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Gaeanini Maurice Noualhier Papers and Documents Vittagaeana

A new genus Vittagaeana and a new Cicada paper to go with it

Recently a new paper was published with the authors Kathy B. R. Hill, David C. Marshall, Kiran Marathe, Maxwell S. Moulds, Young June Lee, Thai-Hong Pham, Alma B. Mohagan, Vivek Sarkar, Benjamin W. Price, J. P. Duffels, Marieke A. Schouten, Arnold J. de Boer, Krushnamegh Kunte and Chris Simon titled The molecular systematics and diversification of a taxonomically unstable group of Asian cicada tribes related to Cicadini Latreille, 1802 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) in Invertebrate Systematics, 2021, 35, 570—601. Link to the paper.

Here’s the abstract:

Abstract. The cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) related to tribe Cicadini exhibit some of the most remarkable phenotypes in the family, with many genera possessing striking colour patterns and unusual morphological features. This largely Asian group of 13 tribes has proven challenging for cicada taxonomists, in part because of likely convergent evolution or losses of these phenotypes. We present the first focused molecular phylogeny of this clade, including ~60 described genera. The genetic dataset contains 839 ingroup-informative sites (out of 2575) from mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, nuclear elongation factor-1 a, and nuclear acetyltransferase. We use Bayesian and maximum likelihood trees to test recent changes in tribe- and subtribe-level classification, and we reconstruct ancestral character states for potentially convergent traits influencing tribe descriptions. We use fossil and molecular clock calibrations to estimate the temporal and geographic context of the radiation. The tribes Gaeanini, Leptopsaltriini, Platypleurini, Psithyristriini, and Tosenini appear polyphyletic and in need of revision, in part because of convergent evolution of opaque wings and multiple convergent gains or losses of abdominal tubercles. Kalabita Moulton, 1923 is transferred from Platypleurini to Leptopsaltriini. Vittagaeana gen. nov. is established for Vittagaeana paviei comb. nov. and Vittagaeana dives comb. nov., formerly in Tosena. Sinosenini syn. nov. is synonymised with

As part of the paper, we get a new genus, Vittagaeana, made up of two cicadas formerly belonging to the genus Tosena. They were likely placed under Tosena because of the white line on their forewings, but after a review of genetics and other features, they have been given their own genus. They are closely related to the genera Ambragaeana, Callogaeana, Gaeana, Sulphogaeana and Trengganua. Also similar to Balinta, Paratalainga, and Talainga.

Vittagaeana dives (Westwood, 1842), formerly Tosena dives:
Tosena dives (Westwood, 1842)
More info: Vittagaeana dives (Westwood, 1842)

Vittagaeana paviei (Noualhier, 1896), formerly Tosena paviei:
Tosena paviei
More info: Vittagaeana paviei (Noualhier, 1896)

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Brood X Jim Occi Magicicada Periodical

Brood X Magicicada photos by Jim Occi taken in Princeton, set 6

Brood X Magicicada photos by Jim Occi taken in Princeton, set 6. 2021.

Teneral Magicicada:
Teneral Magicicada

Teneral Magicicada:
Teneral Magicicada

Magicicada septendecim that failed to completely exit its exuvia before its body hardened:
Magicicada Jim Occi

Magicicada septendecim that failed to completely exit its exuvia before its body hardened:
Magicicada Jim Occi

A pair of Magicicada septendecim:
A pair of Magicicada Jim Occi

More from Jim Occi:

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Brood X Jim Occi Magicicada Periodical

Brood X Magicicada photos by Jim Occi taken in Princeton, set 5

Brood X Magicicada photos by Jim Occi taken in Princeton, set 5. 2021.

Molting Magicicada:
Molting Magicicada

Teneral Magicicada:
Teneral Magicicada

Teneral Magicicada:
Teneral Magicicada

Teneral Magicicada expanding wings:
Teneral Magicicada

Adult Magicicada with crumpled wings:
Adult Magicicada with crumpled wings

More from Jim Occi:

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Brood X Jim Occi Magicicada Periodical

Brood X Magicicada photos by Jim Occi taken in Princeton, set 4

Brood X Magicicada photos by Jim Occi taken in Princeton, set 4. 2021.

