Mata meghalayana Sarkar & Mahapatra & Mohapatra & Nair & Kunte 2021, sp. nov.

3. Mata meghalayana sp. nov.

(Map 1; Figures 10,11,12,13,14)

3.a. Type Material details: Holotype: Collection Voucher Code is VS-AA468 and Specimen Voucher Code of the holotype is NCBS-BH999. Male, the type locality of this species is Mawkisiyem village, (25°16'26.83"N, 91°43'31.10"E) of Sohra (Cherrapunjee) East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya (Map-1). The specimen was captured by a spider and fell from the high canopy. It was photographed and collected on 17 th September, 2017 by Vivek Sarkar. The specimen was preserved in ethanol after collection. Two legs and a chunk of thoracic tissue was preserved in absolute ethanol and the specimen was pinned and dried later in December, 2019. It is deposited in the Research Collections Facility at NCBS, Bengaluru (=Bangalore), India (NCBS).

3.b. Diagnosis: Like Mata ruffordii sp. nov., this species also appears to have a combination of characters from both the previously known species of Mata. Similar to M. kama in having prominent spots on the radiomedial crossvein and faint infuscation on the medial crossvein, mediocubital crossvein, first cubitus anterior vein and median veins, the male opercula are short and entirely green with traces of black at the entire posterior edges (Fig-1A&B) but unlike M. kama this thin border is only on the inner edges of the opercula. The anterior and dorsal half of the timbal cover of this species is black, similar to that of M. rama while in M. kama the anterior angular black spot of the timbal cover does not extend dorsally (Fig-1C&D). The lateroposterior part of the timbal cover is prominently white and overlaid with fine white scales unlike Mata rama which has a predominantly black timbal cover with traces of fine white scales laterally. In addition, Mata rama has prominent infuscation only on the radial and radiomedial crossveins and the male opercula have broad dark edges that are broadly suffused inwardly unlike this new species.

3.c. Etymology: This species was first discovered on the Sohra (Cherrapunjee) plateau of Meghalaya and on further investigation it was found that among the three newly discovered species of Mata from Meghalaya, this species is most widely distributed in the state hence the species was named as ‘meghalayana’.

3.d. General Measurements:

3.e. Type series: Holotype: “ INDIA / E. K. Hills Dist., Meghalaya / Mawkisiyem / Sohra (Cherrapunjee) / Vivek S coll./ VS- AA468 / 17.ix.2017 / NCBS-BH999 ”, male (NCBS).

3.f. Description

3.f.1. Holotype

Head: Postclypeus greenish brown with prominent thin black median line which bifurcates dorsally and continues as a black patch to the brown supra-antennal plates. Postclypeus transverse grooves green with some pollinosity. Eyes green in live specimens which turn completely uniform pale brown in pinned specimens. Ocelli pale sanguine, more pinkish. Epicranium brown with faint green patches at the posterior end and adjacent to pronotum in live insects but entire vertex turns pale brown in pinned specimens. Vertex with thin black patches, resembling borders adjacent to eyes, marks continues anteriorly and extend to edge of supra-antennal plate but do not enter. From both dorsal corners of the postclypeus, clubbed-shape spots extend from the thin dark border of epicranium. Pedicels brown, antennal flagellum black. Area around ocelli black, mark extends posteriorly to adjacent to pronotum and anteriorly on frons adjacent to postclypeus. Lorum pale brown with black base adjacent to the anteclypeus. Anteclypeus green in live insect, turns pale brown in pinned specimens. The median line of postclypeus incompletely continues in anteclypeus which has black outer margins at the base, adjacent to the labrum. Greenish brown rostrum with less than one tenth of its length black, at the tip.

