Discovery of the cicada genus Becquartina Kato, 1940 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae) in India with the description of a new species from Meghalaya

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.

Full text

https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5432.1.7
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0FE61F63-37EC-49B4-A118-D994DDF9E150
96 Accepted by A. Sanborn: 4 Mar. 2024; published: 27 Mar. 2024
Article ZOOTAXA
ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)
ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition)
Zootaxa 5432 (1): 096–108
https://www.mapress.com/zt/
Copyright © 2024 Magnolia Press
Discovery of the cicada genus Becquartina Kato, 1940 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae:
Cicadinae) in India with the description of a new species from Meghalaya
VIVEK SARKAR1,5,#, RODESON THANGKHIEW2,#, CUCKOO MAHAPATRA1, PRATYUSH P. MOHAPATRA3,
MANOJ V. NAIR4 & SUDHANYA R. HAJONG2,*
1North Orissa University, Department of Zoology, Sri Ram Chandra Vihar, Takatpur, Mayurbhanj, Baripada, Odisha 757003
�
viveksarkar87@gmail.com; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0091-0288
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2484-7324
²North-Eastern Hill University, Department of Zoology, Shillong-793022, Meghalaya
�
rodesonthangkhiew@gmail.com; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0366-2782
�
srhajong@nehu.ac.in; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6217-7800
3Zoological Survey of India, Central Zone Regional Centre, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8966-297X

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0063-0251
5Wildlife Institute of India -Category 2 Centre (WII-C2C) for World Natural Heritage Management and Training for Asia and the
Pacific Region, under the auspices of UNESCO, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001
#Equal First Authors
*Corresponding author
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.
Key words: Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, cicada, species discovery, natural history, Meghalaya, India
Introduction
The genus Becquartina was first proposed by Kato (1940), with an undetermined type species that was later to
be determined (Chou et al. 1997) to be Becquartina electa (Jacobi,1902) from Tonkin. Becquartina was placed
under the tribe Gaeanini Distant, 1905 and the monogeneric subtribe Becquartinina Boulard, 2005. Chen (1943),
described the genus Sinopsaltria which was later synonymized with Becquartina (Chou et al. 1997).
The Oriental genus Becquartina Kato, 1940 is currently represented by six species viz. B. decorata (Kato,
1940); B. electa (Jacobi, 1902); B. bifasciata (Chen, 1943); B. bleuzeni Boulard, 2005; B. ruiliensis Chou & Yao,
1985; and B. versicolor Boulard, 2005, distributed in China, Thailand and Vietnam (Sanborn et al. 2007; Sanborn,
2013). The species in this genus are often called ‘Butterfly cicadas’ because of their colourful wings (Boulard, 2007).
Some Becquartina species are also present in more than one morphological forms and thus exhibit polymorphism
in terms of body colouration. For instance, Becquartina versicolor, described by Boulard (2005) from Thailand,
consists of four distinct colour forms.
There is no record of the genus Becquartina from localities other than those previously reported from
Thailand, Vietnam, and China. There is also no record from India and its adjoining countries including Nepal,
Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar (Price et al., 2016). In the year 2017, VS recorded it for the first
time from South Garo Hills, situated in the western part of the Indian state of Meghalaya. The state of Meghalaya
geographically consists of the eastern Khasi-Jaintia hills and the western Garo hills. Subsequently it was also

