Mata Distant, 1906

Sarkar, Vivek, Mahapatra, Cuckoo, Mohapatra, Pratyush P., Nair, Manoj V. & Kunte, Krushnamegh, 2021, Description of three new species of the genus Mata Distant, 1906 (Hemiptera Cicadidae: Cicadinae: Oncotympanini) with notes on their natural history from Indian state of Meghalaya, India, Zootaxa 4908 (1), pp. 1-28 : 2-3

Genus Mata Distant, 1906

Distant (1881) described Mata kama under the genus Pomponia Stål, 1866 but later erected the genus Mata Distant, 1906 and changed the combination based on the character set of sinuate lateral margins of timbal covers, their posterior angles only projecting beyond abdominal margins, and tegmina more than three times longer than their width, which are the key characters to distinguish it from other related genera ( Distant 1906). Apart from these structures, Distant (1906) described the following characters: head (including eyes) as wide as base of mesonotum and distinctly shorter than the distance between eyes; pronotum shorter than mesonotum, its minutely convex lateral margins sinuate before the posterior lateral angles, which are moderately lobately produced; short abdomen in males, as long as the length between apex of head and base of cruciform elevation; tympanal orifices completely covered; metasternum prolonged in a broad, oblong, laminate process between the opercula, which are short, transverse, and not extending beyond the base of abdomen, their lateral margins visible from above; rostrum reaching the posterior coxae; anterior femora with spines beneath; forewing maculate, very long and narrow with eight apical areas; the basal cell longer than broad, and the hind wings with six apical areas. Almost all of these characters match all three species that are described below under this genus. However, these keys were drawn from one single species viz. Mata kama , and amongst all the structures, one single feature, a maculate forewing, is not accurate and consistent for all the species of the genus. The forewing is maculate in all the known species except one of the newly described species with clear forewings hence this diagnostic character can be modified for the key to this genus.

Comparison of species classified in the genus Mata

Postclypeus green with prominent black median part and black transverse groove laterally. Basal cell in forewing transparent with prominent infuscation radiomedial crossvein, first and second cubitus anterior veins, entire median vein, mediocubital crossvein and median crossvein of forewing. Male operculum short and entirely green with thin suffused black margin. First tergite brown. Second tergite narrowly green posteriorly in the mid with dark brown in the middle and green towards timbal cover. Timbal cover green dorsally with black triangular patch in anterior part and white spot covered with fine white scales on the lateral part which continue as traces laterally in the third tergite.............................. M. kama ( Distant, 1881)

Postclypeus green with traces of median black line. Basal cell in forewing transparent with prominent infuscation only in radiomedial crossvein. Male operculum short, green at the centre with well spread, dark edges that are suffused broadly towards inside. First tergite brown with posterior black margin. Second tergite greenish brown in the middle with thin green posterior border. Timbal cover predominantly black with traces of fine white scales laterally which continue on the third tergite... M. rama Distant, 1912

Small when compared to other species of this genus. Postclypeus entirely green without any median black line. Basal cell in forewing entirely green. Forewing without any infuscation. Male operculum short and entirely green. First tergite green to greenish brown. Second tergite brown in the middle with dark posterior border. Entire anterior part of timbal cover black which is adjoining to the median brown patch of the second tergite. The entire posterior part of the timbal cover white with overlaid white fine scale which is wider at the dorsal end and narrows at the lateral part, appearing as a white triangular spot from the side. There are no traces of white scales continuing on the third tergite...................................... M. lenonia sp. nov.

Postclypeus greenish brown with prominent black median part and black transverse groove fading laterally. Tip of the transparent basal cell in forewing has traces of infuscation. Prominent infuscation in radiomedial crossvein, first and second cubitus anterior veins, all distal median veins, mediocubital crossvein and median crossvein of forewing. Male operculum short and greenish brown with broad dark edges which is suffused to some extent posteriorly. First tergite appears white in live specimen with overlaid white fine white scales and appear brown with posterior black margin in pinned specimen. Second tergite greenish brown in the middle with thin green bordered posteriorly and black border at the sides, adjacent to the timbal cover. Timbal cover predominantly white with overlaid white fine scales and anterior angular black spot which does not extend dorsally. Traces of white pollinosity extend clearly dorsally and laterally on the third tergite................. M. ruffordii sp. nov.

Postclypeus green with prominent thin median black line. Basal cell in forewing transparent with faint traces of infuscation at the tip. Prominent infuscation in radiomedial crossvein and faint infuscation in medial crossvein, mediocubital crossvein, first cubitus anterior vein and all distal median veins. Male operculum short and entirely green with traces of thin black border at the posterior inner edge. First tergite brown with thin posterior black margin. Second tergite rich brown in the middle with thin green bordered posteriorly and black border adjacent to the timbal cover that extends between the central brown batch and green posterior border. Timbal cover almost half black and half white, the anterior and dorsal half black and the rest white and overlain with fine white scales which do not extend to the third tergite.............................. M. meghalayana sp. nov.