Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org
| 26 March 2018 | 10(3): 11454–11458
Extension in its distribution range and a
new record for the cicada genus Salvazana Distant, 1913 (Hemiptera:
Cicadidae: Cryptotympanii)
from India
Sudhanya Ray Hajong
1 & Rodeson Thangkiew 2
1 Department of
Zoology, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya 793022, India
2 Entomology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, North-Eastern Hill
University, Shillong, Meghalaya 793022, India
1 srhajong@nehu.ac.in
(corresponding author), 2 bahduh999@gmail.com
Abstract: The
cicada genus Salvazana Distant,
1913 is reported for the first time from India with the discovery of Salvazana mirabilis mirabilis Boulard,
2002 from Shillong in the northeastern
state of Meghalaya in India. This
extends the northwestern distributional range of the
genus Salvazana by more
than a thousand kilometers. Brief descriptions of the specimen along
with photographs of various structures are provided.
Keywords:
Cicada, Meghalaya, range extension, Salvazana
mirabilis.
Abbreviations:
Acronyms used in the text are defined as follows: C- coastal vein; M-
median vein; M1- median first; M2-median second; M3-
median third; M4 – Medial vein fourth; CuA-
cubitus anterior; A- anal vein; 1A- first anal vein;
R- radius; RA1- radius anterior first; RA2 –radius
anterior second; RA- radius anterior; RP-radius posterior; r-m – radiomedial cross vein and inf - infuscation; M1-2 - medial vein first and second;
M3-4- medial vein third and fourth; Sc- subcoastal vein; m-medial cross vein; m-cu- mediocubital cross vein; nl-node;
nli- nodal line intersection
doi: http://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3781.10.3.11454-11458 | ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DB0C7671-D2B7-4F23-8AA7-99BC82F0894A
Editor: Anonymity requested. Date of publication: 26 March 2018 (online & print)
Manuscript details: Ms # 3781 | Received 05 September 2017
| Final received 13 February 2018 | Finally accepted 27 February 2018
Citation: Hajong, S.R. & R. Thangkiew (2018). Extension in
its distribution range and a new record for the cicada genus Salvazana Distant, 1913 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cryptotympanii) from
India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 10(3): 11454–11458; http://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3781.10.3.11454-11458
Copyright: © Hajong & Thangkiew 2018. Creative Commons
Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT
allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium, reproduction and
distribution by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of
publication.
Funding: Funded by Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA).
Competing interests: The authors
declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: We thank the
Head, Department of Zoology, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong for providing research facilities. We acknowledge the Meghalaya Basin
Development Authority (MBDA), Shillong for supporting
our work; we are also grateful to the Chief Conservator of Forest/Chief
Wildlife warden, Government of Meghalaya for granting collection permit (Memo
No. FWC/G/173/Pt-III/318-27).
The cicada genus Salvazana was first
described by Distant in 1913 with the type species Salvazana mirabilis. He mentioned its habitat as
Indo-China. Distant in 1918 again
described a second species, Salvazana imperialis, with its locality mentioned as Laos - Luang Prabang. The
genus Salvazana is currently considered to be represented by
only one species, mirabilis, with two subspecies mirabilis and imperialis (Sanborn 2014). The
subspecies S. m. mirabilis differs from S. m. imperialis with a greenish-yellow basal half in the hindwing,
whereas, in the case of S. m. imperialis it is ochraceous. He
(1984) described Pulchrocicada guangxiensis, which is a junior synonym of S. m. imperialis from Guangxi in China.
Similarly, the subspecies S. m. mirabilis was also described by the junior synonym Pulchrocicada sinensis by He (1984).
Distant (1913) describes the distributional range
of S. m. mirabilis as
Indo-China; however, there exists no record of its occurrence in India and
neighbouring countries including Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and
Myanmar. In a comprehensive account
of cicada from this region, Price et al. (2016) compiled and provided an
annotated catalogue of cicadas of the Indian region, consisting of India,
Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka including Myanmar; based on literature and
type specimens in the collection of the British and other museums they have
listed a total of 281 species of cicadas, with 189 species from India and
Bangladesh, 19 species from Bhutan, 81 species from Myanmar, 46 species from
Nepal and 22 species from Sri Lanka.