DISCOVERY OF BECQUARTINA KATO, 1940 IN INDIA Zootaxa 5432 (1) © 2024 Magnolia Press · 97
independently recorded in the year 2020 by RT and SRH from the Ri Bhoi district within the Khasi Hills. It was
however not encountered elsewhere from any other localities, both these occurrence sites are separated by more than
150 km. There are however no records of its occurrence in between these localities. Investigations in terms of its
morphology and bioacoustics revealed the similarities in these two populations thus indicating a single species, but
appeared to be an unidentified and distinct from the other known Becquartina species of Southeast Asia. Hence, in
this paper we describe the taxonomy, bioacoustics and natural history of this new species.
Materials and methods
Specimen Collection and Processing: One of the authors (VS) first detected individuals of this species by means of
sonoguidance (Boulard 2007) from Garo Hills. Specimens were latter hand-picked opportunistically during the year
2017 and were initially preserved in 99% ethanol and later pinned with their wings expanded. The male genitalia
was extended before drying the sample. During the years 2020 to 2022, RT and SRH recorded, collected and made
observations on this species in a community forest located in the Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya. Specimens collected
from Ri Bhoi were also processed and dry preserved.
Imaging: Images of live cicadas from Garo Hills were photographed using Canon EOS-600D Rebel T3i DSLR
with Sigma 70–300mm APO-Digimacro lens; pinned specimens were photographed using Canon EOS-80D DSLR
with Canon 100mm macro lens, the male genitalia were photographed using Canon 18–55mm IS-II lens with
reverse mount ring. Photos of specimens were also taken from Ri Bhoi using Tamron 90 mm Macro lens mounted
on Nikon D7000 and Nikon P1000. Male genitalia was studied under a Carl Zeiss 508 stereo zoom microscope
attached with a Zeiss Axiocam 105 camera.
Type material: The holotype and paratype from Garo Hills are deposited in the collection of NCBS, Banglore,
India (NCBS). Other paratypes from the Ri Bhoi locality will be deposited at the Zoological Survey of India,
North East Regional Centre, Shillong, India (ZSIS) and are also stored in the Research Collection, Entomology
Laboratory, Department of Zoology, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong (DZNH).
Measurements: Morphometric measurements of the adult cicadas were based on Sarkar (2019).
Systematics: The higher classification is adopted according to Marshall et al. (2018). There are two colour
forms that are described for the species. The colour variations were found in both populations, are not geographically
isolated from one another, and apparently interbreed so they cannot be classified as subspecies. They are specified
as infrasubspecific entities here and under articles 15.2, 45.5 and 45.6 of the International Code of Zoological
Nomenclature (ICZN 1999).
Morphotaxonomy: The terminology used for the description of the adult cicada is adopted from Moulds
(2005).
Bioacoustics: Male timbalisation of specimens from Garo Hills were done using a Telinga unidirectional
microphone with a parabola connected to a Zoom H6 digital sound recorder. Timbalisation from Ri Bhoi site
were recorded with ZOOM H1 and H5 with the build in XY Microphone. Sound recordings were made in WAV
format with sampling rate of 48Khz in 24 Bit dynamic range. The recorded sound files were transferred to HP
Notebook laptop powered by Intel Core i5, 7th generation for further analysis. For viewing, analysing song signals,
and preparation of ‘Cards for Identification by Acoustics’ (CIA), a licensed version of Raven Pro 1.5 (Cornell Lab
of Ornithology) was used. Microsoft Excel was used for statistical evaluation. Terminology used for the acoustic
description is adopted from Baker & Chesmore (2020).
Results and Discussion
Taxonomy
Family Cicadidae Batsch, 1789
Subfamily Cicadinae Batsch, 1789

SARKAR 
98 · Zootaxa 5432 (1) © 2024 Magnolia Press
Tribe Gaeanini Distant, 1905
Subtribe Becquartinina Boulard, 2005
Genus Becquartina Kato, 1940
Type species Gaeana electa Jacobi, 1902
Diagnosis: The genus Becquartina is very similar to Gaeana Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843. As Kato (1940)
described, it differs from Gaeana by having a head (including eyes) broader than the base of the mesonotum and
the length is about half the distance between both eyes, apical area of the forewing longer compared to Gaeana with
fourth apical areas nearly approaching the radial area unlike Gaeana (Kato 1940a, 1940b). Boulard (2005, 2013)
provided further characteristics of the genus viz. head as wide as mesonotum, eyes not protruding, short rostrum not
extending beyond hind coxae, pronotum longer than head, lateral margin of pronotal collar widened, male opercula
short with a small protective shell-like appearance, abdomen slightly longer than forebody and ending in a very
short pygophorian cone, round timbal covers reduced and cover only a tiny part of timbal (Boulard, 2013). Based
on these characters the new species is described under the genus Becquartina.
Description
Becquartina bicolor sp. nov. (Table 1; Map 1; Figures 1–3)
Material Examined
Holotype. (saffron colour form). “INDIA/ Meghalaya/ S.G.Hills/ BNP/ 17.v.2017; NCBS-BH997/25°14'46.77"N,
90°51'41.83"E / 525 meters asl / V. Sarkar/1”male)/ (NCBS).
Paratypes. (white colour form) “INDIA/ Meghalaya/ S.G.Hills/ BNP/ 17.v.2017/NCBS-BH998/25°14'46.77"N,
90°51'41.83"E / 525 meters asl / V. Sarkar/ 1” female (NCBS); “INDIA/ Meghalaya/ Ri Bhoi District / Nongpoh/
Nongkhrah community forest / 18.v.2020; NEBIORES-259 and NEBIORES-260/ N25°56.219’; E091°52.4’/ 560
meters asl / R.Thangkhiew / 2” female (DZNH); “INDIA/ Meghalaya/ Ri Bhoi District / Nongpoh/ Nongkhrah
community forest / 18.v.2020; NEBIORES-261/ N25°56.219’; E091°52.4’/ 560 meters asl / R.Thangkhiew/1”
female (ZSIS); “INDIA/ Meghalaya/ Ri Bhoi District / Nongpoh/ Nongkhrah community forest / 26.iv.2021;
NEBIORES-262/ N25°56.219’; E091°52.4’/ 560 meters asl / R.Thangkhiew/1” male (ZSIS); “INDIA/ Meghalaya/
Ri Bhoi District / Nongpoh/ Nongkhrah community forest / 26.iv.2021; NEBIORES-263/ N25°56.219’; E091°52.4’/
560 meters asl / R.Thangkhiew/1” male (ZSIS); “INDIA/ Meghalaya/ Ri Bhoi District / Nongpoh/ Nongkhrah
community forest / 09.v.2021; NEBIORES-265/ N25°56.219’; E091°52.4’/ 560 meters asl / R.Thangkhiew/1” male
(DZNH); “INDIA/ Meghalaya/ Ri Bhoi District / Nongpoh/ Nongkhrah community forest /04.v.2021 and 09.v.21;
NEBIORES-264 and NEBIORES-266/ N25°56.219’; E091°52.4’/ 560 meters asl / R.Thangkhiew/2” male (DZNH);
“INDIA/ Meghalaya/ Ri Bhoi District / Nongpoh/ Nongkhrah community forest / 09.v.2021; NEBIORES-267/
N25°56.219’; E091°52.4’/ 560 meters asl / R.Thangkhiew/1” female (DZNH); “INDIA/ Meghalaya/ Ri Bhoi District
/ Nongpoh/ Nongkhrah community forest / 09.v.2021; NEBIORES-268/ N25°56.219’; E091°52.4’/ 560 meters asl /
R.Thangkhiew/1” female (DZNH); “INDIA/ Meghalaya/ Ri Bhoi District / Nongpoh/ Nongkhrah community forest
/ 08.v.2022; NEBIORES-269/ N25°56.219’; E091°52.4’/ 560 meters asl / R.Thangkhiew & S.R.Hajong/1” female
(DZNH); “INDIA/ Meghalaya/ Ri Bhoi District / Nongpoh/ Nongkhrah community forest / 09.v.2022; NEBIORES-
270/ N25°56.219’; E091°52.4’/ 560 meters asl / R.Thangkhiew/1” female (DZNH); “INDIA/ Meghalaya/ Ri Bhoi
District / Nongpoh/ Nongkhrah community forest / 09.v.2022; NEBIORES-271/ N25°56.219’; E091°52.4’/ 560
meters asl / R.Thangkhiew & S.R.Hajong/1” male (DZNH).
Etymology: The species name bicolor was used in reference to the fact that there are two distinct colour forms
of this species.
General Measurements: As given in Table-1
Description of Holotype (NCBS-BH997)

