Proarna hilaris (Germar, 1834)

Sanborn, Allen F., 2024, The cicada (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) fauna of the Lesser Antilles sensu lato with the description of two new species, two new combinations, and a key to species, Zootaxa 5497 (1), pp. 33-69 : 41

Proarna hilaris (Germar, 1834)

C[icada] hilaris Germar 1834: 69 ( Australia?).

Cicada subtincta Walker 1850: 147 (Assam) .

Cicada albiflos Walker 1850: 148 ( Cuba).

Cicada tomentosa Walker 1858a: 22 ( Saint Thomas Island).

Remarks. The type locality was listed as questionable with the original description. The species is found inhabiting much of the Caribbean basin. It could be considered the cicada most characteristic of the Caribbean based on its wide-ranging distribution limited to Caribbean islands and adjacent mainland areas.

Diagnosis. It is one of the smaller species of Proarna from the Lesser Antilles with body lengths of 17–21 mm and fore wing lengths of 20.8–23.5 mm. Proarna olivieri Metcalf, 1963a and Proarna squamigera Uhler, 1895 can be distinguished by their larger body and fore wing lengths. Proarna invaria ( Walker, 1850) can be distinguished by the fore wing costal margin that is smoothly curving to the node, a mesonotum width less than or equal to 6 mm, a male timbal cover with the apex formed as a narrow, acuminate anterior extension, male opercula that meet on the midline posterior to abdominal sternite I, and female sternite VII is angled from notch to posterolateral curvature without a transverse section.

Distribution. The species has been reported previously from the Antilles, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Vincent, Venezuela, Virgin Islands, and the West Indies ( Metcalf 1963a; Duffels & van der Laan 1985; Boulard 2001; Sanborn 2013). Metcalf (1963a) mistakenly attributed the species to Mexico citing Distant (1906) which only references the Antilles as the range of the species so Mexico is not considered to be inhabited by the species. The first records for Anegada, Antigua, Grenada, Canoun Island, Mayreau Island and Union Island in the Grenadines, Little St. James, Little Thatch Island, Montserrat, Mosquito Island, St. Kitts, and Trinidad provided by Sanborn (2020a). Uhler (1895) states the species is more widespread on St. Vincent than Proarna squamigera described in the same paper. The species has the greatest range of any species within the Lesser Antilles extending from St. Thomas Island, U.S. Virgin Islands ( Walker 1858a; Uhler 1892) in the north to Trinidad ( Sanborn 2020a) in the south. This is the only species of cicada to inhabit both the Greater and Lesser Antilles.

The reference by Boulard (2001) to the species found in the French Antilles appears to be mixed-up. He states there are four species in the French Antilles, Fidicina mannifera ( Fabricius, 1803) , Proarna hilaris (Germar, 1864 (sic)), Proarna invaria ( Walker, 1850) and Proarna squamigera Uhler, 1895 , in this order. He then states that the homeland of the third ( Proarna invaria ) is the island of Saint-Vincent, that of the first ( Fidicina mannifera ) remains uncertain, while the other two ( Proarna hilaris and Proarna squamigera ) were fortuitously collected in Guadeloupe and Martinique. If we consider Boulard meant the third species of Proarna listed rather than the third species listed, then Proarna squamigera originates on St. Vincent which is consistent with the original description and material examined. That would leave references of Proarna hilaris and Proarna invaria on Guadeloupe and Martinique. There are examples in the material examined section to support Proarna hilaris on Guadeloupe and Martinique is within the range of the recorded specimens supporting the hypothesis that Boulard (2001) was referring only to the Proarna species in his numbering of species.

Proarna hilaris has been recorded from both the Windward and Leeward Islands. There are records of the species from the U.S. Virgin Islands of St. Thomas ( Uhler 1892), St. Croix ( Beatty 1947; Miskimen & Bond 1970), and Little St. James ( Sanborn 2020a), from Guana ( Bartlett 2000; Sanborn 2020a), Anegada ( Sanborn 2020a), Little Hatch Island ( Sanborn 2020a), and Mosquito Island ( Sanborn 2020a) in the British Virgin Islands, St. Kitts ( Sanborn 2020a), Antigua ( Sanborn 2020a), Montserrat ( Sanborn 2020a), and Guadeloupe ( Boulard 2001) in the Leeward Islands. In the Windward Islands, the species has been recorded from Dominica ( Gibson 1919), Grenada ( Sanborn 2020a), Martinique ( Boulard 2001), St. Vincent ( Uhler 1895), Canoun, Mayreau, and Union Islands in the Grenadines ( Sanborn 2020a), and Trinidad ( Sanborn 2020a).

