Jassopsaltriini, Moulds, 2005

Moulds, MS, 2005, An Appraisal of the Higher Classification of Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea) with Special Reference to the Australian Fauna, Records of the Australian Museum 57 (3), pp. 375-446 : 433

Tribe Jassopsaltriini new tribe

Type genus. Jassopsaltria Ashton (type species: J. rufifacies Ashton ).

Included genera. Jassopsaltria Ashton.

Diagnosis. Head with distance between supra-antennal plate and eye about equal to length of antennal plate; antennal plate produced into a pointed lobe; eyes very small but head is broad so that the distance between the lateral ocelli is about equal to the breadth of each eye. Postclypeus shape in transverse cross-section rounded; postclypeal ridges lacking transverse grooves towards distal ends. Pronotal collar with lateral margin weakly ampliate; lateral tooth absent. Fore wing pterostigma present; veins C and R+Sc close together; vein RA 1 aligned closely with subcosta (Sc) for its length. Hind wing with anal lobe broad and vein 3A curved at distal end, long, separated from wing margin. Fore leg femoral primary spine erect. Meracanthus gradually tapering to a point, triangular or nearly so. Male opercula not completely encapsulating meracanthus, and entirely covering tympanal cavity. Male abdominal tergites with sides straight or convex in cross-section; tergites 2 and 3 a little larger than to tergites 4–7; epipleurites reflexed to ventral surface, without an inward V-shaped kink. Timbals extend below wing bases. Timbal covers flat; reduced dorsally and not reaching metathorax; lower margin extending anteriorly from or very near auditory capsule. Pygofer upper lobe thickened rather than flat; basal lobe moderately to well developed; distal shoulder rounded; dorsal beak absent. Uncus digitate or basically tubular, large, dominant. Claspers absent. Aedeagal basal plate with basal portion directed forwards away from thecal shaft; ventral rib completely fused with basal plate; theca recurved basally through some 180°, J-shaped; pseudoparameres absent; subapical cerci absent. Male reproductive system with length of accessory glands unknown. Female reproductive system with length of accessory glands of common oviduct unknown.

Distinguishing characters. Eyes are very small but the head is broad so that the distance between the lateral ocelli is about equal to the breadth of each eye; pygofer dorsal beak absent.

Discussion. The differentiation of Jassopsaltria in the cladistic analysis supports a tribal ranking based upon this genus only. It clearly differs from its putative sister group, the Burbungini , in head shape, by lacking a dorsal beak on the male pygofer and the aedeagus is J-shaped rather than spiralled.