DISCOVERY OF BECQUARTINA KATO, 1940 IN INDIA Zootaxa 5432 (1) © 2024 Magnolia Press · 99
TABLE 1. Measurements (Males n=6; Females n=5).
Sl. No. Name of the body parts Males
(Average in mm)
Range
(min–max) mm
Female (Average
in mm)
Range
(min–max) mm
1. Fore wing 42.5 40.9–44 37.94 36.2–39.0
2. Hindwing 25.8 24.2–26.8 23.24 22.0–24.0
3. Width of the head 9.6 9.4–9.9 9.14 8.6–9.8
4. Length of the head 2.6 2.0–3.0 2.76 2.3–3.6
5. Width of pronotum 11.1 10.7–11.3 10.14 9.0–11.1
6. Length of pronotum 4.1 3.7–4.4 3.76 3.4–4.2
7. Width of mesonotum 9.4 9.4–9.8 8.8 8.2–9.9
8. Length of mesonotum 5.9 5.2–6.6 5.21 4.5–9.7
9. Length of metanotum 1.5 1.2–1.9 1.562 1.2–1.8
10. Length of abdomen 23.6 22–25 13.7 13.3–14.9
11. Length of rostrum (length of
rostrum including labrum and
mentum)
5.3 4.5–6.1 4.78 4.3–5.5
MAP 1. A. Map showing the location of Meghalaya on India map. B. Location of Meghalaya (type locality) on Northeast India.
C. Map showing the distribution of Becquartina bicolor sp. nov. in Meghalaya.

SARKAR 
100 · Zootaxa 5432 (1) © 2024 Magnolia Press
FIGURE 1. Becquartina bicolor sp. nov. A, C, E, G: Lateral view, dorsal view, wings and Ventral view of the male Cicada,
Form 1 (Holotype: NCBS-BH997) . B, D, F, H: Lateral view, dorsal view, wings and Ventral view of the female cicada, Form
2 (Paratype: NCBS-BH998). (Photo by V. Sarkar.)

DISCOVERY OF BECQUARTINA KATO, 1940 IN INDIA Zootaxa 5432 (1) © 2024 Magnolia Press · 101
FIGURE 2. Becquartina bicolor sp. nov. A, C: Dorsal view and ventral view of the male Cicada, Form 1. (Holotype: NCBS-
BH997). B, D: Dorsal view and ventral view of the female cicada, Form 2 (Paratype: NCBS-BH998). E, F: Posterior and lateral
view of the male genitalia. (Photo by V. Sarkar.)
Head: Black head with overlaid golden brown hairs, both dorsal and ventral sides. Eyes piceous, ocelli pale
sanguine. Two rich castaneous round spots, lateral to anterior arms of epicranial suture, adjacent to the lateral supra-
antennal plate. Postclypeus shiny dark brown with a median dark region at the apex, dark transverse groove with
overlaid golden brown hairs in between with few longer dark hairs. Junction between the lorum and postclypeus
appears golden. In both live and pinned specimen due to thick overlaying of golden brown hairs. Anteclypeus same
colour as the postclypeus, rostrum darker brown. Rostrum short, barely reaches 3rd basisternum. Scape and pedicel
of antenna dark, flagellum pale at the base and tip and dark in the middle.
Thorax: Dark chocolate brown thorax with areas overlaid with golden brown hair. Pronotum with a median
‘I’-shaped dark patch dorsally with mosaic of light to dark brown patches. Paramedian fissure and lateral fissure of
pronotum light brown. In live specimen, the pronotal collar uniformly dark brown, same as the central dark patch,
with thin pale lateral margin that briefly extends to the lateral angle. The colour of the pronotal collar is not as dark