A Rutgers cap in Princeton (one day Rutgers needs to get that cannon back).
R

Magicicada septendecim with exposed tymbal:
Exposed tymbal

A Magicicada with its abdomen wrecked by Massospora fungus.
Magicicada wrecked by Massospora

Magicicada exit holes:
Magicicada holes by Jim Occi

A pair of Magicicada septendecim:
A pair of Magicicada

More from Jim Occi:

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Brood X Jim Occi Magicicada Periodical

Brood X Magicicada photos by Jim Occi taken in Princeton, set 3

Brood X Magicicada photos by Jim Occi taken in Princeton, set 3. 2021.

Magicicada septendecim on finger:
Perched on finger

Teneral, newly molted Magicicada:
Teneral Magicicada

Magicicada septendecim perched on a plant stalk:
Magicicada on plant Jim Occi

A mass of Magicicada skins:
A mass of exuvia by Jim Occi

Magicicada septendecim on a leaf:
Magicicada on leaf

More from Jim:

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Brood X Magicicada Ovipositing Periodical

Magicicada cassinii photos from Brood X

Here are some Magicicada cassinii photos from Brood X, 2021, Flemmington, New Jersey.

Magicicada cassinii ovipositing
Magicicada cassini ovipositing

M. cassinii taking a drink:
Taking a Drink Cassini

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Magicicada

Zombie Cicadas??!

M. septendecim missing the body

Magicicada cicadas are often the victims of bird attacks or fungus infestation, which results in the removal of the cicada’s abdomen. Sometimes a bird removes the cicadas head. In both cases, the cicada’s body keeps moving, and some people question whether or not the cicada then becomes a zombie. No, the cicada does not become a zombie.

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Flagging Magicicada Ovipositing Periodical

Examples of flagging from Brood X in Princeton

When Magicicada cicadas deposit eggs into a tree branch sometimes the branch dies, the leaves turn brown, and the branch droops like a flag. This is called flagging.

Here are some examples of flagging from the Brood X emergence in Princeton, NJ.

Typically flagging is more impactful to trees imported to North America, but it also impacts native species. The positive aspect is it prunes weaker branches, which helps the tree, and helps other plants in the shade of the tree.

If you want to learn whether eggs/larva survive flagging read FLAGGING: HOSTS DEFENCES VERSUS OVIPOSITION STRATEGIES IN PERIODICAL CICADAS (MAGICICADA SPP., CICADIDAE, HOMOPTERA) by JoAnn White. Hint: very few survive.

A small tree with flagging:
A small oak with flagging

Flagging up close:
Flagging up close

Another small tree with flagging:
Another small tree with flagging

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Brood X Magicicada Periodical

Brood X Magicicada Photos from Princeton

These are a set of Brood X Magicicada photos from Princeton, nearby a Burger King, an area with a large population of Magicicada septendecula. Taken in 2021 by Dan Mozgai.

Left to right: Magicicada cassini, Magicicada septendecula, Magicicada septendecim:
Left to right: Magicicada cassini, Magicicada septendecula, Magicicada septendecim:

Magicicada septendecim with a black wing margin:
Magicicada septendecim with a black wing margin

Magicicada septendecim with a black wing margin:
Magicicada septendecim with a black wing margin

A pair of Magicicada septedecim:
A pair of Magicicada

Magicicada septendecim:
Magicicada septendecim

Magicicada septendecim:
Magicicada septendecim

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Brood X Jim Occi Magicicada

Brood X Magicicada photos by Jim Occi, set 2

Here’s the second set of Brood X Magicicada septendecim photos by Jim Occi. The photos were taken in New Jersey in 2021.

Magicicada septendecim:
Magicicada photo by Jim Occi

Magicicada septendecim:
Magicicada septendecim: by Jim Occi

Magicicada septendecim:
Magicicada septendecim: by Jim Occi

Magicicada septendecim:
Magicicada septendecim: by Jim Occi

More photos by Jim: