[Fungi • 2026] Pleurocordyceps cornusynnemata • Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Pleurocordyceps (Hypocreales: Polycephalomycetaceae) associated with Ants and Cicadas from Malaysia, including A New Species and New Records

  

Pleurocordyceps cornusynnemata 

in Shahbaz, Mohadden, Rong, Wei et Seelan, 2026.

 DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.750.4.1

 

Abstract

Pleurocordyceps is a group of hyperparasites that infects invertebrates, plants, and other fungi. It belongs to the family Polycephalomycetaceae, a newly established family separated from Ophiocordycipitaceae, order Hypocreales which includes several genera such as Dingleyomyces, Paradingleyomyces, Perennicordyceps, Pleurocordyceps, and Polycephalomyces. Pleurocordyceps currently comprises 26 species reported from South American and Asian regions In Asia, Malaysia has diverse forest ecosystems and rich fungal diversity; however, no previous studies have been reported on the occurrence of Pleurocordyceps species. The aim of the study is to explore the Pleurocordyceps diversity tropical rainforests of Malaysia using morpho-molecular analyses. During a fungal survey in Malaysia, fungicolous fungus associated with ants and cicadas nymphs were collected and subjected to morphological and molecular assessments. Two genetic loci—the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1α) gene—were used to construct both individual and concatenated phylogenetic trees. The study describes a new species, Pleurocordyceps cornusynnemata sp. nov. (BORH/F03651) from an ant, and two new records of P. aurantiaca (BORH/F03651), and P. nipponica (UTHM-CEF003.1) from Diptera and cicada nymph, respectively. These findings expand the knowledge of the geographic distribution of Pleurocordyceps and provide the first baseline data for the genus in Malaysia, thereby improving understanding of the diversity and evolutionary relationships within Polycephalomycetaceae.

arthropod hosts, entomopathogenic fungi, Pleurocordyceps, synnema, three taxa, typification, Fungi

Pleurocordyceps cornusynnemata sp. nov. 

MUHAMMAD SHAHBAZ, FIRDZA ZULKARNAIN MOHADDEN, JEREMIAH SIA YIAO RONG, YAP JING WEI and JAYA SEELAN SATHIYA SEELAN. 2026. Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Pleurocordyceps (Polycephalomycetaceae, Hypocreales) associated with Ants and Cicadas from Malaysia, including A New Species and New Records.  Phytotaxa. 750(4); 219-237. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.750.4.1 [2026-04-09]

[Entomology • 2026] Yoyetta argentea, Y. longirostra, Y. penetrans, ... • Eight New Species of Yoyetta Moulds (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadettinae) from eastern Australia

 

Yoyetta argentea; Y. longirostra; Y. penetrans; Y. zagona; ...

Popple, 2026

 DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5777.2.1

Abstract

Eight new cicada species from the eucalypt forests of eastern Australia are described in the genus Yoyetta Moulds, 2012. Yoyetta argentea sp. nov. is found in the central highlands of Queensland; Y. burwelli sp. nov. is widespread in south-eastern Queensland and also occurs in far northern New South Wales; Y. clara sp. nov. occurs in the central highlands and in inland south-eastern Queensland; Y. eastwoodi sp. nov. is found in subcoastal central and south-eastern Queensland; Y. longirostra sp. nov. is restricted to south-eastern Queensland; Y. penetrans sp. nov. is known from coastal north-eastern New South Wales; Y. wrightae sp. nov. is distributed patchily through coastal and inland south-eastern Queensland; Y. zagona sp. nov. occurs in inland southern Queensland, inland New South Wales and north-western Victoria. The new species are broadly all allied to Y. tristrigata (Goding & Froggatt) and males of all species produce simple ticking or clicking songs and generally remain inconspicuous in the canopy. Within each species a description, as well as a section on distinguishing features, distribution, habitat and behaviour, and calling song structures are provided and illustrated where available. A revised key to species for the genus Yoyetta Moulds is also provided.

