The name Leptosemia takanonisMatsumura, 1917 (Fig. 1) has long been applied to a cicada species native to the Korean peninsula. Kishida (1929) described Euterpnosia inanulata from a female specimen collected at Daewon Temple in southern Korea, and shortly afterward Doi (1931) described Chosenosemia souyoensis based on a male specimen from Mt. Soyo in the central Korean peninsula.

Kato (1933) later corrected the name “Leptosemia souyoensis Doi” to “Leptosemia takanonis Matsumura”, arguing that the species had already been recorded from western China. Kato (1934) subsequently synonymized Chosenosemia souyoensisDoi, 1931 with Leptosemia takanonisMatsumura, 1917.

However, Ôuchi (1938) noted differences between male specimens identified as Leptosemia souyoensis from Zhejiang Province (eastern China) and Leptosemia takanonis from Sichuan Province (western China). He observed that the former lacked fuscous spots on the lateral abdomen and showed different leg coloration. Based on these differences, he resurrected L. souyoensis as a valid species from junior synonymy with L. takanonis. Although Ôuchi’s conclusion was based on a specimen from Zhejiang, which may not be conspecific with the Korean population originally assigned to souyoensis, his observations nonetheless suggest the distinction between the far eastern (souyoensis) and western Chinese (takanonis) lineages. Comparable material from eastern China was not available to the present study, so the treatment below relies primarily on Korean specimens (Figs. 2 & 3) and Chinese records.

Recently obtained photographs of the holotype male specimen of Leptosemia takanonisMatsumura, 1917 (Fig. 1) show that the specimen is in poor condition, with a distorted abdomen and unspread wings. Thus, the abdominal coloration and wing venation cannot be reliably compared with other specimens. Nevertheless, several diagnostic features remain visible. In the holotype (takanonis), the opercula are somewhat roundish and horizontally elongate, whereas those of the Korean population (identified as inanulata/souyoensis) are more rectangular and distinctly longitudinally elongate (Fig. 2). Matsumura’s (1917) original description supports this distinction, noting that takanonis has broader male opercula than Leptopsaltria sakaii Matsumura, 1913 [= Leptosemia sakaii] (Fig. 4). In contrast, the opercula of the Korean population (Fig. 2) are not broader than those of sakaii. In addition, the holotype male of takanonis lacks a fuscous lateral margin on the opercula, whereas the Korean population consistently shows a distinct fuscous margin.

The shape of the male abdominal sternite VII also differs markedly between the two taxa: in takanonis, it is horizontally elongate and rectangular, with a sharply indented posterior margin, whereas in the Korean taxon (inanulata/souyoensis), it is rhombic, with three sides of similar length and only a slight, or sometimes no, posterior indentation.

Further evidence for separation comes from Chen (1943), who noted a striking difference in the shape of the male abdomen when describing Leptosemia huasipanaChen, 1943. He remarked that “L. huasipana has a cylindrical abdomen, quite distinct from the tapering abdomen of L. takanonis.” A photograph of the dorsal habitus of L. takanonis from China (Chou et al., 1997: Pl. 10, fig. 105) confirms this, showing a triangular and posteriorly tapering abdomen, unlike the cylindrical abdomen characteristic of the Korean specimens (inanulata/ souyoensis).

Although some distortion of abdominal shape can occur during preparation of pinned specimens, the difference in overall habitus agrees with Matsumura’s original description and with the additional characters noted above. Taken together, these distinctions strongly support the separation of the Korean population from takanonis.

Despite these findings, Kato continued to treat souyoensis as a junior synonym of takanonis (Kato, 1940;1956), and his interpretation has been widely accepted without re-evaluation (cf. Lee, 1995, 1999, 2005;Chou et al., 1997). Meanwhile, Lee (1995) considered Euterpnosia inanulataKishida, 1929 a misidentification of L. takanonis, assuming souyoensis and takanonis were conspecific. Later, Lee (2008) formally, though erroneously, synonymized E. inanulata with L. takanonis.

Based on the morphological evidence presented above, Leptosemia souyoensis (Doi, 1931) stat. rev. is here resurrected from synonymy with L. takanonisMatsumura, 1917. As Euterpnosia inanulata and Chosenosemia souyoensis share the same type locality (the Korean peninsula) and show no significant diagnostic differences, the two are regarded as conspecific. Accordingly, Leptosemia souyoensis (Doi, 1931) stat. rev. & syn. nov. is newly synonymized with Leptosemia inanulata (Kishida, 1929) stat. rev. & comb. nov. (Figs. 2 & 3).