Thorax: The base colour of the pronotum green with brownish tinge at the sutures in live insects, the entire thorax yellowish brown in pinned specimens. Pronotum with a mid-dorsal brown arrow-shaped marking pointing posteriorly surrounded by thin black border. Spaces between lateral fissure, paramedian fissure and inner edges of pronotal collar with irregular patches of black. Inner lateral part of pronotal collar with thin black border. Entire pronotal collar green, turning pale brown in pinned specimens. Two barely joined black spots anterior to lateral angle of pronotal collar. Posterior part of pronotal collar with prominent, thin black margin, extending from one end of lateral angle to another. Mesonotum greenish brown with greener dorsolateral parts and brownish median part in live insects that turns yellowish brown in pinned specimens. Mid-dorsal black arrow-shaped marking with paper kite-like arrow head pointing posteriorly on mesonotum. Parapsidal suture brown. Submedian sigilla with a fish hook or “J” shaped black spot bordered along the parapsidal suture. Lateral sigilla green with posterior thin black border which looks like oblong, bent, dorsolateral spots adjacent to the metanotum. Two dorsolateral oblong spots at each side, adjacent to submedian sigilla, one of which attached to the thin black border of pronotal collar. Scutellum plain green in live insects and uniform brown in pinned specimens. Metanotum green with small triangular black patch beyond wing groove. Forewing completely transparent with very faint traces of brown amber at the base. Tip of the transparent basal cell of forewing infuscated. Prominent infuscation on radial and radiomedial crossveins and faint infuscation on medial crossvein, mediocubital crossvein, first cubitus anterior vein and median veins of forewing. Costa of the forewing greenish brown to node and dark brown past the node. Basal veins such as arculus, first cubitus anterior vein, cubitus posterior veins, basal median vein of the forewing greenish brown in live insects which gradually turn dark brown in distal veins. The greenish brown colour of basal veins of live insects turns pale brown in pinned specimens. Median vein prominently white at node, proximal to confluence of radius anterior and radius posterior. Hindwing completely transparent with black to dark brown veins except the piceous base of cubitus anterior vein and first anal vein. The basal membrane of forewings completely greyish black and jugum of hindwings partially greyish black with white. Base colour of all the legs mostly green with pale brownish patches in live insects but turns uniformly pale yellowish brown in pinned specimens. Foreleg green with darker tip. Primary and secondary spine of the femur blackish brown and the region around the spines of the green femur black with bands basally. Tibia of foreleg green with dark brown terminus at the junction of metatarsus. Metatarsus and mesotarsus dark brown and pretarsus pale brown with only the tip including the claw dark brown. Similar coloration of tarsomeres and tibia in the middle legs with the exception of entirely green femur with some traces of black. Hind leg femur greenish brown with black proximal to greenish brown distal end. Tibia green at the proximal end, gradually turning brown towards the tip. Tarsomeres same colour as the distal end of the tibia. Tibial spurs and tibial comb of hind leg pale greenish brown with dark brown pointed tip. Meracanthus pale greenish brown with narrow dark brown base. Opercula short, entirely green with traces of black on posterior edges, appearing as thin border only on the inner edges of the opercula. Ventral side of the thorax overlaid with fine white scales to some extent but do not obscure the base colour completely.

Abdomen: First tergite, brown with thin posterior black margin, overlaid with fine white scales in live specimens. Second tergite rich brown mid-dorsally with thin green posterior border which broadens posterior to timbal covers. The middle brown patch of the second tergite bordered with black spots as an extension of the black patch from the timbal cover. This black border extends partially between the median brown patch and green posterior bor-der. Timbal cover almost half black and half white, the anterior and dorsal part of timbal cover black and remaining posterolateral half overlaid with white fine scales which do not enter onto third tergite. Third tergite chestnut colour with dark rich brown laterally, the remainder it paler chestnut brown. Series of dorsolateral dark brown patches, two in each tergite, from third to seventh tergite, shifting outwardly in every subsequent tergite making the patch appear inner most at the third tergite and almost laterally in seventh tergite. All tergites have thin green posterior border. Eighth tergite dark rich chestnut with broad posterior green border adjacent to the pygofer and with two, almost circular, dorsolateral patches adjacent to seventh tergite. All sternites uniform rich chestnut brown except the seventh and eighth sternite. Seventh sternite with dark brown posterior border and paler eighth sternite with lateral dark edges and a central elongated dark line. Ventral side of the abdomen with some fine white scales but not heavily overlaid.

Male Genitalia: As shown in the Fig.14 E&F. Pygofer pale brown which turns dark gradually at the protruded distal shoulder. Apex of pygofer with a lateral, oblong, rectangular pale brown patch adjacent to the distal shoulder. Dark brown edge of the pygofer from the rudimentary upper lobe to the distal shoulder gradually turning darker. Prominent dorsal beak dark with tiny brown hair like structures. Anal style and anal tube dark brown overlaid with tiny hairy structures. Median lobe of uncus pale brown, bulbous and not broad or flat at the tip, rather globous at the edge. The edges of the median lobe straight at the opening of the aedeagus. Chestnut aedeagus tube-like with tapered end and slender white membranous gonopore which extends as a slit dorsally.