Hemiptera, Australia, behaviour, cicada, Cicadidae, Yoyetta, distribution, habitat, taxonomy

Yoyetta argentea sp. nov. is found in the central highlands of Queensland; 

Y. burwelli sp. nov. is widespread in south-eastern Queensland and also occurs in far northern New South Wales; 

Y. clara sp. nov. occurs in the central highlands and in inland south-eastern Queensland; 

Y. eastwoodi sp. nov. is found in subcoastal central and south-eastern Queensland; 

Y. longirostra sp. nov. is restricted to south-eastern Queensland; 

Y. penetrans sp. nov. is known from coastal north-eastern New South Wales; 

Y. wrightae sp. nov. is distributed patchily through coastal and inland south-eastern Queensland; 

Y. zagona sp. nov. occurs in inland southern Queensland, inland New South Wales and north-western Victoria.

Lindsay W. POPPLE. 2026. Eight New Species of Yoyetta Moulds (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadettinae) from eastern Australia.  Zootaxa. 5777(2); 201-241. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5777.2.1 [2026-03-18]

[Entomology • 2024] Vagitanus venetus • A New Cicada Species of Vagitanus (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) from northern and central Vietnam

 

  Vagitanus venetus  Emery & Lee, 2024

[A, B, C, F] male; [D, E] female 

DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2024.01.003

Abstract

A new species of Vagitanus Distant is described from north and central Vietnam. V. venetus sp. nov. inhabits forested woodland at altitudes of >1000 m. Its distribution currently limited to the coastal areas and hinterland in the eastern provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Binh, Kon Tum and Hue and north in Yen Bai province.

Keywords: Cicadatrini, Cicadinae, Cicadettinae, Vagitanus, taxonomy

 Vagitanus venetus sp. n.
A, holotype male (green form), dorsal habitus; B, paratype male (faded form), dorsal habitus;
C, holotype male, ventral habitus; D, female, dorsal habitus;
E, female, ventral habitus; F, male holotype, abdomen, lateral habitus.

<scale bars: 10 mm (A–E); 5 mm (F)>.

Family Cicadidae Latrielle, 1802

Subfamily Cicadettinae Buckton, 1890

Tribe Cicadatrini Distant, 1905

Genus Vagitanus Distant, 1918

Vagitanus venetus sp.n.

 

Etymology. The species name is derived from Latin for the deep green coloration of fresh specimens of this cicada.

David Lyall Emery and Young June Lee. 2024. A New Cicada Species of Vagitanus (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) from northern and central Vietnam. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity. 17(1); 240-244. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2024.01.003 [1 June 2024] 

[Entomology • 2025] Chremistica doiluangensis, Pomponia bimaculosalaria, Megapomponia isanensis, Muda songkhlensis, ... • Thirteen New cicada Species (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) from Thailand with the Resurrection of Pomponiini Kato, 1932, A New Combination, and A New Tribal Assignment for Muda Distant, 1897

 

Sanborn, 2025

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/megataxa.17.1.2

 

Abstract

The species Chremistica doiluangensis sp. nov., Chremistica kalasinensis sp. nov., Pomponia bimaculosalaria sp. nov., Aetanna lannensis sp. nov., Vietanna oresbia sp. nov., Metapurana phuruensis sp. nov., Minipomponia doiinthanonensis sp. nov., Megapomponia isanensis sp. nov., Meimuna chiangmaiensis sp. nov., Meimuna maehongsonensis sp. nov., Muda songkhlensis sp. nov., Muda phetchabunensis sp. nov., and Muda chanthaburensis sp. nov. are described as new clarifying the taxonomy of undescribed species in a previous publication on Thailand cicadas. In addition, Pomponiini Kato, 1932 rev. stat. is resurrected from junior synonymy of Psithyristriini Distant, 1905, Pomponia adusta (Walker, 1850) is reassigned to become Megapomponia adusta (Walker, 1850) comb. nov., and Muda Distant, 1897 is reassigned from Chlorocystini Distant, 1905 to Katoini Moulds & Marshall, 2018 (in Marshall et al., 2018).

Hemiptera, Taxonomy, Cicadinae, Tacuini, Dundubiini, Cicadettinae, Chlorocystini, Katoini

   

Allen F. SANBORN. 2025. Thirteen New cicada Species (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) from Thailand with the Resurrection of Pomponiini Kato, 1932, A New Combination, and A New Tribal Assignment for Muda Distant, 1897. Megataxa. 17(1); 41-90. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/megataxa.17.1.2 [2025-06-05]

 

[PaleoEntomology • 2025] Eoplatypleura messelensis • Sounds from the Eocene: The First Singing Cicada from the Messel Pit, Germany

 

 Eoplatypleura messelensis

 Jiang, Moulds, Blank, Rust & Wedmann, 2025 

 

DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94099-7

Abstract

Cicadidae is one of the most species-rich insect families today. However, compared to the number of extant species, fossil records of Cicadidae are extremely limited. Among singing cicadas, the tribe Platypleurini within the Cicadinae subfamily is notable for its broad geographic distribution, high species diversity, and distinctive features, but no reliable fossil records have been discovered to date. In this study, we report the first fossil record of the Platypleurini from the Eocene Messel Pit: a new genus and species, Eoplatypleura messelensis. This species not only represents one of the earliest known fossil crown-group Cicadidae from the Eurasian continent but also the oldest confirmed record of the subfamily Cicadinae worldwide to date. As the first described fossil singing cicada from the Eocene Messel Pit, this discovery enriches the species diversity of the Messel biota and fills a significant gap in the Eocene cicada fossil record. The discovery of E. messelensis gen. et sp. nov. will serve as a fossil calibration point for future molecular phylogenetic studies and provides new insights into the origins and dispersal patterns of Platypleurini. Based on the analysis of existing records, Cicadidae was once widely distributed in Germany and across Europe during the Cenozoic.

Eoplatypleura messelensis  gen. et sp. nov.

 

Hui Jiang, Maxwell S. Moulds, Stephan M. Blank, Jes Rust and Sonja Wedmann. 2025. Sounds from the Eocene: The First Singing Cicada from the Messel Pit, Germany. Scientific Reports. 15: 12826. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94099-7 [29 April 2025]

[Entomology • 2025] Cochleopsaltria huboliao • First Record of the Genus Cochleopsaltria Pham & Constant (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae) from China, with A Description of the second species

 

Cochleopsaltria huboliao

 Wang & Liu, 2025 

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1230.144099

photos by Qun-Zhen Wu

Abstract

Cochleopsaltria Pham & Constant, 2017 (Hemiptera, Cicadidae, Cicadinae) is no longer monospecific: C. huboliao sp. nov. from Fujian Province of China is described and illustrated. A key to the two species of Cochleopsaltria is presented.

Key words: Cicada, Dundubiini, key, morphology, new genus record, new species, Oriental region, taxonomy

Family Cicadidae Batsch, 1789

Subfamily Cicadinae Batsch, 1789

Tribe Dundubiini Atkinson, 1886

Subtribe Dundubiina Atkinson, 1886

Genus Cochleopsaltria Pham & Constant, 2017

Field observations of Cochleopsaltria huboliao sp. nov. at Huboliao National Nature Reserve 
A a living male perching on a branch, posterodorsal view B ditto, lateral view
C, D habitat and host plant.

(© Qun-Zhen Wu)

 Cochleopsaltria huboliao sp. nov.

  Chinese common name: 虎伯寮勺蝉

 

Differential diagnosis.

The new species well resembles its only congener Cochleopsaltria duffelsi from Vietnam in general appearance, but it is not difficult to distinguish them using the following key.

Additionally, although many species in Cicadinae exhibit morphological variations in markings and operculum length, they still have certain reference characteristics:

In Cochleopsaltria duffelsi, pronotal collar with three paired large spots (Pham and Constant 2017: figs 2A; 3A); mesonotum with median fascia moderately tapering anteriorly and weakly so posteriorly, lateral fasciae relatively slender, accessory spots absent (Pham and Constant 2017: figs 2A; 3A); opercula reaching posterior margin of sternite VI (Pham and Constant 2017: figs 2B; 3B). In Cochleopsaltria huboliao sp. nov., pronotal collar with two paired large spots (Fig. 1A); mesonotum with median fascia strongly tapering anteriorly and moderately so posteriorly, lateral fasciae relatively wide, small accessory spots lateral to accessory fasciae (Fig. 1A); opercula extending beyond posterior margin of sternite VI (Fig. 1B).

...

Etymology. The specific epithet is from the Chinese name (in Pinyin) of the type locality “Huboliao”. The name is a noun in apposition.

