Mesoscytina fistulae, Lambkin, Kevin J., 2016

Lambkin, Kevin J., 2016, Revision of the Scytinopteridae (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Scytinopteroidea) of the Queensland Triassic, Zootaxa 4117 (4), pp. 580-590 : 583-584

Mesoscytina fistulae sp. nov.

( Figs 4–6 )

Material. Holotype tegmen QM F58695 +, Mount Crosby Locality B, collected by K.J. Lambkin. Three paratype tegmina, Mount Crosby Locality B: QM F6980a/b+, F6985, F58696 +.?One other tegmen: Gayndah: QM F58697 +.

Description. Tegmen 7.6–7.7 mm long, 2.7–2.9 mm wide (holotype 7.6, 2.7), length/width 2.6–2.8; R slightly more angled basally than in type species, at this point costal space about as wide as space between R and M; RA strongly inclined; colour pattern of 4 transverse dark fasciae, a small one at the very base, then at ¼ length, ¾ length, and apically, the distal 2 joined posteriorly, possibly a couple of pale spots at apical margin ( Fig. 4 ).

Notes. There is some variation in the orientation and basal connections of the apical parallel venation. All five specimens are almost identical in size and dimensions and therefore consistently stand apart as a group from the other larger or smaller species of the genus. The Gayndah specimen is tentatively referred to the species on the basis of its size and dimensions, but noting its similarity to M. australis in the gently curved base of R and associated broader costal space at this point ( Fig.6 ). Because of its doubtful identity and different provenance and age, it is excluded from the type series. The species name derives from the Latin feminine noun, fistula, a water pipeline, and refers to the water supply pipeline which runs along the cutting where the Mount Crosby Formation shales are exposed at Locality B.

Figures

FIGURES 4 – 6. Mesoscytina fistulae sp. nov.: 4 – 5, holotype QM F 58695 (mirrored); k, hypocostal pit; lc, lower carina of costal field (Shcherbakov 1984); 6, QM F 58697.