominal segment 9 brown, paler ventrally, with dark brown dorso-lateral markings; dorsal beak black, sharply defined; sternite II pale brown; epipleurites brown; sternites III to VI pale brown with dark brown to black areas medially, often broadening posteriorly; sternite VII pale brown; ovipositor sheath extends <1.0 mm beyond apex of abdominal segment 9.
Measurements. N= 9♂ 5♀. Ranges and means (in parentheses), mm; BL: ♂ 13.1–14.8 (14.00); ♀ 15.0–16.0 (15.22). FWL: ♂ 15.7–17.1 (16.60); ♀ 16.6–17.4 (17.00). HW: ♂ 4.2–4.6 (4.39); ♀ 4.4–4.7 (4.56). PW: ♂ 4.2–4.8 (4.52); ♀ 4.6–4.8 (4.70). AW: ♂ 4.3–4.9 (4.71); ♀ 4.6–4.7 (4.62). FWL/W: ♂ 2.73–3.25 (2.97); ♀ 2.63–2.90 (2.79). OL: ♀ 4.8–5.3 (5.04).
Morphological distinguishing features. Myopsalta platyptera n. sp. can be distinguished from all other species in the genus Myopsalta, apart from M. coolahensis, M. libritor, M. melanobasis n. sp. and some individuals of M. leona n. sp. and M. parvula n. sp. by the appearance of the bases of the fore wing clavi, which are partially opaque dark brown rather than entirely hyaline. It can be distinguished from M. coolahensis and M. libritor by the colour of the basal membranes of the fore wings, which is orange rather than white. It can be separated from M. parvula n. sp. by having a fore wing length> 14.8 mm and also by the brown or reddish-brown (as opposed to completely black) colouration of the tergites. It can be distinguished from M. leona n. sp. by the appearance eof the distal corner of the fore wing basal cell (adjacent to the costa and radial cell), which is partly translucent brown to dark brown and not entirely hyaline. It is almost identical in appearance to M. melanobasis n. sp. and indeed the females are indistinguishable. However the males can be separated by the colouration of the lateral sides of tergite 8, which is diffusely brown to reddish-brown (c.f. black in M. melanobasis n. sp.).
Distribution, habitat and behaviour (Fig. 17). Myopsalta playptera n. sp. is known only from the original specimens collected by A. Ewart on a former Queensland Government experimental property known as Brigalow Research Station, which is located south of Moura on the junction of central and south-eastern Queensland. Populations occur in association with Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla), where it grows in dark, cracking clay soils. Adults have been collected during December. Males sing during warm conditions.
Calling song (Fig. 27). Males produce a sequence of long macrosyllables or short echemes (0.07– 0.12 s duration), evenly spaced by gaps (0.11– 0.13 s duration), giving an overall rate of repetition of 4–6 macrosyllables per second (all statistics, n =4 recordings). At sporadic intervals these macrosyllables or echemes are interrupted by a much shorter macrosyllable (0.02– 0.03 s duration) followed by a slightly longer gap (0.13– 0.14 s duration). It is considered likely that the female would respond with a wing-flick during these longer gaps.
This species calls during the day and it is not known whether it also sings at dusk. The calling song maintains an even frequency distribution throughout, with a high amplitude plateau of 11.6–15.7 kHz and a dominant frequency of approximately 12.8 kHz.
description: Published as part of Popple, Lindsay W., 2017, A revision of the Myopsalta crucifera (Ashton) species group (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadettini) with 14 new species from mainland Australia, pp. 1-98 in Zootaxa 4340 (1) on pages 70-73, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4340.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1037793