Kana ranomafanensis, Dietrich, 2023

Dietrich, Christopher H., 2023, A new species of Kana Distant representing the first record of Evacanthinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from Madagascar, Zootaxa 5319 (1), pp. 127-134 : 128-129

Kana ranomafanensis new species

( Figures 1–2 )

Diagnosis. This species differs from other members of the genus in having the crown in dorsal view slightly longer than its basal width between the eyes, the forewing with two transverse mottled grey bands across the corium and a mottled spot in the clavus, the male pygofer with a pair of elongate posterodorsal processes on each lobe, and the aedeagus with the shaft short and very broad in lateral view with three ventral spines.

Description. Length of male 5.4–5.8 mm, female 6.2–6.4 mm. Color of male ( Figs 1A, B ) orange yellow dorsally with head and scutellum pale yellow and basal triangles of mesonotum yellow; forewing with indistinctly delimited pale spots flecked with grey forming two transverse bands, one across middle of corium and one across bases of apical cells, a similar spot present at midlength of clavus, apex smoky hyaline; venter including legs pale yellow; female coloration ( Figs 1C, D ) similar to that of male but paler overall with dark spots and bands of forewing larger and darker. Head with crown in dorsal view slightly longer medially than basal width between eyes, lateral margins slightly divergent anterad of eyes, then parabolically rounded to apex, lateral carina distinct and elevated, median carina absent; texture glabrous in basal 2/3, rugulose near apex; coronal sulcus well delimited in basal half; face ( Figs 1E, F ) flattened medially, median dorsal longitudinal carina extended ca. length of frontoclypeus; anteclypeus flattened, tapered from base to apex, not obviously sexually dimorphic. Male pygofer ( Fig 1G, I, J ) as long as tall in lateral view, apex evenly rounded, with curved vertical row of 11–12 macrosetae along posterior margin, vertical internal ridge present just basad of macrosetae; each lobe with pair of slender dorsal appendages present and crossing each other, extended to apex of segment X; ventral appendage robust, curved posterodorsad, with three projections: one slender basomesal spine, one slender distal spine extended dorsolaterad, and one broader lamellate dorsoapical projection. Subgenital plate ( Figs 1G, K ) extended well beyond pygofer and slightly beyond segment X, digitiform, constricted near base, slightly tapered distally, with ventromedial longitudinal row of 10 macrosetae, dorsal row of long, fine setae and few additional long fine setae scattered over lateral surface. Connective ( Fig. 1M ) Y-shaped with arms longer than stem and widely divergent. Style ( Fig. 1M ) extended only slightly posterad of connective, preapical lobe forming approximately 90 angle and with sparse fine setae, apex footlike with medial heel slightly obtuse and lateral toe slender. Aedeagus ( Figs 1L–N ) with preatrium short and slender in lateral view, dorsal apodeme absent, shaft short and broad, with posterodorsal margin evenly rounded and ventral margin bearing pair of preapical ventrally directed spines and unpaired slightly shorter distal spine also directed ventrad; gonopore large, occupying most of posterodorsal surface. Female sternite VII ( Fig. 2A ) wider than long, posterior margin slightly produced and forming obtuse angle. First valvula ( Figs 2B, C ) slightly broadened preapically then roundly tapered to sharp apex, dorsal sculpture obliquely concatenate, ventroapical sculpture scalelike; second valvulae ( Figs 2D, E ) only slightly broadened distad of dorsal notch, blades with approximately 10 large triangular teeth each bearing 3–4 smaller secondary on posterior slope; gonoplacs ( Fig 2F ) with 3–4 stout setae preapically along ventral margin.

Etymology. The species name is derived from that of the type locality, Ranomafana National Park.