An earlier detailed analysis of cicadas from Nepal by Sanborn (2015) had
listed 59 species and Bhutan with 18 species and the Himalayan state of Sikkim
in India lists 43 species. These
lists also clearly indicate the absence of any historical records or specimens
of the genus Salvazana from the Indian region. A comprehensive account of cicada fauna
from the state of Meghalaya in northeastern India
listed a total of 19 species based on the voucher specimen at the collection of
Zoological Survey of India (Sen et al. 1998). His list also shows an absence of any
representative member from the genus Salvazana. Presently,
the known distribution of S.m. mirabilis extends
through Laos (Boulard 1999; Lee 2014), Thailand (Boulard 2002), Vietnam (Lee 2008; Pham & Yang 2009) and
China (He 1984). Similarly, S.m. imperalis is distributed in Laos (Distant
1918), China (He 1984; Chou et al. 1997) and Thailand (Boulard
2007). Thus, both these subspecies
appear to occur sympatrically in these localities,
but no reports exist of its occurrence in the north-west
towards Myanmar. Here we present
the first record of a subspecies of Salvazana from the northeastern part of India extending its distributional
range northwestward into northeastern
India.
The present specimen was collected during our
continuing studies on the cicada diversity from the biodiversity rich northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya.
Materials and Methods
For survey of cicada fauna we generally follow
forest trails and locate the male cicadas by their calls. We also attempt to
locate the female individuals within the vicinity of the calling males. After spotting them we use long
handled insect collecting nets (Rescholar model No. R.I 69-05) for
capturing them. GPS
coordinates are recorded with the help of a Garmin (eTrex)
receiver. Captured specimens in the
field were immediately put in plastic specimen containers. The present specimen was collected from
a forested patch in Umiam area (Barapani)
(25.664888890N & 91.898611110E) of Ri-bhoi District in Meghalaya. The collected specimen was brought to
the lab and the wings were extended on a spreading board. The specimen was then dried completely
in an oven at around 400C for 48 hours. Male genitalia were examined in situ
with a Motic SMZ 168 stereo zoom microscope. Habitus photo of the dried and pinned
specimen was taken with an Olympus DSLR; pygofer
structure was taken with Olympus 150mm lens fitted with macro extension tubes.
Measurements were made with a digital Vernier caliper.
Tissues sample (left mid legs) was preserved in DNA grade ethanol for
future molecular analysis. Voucher number (07616/RB) was assigned to the
specimen and was deposited in the Entomological Research collection of
Entomology laboratory, Department of Zoology, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.
Identification
Salvazana mirabilis Distant
(1913): 186
Pulchrocicada sinensis He, 1984: 226
Salvazana mirabilis mirabilis Boulard, 2002:
62–64
The specimen was identified based on a
description by Distant (1913) and specimen picture of S.m.
mirabilis available from the website cicadamania
(http://www.cicadamania.com/pictures/main.php?g2_itemId=1290). The diagnosis and brief description of
the specimen along with measurements are provided; the terminology used in the
description is based on Moulds (2005).
Material examined (Image 1): 07616/RB, 1 ex., male, 7.vi.2016, Umiam, Ri-Bhoi District, Meghalaya, India, 25. 664888890N
& 91. 898611110E; 1,100m, coll. D. Synkli.
Diagnosis: Head much narrower than base of the mesonotum;
transversely truncated between the eyes; length almost
half the breadth between eyes. Pronotum shorter than mesonotum
with lateral margins oblique and sinuate.
Abdomen broad and robust with tympanal
opening completely covered; rostrum nearly reaching posterior coxae. Metasternum raised in middle and
bearing backward directed posterior process. Operculum not passing
base of abdomen. Tegmina basal third opaque rest partly sub hyaline; longer
than greatest breath; apical areas eight.
Wings about half the length of tegmina.
Brief Description: Head: (Image 2) black, sparsely golden tomentose,
vertex transversely flattened with light spots on; a medium round spots in
between eyes and supra-antennal plates, a minute more or less curved spots
between lateral ocelli and epicranium
and another in between lateral ocellus on posterior epicranial suture; antennal scape, pedicel and flagellum
black; gena black; postclypeus
and transverse grooves blackish with golden tomentose;
anteclypus narrow blackish; rostrum not reaching hind
coxa.
