A new species of the genus Beameria (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) from North America

Abstract

Cicadas of the genus Beameria Davis are small, grass dwelling species found across much of western North America. We provide the first detailed description of the genus and describe the new species Beameria ansercollis sp. nov. Sanborn and M. Heath with this work. The morphology, biogeography, song parameters and thermal tolerances of the new and known species of Beameria are described and comparisons between the species are made. There are significant statistical differences in morphology, song parameters and thermal tolerances between the species of the genus. The biogeography of all species is illustrated. A key to the species of Beameria is provided.

Keywords:

• taxonomy
• new species
• biogeography
• song
• thermal responses

Acknowledgements

The following assisted with access to collections or provided specimens: J. Amrine (University of West Virginia), D. Arnold (K.C. Emerson Entomology Museum, Oklahoma State University), C. Barr (Essig Museum of Entomology, University of California Berkeley), C. Bartlett (University of Delaware), R. Baumann and S. Clark (Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University), C. Bills and E. Rickart (Utah Museum of Natural History, University of Utah), J. Brambila, D. Ziesk and S. Halbert (Florida State Collection of Arthropods), R. Brooks, G. Byers and K. Segelquist (Snow Entomology Museum, University of Kansas), R. Brown (Mississippi Entomological Museum, Mississippi State University), M. Caterino (Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History), P. Cato and P. Beller (San Diego Museum of Natural History), B. Clark and JoAnn Bellon (Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History, Albertson College of Idaho), W. Clark (Auburn University), N. Cobb (University of Northern Arizona), C. Cockendolpher (Museum of Texas Tech University), G. Dahlem (Cincinnati Museum of Natural History), S. Dash (University of Texas at El Paso), R. Davidson (Carnegie Museum of Natural History), M. Douglas (Arizona State University). M. Epstein, R. Froeschner and S. McKamey (Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History), R. Gill (California State Collection of Arthropods), W. Hanson (Utah State University), S. Heydon (Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis), K. Hobson (Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma), R. Hurley and M. Ivie (Montana Entomology Collection), E. Johnson (Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences), K.C. Kim (Frost Entomological Museum, Penn State University), B. Kondratieff (C.P. Gillette Museum of Biodiversity, Colorado State University), J. Liebherr and R. Hoebeke (Cornell University Insect Collection), T. MacRae and C. Marshall (Oregon State Arthropod Collection), F. Merickel (W.F. Barr Entomological Museum, University of Idaho), M. O'Brien (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology), J. O'Donnell, K. Hill and D. Marshall (University of Connecticut), C. Olson (University of Arizona), G. Parsons (A.J. Cook Arthropod Research Collection, Michigan State University), N. Penney (California Academy of Sciences), P. Perkins (Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University), A. Provonsha (Purdue University), B. Ratcliff (University of Nebraska), D. Richman (New Mexico State University Arthropod Museum), E. Riley (Texas A and M University Entomology Collection), E. Scherbrooke (South-western Research Station, American Museum of Natural History), R. Schuh and S. Oygur (American Museum of Natural History), O. Schwarz and C. Boake (University of Tennessee-Knoxville), A. Sharkov and C. Freeman (Museum of Biodiversity, Ohio State University), S. Shaw (University of Wyoming), R. Sites (Wilbur R. Enns Entomology Museum, University of Missouri), Eric Toolson (Museum of South-west Biology, University of New Mexico), M. Webb (Natural History Museum, London), J. Weintraub and D. Azuma (Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences), W. Xie (Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County), R. Zack (M.T. James Entomological Collection, Washington State University) and G. Zolnerowich (Kansas State Museum of Entomological and Prairie Arthropod Research). AFS wishes to acknowledge the financial support of Sr John Karen Frei of Barry University, a sabbatical leave at Barry University, Barry University Faculty Senate Mini-Grant, and a Collection Study Grant from the American Museum of Natural History. Two anonymous reviewers made suggestions that improved the manuscript.