Cheng-Bin Wang and Zhi-Jian Liu. 2025. First Record of the Genus Cochleopsaltria Pham & Constant (Hemiptera, Cicadidae, Cicadinae) from China, with A Description of the second species. ZooKeys. 1230: 335-346. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1230.144099

[Entomology • 2017] Cochleopsaltria duffelsi • A New Genus and Species (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Cicadidae) from northern Vietnam

Cochleopsaltria duffelsi 

 Pham & Constant, 2017

Researchgate.net/publication/322676300

Abstract 

A new genus and new species of Cicadidae, Cochleopsaltria duffelsi gen. and sp. nov., are described from northern Vietnam. This genus is allied to the genus Orientopsaltria Kato, 1944 but is distinguished by the broad and very convex distal two thirds of the male opercula, the uncal lobes that are fused at the base and the apically rounded upper pygofer lobes that have no protrusion. A distribution map and biological data for Cochleopsaltria duffelsi gen. and sp. nov. are provided. 

Keywords: Cicada, Cochleopsaltria, Cicadinae, morphology

Cochleopsaltria duffelsi gen. et sp. nov., holotype ♂. A, head and thorax, dorsal view. B, operculum, ventral view. C, operculum, laterodorsal view.

 Distribution of Cochleopsaltria duffelsi gen. et sp. nov. in northern Vietnam.
 Cochleopsaltria duffelsi sp. nov., holotype ♂. A, dorsal view. B, ventral view.

Cochleopsaltria duffelsi gen. and sp. nov.

Hong Thai Pham and Jérôme Constant. 2018. A New Genus and Species of Cicada from Vietnam: Cochleopsaltria duffelsi gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Cicadidae). Bulletin de la Société royale belge d’Entomologie/Bulletin van de Koninklijke Belgische vereniging voor entomologie. 153;

https://biblio.naturalsciences.be/associated_publications/societe-royale-belge-dentomologie-koninklijke-belgische-vereniging-voor-entomologie-1/srbe-154-2018/pham-constant-bulletin-srbe-kbve-153-3-2017-226-230.pdf

Researchgate.net/publication/322676300_Cochleopsaltria_duffelsi_gen_et_sp_nov_A_new_genus_and_species_of_Cicada_from_Vietnam

[Herpetology • 2025] Oligodon cicadophagus • A New kukri snake (Serpentes: Colubridae) from southern peninsular Thailand

  

Oligodon cicadophagus

 Pauwels, Donbundit, Sumontha & Meesook, 2025

 Cicada-eating Kukri Snake | งูปี่แก้วกระบี่  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5569.2.7 

 facebook.com/MontriSumontha

Abstract

We describe a new kukri snake, Oligodon cicadophagus sp. nov., from the limestone reliefs of the Phuket Mountain Range in Krabi and Phang-Nga provinces in southern peninsular Thailand. A member of the Oligodon cinereus group, it can be distinguished from all other congeneric species by the combination of its maximal known snout-vent length of 537 mm; 11 maxillary teeth; eight supralabials; one preocular and one presubocular; 17-17-15 dorsal scale rows; 159–168 ventrals, and 50 subcaudals in males; a single anal scale; hemipenes bilobed with large broad lobes, no distinct flounced calyces and unforked sulcus spermaticus; dorsal surface of head, body and tail uniformly olive-gray, without nuchal chevron, dorsal stripes, crossbands, blotches or reticulations; and a venter cream anteriorly turning to dark gray posteriorly.

Reptilia, Thai-Malay Peninsula, Oligodon cicadophagus sp. nov., taxonomy, limestone cave, Phuket Mountain range, cicada

 

Live paratype of Oligodon cicadophagus sp. nov. (CMZ--2626)

Photographs by M. Sumontha.

Oligodon cicadophagus sp. nov.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a Latinized adjective meaning “cicada eater” and refers to the unusual prey item recovered from an individual in Phang-Nga Province, Thailand. 

The suggest the following common names: งูปี่แก้วกระบี่ (Ngu Pi Kaew Krabi, Thai),
Cicada-eating Kukri Snake (English),
and Oligodon cicadophage (French).

Olivier S. G. PAUWELS, Nattasuda DONBUNDIT, Montri SUMONTHA and Worawitoo MEESOOK. 2025. Oligodon cicadophagus, A New kukri snake from southern peninsular Thailand (Squamata: Colubridae).  Zootaxa. 5569(2); 345-364. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5569.2.7

  facebook.com/MontriSumontha/posts/10095452883815114

  facebook.com/100057307014355/posts/1107452904508266

facebook.com/waiirada/posts/9248733225185057

[Entomology • 2021] Platypleura transitiva • A New Species of Platypleura Amyot & Audinet-Serville (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Platypleurini) from Mindanao, the Philippines