Thorax: Pronotum black, anterior margin
greenish; paramedial fissure deep meeting medial
black stripe; lateral fissure only half the length of paramedical fissure; Pronotal collar yellowish green, lateral angle of pronotal collar rounded, anterior area of lateral margins
black. Mesonotum well developed and robust, greenish,
submedian sigilla and
lateral sigilla black merged along parapsidal suture, scutel
depression black, anterior angles of cruciform elevation black, medial ridges
of cruciform elevation brownish, lateral depression of cruciform elevation
yellowish-green. Legs: foreleg black with brown spot on outer coxa and femur; primary spine thin rod shaped with blunt
apex; secondary spine short along with a small subapical
spine black. Mid leg with inner brown streak on femur and
tibia; hind leg with brown streak on femur and tibia; tarsus black. Operculum (Image 3): posterior angle
rounded, short, broad transversely, inner three quarter black, posterior margin
almost reaching distal margin of sternite I; two
opercula meeting medially. Meracanthus (Image 4): Short about 2mm,
basal three quarter broad rest acute with tip curved inward, outer margin
lighter. Forewing (Image 7): basal
third opaque greenish yellow with outward black suffusions on CuA2
and along nl and M1, M2, rest subhyaline; costal veins brown; post costal membrane black
M, CuA, CuA, 1A greenish;
RA1,RA2 RP,M1,M2,M3-M4
yellowish brown; marginal area and spots at apices of RA1, RA2 ,
RP , M1-M4 and CuA1 black, r-m and inf blackish; yellow suffusion along RP, M1-2,M3-4,m-cu. Hind wing: basal half creamy white and
opaque; transverse black fascia on outer margins connected with apical and postcostal margins, surrounding the apical hyaline area.
Abdomen: robust; about 1.05 times as long as distance from head to cruciform
elevation; tergites blackish with pale brownish spots
on mediaolateral tergite 1;
lateral edges of tergites 3–7 yellowish; sternite I-IV with a broad black longitudinal streak I, sternite VI-VII with narrow black longitudinal streak. Male
genitalia (Images 5 & 6): pygofer oblong in ventral view; black patches proximally on
dorsal beak; median dorsal lobe small, upper lobe of pygofer
obtuse; clasper long curved inward, aedeagus brown,
basal and upper lobe of pygofer reduced and not
prominent.
Measurements: Body length (frons to abdominal tip) excluding wings = 42.01mm; width
of head including eyes = 14.70mm; distance between eyes = 8.75mm; pronotum width = 14.33mm; mesonotal
width (greatest) = 15.20mm; ratio of body length to head width = 2.85. Tegmina length = 53.83; Tegmina
greatest breadth = 18.82; hind wing length = 32.73; total wing span 121.22mm
Distribution: India (Meghalaya), southern China (Guangxi), Laos (Luang
Prabang), Thailand, Vietnam (Kon
Tum, Vinh Phuc).
Discussions
Based on the distribution records both
subspecies appear to occur sympatrically in China,
Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. The
present record of S.m. mirabilis is the only
record of the Genus Salvazana from India. It is also not
known whether its sister subspecies S.m. imperialis also occurs in this
region, as no reports exist, it is however possible that S. m. imperialis also exists sympatrically in the reported
area and further field surveys in the near future would likely reveal its
occurrence. The present specimen of
S.m.
mirabilis was collected from an area called Umiam, which is around 20km northeast of Shillong the state capital of the state of Meghalaya. It is located at an altitude ranging
from 1,000–1,100 m, and has a mixed
vegetation consisting mainly of pine trees. The major pine species belong to Pinus kesiya var. kesiya which grow to a height of some
10–20 m and thus may constitute an important canopy habitat for this
large cicada.
In terms of diversity of cicadas Southeast Asia
is considered as a hotspot and one of the centers for
cicada diversification. Many fauna
of this region can be traced in terms of their biogeography by means of their
westward dispersal towards Myanmar and into northeastern
India and finally further southwards towards peninsular India (Mani 1974). Several cicadas biogeographically show
such a dispersal and range extension farther westward from Thailand, Myanmar, northeastern part of India to
peninsular India. For instance the
cicada genus Chremistica which is mainly distributed in Southeast Asia
and Sundaland has an extension till the Western Ghats
of India and Sri Lanka (Bregman 1985). The genus Salvazana has so far
had a distributional range covering China, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. The present record on the extension of
its distributional range westward by more than a thousand kilometers
to northeastern India can therefore also be
understood in light of the fact that the northeastern
part of India which was termed as the Ôeastern borderlandÕ by Mani (1974)
biogeographically together constitutes what is presently known as the
Indo-Chinese subregion.
Like many other cicadas, hardly anything is
known about the natural history and the annual seasonal phenology of S. m. mirabilis from the northeastern part of India in particular, although some
aspects of S. m. mirabilis is available
from Thailand (Boulard 2007, 2013); however, here in Shillong they appear to emerge during the vernal season and
appear to peak around the month of June–July. They most likely prefer tall pine tree
canopy for resting and also likely gather below the canopy layer of medium or
high trees (Pham & Yang 2009).
With regards to the occurrence of the sister subspecies, S.m. imperialis from this region, it
is expected that further fieldwork will be required to bring its ecology and
biogeography to light.
