Chalumalna martinensis Boulard, 2001

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 : 51

Chalumalna martinensis Boulard, 2001

Chalumalna martinensis Boulard 2001: 84 (Paradise Peak, Isle of Saint-Martin, Archipelago of the small Antilles).

Remarks. Boulard (2001) provided a “preliminary” description of the species in the proceedings of the meeting where it was introduced. There has been no further description provided since that time. The lack of specific details, particularly with respect to the genitalia, leaves the habitus images as the primary means to determine examples of the species.

Diagnosis. The species can be distinguished from the other Taphurini of the Lesser Antilles by the head being about as wide as the mesonotum, the postcleypeus with a central sulcus, infuscated fore wing radial and radiomedial crossveins, smoothly curved fore wing costal margin, and the abdomen expanding from its base to segment 3 before reducing to posterior terminus.

Due to the difficulty in obtaining the original work, the description of Boulard (2001) is included here using modern terminology. To the generic characters listed above, the following can be added to describe the species: species of smaller medium size, entirely fuscous colored above, lighter below; hyaline wings, the fore wings infuscated at the radial and radiomedial crossveins and at the two ends of the first apical cell, fore wing length significantly less than three times their width. Compound eyes particularly globose, brownish gray. Ocelli relatively large, ruby, the median in a subfrontal position; distance separating the lateral ocelli equal to the space between them and the nearest eye. Antennae fuscous, short. Ochraceous rostrum, its apex joining the level of the posterior articular fossae (hind coxae). Length of the mesonotum almost twice that of the pronotum. Opercula half-moon shaped, not contiguous. Conical abdomen with broad base; timbals widely exposed, convex, with eight clearly visible parallel ribs. Ochraceous sternites. Song unknown. Allotype female with almost identical habitus and dimensions, the fore wing infuscation just a little more sustained.

Distribution. The species is known only from St. Martin ( Boulard 2001).