SARKAR 
102 · Zootaxa 5432 (1) © 2024 Magnolia Press
as the median, ‘I’-shaped mark, dark patch and the pale lateral margin is more distinct and extends prominently to
lateral angle in pinned specimen. Mesonotum entirely dark chocolate brown except rich pale chestnut parapsidal
suture and thin pale chestnut lateral margin which is paler anteriorly towards the pronotal collar and turns darker
posteriorly towards metanotum and mix with the dark chestnut brown of the base colour. Scutal depressions are
of the same colour of mesonotum and look distinct due to the over laying golden brown hair-like structures in the
surrounding area. Scutellum has same dark chocolate brown colour as the mesonotum except for the basal pale
chestnut edge, adjacent to the first abdominal tergite. Wing groove of the metanotum dark brown. The outer edge
of the metanotum have a thick ridge which is brilliant turquoise in live specimens, with a brown inner part adjacent
to the mesonotum. The turquoise edge of the metanotum turns pale brown in pinned specimens. Legs dark and
covered with pale golden hairs. Tibia of second and third pair of legs with a thin and incomplete chestnut ring distal
to femur-tibia joint. Opercula globous, short, barely exceed half of second sternite, edged with thick golden brown
hairs. In live specimens, the opercula and ventral body are uniformly dark brown, almost blackish, whereas in
pinned specimens the operculum is paler compared to the base colour of the ventral thorax. Meracanthus short, not
exceeding the inner opercular margin.
FIGURE 3. Becquartina bicolor sp. nov. A, B: Cards for Identification by Acoustics (CIA).
Wings: Wings with two chromatic variations. Forewing with two fasciae, basal and post-internodal transverse,
rich orange or chestnut. Forewing with three apical spots in the proximal portion of apical cells 3, 4, and 5. All
forewing veins red except at the basal fasciae where arculus, cubitus posterior vein including first anal vein and
base of cubital anterior and median veins same as the colour of the fascia torques pale greenish. The veins of the
broad post-internodal transverse fascia of forewing green on teneral specimen, gradually turning red with time. This
oblong, spindle shaped, post-internodal transverse fascia broad at the centre and narrow at both ends, runs from the
costa to the hind margin without joining at both ends. Basal fascia covers entire clavus, more than half of cubital
cell and the trace of it at the base of both medial cell and radial cell. Basal one third of hindwing rich saffron and
apical two third matte black with prominent rich saffron squarish spots from 2nd to 4th sub-apical cells and traces of
spot on 1st and 5th apical cells. These sub-apical spots collectively appear as a sub-apical patch, divided by thin black
veins. The basal veins at the basal pale area same as the basal colour, rich saffron. Less than one third of basal anal
lobe saffron and rest is darker.

DISCOVERY OF BECQUARTINA KATO, 1940 IN INDIA Zootaxa 5432 (1) © 2024 Magnolia Press · 103
FIGURE 4. A, B: Habitat of Becquartina bicolor sp. nov. in Garo Hills; C: Habitat of B. bicolor sp. nov. in Ri Bhoi; D: B.
bicolor sp. nov. perched on a branch in its natural habitat in Ri Bhoi. (Photo, A & B by V.Sarkar; C & D by S.R.Hajong).
Abdomen: Abdomen matte black dorsally and piceous below. Timbal cover greatly reduced, cursorily covering
the timbal from posterior making the timbal exposed from above and side.
Male Genitalia: As shown in the image Figure-2.E. Genitalia simple. Median lobe of uncus is fused with
claspers which bifurcates narrowly at the distal end. Clasper narrows gradually and become pointed at the tip.
Aedeagus comes out from this bifurcation of claspers. The gonopore is elongated, slit like with shiny brown ridge-
like structure on both sides adjoining the claspers. Distal shoulders prominent.
Female (NCBS-BH998)
Head: Similar to the male but the spot at the outer side of anterior arm of epicranial suture, adjacent to the
supra-antennal plate pale greenish yellow.
Thorax: Thorax similar to male, dark chocolate brown with areas overlaid with golden brown hairs. Paramedian
fissure and lateral fissure of pronotum lighter than the black base. Rich pale chestnut parapsidal suture of mesonotum