Material examined. “ ANTIGUA: Friar’s Hill / 18–VII–1991 / R. E.Woodruff ” one female ( FSCA); “ ANTIGUA: Christian / Valley, Agr. Exp. Sta. / 14–16–VI–1991 / R. E. Woodruff / blacklight trap ” one female ( AFSC); “BRITISH VIRGIN IS.: / Anegada, sw. coast / 20/ 21–x–2004 @u/v / Valentines & Sibleys // Valentine Coll’n / Rec. 2016” one male ( FSCA), one male ( AFSC) ; “ BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS / Guana Island / 21.x.1997, C. R. Bartlett” one male ( AFSC) ; “BRITISH VIRGIN IS.: / Guana I., 7–X–2006 / Upper Camaro u/v / B.D. Valentine family // Valentine Coll’n / Rec. 2016” one female ( AFSC) ; “BRITISH VIRGIN IS.: / Guana I., 1–X–2010 / Upper Camaro u/v / B.D. Valentine family // Valentine Coll’n / Rec. 2016” one female ( AFSC ); “BRITISH VIRGIN IS.: / Guana I. / 1/ 10–X– 1999 / B. & B. Valentine // Valentine Coll’n / Rec. 2016” one male and one female ( AFSC) ; “BRITISH VIRGIN IS.: / Guana I. / 17/19– / X–2000 u/v light / B. & B. Valentine // Valentine Coll’n / Rec. 2016” one male ( AFSC) ; “BRITISH VIRGIN IS.: / Little Thatch I., at / light. 18–x–2004 / S. Valentines-Cooper // Valentine Coll’n / Rec. 2016” one female ( FSCA) ; “BRITISH VIRGIN IS.: / Mosquito I. 23–X–2008 / Valentine-Cooper & Lu // Valentine Coll’n / Rec. 2016” one female ( FSCA) ; “BRITISH VIRGIN IS.: / Mosquito I. viii–07 / C. Petrovic coll. // Valentine Coll’n / Rec. 2016” one female ( FSCA), one female ( AFSC) ; “BRITISH VIRGIN IS.: / Mosquito I. ix–07 / C. Petrovic coll. // Valentine Coll’n / Rec. 2016” one male and three females ( FSCA) , one female ( AFSC); “BRITISH VIRGIN IS.: / Mosquito I. vi–07 / C. Petrovic coll. // Valentine Coll’n / Rec. 2016” three females ( FSCA) , one female ( AFSC) ; “BRITISH VIRGIN IS.: / Moskito I. (Mosquito) / at light 21–x–2011 / C. Petrovic coll. // Valentine Coll’n / Rec. 2016” one female ( FSCA) ; “Dominica, W.I. / St. Johns Parish / 14 Jul 1987 / E.J. Gerberg” one female ( AFSC); “ DOMINICA, W.I. / Rosseau Saint / Aroment 4– VI –87 / R.E. Woodruff / BL trap” one female ( AFSC); “ DOMINICA / Rosseau Valley / Chez Ophelia at / light, 6–25–2004 ” one male ( AFSC) ; “ DOMINICA, St. George / Par. Rosseau Botanical / Garden, 18 June 2004 / R. Turnbow” one male and one female ( AFSC) ; “ DOMINICA, Rosseau / Botanical Garden / at light, 6–18–2004 / C.W. & L.B. O’Brien” one male ( AFSC) ; “ DOMINICA / Bellevue citrus / grove, 6–24–2004 / C.W. & L.B. O’Brien” one male ( AFSC) ; “ DOMINICA, Ports- / mouth, Coconut / Beach Hotel, 6–27– / 2004, C.W. O’Brien” one male ( AFSC) ; “ DOMINICA, 1.9 / km N Pont Cassé / Vena’s Paradise / Hotel, 6–21–2004 // at light / L.B. O’Brien” two females ( AFSC) ; “Dominica / B.W. Indies / Roys / 25. VI.1937 // Rosseau / Valley / 100’” one female ( AFSC) ; “ DOMINICA: Trafalgar / 4– VI –87 / R.E. Woodruff / at light” one female ( AFSC); “ DOMINICA: Wodford Hill / 5–7– VI –1987 / R.E. Woodruff” one male ( AFSC) ; “ DOMINICA: Rasada / 3– VI –1986 / R.E. Woodruff / blacklight trap” one male and one female ( AFSC); “ DOMINICA, W.I. / Rasada 3– VI –87 / R.E. Woodruff / BL Trap” one female ( AFSC); “ DOMINICA: St. Paul Par. / Mt. Joy, Springfield / Estate, V –24–25–1995 / R.D. Eden, MV light” one male and one female ( AFSC) ; “ DOMINICA: St. Paul, / Springfield Estate, / 2.5 km ENE Canefield / 15–21N, 61–22W 450 m / 11–18 June 1991 / J.E. Rambus, / S.A. Thompson” one male ( AFSC) ; “ DOMINICA: St. Paul / Parish, Mt. Joy, V –31–1992 / coll. K. Arnold / & students” one female ( AFSC) ; “ DOMINICA: St. Paul / Parish, Mt. Joy, VI –1–1992 / coll. K. Arnold / & students” one female ( AFSC) ; “ DOMINICA: St. Paul Par. / Mt. Joy, Archbld Trop. / Res. Centre, V –31–1995 / R.D. Eden, MV light” one female ( AFSC) ; “ DOMINICA / Loubière / 04.VIII.2022 Lepiled / P.-H. Dalens leg.” one female ( AFSC) ; “ DOMINICA / Loubière / 06.VIII.2022 Lepiled / P.-H. Dalens leg.” one male and two females ( AFSC) ; “Grenada / Is. Carriacou: Tyrell Bay / 25.vi–14.vii.1999 / P. Gardella” one female ( MCSN) ; “ WEST INDIES: Grenada / St. David, La Sagesse / 24 June 1998 / coll: L. P. Burgess” two males ( AFSC); “WInd: GUADELOUPE, BT / Deshaies, Grand Ansé, 1m / Littoral forest, uv traps / N16°019.11, W61°47.63 / 30. V.2012, S. Peck 12-36” one male and one female ( AFSC) ; “WInd: GUADELOUPE, BT / Courbaril, Pointe a Lézard / N16°08.37, W61°46.40 / xeric forest uv trap, 70m / 17. V.2013, S. Peck 12-28” one female ( AFSC); “WInd: GUADELOUPE, BT / Mehault Riviére Colas, xeric / forest streamside uv traps, / N16°11.26, W61°46.71, 80 m / 15. V.2012, S. Peck 12-26” one female ( AFSC) ; “MONTSERRAT: Centre Hills / Hope Ghaut, E. of Salem / 16°45.944’N, 62°12.727’W / 21 JUNE 2000, 850’ / M.A. Ivie & K.A. Guerrero / at UV light” one male and one female ( MTEC), two males and one female ( AFSC) ; “MONTSERRAT: Centre Hills / Cassava Ghaut, 800’ / 16°45.944’N, 62°12.727’W / 17 JUNE 2000 M.A. Ivie & K.A. Guerrero” one male ( AFSC) ; “ ST. KITTS: Basseterre/ Bottom Mattingley / Heights, 1–IX–1991 / R.E. Woodruff / blacklight trap” five females ( FSCA); “ ST. KITTS: Basseterre / Bottom Mattingley / Heights, 11–25–VIII–91 / R.E. Woodruff / blacklight trap” one female ( AFSC); “ ST. KITTS: Basseterre / Bottom Mattingley / Heights, 9–IX–1991 / R.E. Woodruff / blacklight trap” one female ( FSCA), one female ( AFSC) ; “ ST. KITTS: SE Peninsula / E. of Great Salt Pond / 9–IX–1991 / R.E. Woodruff / blacklight trap” one female ( FSCA); “ ST. KITTS: S.E. Peninsula / Great Salt Pond, 30–VIII– / 1991, R.E. Woodruff” one male ( FSCA) , one male ( AFSC) ; “ ST. KITTS: S.E. Peninsula / Major’s Bay, 30–VIII–91 / R.E. Woodruff / at night” one male ( FSCA) ; “ ST. KITTS, W.I. / Douglas / 26–IV–88 / L. Knight” one female ( AFSC) ; “W. INDIES: Grenadines / Canoun Isl., Crystal / Sands, 7–X–1991 / R.E. Woodruff / blacklight trap” one