3.g. DISTRIBUTION: Apart from the type locality, this cicada was found in different forested parts of the Sohra (Cherrapunjee) plateau such as Mawmloh, Maraikaphon, Khliehshnong, Wahlong, Wahkaba, Khleishinong, Ramakrishna Mission adjacent to the sacred area in and around Nohkalikai Falls, Nongriath, Pomsomen, Umidengpoh, Laitrengew, Mawkodok; Parts of Shillong Peak; forested parts of Ladmawphlang, Mawphlang, Mawsinram, Nongstoin, and Mairang of Khasi Hills; elevated parts of the Saipong Reserve Forest and Mawlynnong of Jaintia Hills; and Nokrek Peak of Nokrek National Park and parts of the Balpakram Plateau.

3.h. BIONOMICS

3.h.1. Habitat type: Very similar to Mata ruffordii sp. nov. when it comes to habitat preferences but also largely found in the thick forests of the plateau comprising species of Prunus L., Rhododendron, L., Castanopsis (D. Don) Spach. and other plants. Found on well forested slopes at 900 meters ASL and above.

3.h.2. Annual adult activity period: Same as Mata ruffordii sp. nov.

3.h.3. Behaviour: Crepuscular, similar to Mata ruffordii sp. nov., active only at dusk but does not call at dawn. Very weary, males start calling after the males of Mata ruffordii sp. nov. start emitting the timbalized signals and also stops earlier than its associate. This behaviour was studied from 11 th September 2017 to 10 th October 2017 and it was found that male timbalization sessions last only for 25 minutes on average per day. Dendrophilous in nature, usually taking shelter in thick foliage of the upper perches, making it very hard to spot. Once it finds a suitable position, the male stays inactive in one location for days. One individual was spotted near the Maraikaphon-Mawkisiyem border road at the hill top forest and was observed in the same location of the same tree for 12 days from 28 th September to 9 th October, 2017 despite the occurrence of strong winds and thunder storms during that time. The individual did not change its position despite all these disturbances. This cicada is very hard to capture in the conventional way as one cannot swing the long handheld sweep net due to the tightly packed upper canopy and attempting to climb the tree or nearby trees would make the upper canopy shake causing the insect to fly. Despite several attempts, the only specimen that was collected was due to the extremely lucky encounter where one individual was attacked by a spider and fell on the ground. Female and its behaviour unknown.

3.h.4. Acoustics: Male timbalization resembles the timbalization of Mata lenonia sp. nov. to the observers in the field but is more prominent and bold with abrupt random pauses during the call. Fig.13A shows the temporal oscillogram and spectrogram based on the recording of almost 20 seconds, illustrating in real time, part of the prolonged call with the abrupt pauses. The spectrogram illustrates the wide frequency spread of the call ranging from 3KHz to 21KHz. Average spectrogram illustrating major call energy between 3335 Hz to 5327Hz with maximum energy between 4545Hz and 5300Hz. Spectrogram also illustrates a harmonic series at intervals of about 4 kHz. The sudden pauses are more frequent towards the beginning and ending of their prolonged calling bout (Fig.13B). Like Mata lenonia sp. nov., the call is comprised of tightly packed signals which sound like a drumming-like buzz but more pure-toned, focused on a narrow band of frequencies. Fig.13C illustrates the temporal oscillogram and spectrogram representing the selected part of Fig.13B which is expanded to illustrate these repetitive signals. There are 80 such signals per second on average (n=18). Each of these repetitive sequences consists of two predominant pulses (Fig.13D) which are at 0.003 seconds intervals without exception. The interval between the last pulse of a sequence and first pulse of the next repetitive sequences is generally 0.01 seconds with occasional exceptions of 0.009 seconds of interval in few cases (n=30).

3.i. Proposed Common Name: Meghalayan Spotted-back cicada

3.i.1. Justification: The justification of classifying all the species in the genus Mata as ‘Spotted-back cicadas’ is explained in the common name of Mata lenonia sp. nov. This species is named as ‘ meghalayana ’ as it was first discovered in Meghalaya and it also has the widest distribution in the state of all the newly described Mata species from the state so that this common name is suggested.