SARKAR 
104 · Zootaxa 5432 (1) © 2024 Magnolia Press
and thin pale chestnut lateral margin paler towards the pronotum collar and turn darker gradually towards metanotum,
mixing with the dark chestnut brown of the base colour. Rest of the thorax same as in the male. Opercula small and
short, meracanthus exceeding distal opercular margin
Wings: Forewing with two fasciae, basal and post-internodal transverse fascia, greenish brown in live specimens
and turning orange-yellow in pinned specimens. Three apical spots present on proximal portion of apical cells 3–5.
All forewing veins red except at the basal fasciae where arculus, cubitus posterior vein including first anal vein and
base of cubital anterior and median veins turquoise to pale greenish. The veins of the broad post-internodal transverse
fascia of forewing green, even in older specimens. This post-internodal transverse fascia fleetingly broader than the
fascia in males, enters into the basal area of 7th and 5th apical cells. This spindle shaped median fascia runs from the
costa to the hind margin without joining at both ends, same as the male. Basal one third of hindwing pale, faintly
greenish white and apical two third matte black with pale squarish spots from 2nd to 4th sub-apical cells and traces
of spot on 5th apical cell. These white sub-apical spots with off-white borders (Figue-1.F) collectively appear as a
sub-apical patch, divided by thin black veins. The basal veins at the basal pale area yellowish off-white. Less than
one third of basal anal lobe white and rest darker.
Abdomen: Abdomen matte black dorsally and piceous below, same as the male.
Female Genitalia: The ovipositor sheath not extravagantly long, slightly exceeds 9th tergite. Gonocoxite IX
dark brown with pale or yellowish white base. Tip of the ovipositor sheath hairy, almost looks like a tuft of hair at
the end of the genitalia.
Colour forms: Two distinct colour forms were observed in individuals of both the sexes, this differences is
more apparent in the transverse fascia of the forewing and in the anal region of the hindwing (Figure-1; Figure-2A,
B, C, D; Figure-5). The two colour forms recognised in both the populations are as follows.
Colour form 1 (saffron colour form) (Figure 5. A, B)
In form 1 the post-internodal transverse fascia on forewing is rich orange or chestnut. Basal one third of hindwing
rich saffron and apical two third matte black with prominent rich saffron squarish spots from 2nd to 4th sub-apical
cells and traces of spot on 1st and 5th apical cells. These sub-apical spots collectively appear as a sub-apical patch,
divided by thin black veins (Figure-1.E). The basal veins at the basal pale area same as the basal colour, rich saffron.
Less than one third of basal anal lobe saffron and rest is darker.
Colour form 2 (white colour form) (Figure 5: C, D)
The second or form 2, has a post-internodal transverse fascia on forewing which is greenish brown in live specimen
and terns orange-yellow in pinned specimens. Basal one third of hindwing pale, faintly greenish white and apical
two third matte black with pale squarish spots from 2nd to 4th sub-apical cells and traces of spot on 5th apical cell.
These white sub-apical spots with off-white borders (Figure-1.F) collectively appear as a sub-apical patch, divided
by thin black veins. The basal veins at the basal pale area yellowish off-white.
Diagnosis: Becquartina bicolor is very different in appearance due to the lack of black veins and darker suffusion
along the venation in the forewing, unlike B. decorata, B. electa, and B. bifasciata. Compared to B. ruiliensis, B.
bicolor sp. nov. has a broad transverse fascia, three apical spots, and the basal fascia entering the radial cell on the
forewing and differs from B. bleuzeni, which has a narrow transverse fascia and basal fascia reduced only to the
claval area on the forewing, and with hindwing entirely black.
B. bicolor sp. nov., is a medium sized cicada with dark vestiture which morphologically resembles closely with
B. versicolor. Becquartina bicolor sp. nov. has the following morphological differences:-the forewing has three
apical spots at 3rd to 5th apical cell, all the veins are red; the basal one-third of the hindwing is pale, and the apical
two-third is matte black with pale spots from 2nd to 5th apical cells, unlike all the variations of B. versicolor where
the basal half of the hindwing is white or dark red or tinged with orange or significantly reduced to non-existent or
even the entire hindwing may be chestnut in colour and with rest of the apical area yellowish brown without spots.
The claspers of B. versicolor are more elongated, oblong at the distal end, and rounded at the tip, whereas B.
bicolor sp.nov. have tapered claspers that are pointed at the tip.