The present paper provides a formal diagnosis of L. inanulata, summarizes the taxonomic history of L. inanulata, and designates a neotype of Euterpnosia inanulataKishida, 1929. Generic-level relationships within Leptosemia are not addressed here, as the focus of this paper is the clarification of species identity based on currently available evidence.

Materials and Methods

This study is based primarily on examination of adult specimens of the Korean taxon long treated as Leptosemia takanonis, supplemented by photographs of the type specimen of Leptosemia takanonis and by a comprehensive review of the relevant literature. A series of male and female specimens of the Korean species from the author’s collection were examined (see Neotype and Other material examined). The assessment of Leptosemia takanonis is based on photographs of its holotype male specimen provided by the Laboratory of Systematic Entomology, Hokkaido University (Fig. 1), which allow direct comparison of key external characters.

Terminology for morphological features generally follows Moulds (2005). Nomenclature for tribal and subtribal classification follows Lee (2014).

Taxonomic Accounts

Tribe Leptopsaltriini Moulton, 1923

Subtribe Leptosemiina Lee, 2013

Genus LeptosemiaMatsumura, 1917

Leptosemia inanulata (Kishida, 1929) stat. rev. & comb. nov. (Figs. 2 & 3)

Euterpnosia inanulataKishida, 1929: 134 [Type locality: Daewon Temple, Mt. Jiri, Korea] (synonymized with Leptosemia takanonis by Lee, 2008). stat. rev.

Leptosemia sakaii: Mori, 1931: 18 (nec Matsumura, 1913).

Chosenosemia souyoensisDoi, 1931: 52 [Type locality: Mt. Soyo, Korea]; Doi, 1932: 33, 43 (Leptosemia); Kato, 1932: 357 (Leptosemia); Cho, 1946: 22 (Leptosemia) (synonymized with Leptosemia takanonis by Kato, 1934). stat. rev. & syn. nov.

Leptosemia takanonis: Kato, 1933: 8; Kato, 1934: 158; Lee, 1995: 96; Lee, 1999: 9; Lee, 2005: 90, 175; Kato, 1956: 105 (Cicada) (nec Matsumura, 1917, Type locality: “Prov. Szchuen”, Western China).

Tana [sic] japonensis: Hyun & Woo, 1969: 165 (nec Distant, 1892).

Diagnosis. This species differs from L. takanonis in the following combination of characters: male opercula distinctly longitudinally elongate, subrectangular or parallelogrammical (horizontally expanded or roundish in takanonis); male opercular lateral margin consistently with a thin but well-defined fuscous border (lacking in takanonis); male abdominal sternite VII rhombic, with three sides of similar length (horizontally elongate and rectangular in takanonis); posterior margin of male abdominal sternite VII only slightly, or sometimes not, indented (sharply indented medially in takanonis); male abdomen longer than 1.6 times the length of head and thorax together (shorter than 1.6 times the length of head and thorax together in takanonis); and abdomen cylindrical (triangular and posteriorly tapering in takanonis).

Remarks. The taxonomic separation of L. inanulata from L. takanonis has long been obscured by historical synonymy and limited comparative material. The present study focuses on external morphological characters that can be directly observed and reliably compared between Korean specimens and the holotype of L. takanonis from western China.

Some degree of variation in body size and abdominal proportions is known to occur in cicadas. However, the characters used to distinguish L. inanulata, including the shape and proportions of the male opercula, the form of abdominal sternite VII, and the overall shape of the male abdomen, are discrete and consistent among the examined Korean specimens and differ from those observed in L. takanonis. These differences are not attributable solely to preservation effects or individual condition.

Comparative evaluation of additional material from China would be desirable to further assess geographic variation within L. takanonis. Nevertheless, the available evidence is consistent with recognition of L. inanulata as distinct from L. takanonis, and the present taxonomic treatment is intended to clarify the application of names that have been inconsistently used in the literature.

Neotype designation.Euterpnosia inanulataKishida, 1929 was originally described from a single female specimen collected at Daewon Temple, Mt. Jiri, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea (29. VII. 1924). According to Kato (1932), the holotype specimen was later damaged by pests and is no longer extant. No additional original material or syntypes are known. As the species was described from a single specimen, designation of a lectotype is not possible.

The identity and application of the name E. inanulata have been unclear due to its long-standing synonymy with Leptosemia takanonisMatsumura, 1917 and inconsistent interpretations by subsequent authors. This confusion has affected the understanding of Korean and Chinese populations that have been identified as L. takanonis. To clarify the application of the name E. inanulata in the Korean fauna, a neotype is designated here.

The neotype designated here is an adult male specimen from Korea that agrees with Kishida’s original description in observable diagnostic characters and represents the taxon historically identified as L. takanonis in Korea. The neotype originates from the same country and biogeographic region as the original type locality and falls well within the known distributional range of the species.

