Exploring Phylogenetic Relationships of the Mecocephala Group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Using Continuous and Discrete Characters, with Notes on Taxonomy.

The Mecocephala group comprises about 50 species, restricted to the Neotropics and with the highest species richness in Neotropical South America. Several species use rice as host plants and their identification is facilitated by the presence of exaggerated head proportions and a unique male genitalic morphology. The taxonomy of the group has been extensively explored, but inferring its monophyly and especially its internal phylogenetic relationships has been challenging. Here, we inferred the phylogenetic relationships for the group assembling the most complete taxonomic sampling to date, analyzing discrete and continuous morphological characters through equal and implied weighted parsimony analyses. The monophyly of the group was recovered, but internal relationships varied slightly according to the dataset tested. Thus, we propose internal arrangements for the group and provide a formal description of the Mecocephala group, diagnoses for each genus, a dichotomous key to identify its genera, and illustrations of the morphological characters and type species.

Integrative taxonomy, phylogenetics and historical biogeography of subgenus Aeschyntelus Stål, 1872 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Rhopalidae).

The subgenus Aeschyntelus includes six species that show variations in body color and shape, thus making it difficult to identify them based on morphological identification alone. To date, no genetic study has evaluated species within this genus. Herein, we collected 171 individuals from 90 localities of Rhopalus and employed an integrative taxonomic approach that incorporated morphological data, mitochondrial genomic data (COI, whole mitochondrial data) and nuclear genomic data (18S + 28S rRNAs, nuclear genome-wide SNPs) to delineate species boundaries. Our analyses confirmed the status of nine described species of Rhopalus and proposed the recognition of one new species known as Rhopalus qinlinganus sp. nov., which is classified within the subgenus Aeschyntelus. Discrepancies arising from nuclear and mitochondrial data suggest the presence of mito-nuclear discordance. Specifically, mitochondrial data indicated admixture within Clade A, comprising R. kerzhneri and R. latus, whereas genome-wide SNPs unambiguously identified two separate species, aligning with morphological classification. Conversely, mitochondrial data clearly distinguished Clade B- consisting of R. sapporensis into two lineages, whereas genome-wide SNPs unequivocally identified a single species. Our study also provides insights into the evolutionary history of Aeschyntelus, thus indicating that it likely originated in East Asia during the middle Miocene. The development of Aeschyntelus biodiversity in the southwestern mountains of China occurred via an uplift-driven diversification process. Our findings highlight the necessity of integrating both morphological and multiple molecular datasets for precise species identification, particularly when delineating closely related species. Additionally, it reveals the important role of mountain orogenesis on speciation within the southwestern mountains of China.

A morphological traits dataset of Heteroptera sampled in biodiversity priority areas of Southwest China.

Functional traits reveal the adaptive strategies of species to their environment, and are relevant to the formation of communities, the function of ecosystems, and the mechanisms underlying biodiversity. However, trait databases have not been established for most biological taxa, especially for insects, which encompass a vast number of species. This study measured the morphological traits of 307 species of Heteroptera insects collected in 2019 from the "Xishuangbanna Priority Conservation Area" in Southwest China using sweep netting and light trapping methods. This study provides a dataset for 307 Heteroptera species, comprising 34 morphometric measurements and 17 morphological traits. The dataset contains information on species sex, abundance, and the average, maximum, and minimum values of traits. This dataset facilitates an enhanced understanding of the functional traits and ecological associations of Heteroptera insects and offers opportunities for exploring a more diverse range of research topics.

Heteroptera research in Latin America and the Caribbean (Insecta, Hemiptera): status and perspectives in the 21st century.

Latin American and the Caribbean regions (LAC) harbor one of the most biodiverse areas of the world, the Neotropics. True bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) are a diverse lineage of insects, with more than 45,000 species, particularly speciose in the Neotropical region. True bugs are fundamental in the dynamics of natural and modified ecosystems, with several species critical to agriculture and public health. We compiled Heteroptera research in LAC from 1998-2022 using bibliographic databases. Productivity, collaborative networks, and the main topics studied were analyzed. A total of 1,651 Heteroptera studies from LAC were found, with continuous growth being 2021 the most prolific. Four categories (Taxonomy of extant species, Faunistic inventories and new records, Pest species biology, and Community ecology) represent most of the published research. About 60 percent of the records evaluated correspond to five families (Pentatomidae, Reduviidae, Coreidae, Miridae, and Rhyparochromidae). We emphasize the need to keep working on Heteroptera taxonomy because it will allow further advances in other areas such as phylogenetic analyses, biogeography, ecology, and natural history, among others. The results of our analyses characterize the current state of heteropterology in the region, establishing a baseline for future studies and efforts to broaden the knowledge of the group.