Platypleura transitiva Lee, 2021

DOI: 10.1016/j.japb.2021.03.003

Abstract

A new species, Platypleura transitiva sp. nov., is described from Mindanao, Philippines. This new species belongs to the tribe Platypleurini Schmidt, 1918 of the family Cicadidae Latreille, 1802 (Insecta: Hemiptera). This new species has a broader dark gray cloudy pattern on the inner half of the forewing and a broader gray part on the annal cell 2 than those of Platypleura elizabethae Lee, 2009. This species is distinguished from Platypleura dinagatensis Lee, 2016 by the shorter rostrum, narrower and lighter cloudy pattern on the forewing, absence of a central white spot on the forewing, narrower infuscation on the hind wing, and the darker anal cell 2 of the hind wing.

 

Keywords: Hamzini, Platypleura dinagatensis, Platypleura elizabethae, Platypleura transitiva, Platypleurini

Family Cicadidae, Latreille, 1802

Subfamily Cicadinae, Latreille, 1802

Tribe Platypleurini Schmidt, 1918

Genus Platypleura Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843

Platypleura transitiva Lee sp. nov., holotype, male, Mindanao, Philippines:
 A, dorsal habitus; B, ventral habitus; C, pygofer, slightly oblique ventral view.

scale bar: 10 mm (A)

Platypleura transitiva Lee sp. nov.

Etymology. The specific name is the Latin feminine adjective transitiva meaning “transitional” in reference to its wing cloudy patterns which are transitional in shape and area among its allied species from the Philippines: dinagatensis – transitiva – elizabethae.

Young June Lee. 2021. A New Species of Platypleura Amyot & Audinet-Serville (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Platypleurini) from Mindanao, the Philippines. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity. 14(2); 261-263. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2021.03.003

[Entomology • 2021] Vietanna hanoiensis • A New Genus and Species of the Subtribe Leptopsaltriina (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Leptopsaltriini) from Vietnam, with A Key to the Genera of Leptopsaltriina

Vietanna Lee & Pham, gen. nov. 
Vietanna hanoiensis Pham & Lee, 

 

in Pham et Lee, 2021.

 DOI: 10.1016/j.aspen.2021.07.011

Highlights: 

• Vietanna Lee & Pham gen. nov. is described.

• Vietanna hanoiensis Pham & Lee sp. nov. is described from Vietnam.

• The new genus is placed in Leptopsaltriina of Leptopsaltriini in Cicadinae.

• This new genus is morphologically similar to Tanna.

• A key to the genera of Leptopsaltriina is provided.

Abstract

Vietanna Lee & Pham, gen. nov. and Vietanna hanoiensis Pham & Lee, sp. nov. are described based on a cicada specimen from Hanoi, Vietnam and placed in the subtribe Leptopsaltriina Moulton, 1923 of the tribe Leptopsaltriini Moulton, 1923 in the subfamily Cicadinae Latreille, 1802 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae). This new genus is morphologically similar to Tanna Distant, 1905 but distinguished from Tanna by the timbal cover exposing the inner part of timbal, the male abdominal epipleurite 3 with a distinct oblique linear fold, the male abdominal sternites without tubercle-like projections, and the aedeagus bifurcate at the apex. A key to the genera of Leptopsaltriina is provided.

  

Keywords: Cicada, Taxonomy, Vietanna, Vietanna hanoiensis, Tanna

 

Thai Hong Pham and Young June Lee. 2021. A New Genus and Species of the Subtribe Leptopsaltriina (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Leptopsaltriini) from Vietnam, with A Key to the Genera of Leptopsaltriina. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology. 24(4); 1202-1205. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.aspen.2021.07.011

 Researchgate.net/publication/353597097_A_new_genus_of_the_subtribe_Leptopsaltriina_Hemiptera_Cicadidae_from_Vietnam 

[Entomology • 2024] Becquartina bicolor • Discovery of the Cicada Genus Becquartina Kato, 1940 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae) in India with the Description of A New Species from Meghalaya

 

 Becquartina bicolor 

Sarkar, Thangkhiew, Mahapatra, Mohapatra, Nair & Hajong, 2024

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5432.1.7

 

Abstract

The genus Becquartina Kato, 1940 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) is reported for the first time from India with a new species, Becquartina bicolor sp. nov., along with records of two distinct colour forms, from the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya and located within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity hotspot. This paper provides an account of its natural history and bioacoustics. The present discovery extends the distributional range of the genus Becquartina from Southeast Asia into Northeast India and increases the total number of known Becquartina species to seven.

