Beameria Davis, 1934

Sanborn, Allen F., Heath, Maxine S., Phillips, Polly K. & Heath, James E., 2011, A new species of the genus Beameria (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) from North America, Journal of Natural History 45 (25 - 26), pp. 1589-1605 : 1591-1593

Genus Beameria Davis

Type species: Prunasis venosa Uhler, 1888: 82 .

Redescription

General body proportions. Length of body 11.0–17.0 mm, expanse of tegmina 31.0– 40.0 mm. The abdomen represents approximately one-half the body length.

Head. Width of head including eyes about as wide as mesonotum; eyes not prominently projecting laterally; epicranium in a continuous gentle slope with dorsum of postclypeus; width between ocelli about the same as width between lateral ocelli and eyes; postclypeus rounded and prominently produced beyond the supra-antennal plates; dorsum of postclypeus longer than frons; rostrum reaching posterior coxae. Dorsum and venter of head similarly coloured.

Thorax. Pronotum adpressed laterally except at lateral angles, lacking a continuous lateral carina. Pronotum length shorter than length of mesonotum; mesonotum obscuring central portion of metanotum. Opercula in males large, broadly rounded, separated medially by a third, centrally projecting sclerite. Meracanthus triangular, frequently curved.

Legs. Anterior femora with two prominent spines beneath, sometimes with a minute third spine distally.

Tegmina and wings. Tegmina and wings hyaline. Radial cross-vein in tegmina perpendicular, radiomedial cross-vein slightly oblique, radial and radiomedial cross-veins not parallel; medial and cubital veins arising separately from arculus; basal cell clear; nodus central; costal margin of tegmina minutely spinose.

Abdomen. First abdominal segment in males containing timbal organs; central tergite modified to resemble a “bow tie.” Second abdominal segment produced anteriorly on each side into a small timbal covering that leaves approximately two-thirds to threefourths of the timbal organ exposed; sternite produced into lateral bulges.

Sexual characteristics. Pygofer in males not prominently produced centrally, lateral margins produced into two upturned points; uncus retractable, notched both caudally and laterally. Sternite VII of female shallowly notched.

Diagnostic generic characters

The adpressed pronotal margins and non-parallel radial and radiomedial cross-veins in the tegmina are primary diagnostic characters. Secondarily, small size, basically light coloration, and the relatively small eyes are helpful in differentiating the genus. Males are easily identified by the shape and extent of the timbal covers and the central sternite separating the opercula.

Key to the species of Beameria

1. Dark markings reduced on head, timbal cover about twice as wide as tergite 2 laterally, lateral uncus lobe about same size as median uncus lobe laterally......................................................... B. wheeleri Davis

1’ Most of head covered with dark markings, timbal cover about as wide as tergite 2 laterally, lateral uncus lobe larger than median uncus lobe laterally...................................................................... 2

2. Male operculum not reaching sternite II, female sternite VII with expanded lateral posterior margins................................. B. venosa (Uhler)

2’ Male operculum reaching middle of sternite II, female sternite VII with no expansion of lateral posterior margin................. B. ansercollis sp. nov.