The mouthparts of the Aradidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera).

The flat bugs, Aradidae, have exceptionally long piercing-sucking stylets coiled up at rest in the anterior part of the head. Previous studies suggested that the majority of aradids can be divided into two groups by the direction of stylet coiling, clockwise or anticlockwise. Detailed reconstruction of the head skeleton and musculature from series of polished sections, examined in SEM, of epon-embedded specimens of three species has shown that these groups represent two disparate modifications of the head groundplan. In Aradus betulae (L.), the stylet coil is accommodated inside the greatly enlarged anteclypeus within an expansible membranous diverticulum of its epipharyngeal cuticle. In contrast, in Isodermus planus Erichson and Carventus brachypterus Kormilev, the coil lies freely underneath the anteclypeus between the extended maxillary lobes (in I. planus fused with the extended gular lobe). The intraclypeal coils occur in the subfamilies Aradinae, Calisiinae, and Chinamyersiinae and the subclypeal coils in Isoderminae, Carventinae, Mezirinae, Aneurinae, Prosympiestinae, and possibly in the closely related family Termitaphididae. Each method of stylet coiling is associated with a suite of divergently specialized structural traits, suggesting that the two groups have independently evolved from ancestors endowed with regular stylets. Functional mechanics of the coiled stylet bundles are discussed.

Two new unique hibiscus-inhabiting species of the plant bug genus Sejanus Distant from Japan and Taiwan (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae).

Two new species of the leucophoropterine plant bug genus Sejanus Distant are described, namely S. epicurus n. sp. (Pingtung, Taiwan) and S. ryujin n. sp. (Nagasaki, Japan). Both species were recently confirmed to be associated cryptically with the bracts and flower buds of Hibiscus spp. (Malvaceae). An updated key is provided to aid in identification of the Japanese and Taiwanese congeners.

Cloning and reproductive regulation of a trypsin precursor gene in Adelphocorissuturalis.

Adelphocoris suturalis is a major pest of cotton. Here, we identified a trypsin precursor gene (AsTryP) in A. suturali, which has an open reading frame region of 873 bp and belongs to the trypsin superfamily. The mRNA of the AsTryP gene was detectable in every life stage and different tissues of 8-day-old females, and the gene was highly expressed in fourth-instar nymphs and the thorax of 8-day-old females. Down-regulation of AsTryP by the injection of double-stranded RNA suppressed the ovarian development and female fertility. These results reveal that trypsin precursor is involved in the reproductive process of A. suturali, and may facilitate the development of new strategies for a better control of A. suturalis.

Review of the Paraplea Esaki amp; China (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Pleidae) of Australia, with description of a new species.

The family Pleidae is represented in Australia only by members of the genus Paraplea. Paraplea brunni (Kirkaldy, 1898) has a widespread distribution in Australia and is also known from New Guinea. Paraplea halei (Lundblad, 1933) appears to be an endemic species occurring only in the southeastern part of Australia. The widespread species P. liturata (Fieber, 1844) occurs in Australia but only in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. The description of P. bifurcata n. sp. documents a fourth pleid species, being known only from the Northern Territory. Paraplea bifurcata n. sp. is easily differentiated from other species of Paraplea by having a bifurcated abdominal keel. An identification key and discussion of morphological characters of the four species of Paraplea from Australia is given.

Revision of Limnocoris Stål (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Naucoridae) of the tropical Andes.