Hemiptera, Indo-Burma Biodiversity hotspot, cicada, species discovery, natural history, Meghalaya, India

Vivek Sarkar, Rodeson Thangkhiew, Cuckoo Mahapatra, Pratyush P. Mohapatra, Manoj V. Nair and Sudhanya R. Hajong. 2024. Discovery of the Cicada Genus Becquartina Kato, 1940 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae) in India with the Description of A New Species from Meghalaya. Zootaxa. 5432(1); 96-108. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5432.1.7

[Entomology • 2023] Sahyaterpnosia laevospina • A New Genus and Species of Leptopsaltriini (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) from the Agasthyamalais of the Western Ghats in Peninsular India

 Sahyaterpnosia laevospina  

 Sadasivan & Sarkar, 2023

DOI: 10.1016/j.japb.2023.03.009 

Researchgate.net/publication/369954992

Abstract

A new genus of cicada, Sahyaterpnosia gen. nov., is described from the subtropical hill forests of southern Western Ghats of Peninsular India. We place the genus in the tribe, Leptopsaltriini Moulton, 1923. The genus can be distinguished from all other genera in Leptopsaltriini by the following combination of characters: hindwing with six apical cells; timbal cover minute, abdominal sternites III & IV without tubercles; posterior margin of male tergite III, wider than mesonotum; basal lobe of pygofer lobes, ill-defined, substantially confluent with pygofer margin, and thick aedeagus with a characteristic spine on its tip on dorsum. The new species, Sahyaterpnosia laevospina sp. nov., is designated as a type of this genus and is characterized by the male genitalia with thick aedeagus bearing a characteristic spine on its tip on the dorsum on the left side.

 

Keywords: Auchenorrhyncha, Cicada, Kerala, Leptopsaltriini, Psithyristriini

 Sahyaterpnosia laevospina Sadasivan & Sarkar sp. nov., male;
 A, a lateral view of a live insect in nature; B, a dorsal view of a live insect in nature; C, a close-up of the dorsum of a live insect in nature; D, an anterior view of a live insect in nature; E, habitats showing the trees of subtropical hill forests; F, misty climate of subtropical hill forests at 1200m, the typical habitat.

Family Cicadidae Latreille, 1802

Subfamily Cicadinae Latreille, 1802

Tribe Leptopsaltriini Moulton, 1923

Genus Sahyaterpnosia Sadasivan gen. nov.

Etymology. The taxon keys to heterogenous genus, Terpnosia Distant, 1892b, following Distant (1906). The generic name ‘Sahyaterpnosia’ is derived by combining the Sanskrit and Malayalam names for Western Ghats, ‘Sahyadri, with the genus name Terpnosia.

Diagnosis. The genus can be distinguished from all other genera in Leptopsaltriini by the following combination of characters: hindwing with six apical cells; timbal cover minute, abdominal sternites III & IV without tubercles; no molar-like projection on each lateral part of the male sternites IV; posterior margin of male tergite III, wider than mesonotum; male genitalia with the basal lobe of pygofer being ill-defined, substantially confluent with pygofer margin, and aedeagus thick near apex with a characteristic spine on its tip on dorsum on the left side. The new genus is very similar to Purana and Calcagninus in habitus, which are common taxa found together within the same habitat in the southern Western Ghats. But, the genus, Sahyaterpnosia, lacks the abdominal tubercles on sternite III & IV, the characteristic of the males in Purana and Calcagninus.

Distribution. Southern Western Ghats, Kerala, and Tamilnadu state, India.

Sahyaterpnosia laevospina Sadasivan & Sarkar sp. nov.

Etymology. The species name ‘laevospina’ alludes to the single short paradorsal spine on the left of the tip of the aedeagus.

 Kalesh Sadasivan and Vivek Sarkar. 2023. A New Genus and Species of Leptopsaltriini (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) from the Agasthyamalais of the Western Ghats in Peninsular India. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity. 16(2); 163-173. DOI: 10.1016/j.japb.2023.03.009

 Researchgate.net/publication/369954992_A_new_genus_and_species_Cicadidae_from_the_Western_Ghats_India

[Entomology • 2024] Macrosemia fengi • A New Species of Cicada (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae) from Yunnan and Guizhou, China

Macrosemia fengi Wang, 

in Wang, 2024. 