References
Boulard, M. (1999). A propos dÕune affichette cigales. Ecole Pratique des hautes Etudes, Travaux du laboratoire Biologie et Evolution des Insectes Hemipteroidea 11/12:
183–185.
Boulard, M. (2002). Ethologie sonoreet cartes dÕidentiteÕ
acoustiquede dix especes de
cigales thailandaises, donÕt
sixrestees jusquÕici inedites ou mal connues (Auchenorhynca, Cicadoidea, Cicadidae). Revue francaise dÕEntomologie 24: 35–66.
Boulard, M. (2007). The Cicadas of Thailand: General and Particular
Characteristics - Vol. 1. White Lotus Co., Ltd, Bangkok, 103pp.
Boulard, M. (2013). The Cicadas of Thailand: Taxonomy and Sonic
Ethology - Vol. 2. Siri Scientific Press, U.K., 436pp.
Bregman, R. (1985). Taxonomy,
phylogeny and Biogeography of the tridentigera group of the
Genus Chremistica Stal., 1870 (Homoptera, Cicadidae). Beaufortia 35(4):
37–60.
Chou,
I., Z. Lei, L. Li, X. Lu & W. Yao (1997). The Cicadidae of China
(Homoptera: Cicadoidea). Ilustrataj Insectfaunoj - Vol. 2. Tianze Eldoneio, Hong Kong, 380pp. (In Chinese with English
summary).
Distant,
W.L. (1913). Contributions to the
knowledge of Oriental Rhynchota, pp. 283–287.
In: ÒThe Annals and Magazine of the Natural HistoryÓ, 12(8). Taylor and Francis, London. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/71910#page/298/mode/1up.
Downloaded on 27 March 2017
Distant,
W.L. (1918). The Homoptera of
Indo-China, pp. 196. In: ÒThe Annals and
magazine of the Natural HistoryÓ, 50(9). Taylor and
Francis, London. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/61798#page/210/mode/1up.
Downloaded on 27 March 2017.
He, J. (1984). Descriptions
of two new genera and four new species of Cicadidae
from China (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha).
Contributions of the
Shanghai Institute of Entomology 4: 221–228.
Lee,
Y.J. (2008). A checklist of Cicadidae (Insecta: Hemiptera) from Vietnam, with some taxonomic remarks.
Zootaxa 1787: 1–27.
Lee,
Y.J. (2014). Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of Laos, with the description of four new genera
and two new species, Annales de la SociŽtŽ entomologique de France
(N.S.). International Journal of Entomology 50(1): 59–81; http://doi.org/10.1080/00379271.2014.934038
Mani,
M.S. (1974). Biogeography of the eastern
Borderlands, pp. 648–663. In: Mani, M.S. (ed.). Ecology and Biogeography in India. Dr. W. Junk Publishers, The Hague.
Moulds, M.S. (2005). An
appraisal of the higher classification of cicadas (Hemiptera:
Cicadoidea) with special reference to the Australian
fauna. Records of the Australian Museum 57: 375–446; http://doi.org/10.3853/j.0067-1975.57.2005.1447
Pham, H.T & J.T. Yang (2009). A contribution to the Cicadidae fauna of
Vietnam (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha),
with one new species and twenty new records. Zootaxa 2249: 1–19. web.nchu.edu.tw/pweb/users/jtyang/research/10279.pdf. Electronic version assessed on 3
April 2017
Price,
B., E. Allan, K. Marathe, V. Sarkar,
C. Simon & K. Kunte (2016). The cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae)
of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka: an annotated
provisional catalogue, regional checklist and bibliography. Biodiversity Data Journal 4:
1–156; http://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.4.e8051
Sanborn,
A.F. (2014). Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera : Auchenorrhyncha). Elsevier Inc., 939pp.
Sanborn,
A.F. (2015). The cicadas (Insecta:
Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of
Nepal with new records and a checklist of Himalayan cicadas), pp.
211–225. In: Hartmann, M. & J. Weipert
(eds.). BiodiversitŠt und Naturausstattung im Himalaya Vol.V. - Verein der Freunde
und Fšrderer des Naturkundemuseums
Erfuzxrt e.V.,
Erfurt. 580pp.
Sen, G.C., M. Ghosh & L.K. Ghosh (1998). Insecta: Homoptera; Cicadidae, pp. 271–289. In: State fauna Series 4: Fauna of Meghalaya, Part
4. Kolkatta: Zoological Survey of India. http://faunaofindia.nic.in/PDFVolumes/sfs/022/index.pdf