female ( FSCA) ; “ SAINT VINCENT & GRENADINES / Mayreau Island, N12°38.42, W61°23.56 / 11.VIII.09, uv trap, cemetery, 72 m / old field, S. Peck 09–51” one female ( AFSC) ; “ SAINT VINCENT & GRENADINES / Mayreau Island, N12°38.45, W61°23.55 / 21.VIII.09, uv trap, old field, 2nd growth, / 66 m, S. Peck 09–71” one female ( AFSC) ; “ SAINT VINCENT & GRENADINES / Mayreau Island, N12°38.70, W61°23.25 / Saltwhistle Bay, salt flats forest, 1 m / 12–27.VIII.09, 2 uv traps / S. Peck 09–74” one male and two females ( AFSC); “ SAINT VINCENT & GRENADINES / Mayreau Island, N12°38.55, W61°23.58 / 13–27.VIII.09, malaise, 50m / Thorn scrub forest, S. Peck 09–55” one female ( AFSC); “ SAINT VINCENT & GRENADINES / Mayreau Island, N12°38.00, W61°23.73 / S end of island, Salt pond, 1 m / 26.VIII.09, uv trap, herbaceous veg. / Behind beach, S. Peck 09–81” one female ( AFSC) ; “ SAINT VINCENT & GRENADINES / Mayreau Island, Station Hill, 30 m / N12°38’ W61°21’45”. Scrub / woodland, uv trap, 2.VIII.08, / S. Peck & M. de Silva, 08–87” one male and three females ( AFSC) ; “ SAINT VINCENT & GRENADINES / Union Island, Chatham Bay, Water Rock / Reserve, N12°36.18, W61°26.59, 125 m / 2 uv traps, 16.VIII.09 tall forest / S. Peck 09–64” one female ( AFSC) ; “ WEST INDIES: St. / Vincent, Bisbou, / 20–VII–1997 / Blacklight trap / R.E. Woodruff” one female ( AFSC); “St. Vincent, W.I. / Bisbou, 20– VI –87 / R.E. Woodruff, BL Trap” one female ( AFSC) ; “ ST. VINCENT: Par. St. / George, Cane Hall / 19–IX–91 / R.E. Woodruff / blacklight trap” one female ( AFSC) ; “ ST. VINCENT: Par. St. / George, Cane Hall / 1–X–87, Rick’s Apts. / R.E. Woodruff / blacklight trap” one male ( AFSC); “ WEST INDIES: St. Vincent / Emerald Valley Hotel, Buccament / N13°12.0’ W61° 13.8’ / 10–20. VI.07, uv light trap / 20m, S. & J. Peck, 07-12” two males ( AFSC); “ WEST INDIES: St. Vincent / Emerald Valley Hotel, Buccament / N13°12.0’ W61° 13.8’ uv light / 12–19. VI.07, dry forest remnant / 30m, S. & J. Peck, 07-20” one female ( AFSC) ; “ WEST INDIES: St. Vincent / Wallilabou Bay, river mouth / N13°14.9’ W61° 16.2’, 2m / 26.VIII.06, coastal uv trap / S. & J. Peck, 06-121” one female ( AFSC) ; “ WEST INDIES: St. Vincent / Georgetown / B. Cox 30–III–84 / Blacklight trap” one male and two females ( AFSC); “ TRINIDAD: St. George / Co., Curepe, CIBC / Station, 20–VII–1975 / K. W. Knopf” one female ( AFSC); “ TRINIDAD: St. George / Co., Curepe, CIBC / Station, 25–VII–1975 / K. W. Knopf” one female ( AFSC) ; “Petit Valley / TRINIDAD / Station No. 1 / 8 Aug 1973 // T.E. Rogers / Coll.” one female ( FSCA); “Petit Valley / TRINIDAD / Station No. 1 / 10 June 1970 ” one male and two females ( FSCA) ; two males ( AFSC) ; “ U. S. VIRGIN IS. / Little St. James / 9/ 11–x–1999 / W. Lu coll. // Valentine Coll’n / Rec. 2016” one male ( FSCA); “ USVI: St. Croix / Northshore Rd. at / Cane Bay, 11–VII– / 1997, J.E. Eger, coll. one female ( AFSC) .