Material examined. Holotype male, MADAGASCAR: Fianarantsoa Prov.; Ranomafana National Park; nr. Centre ValBio ; 2115’15.2”S 4725’17.8”E; 9–24 Nov. 2008; J. R. Cryan & G. Svenson ( INHS) . Paratypes: 1 male, MADAGASCAR: Province d’Antsiranana, Parc National Montagne d’Ambre, elev 960 m, 29 January 2001, 1230’52”S, 4910’53 E; California Acad. of Sciences / M.E. Irwin collector, netted/ by hand MA-01-01A-05 ( CAS) ; 1 male, MADAGASCAR: Province Fianarantsoa, Parc National Ranomafana, Belle Vue at Talatakely , elev 1020 m 16—26 February 2003, 2115.99’ S, 4725.21’ E, coll: M. Irwin, R . Harin’Hala, California Acad of Sciences , malaise, secondary tropical forest MA-02-09C-54 ( INHS) ; 1 female, same data ( CAS) ; 1 female, MADAGASCAR: Province Fianarantsoa, Parc National Ranomafana , radio tower at forest edge, elev 1130 m, 15—21 December 2001, 2115.05’ S, 4724.43’ E, coll: M. Irwin, R . Harin’Hala California Acad of Sciences , malaise, mixed tropical forest MA-02-09B-07 ( INHS) , 1 female, MADAGASCAR: Fianarantsoa, Ranomafana National Park, lower Vohiparara , 2114.25’S, 4723.88’E, 23 April 1998, 100 m elev., C.E. Griswold, D.H. Kavanaugh, N.D. Penny, M.J. Raherilalao, J.S. Ranorianarisoa, Jere Schweikert & D. Ubick ( CAS) .

Notes. Among previously known Kana , the new species most closely resembles two Indomalayan species, K. decora (Melichar) , described from Sri Lanka and K. illaborata Distant , described from Myanmar. These species all have the forewing yellow with a dark transverse preapical band and the apical cells grey. They also are similar in having the aedeagal shaft strongly compressed, much narrower in posterior than in lateral view, and with three ventrally directed spines. The two Indomalayan species differ from K. ranomafanensis in having an additional pair of posterodorsally directed processes on the aedeagus and in lacking dorsal pygofer appendages.

The male lectotype of Kana illaborata was redescribed and illustrated by Viraktamath & Wesley (1988), who also illustrated the female holotype of K. decora . Their drawing of the forewing of the latter species matches that of a series of specimens from Gunung-Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo ( Malaysia) in the INHS collection, here identified as K. decora , although the head of the examined female from Borneo is somewhat shorter and broader than shown by Viraktamath & Wesley (1988) and the specimen is also longer (6.5 mm) than reported by Melichar (1903) in his original description of the species (5.5 mm). The male genitalia of K. decora (as here interpreted) are illustrated for the first time ( Figs 3A–C ) although the identification of the studied specimens from Borneo is considered tentative until males from Sri Lanka with similar coloration can be studied.

The male terminalia of K. ranomafanensis are unique within the genus in having a pair of elongate posterodorsal appendages on each side of the pygofer. Only one other species of the genus for which males are known, K. semela (Linnavuori) from Central and West Africa appears to have a dorsal pygofer process but it is very short and broad ( Fig. 3E ). The latter species has male genitalia ( Figs 3D–F ) very similar to those of two species from Sri Lanka, K. ordinata Distant and K. ramificata Distant , the main difference being the more elongated unpaired distal process of the aedeagus in K. semela ( Fig. 3F ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Kana ranomafanensis sp. n.: A, B, male habitus, dorsal and lateral views; scale bars = 1 mm. C, D, female habitus, dorsal and lateral views; E, F, head of male and female, respectively, anteroventral view; G, H, male genital capsule, lateral and ventral view; I, ventral pygofer appendage, ventral view; J, apex of pygofer and segment X, dorsolateral view; K, subgenital plate, ventrolateral view; L, M, male genitalia, lateral and ventral views; N, aedeagus, posterior view.

FIGURE 2. Kana ranomafanensis sp. n., female terminalia:A, sternite VII, ventral view; B, C, first valvula, lateral view, with enlarged view of apex; D, E, second valvulae, lateral view with enlarged view of apex; F, gonoplacs, lateral view.

FIGURE 3. Male terminalia of Kana species from Asia and Africa. A-C, K. decora, specimen from Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (INHS): A, genital capsule, lateral view; B, genitalia, lateral view; C, aedeagus, posterior view. D-G, K. semela, specimen from Central African Republic (AMNH): D, genital capsule, lateral view; E, detail of pygofer apex, lateral view; F, genitalia, lateral view; G, aedeagus, posterior view.