Redescription of Pomponia cyanea Fraser, 1948 (Hemiptera, Cicadidae) from the Western Ghats, with a note on its junior synonym P. zebra Bliven, 1964, syn. nov., and Terpnosia polei (Henry, 1931), from Sri Lanka

Abstract

Pomponia cyanea Fraser, 1948 from the southern Western Ghats, of peninsular India is redescribed based on the types and fresh specimens with additional data on distribution, morphometrics, and structure of male genitalia. The validity of P. zebra Bliven, 1964, originally described from the Anamalai Hills is discussed. A study of fresh specimens and holotype images of P. zebra revealed no difference in general morphology, wing venation, or structure of male genitalia so as to separate it from P. cyanea, and hence P. zebra is treated as a junior synonym of P. cyanea Fraser, 1948, syn. nov. The taxonomic status of Terpnosia polei (Henry, 1931) from Sri Lanka is revised based on male morphology and is transferred to its original genus as Pomponia polei Henry, 1931, comb. nov. A key to males of known species of Pomponia of Western Ghats is provided.