冯氏大马蝉  ||  DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.12.e115974

   

Abstract

Background: 

The genus Macrosemia Kato, 1925 (Hemiptera, Cicadidae, Cicadinae, Dundubiini, Dundubiina) currently includes 16 species (excluding subspecies and varieties), mainly occurring in the Oriental Region. More than half of them, 10 species, are known from China, including one new species, described in the present study.

New information: 

A new species of cicada, Macrosemia fengi Wang sp. nov., is described from Yunnan and Guizhou, southwest China. Colour plates are presented to illustrate its diagnostic characters. The distribution map of the new species is also given.

Keywords: cicada, Dundubiini, taxonomy, new species, morphology, distribution, Oriental Region

Macrosemia fengi Wang sp. nov.:
 A, B habitus, holotype, ♂; C, D habitus, paratype, ♀; E fore femur, holotype, ♂. A, C dorsal views; B, D ventral views; E lateral view.

Abbreviations: asp: apical spine; psp: primary spine; sasp: subapical spine; ssp: secondary spine. Scale bar a for A–D; b for E.

Macrosemia fengi Wang sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Macrosemia fengi Wang sp. nov. is easily distinguished from other members in this genus by the combination of the following characters: pronotum almost entirely brown, only particularly with paired blackish submedian spots near ambient fissure at pronotal disc (other congeners (except M. perakana) have more complex markings on pronotum, at least with a distinct pair of blackish submedian fasciae); forewing with infuscations only present on r and r-m crossveins, while absent on apices of longitudinal veins of ...

Etymology: The new species is dedicated to Mr. Lei Feng (Weifang, China), a Chinese amateur obsessing with cicadas, for his help to my taxonomic study on Cicadidae. The name is a noun in the genitive case. “冯氏大马蝉” is proposed for the Chinese common name of this new species.

Cheng-Bin Wang. 2024. Macrosemia fengi Wang sp. nov. from Yunnan and Guizhou, China (Hemiptera, Cicadidae, Cicadinae). Biodiversity Data Journal. 12: e115974. DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.12.e115974

[PaleoEntomology • 2024] Eunotalia emeryi, Cretotettigarcta shcherbakovi & Pranwanna xiai • Mesozoic Evolution of Cicadas and their Origins of Vocalization and Root Feeding

Life reconstruction of cicadas in a Mesozoic Forest. 
Eunotalia emeryi gen. et sp. nov.
Cretotettigarcta shcherbakovi sp. nov.
Pranwanna xiai gen. et sp. nov.

 Jiang, Szwedo, Labandeira, Chen, Moulds, Mähler, Muscente, Zhuo, Nyunt, Zhang, Wei, Rust & Wang, 2024

 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44446-x

 Reconstructed by Mr. Dinghua Yang

Abstract

Extant cicada (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea) includes widely distributed Cicadidae and relictual Tettigarctidae, with fossils ascribed to these two groups based on several distinct, minimally varying morphological differences that define their extant counterparts. However, directly assigning Mesozoic fossils to modern taxa may overlook the role of unique and transitional features provided by fossils in tracking their early evolutionary paths. Here, based on adult and nymphal fossils from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber of Myanmar, we explore the phylogenetic relationships and morphological disparities of fossil and extant cicadoids. Our results suggest that Cicadidae and Tettigarctidae might have diverged at or by the Middle Jurassic, with morphological evolution possibly shaped by host plant changes. The discovery of tymbal structures and anatomical analysis of adult fossils indicate that mid-Cretaceous cicadas were silent as modern Tettigarctidae or could have produced faint tymbal-related sounds. The discovery of final-instar nymphal and exuviae cicadoid fossils with fossorial forelegs and piercing-sucking mouthparts indicates that they had most likely adopted a subterranean lifestyle by the mid-Cretaceous, occupying the ecological niche of underground feeding on root. Our study traces the morphological, behavioral, and ecological evolution of Cicadoidea from the Mesozoic, emphasizing their adaptive traits and interactions with their living environments.

