Oteana Hoch, 2006, gen. nov.

Oteana gen. nov.

Type species: Oliarus euphranor Fennah, 1958: 131, Society Islands: Tahiti (Mt. Aorai)

Description

Habitus (fig. 1). Small to medium size cixiids (males 4.9–8.0 mm, females 5.5–9.0 mm) with moderately depressed body form, mesonotum pentecarinate, tegmina shallowly tectiform, translucent.

Head (figs 2–4)

Vertex long, narrow, ca. 1.5 times as long as posteriorly wide, in dorsal aspect surpassing the anterior margin of the compound eyes with ca. 1/3 its total length; lateral carinae ridged, converging anteriorly; median carina obsolete; posterior margin of vertex medially deeply incised. Areolets divided by a short robust median carina. Frons separated from vertex by a distinct transverse carina. Frons ca. 1.8 times as wide as medially long, widest at level of the antennae. Lateral ocelli distinct, median frontal ocellus present yet obsolete. Frontoclypeal suture parabolic. Frons and clypeus with a distinct median carina which forks towards the apex. Rostrum in repose attaining metatrochanters.

Antennae small, not visible in dorsal aspect. 1st antennal segment short, ring­like, 2nd antennal segment globose, irregularly beset with sense organs (plaques).

Thorax

Pronotum short, posterior margin deeply incised, only slightly wider than head, with distinct median and lateral carinae. Mesonotum pentecarinate, ca. 1.2 times as wide as medially long.

Tegmina and wings well developed. Tegmina shallowly tectiform, in repose surpassing tip of abdomen with ca. ¼ their total length. Tegmen (fig. 5) ca. 3.2 times longer than maximally wide. Apex of outer subapical cell slightly distad of apex of inner subapical cell. Intercubital transverse veinlet entering margin of tegmen distinctly distad of claval suture. Longitudinal veins inconspicuously granulate.

Legs (fig. 6) Metatibiae laterally generally with 3 small spines (except for the species from Moorea which display 1 and 2–3 spines, respectively), apically with 6 spines (5 arranged in an oblique row, lateral spine more strongly pronounced). Metabasitarsus ca. 1.5 times longer than 2nd and 3rd metatarsal joints together, distally with 7 spines in a slightly arched row (lateral spines are longest), 2nd metatarsal joint distally with 5 spines. Metatarsal joints without macrochaetae (platellae).

Male genital complex

Genital segment with laterodorsal margins strongly produced caudad in a subrectangular lobe with dorsal apical angles on the right or/and the left side more or less acute; thus, genital segment either bilaterally symmetrical or asymmetrical. Medioventral process in ventral aspect triangular, with fine lateral grooves converging ventrocaudally. Anal segment in dorsal aspect highly or broadly ovate, in most species bilaterally symmetrical. Parameres slender at base, with median portion bulging, apically produced dorsolaterally, in lateral aspect hook­shaped; mediodorsal margin more or less serrate. Aedeagus (fig. 7) with shaft and flagellum well developed. Shaft ventrally and apically with a characteristic set of spines. Inter­ and intraspecific variation is observed in the configuration of these spines. Flagellum long, in repose bent dorsobasad to the left side. Flagellum membranous, with a few more strongly sclerotized portions: at least one distal spine (fig. 7, b1) and a ventral, more or less triangular ridge near flagellum bend (fig 7, b2). Phallotreme at apex of flagellum (fig. 7, b3). To point out hypothesized homologous structures of the aedeagus in the species of Oteana, the same indications used in fig. 7 are referred to in the individual species descriptions.

Abbreviations: a, shaft (“periandrium” sensu Giffard 1925); b, flagellum (“phallus” sensu Giffard 1925); c, central part (“apodeme of phallus” sensu Giffard 1925); a1–a4, ventral spines of shaft (a1, right lateral spine; a2, median right spine; a3, median left spine; a4, left lateral spine); a5, apical shaft spine; a6, subapical shaft spine; b1, distal flagellum spine; b2, sclerotized ridge of flagellum; b3, phallotreme (“functional orifice” sensu Giffard 1925).

Female genitalia (fig. 8)

Caudal margin of 7th sternite shallowly sinuate, medially slightly concave. Ovipositor short, stout, in repose directed straight caudad. 9th tergite truncate, caudally concave, with wax producing area distinct, medially not divided. Anal segment plate­shaped, ventrally concave, wide at base. Ductus receptaculi tubular, not heliciform.

Etymology

Named after the traditional drum dance from Tahiti, the Otea. The gender is feminine.

Remarks

Oteana can be distinguished from other pentastirine genera by bodily proportions, shape and arrangement of spines of the metatarsi (7, 5, no platellae), and especially by the configuration of the male genitalia (arrangement of ventral and apical aedeagal shaft spines).