DISCOVERY OF BECQUARTINA KATO, 1940 IN INDIA Zootaxa 5432 (1) © 2024 Magnolia Press · 105
FIGURE 5. Colour forms of Becquartina bicolor sp. nov. Habitus: Paratype , A. Male (Saffron form). B. Female (Saffron
form) C. Male (White form), D. Female (white form) (Bar=1 cm) (Photo. S.R.Hajong)
B. versicolor have a continuous call consisting of short (0.14 to 0.15 second), repetitive, and near-uniform
oviform that are tightly compressed, 5 to 6 echemes per second. In contrast, complete male timbalisations of B.
bicolor sp. nov. last for 60 to 110 seconds, consisting of multiple longer echemes between 7 to 10 second long each.
The frequency intensity is highest at around 6kHz in the case of B. versicolor timbal call, whereas it is highest at
around 4kHz in the case of B. bicolor sp. nov.
Comparison to other known species of Becquartina
Based on all the known species of Becquartina a succinct descriptions for each species are provided below:
1. Body velvety black except for the yellow pronotal margin and dull yellowish ochraceous scutellar ribs. Forewing greyish
yellow with black veins and darker suffusion along venation. Straight transverse fascia near the centre completely cross the
forewing. From the base of costal margin to the node and claval area orange yellow. Hindwing apical area darker than forewing
and basal half orange yellow .........................................................B. decorata (Kato, 1940)
2. Body completely black except the pronotal margin and scutellar ribs which are brilliant yellow. Blackish-yellowish broad
forewings have contrasting yellow straight transverse fascia near the centre which completely cross the forewing. From the
base of costal margin to the node and claval area bright yellow and so is the basal half of the hindwing. Two line-like unbroken
depression in the sub-external part of the anterior femur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B. electa (Jacobi, 1902)
3. Body completely black except the pronotal margin and posterior lateral lobes which are natural orange. Forewing fuscous
except the extreme base including basal cell, costal area, costal vein, anterior margin of radial area and claval area which is
neutral orange. A broad orange transverse fascia run across the forewing from the apical portion of the radial area to the hind
margin. The basal half of the hindwing orange. Black veins of wings margined with greyish black which gradually diffuses . .
.............................................................................. B. bifasciata (Chen, 1943)
4. Big cicada, entire body is matte black. Pronotal collar entirely yellowish brown. Broad forewing completely yellowish brown
with very narrow continuous yellow transverse fascia and yellow and brown claval area. Hindwing completely velvety black
.............................................................................. B. bleuzeni Boulard, 2005

SARKAR 
106 · Zootaxa 5432 (1) © 2024 Magnolia Press
5. Similar to B. electa but smaller. The orange-yellow basal spot of forewing reduced, doesn’t touch the base and radial cells. No
black stripes along the veins. Two deep and wide depression in the sub-external part of the anterior femur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
..........................................................................B. ruiliensis Chou & Yao, 1985
6. Pronotum collar hemmed with yellowish brown and red. Dark forewing ribbed with red, and bright red costa and two yellow-
orange fasciae, one wide post-internodal fascia and another basal fascia containing the clavus and large part of cubital cell.
Basal half of the hindwing white and rest of the apical area is yellowish brown. Hindwing variable in colour, the basal half may
be dark red or tinged with orange or very reduced to non-existent or even the entire hindwing may be chestnut in colour . . . .
............................................................................. B. versicolor Boulard, 2005
7. Body black and brown dorsally and matte black ventrally. Forewing matte brown with two fasciae. Forewing veins red but
at both the fascia, veins are pale greenish, making the fascia undivided. Broad post-internodal transverse fascia of forewing
runs from the costa to the hind margin without joining, oblong spindle shaped broad at the centre and narrow at both ends.
Basal fascia covers entire clavus, more than half of cubital cell and the trace of it at the base of both medial cell and radial cell.
Sexually dichromatic. Basal one third of hindwing pale and apical two third is matte black with pale spots from 2nd to 5th apical
cells .................................................................................. B. bicolor sp. nov.
Distribution, biotype and behaviour: This cicada was first found in and around the plateau of Balpakram National
Park of South Garo Hills District of Meghalaya state in the year 2017. Later in 2020 the species was recorded from
Nongkhrah community forest near Nongpoh in the Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya. It has not been recorded from
other parts of Northeast India as of now. In the Garo Hills, the species prefers the thick forest at the gorge of the
Balpakram plateau making it almost impossible to collect and they are often seen in few fragmented parts of plateau
which have tall trees (Figure-4A&B). In Ri Bhoi, the habitat consists of native vegetation of a mixed subtropical
forest, especially vegetation located near low lying humid and shaded areas (Figure-4C).
This cicada was observed to be active from the third week of April to the middle of June. In the year 2017, the
first cicada was observed in the third week of April and last cicada was recorded in third week of June, the peak was
the second week of May at Garo Hills. In 2019, the cicada was observed from the last week of April to the first week
of June in the same locality. The die out of this species at the end of its annual activity seems to be greatly influenced
by the heavy, continuous monsoon shower at the Balpakram plateau. In Ri Bhoi, their appearance was recorded
during the month of April and remained until around the first week of June as observed during 2020 to 2022.
At Garo Hills, the males call rigorously from 7.30 am to 9.30 am and in the evening until dusk in a pseudo-chorus.
After the morning calling session, a male randomly calls once in a while, which often instigates the timbalising in
other nearby males but not at the intensity they show in the morning and evening. These calls are random and
with longer pauses between them. As the day progresses, the time between the calls reduces, and they call more
frequently towards the afternoon, which turns into rigorous and continuous calls by 4.30 pm and continues at the
same magnitude till dusk.
However, the calling pattern is bit different in Ri Bhoi District. Calls are heard during daylight hours beginning
around 8.30 am in the morning and continues until around 3.30 pm in the afternoon. Moreover, it is more pronounced
between around 10.30 am to 2.30 pm. Further, they were heard equally during warm and sunny or overcast days.
The new species is not a true heliophilous species, it settles at the shadowed canopies of higher perches of tall
trees, but they do need sun in the morning for calling. If overcast, the morning calling sessions are reduced or absent
or only participated by a few individuals. On 16th May 2017, a large congregation of this cicada was spotted and
observed at the plateau adjacent forest at Balpakhram National Park at around 5.15 pm. The cicadas were calling
even after sundown, passing the calling hour of the Pomponia linearis (Walker,1850)
Bioacoustics: The complete male timbalization of B. bicolor lasts for roughly 60 to 110 seconds, consisting
of multiple echemes (denoted as M). There is a brief pause (denoted as P) of ± 1.29 seconds (n=13) in between the
echemes (M). The duration of these echemes (M) in a call are not equal and in decreasing order, the first echeme
being the longest and the last being the shortest. This trend was seen in all the recorded calls. Figure-3.A shows the
temporal oscillogram transcribing 70 seconds of the full timbal call revealing a sequence of seven echemes (M) with
pauses (P) in between and the spectrogram corresponding to the previous oscillogram making these pauses (P) more
perceptible, despite of surrounding interference of other cicada species such as Platylomia operculata Distant, 1913.
Each echeme of this call is in descending order temporally. The duration of the first module is for 10.146 seconds,
followed by other modules of 9.746, 9.133, 9.057, 8.59, 8.499, and 7.408 seconds. A single selected module of
Figure-3.A is stretched in a space-time unit in Figure-3.B, allowing a better appreciation of the composition of both
phrases. The repetitive echemes (M) resemble prolonged arrowheads. Each echeme (M) has two distinct phrases,
a loose (22 pulses per second, ± 2 pulses, n=9), prolonged crackling, initiation phrase, denoted as I, and a short,
compact (66 pulses per second, ± 6 pulses, n=14), buzzer-like ending phrase, denoted as E, followed by an abrupt

