Gaeana Explained

Gaeana (from Sanskrit: गायन|gāyana|lit=singer^[1]) is a genus of cicadas, most members of which have colourful marking on their forewings, found across tropical and temperate Asia. Their bright wing patterns have been hypothesized as being a case of Batesian mimicry where the toxic models may be day-flying moths of the subfamilies Zygaeninae and Arctiinae.^{[2] [3]} It is closely related to the genus Tosena but is differentiated by the exposed tympanum and lacks spines on the sides of the pronotum.^[4]

Species

BioLib and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility list:

• Gaeana atkinsoni Distant, 1892
• Gaeana cheni Chou, Lei, Li, Lu & Yao, 1997
• Gaeana chinensis Kato, 1940
• Gaeana consors Atkinson, 1884
• Gaeana hainanensis Chou & Yao, 1895
• Gaeana maculata (Drury, 1773)
• Gaeana nigra Lei & Chou, 1997
• Gaeana variegata Yen, Robinson & Quicke, 2005

Note: species previously placed here are now included in: Ambragaeana, Balinta, Becquartina, Callogaeana (including C. festiva), Sulphogaeana and Tosena

Notes and References

1. Amyot CJB, Audinet-Serville, JG (1843) Homoptères. Homoptera Latr. [In] Histoire naturelle des Insectes. Hémiptères. Deuxième partie: 455-483. Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret, Paris, 676 pages.
2. Phylogeny, systematics and evolution of mimetic wing patterns of Eterusia moths (Lepidoptera, Zygaenidae, Chalcosiinae). Yen, Shen-Horn . Gaden S. Robinson . Donald L. J. Quicke . 10.1111/j.1365-3113.2004.00284.x. Systematic Entomology. 30. 3. 358–397. 2005.
3. Remarkable mimetic resemblance between a Cicadid and an Arctiid moth . 882–883. Green, EE. 1910. 10. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc..
4. Book: A monograph of the Oriental Cicadidae. Distant, W.L.. 1892. 104. Indian Museum. Calcutta.