Adults, final instar nymph, and exuviae of Cicadoidea fossils in Kachin amber of northern Myanmar.
 a Eunotalia emeryi gen. et sp. nov. (MGM2016–014). This image was published in the study by ref. 41 (Fig. 3a). b Cretotettigarcta problematica comb. nov. (new material: NIGP201895). c Cretotettigarcta shcherbakovi sp. nov. (NIGP201896). d Vetuprosbole parallelica (new material: NIGP201897).
e–i Pranwanna xiai gen. et sp. nov. (LYU–BC2001, male; LYU–BC2002, female). e Dorsal view of male. f Dorsal view of female. g Ventral view of male. h Ventral view of female. i Left view of final-instar nymph, Cicadoidea species 1 (NIGP2018985).
j–m Final- nymphal exuviae. j Nymphal sp. 2 (MGM2016–017), left view. k Nymphal sp. 3 (LYU–BC2004), right view. l Nymphal sp. 4 (NIGP201900), ventral view. m Nymphal sp. 5 (NIGP201901), left view.

Stem cicadoids

Eunotalia gen. nov.

  Eunotalia emeryi sp. nov.  

Etymology: The generic name is a compound form, from Classical Greek prefix: eu-, meaning ‘true’ or ‘good’, and notos, meaning ‘back’ or ‘dorsum’.

Stem cicadids

Cretotettigarcta

Cretotettigarcta problematica comb. nov.

Cretotettigarcta shcherbakovi sp. nov.

Pranwanna gen. nov 

 Pranwanna xiai sp. nov.

Etymology: The generic name, pranwanna, is from the Jingpho language spoken in Kachin State of Myanmar, meaning ‘primitive’.

Hui Jiang, Jacek Szwedo, Conrad C. Labandeira, Jun Chen, Maxwell S. Moulds, Bastian Mähler, A. Drew Muscente, De Zhuo, Thet Tin Nyunt, Haichun Zhang, Cong Wei, Jes Rust and Bo Wang. 2024. Mesozoic Evolution of Cicadas and their Origins of Vocalization and Root Feeding. Nature Communications. 15, 376.  DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44446-x

[Fungi • 2023] Paraisaria cascadensis & P. pseudoheteropoda (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) • New Species and New Combinations in the Genus Paraisaria from the U.S.A., supported by polyphasic analysis

Paraisaria cascadensis Tehan, Dooley & Spatafora,

 Paraisaria pseudoheteropoda Tehan & Spatafora,

in Tehan, Dooley, Barge, McPhail et Spatafora, 2023. 

DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.100.110959

 

Abstract

Molecular phylogenetic and chemical analyses, and morphological characterization of collections of North American Paraisaria specimens support the description of two new species and two new combinations for known species. P. cascadensis sp. nov. is a pathogen of Cyphoderris (Orthoptera) from the Pacific Northwest USA and P. pseudoheteropoda sp. nov. is a pathogen of cicadae (Hemiptera) from the Southeast USA. New combinations are made for Ophiocordyceps insignis and O. monticola based on morphological, ecological, and chemical study. A new cyclopeptide family proved indispensable in providing chemotaxonomic markers for resolving species in degraded herbarium specimens for which DNA sequencing is intractable. This approach enabled the critical linkage of a 142-year-old type specimen to a phylogenetic clade. The diversity of Paraisaria in North America and the utility of chemotaxonomy for the genus are discussed.

Key words: Ascomycota, chemotaxonomy, Cicada, Cordyceps, Cyphoderris, entomopathogen, Ophiocordyceps, Prionus

 Paraisaria cascadensis Tehan, Dooley & Spatafora, sp. nov.

Etymology: cascadensis occurring in the Cascade Mountain range in the Pacific Northwest, USA.

Host: Cyphoderris monstrosa (Prophalangopsidae, Orthoptera).

Habitat: Specimens occur on hypogeous adult hump-winged grigs, Cyphoderris monstrosa, in coniferous forest.

 Paraisaria pseudoheteropoda Tehan & Spatafora, sp. nov.

Etymology: pseudoheteropoda resembling another cicada-pathogenic species, Paraisaria heteropoda.

Host: Nymphs of Cicadidae (Hemiptera).

Habitat: Specimens occur on hypogeous nymphs of cicadae at the base of coniferous and deciduous trees, especially oaks.

Richard M. Tehan, Connor B. Dooley, Edward G. Barge, Kerry L. McPhail and Joseph W. Spatafora. 2023. New Species and New Combinations in the Genus Paraisaria (Hypocreales, Ophiocordycipitaceae) from the U.S.A., supported by polyphasic analysis.  MycoKeys. 100: 69-94. DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.100.110959