DISCOVERY OF BECQUARTINA KATO, 1940 IN INDIA Zootaxa 5432 (1) © 2024 Magnolia Press · 107
stop (Figure-3.B). The pulses of the later part of the initiation phrase (I) become looser right before the initiation of
the ending phrase (E), forming longer gaps after every other pulse. The primary harmonic zone is staged between
3.5kHz and a little over 3.9kHz.
Proposed Common Name: Based on its appearance, the name ‘Bicolor Butterfly Cicada’ seems appropriate
for this species.
Remarks: Boulard (2007, 2013) termed many of the slow-flying, colourful cicadas as ‘butterfly cicadas’; such
as Gaeana, Talainga Distant, 1890, and Becquartina, based on which this term was used for its common name.
The species is a slow flier, fluttering flight resembles day flying moths or aposematic Sulphogaeana sulphurea
(Westwood, 1839) or Gaeana maculata maculata (Drury, 1773). In fluttering flight against the perpetual wind of
the Balpakram plateau, sometimes few of the wandering cicadas appear to be still in the flight and are taken far with
the wind current soon after giving up against the wind.
It is noteworthy to mention that in respect to its distribution, B. bicolor sp. nov. is recorded currently only from
areas adjacent to the Balpakram area, so far it has not been recorded from other adjoining areas. Similarly the same
species was recorded from a small community forest in Ri Bhoi district, which is also close to the Nongkhyllem
Wildlife sanctuary. It appears that B. bicolor sp. nov., has a patchy or disjunct distribution pattern and occur in
isolated patches of forests that have remained undisturbed. Only a future survey will reveal whether the distribution
of B. bicolor sp. nov. extends to the Western Himalayas and the Western Ghats.
Acknowledgements
V.S duly acknowledges Meghalaya Forest Department for research permit (No.FWC/G/173/Pt-III/2614-25,
dt.2017/02/02) and logistical support. We also followed guidelines of the National Biodiversity Authority of India
for collection of specimens for research purpose (Regulation no.17 (a) of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
Guidelines, 2014). VS and MVN thanks the Director of Wildlife Institute of India and Faculty In-charge of WII
Category-2 Centre for all the support. PPM acknowledges the Director, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and for
necessary facilities. VS, PPM and CM are grateful to Head, P.G. Department of Zoology, North Orissa University
for hosting this research. SRH and RT acknowledges Mr Celestin Syngkli, the village Headman, Nongkhrah
village, Ri Bhoi District; Bah Brasting Lyngdoh and Bah Donboklang Lyngdoh for field assistance. Ms. Pinky for
procuring rare reprints. SRH acknowledges with thanks to T.H.Pham, Drs. Young June Lee and David Marshall
for their comments. VS is thankful to Prof. Milton Sangma, P.R. Marak, S.N. Sangma, C.G. Momin, Skylance
Momin, Tushar Sangma, Santosh Sangma, James, Kendis, Rafael and Tahir Hussain from Garo Hills for all the
logistical support and assistance in field; and the headmen of Chimitap and Rongra villages. V.S thanks Pratap
Singh, Upma Manral, Anuranjan Roy and Debanjan Sarkar; Dave Marshall and Max Moulds for providing all the
related literature without which we could not have finished this manuscript; Niraj Kakati and Mayon Williams for
translating literature into English from Esperanto and Chinese; Navendu Page for relevant suggestions and last
but not the least, Michel Boulard and Stéphane Puissant for the long discussions on this cicada group and all the
guidance in preparing this manuscript. Dr. Krushnamegh Kunte, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore
for helping with deposition of type specimen in NCBS collection. The work done by VS was fully funded and
supported by the Rufford Foundation, UK under the Rufford Small Grant programme (RSG Reference: 21132-1).
Financial support to SRH from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, in the form of DBT
NEBIORES project (No.BT/01/17/NE/TAX, dated 09.03.2018) is acknowledged. SRH also acknowledge the Chief
Conservator of Forest & CWW, Govt of Meghalaya.
References
Amyot, C.J.B. & Audinet-Serville, J.G. (1843) 
Hémiptères. Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret, Paris, lxxvi + 676 pp.
https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.8471
Baker, E. & Chesmore, D. (2020) Standardisation of bioacoustic terminology for insects. Biodiversity Data Journal, 8 (e54222),
1–32.
https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.8.e54222