The neotype is deposited in the Korea National Insect Collection, Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon, Korea. It is documented by a detailed morphological description and illustrations provided in the present study. This neotype designation is made to fix the application of the name Euterpnosia inanulataKishida, 1929 and to promote nomenclatural stability, in accordance with Article 75 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

Neotype: ♂ (Fig. 2), Mt. Goryeongsan, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, 8. VII. 1981.

Other material examined. 1♂, Nam-myeon, Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea, 23. VI. 2001; 1♂, Daehwa-myeon, Pyeongchang- gun, Gangwon-do, Korea, 1. VII. 2005; 1♂, Mt. Taebaeksan, Gangwon-do, 8. VI. 1986; 1♀ (Fig. 3), Gwangneung, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, 23. VII. 1982; 1♀, Mt. Surisan, Gunposi, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, 14. VII. 1998.

Distribution. Korea.

Redescription. Head and pronotum together about as long as mesonotum. Head slightly wider than mesonotum; light green with the following black marks: large median spot enclosing ocelli with a pair of narrow extensions branching out posteriad; a pair of crescent-shaped marks between the median spot and compound eyes, attached to the median spot; a pair of small patches on supra-antennal plates; and a pair of fasciae along compound eyes. Gena light green with broad transverse fascia between postclypeus and compound eye. Lorum greenish ochraceous with large black patch posteriorly. Postclypeus seldom swollen; light green with the following black to fuscous marks: longitudinal median fascia, with light green hole inside anteriorly; five pairs of fasciae along anterior five pairs of transverse grooves; and a pair of short black branches along sixth pair of transverse grooves. Anteclypeus mostly black with light green to ochraceous median ridge and ochraceous lateral margins. Rostrum ochraceous but black apically, with apex extending slightly beyond hind coxae.

Thorax: Pronotum light green. Inner area of pronotum with the following black to fuscous marks: a pair of median longitudinal narrow fasciae, with their anterior ends widened and posterior parts slightly bent laterally; a pair of fasciae along lateral margin of inner area; a pair of indistinct marks along paramedian fissures; and a pair of indistinct fasciae along lateral fissures. Pronotal collar with the following black to fuscous marks: very narrow fascia along posterior margin; a pair of small patches on sublateral inner corners; and a pair of large patches laterally. Lateral pronotal collar not dentate. Mesonotum light green to greenish ochraceous with the following black marks: longitudinal median narrow fascia extending posteriad to reach anterior margin of cruciform elevation; a pair of curved fasciae along lateral margin of submedian sigilla; a pair of longitudinal fasciae on lateral sigilla, curved laterad at posterior parts; and a pair of small spots on scutal depressions. Cruciform elevation light green with black anterior apical parts. Thoracic sternites pale greenish ochraceous.

Wings hyaline. Forewing venation light green basally and fuscous apically; with infuscation each on radial, radiomedial, medial (small, roundish), and mediocubital (small, roundish) crossvein; with roundish infuscation indistinctly present on each hind margin of radius posterior, median 1–4, and cubitus anterior 1 vein. Forewing basal vein of apical cell 1 about as long as or longer than longitudinal vein of apical cell 1. Basal cell scarcely tinged. Basal membrane and hind wing jugum gray.

Male operculum small, scale-like, slightly longer than broad, parallelogrammical, largely concave at anterior inner margin, not or scarcely reaching posterior margin of sternite II; pale greenish ochraceous with narrowly fuscous lateral margin. Two opercula widely separated from each other with gap of about as wide as operculum.

Male abdomen cylindrical, much longer than head and thorax together. Male abdominal tergite 3 much wider than mesonotum. Male 4th abdominal segment with no molar-like projections laterally. Tergites dull ochraceous. Tergite 2 and 3 each with fuscous antero-median spot, large (2) and small (3), respectively. Tergites 3–7 with irregular black spots laterally, tiny (3, 4, and 5) and large (6 and 7). Tergite 8 entirely fuscous. Timbal cover well developed, nearly equilateral triangular, but inner side slightly convex and outer side slightly concave, covering most of timbal; ochraceous. Male abdominal sternites pale ochraceous with no distinct marks; without tubercle-like projections, but sternite III with very slight roundish bump on each lateral surface. Abdominal sternite VII rhombic, with three sides of similar length, and the posterior margin only slightly, or sometimes not, indented.

Male genitalia: Pygofer elliptical in ventral view. Distal shoulder protruded. Uncus short, not bifurcate but roundly incised at middle in ventral view. Basal lobes of pygofer absent. Aedeagus protruding out of uncus, with sclerotized tip. Dorsal beak very small.