Soulierana bigidea Bucher, 2024

Bucher, Manon, Bouteille, Emilien & Cesne, Maxime Le, 2024, Malagasy spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), a taxonomic review of genera from Madagascar, European Journal of Taxonomy 935, pp. 166-202 : 192-194

Soulierana bigidea Bucher gen. et sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:27ACD9DF-474C-408C-990E-71D6AFEE05A8

Fig. 11

Diagnosis

In general shape, Soulierana bigidea Bucher gen. et sp. nov. is most similar to S. rugosa . It is distinguished by the combination of the following characters: anterior part of the frons protruding and raised upward; median furrow on the postclypeus very tight and lateral bulges wide; colouring ochre in dorsal view; colouring green and pale pink in ventral view.

Etymology

This specific epithet is derived from the name of the band The Big Idea, which was regularly listened to during the writing of this article and as a tribute to Manon Bucher's childhood friends.

Type material

Holotype MADAGASCAR • 1 ♂; Province Antsiranana, Marojejy Nat’l Park , 5 km W of Manantenina village, Camp Mantella ; 14°26.29′ S, 49°46.44′ E; 490 m a.s.l.; 18–26 Sep. 2005; M. Irwin and R. Harin’Hala leg.; malaise trap, low altitude, rainforest; California Academy of Sciences; MA31-31 ; CASENT 8107935 .

Paratypes MADAGASCAR • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; 26 Sept.–4 Oct. 2005; MA-31-32 ; CASENT 8107937 ; MNHN (EH) 24707 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; 26 Sept.–4 Oct. 2005; MA31- 32 ; CASENT 8107938 ; MNHN (EH) 24706 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; 26 Sept.–4 Oct. 2005; California Academy of Sciences; MA31-32 ; CASENT 8107943 ; MNHN (EH) 24705 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype.; 11–18 Feb. 2005; MA-31-11 ; CASENT 8107906 ; MNHN (EH) 24701 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; 18–30 May 2005; MA31-22 ; CASENT 8107921 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; 28 Aug.–11 Sep. 2005; MA-31-29 ; CASENT 8107924 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; 14–22 Oct. 2005; MA-31-34 ; CASENT 8107949 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; 18–25 Mar. 2005; MA-31-16 ; CASENT 8107914 .

Description

TOTAL LENGTH. Between 7.0 and 7.6 mm (holotype is 7.6 mm).

HEAD. Head in dorsal view 1.3 times wider eye to eye than long in midline. Median part of vertex moderately domed, flattening slightly on lower part. Frons concave, bearing very marked median carina in middle part; anterior margin of frons exceeding anterior margin of vertex giving impression that superior part of postclypeus is raised up. Postclypeus not exceeding anterior margin of head. Furrow on postclypeus very narrow, thinner than lateral bulges which are much wider than in other species of this genus and narrowing ventrally. In lateral view, postclypeus barely convex and almost straight down to anteclypeus to form very pronounced obtuse angle.

THORAX. Pronotum in dorsal view 1.9 times as wide as long in midline. Anterior pronotum with small median carina, sometimes not distinguishable, on posterior part. Scutellum wide and main dimple deep.

TEGMINA. Veins clearly distinct and with few sharp bumps on anterior part. Apical network not dense with less than 15 concave cells per tegmen.

MALE GENITALIA. Pygofer much wider in its dorsal than its ventral part; its basal apex forms protruding tip oriented downward. Subgenital plates long; in lateral view they are wider in first third and dorsal margin forms convex arc; apex protruding into sprouting extension on which flattened internal part is partially covered with setae. Sterno-lateral plates exceed pygofer; ventral margin shrinking and joining dorsal margin to form strong convex extremity. Dorsal margin of parameres bearing thin dorsal extension; posterior area excavated to form three separate parts, middle one being small thorn-like excrescence. Aedeagus developed anteriorly in one-pointed protrusion which is wide and rounded at apex; ventral margin declining in convex arc to form basal protuberance and going up towards apical part in three discernable waves. Aedeagus bifid on apical part; posterior extension with serrated apical two-thirds, serrations wide and spaced. Anterior dorsal extension with rounded apex, representing one third length of posterior one.

COLORATION. In dorsal view head, thorax and tegmina ochre with exception of insertion point of tegmina green. In ventral view, thorax green, abdomen pale pink orange spotted with green. Legs ochre apart from hindlegs light green.

Figures

Fig. 11. Soulierana bigidea Bucher gen. et sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (CASENT 8107949). A. Dorsal view. B. Lateral view. C. Frontal view. D. Labels. E. Male terminalia in lateral view, pygofer, anal tube, aedeagus, left paramere and left subgenital plate. F. Aedeagus. G. Left paramere, outside view on the left and inside view on the rigth. H. Distribution map. Scale bars: A–C = 1 mm.