SARKAR 
108 · Zootaxa 5432 (1) © 2024 Magnolia Press
Batsch, A.J.G.K. (1789) n.k. In: Versuch einer Anleitung zur Kenntniss und Geschichte der Thiere und Mineralien für akademische
Vorlesungen entworfen, und mit den nöthigsten Abbildungen versehen. Zweyter Theil. Besondre Geschichte der Insekten,
Gewürme und Mineralien. Akademischen Buchhandlung, Jena, pp. 529–860, pls. 6–7.
https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.79854
Boulard, M. (2005) Description de deux espèces inédites de Cigales asiennes, dont une étonnamment polymorphe (Rhynchota,
Cicadoidea, Cicadidae). Revue Francaise d’Entomologie, Nouvelle Série, 21, 365–374.
Boulard, M. (2007) The Cicadas of Thailand, General and Particular Characteristics. Vol. 1. White Lotus Co., Ltd., Bangkok,
103 pp.
Boulard, M. (2013) The Cicadas of Thailand. Vol. 2. Taxonomy and Sonic Ethology. Siri Scientific Press, Manchester, 436 pp.
Chen, K.F. (1943) New genera and species of Chinese cicadas with synonymical and nomenclatorial notes. Journal of the New
York Entomological Society, 51, 19–52.
Chou, I., Lei, Z., Li, L., Lu, X. & Yao, W. (1997) The Cicadidae of China (Homoptera: Cicadoidea). Ilustrataj Insect-Faunoj.
2. Tianze Eldoneio, Hong Kong, 380 pp.
Chou, I. & Yao, W. (1985) Studies on the Gaeanini tribe from Cineo (Homoptera: Cicadaidae). Entomotaxonomia, 7, 123–140.
Distant, W.L. (1905) Rhynchotal notes-XXXI. Annals and magazine of Natural History, Series 7, 15, 304–319.
https://doi.org/10.1080/03745480509443047
Jacobi, A. (1902) Ṻber Neue Homopteren aus Tonking. Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin,
1902, 20–25.
https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.8452
International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (1999) International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. 4th Edition.
International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, London, 306 pp.
Kato, M. (1940) Description of a new genus with supplementary notes on Chinese Cicadidae in Musée Heude Collection.
(Homoptera: Cicadidae). Notes d’ntomologie Chineaise, 7, 203–204.
Latreille, P.A. (1802) Histoire Naturelle Genrale et Particulière, des Crustacés et des Insectes. Vol. 7. F. Dufart, Paris, 413 pp.,
pls. 58–66.
https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.15764
Marshall, D.C., Moulds, M., Hill, K.B.R., Price, B.W., Wade, E.J., Owen, C.L., Goemans, G., Marathe, K., Sarkar, V., Cooley,
J.R., Sanborn, A.F., Kunte, K., Villet, M.H. & Simon, C. (2018) A molecular phylogeny of the cicadas (Hemiptera:
Cicadidae) with a review of tribe and subfamily classification. Zootaxa, 4424 (1), 1–64.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4424.1.1
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.
https://doi.org/10.3853/j.0067-1975.57.2005.1447
Price, B., Allan, E., Marathe, K., Sarkar, V., Simon, C. & Kunte, K. (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 (e8051), 1–156.
https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.4.e8051
Sanborn, A.F. (2013) Catalogue of the Cicadoidea (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha). Elsevier/Academic Press, San Diego, 1001
pp.
https://doi.org/10.1016/C2013-0-00467-7
Sanborn, A.F., Phillips, P.K. & Sites, R.W. (2007) Biodiversity, biogeography, and bibliography of the cicadas of Thailand
(Hemiptera: Cicadoidea: Cicadidae). Zootaxa, 1413 (1), 1–46.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1413.1.1
Sarkar, V. (2015) How to study cicadas in the field? (A manual to study cicadas). Cicadas of india, Indian Foundation for
butterflies. Available from: http://www.indiancicadas.org/A_Manual_To_Study_Cicadas_Vivek_2015-10-30.pdf (accessed
9 March 2020)
Sarkar, V. (2019) A note on the taxonomy and natural history of the Summer Clicker  (Distant, 1891) (Insecta:
Hemiptera: Cicadidae) along with its distribution in northern West Bengal, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 11, 14128–
14136.
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3193.11.9.14128-14136