The species of Limnocoris of the tropical Andes of South America are revised, including the descriptions of eight new species: L. chrysosetosus n. sp. from Ecuador; L. elongatus n. sp. and L. emboliatus n. sp. from Colombia; L. molanoi n. sp. from Colombia and Ecuador; L. luisae n. sp. from Colombia and Venezuela; L. longirostris n. sp. from Venezuela; L. nieseri n. sp. from Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama; and L. reynosoi n. sp. from Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. Further, supplemental descriptions are provided for the previously described species. The following taxa are resurrected from synonymy and their species status are restored: Limnocoris peruvianus Melin stat. restit. from synonymy with L. pectoralis Montandon, and L. stali Montandon stat. restit. from synonymy with L. borellii Montandon. The following synonymies are proposed, with junior synonyms in brackets: L. borellii Montandon [L. horvathi Montandon n. syn.], L. dubiosus Montandon [L. aymarana Poisson n. syn.], L. malkini La Rivers [L. pulchellus n. syn.], L. obscurus Montandon [L. trilobatus Nieser, González, Eichelkraut, n. syn.], L. ochraceus Montandon [L. maculatus De Carlo n. syn.], L. pallescens (Stål) [L. bergrothi Montandon n. syn.], L. pectoralis Montandon [L. rivalis Melin n. syn.], L. peruvianus Melin [L. calii Nieser, González Eichelkraut n. syn.] and L. stali Montandon [L. robustus Roback Nieser n. syn., L. carcharus La Rivers n. syn.]. Lectotypes are designated for five species: L. aymarana, L. bergrothi, L. borellii, L. dubiosus, and L. stali. An illustrated taxonomic key and distribution maps also are presented.

Illustrated key to the species included in the genus Petalops Amyot amp; Serville, 1843 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Coreidae: Coreinae: Acanthocephalini), with description of four new species and new distributional notes.

Four new species of Petalops Amyot Serville, 1843 are described: P. graziae from Brazil, P. jactatus from Ecuador, P. lautus from Colombia, and P. necopinus from Peru. A revised key to all known species (16) is included. New distributional data are given for P. ambiguous Brailovsky, 1991, P. bellator Brailovsky, 1991, P. luteomaculosus Brailovsky, 1991, P. occulta Brailovsky, 1991, and P. thoracicus (Thunberg), 1783. Dorsal view photos are added of all the known species.

Ammianus pericarti sp. n. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Tingidae), the first strictly Palaearctic representative of the genus with a key to the species of the Ammianus junodi group.

Ammianus pericarti sp. n., the first strictly Palaearctic representative of the genus, is described from Agadir (Morocco) as new to the science. The species is illustrated and compared to all its morphologically similar representatives of the Ammianus junodi group; a key to this species group is also provided. Moreover, A. vanderijsti (Schouteden, 1923) is reported for the first time from the Republic of South Africa.

A remarkable new genus and two new species of the Gigantometopini (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Miridae, Isometopinae) from Brunei.

The new genus Megalofaciatus gen. nov. represented by two new species M. foliotibialis Taszakowski, Kim Herczek sp. nov. (the type species) and M. gibbosus sp. nov. Taszakowski, Kim Herczek (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Miridae, Isometopinae, Gigantometopini), is described from Brunei. Photographs of the adult males and genital structures, as well as detailed SEM micrographs, are presented. The first finding of the largely modified leg in Gigantometopini is also reported.

To the nomenclature of two species of the genus Adomerus (Heteroptera: Cydnidae).

The study of the lectotype of Sehirus fuscipennis Horváth, 1899 showed that this specimen is conspecific with Canthophorus maculipes sensu Aukema Constant, 2016 and Adomerus maculipes sensu Gapon, 2018. To promote stability of nomenclature, the neotype of Cydnus maculipes Mulsant et Rey 1852 is designated instead of the lost syntypes. The name Sehirus aeneus Walker, 1867 is placed in synonymy with Adomerus maculipes (Mulsant et Rey, 1852). The name Adomerus fuscipennis (Horváth, 1899), stat. resurr. is reinstated. Colouration of the hemelytra, the structure of the parameres and aedeagi of the holotype of S. aeneus Walker, 1867 (female), of a male of A. maculipes, being topotypic with the latter, and of the lectotype of S. fuscipennis Horváth, 1899 are compared with each other and with descriptions of the terminalia of both species, recently published by the second author based on material from different localities. A map of the distribution of both species is given according to the literature data and studied collection materials.

Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): Redescription of 'Hypatropis complex', with a review of genitalic terminology and new records.

The taxonomic revision of 'Hypatropis complex', composed by Amauromelpia Fernandes Grazia, Hypatropis Bergroth, Luridocimex Grazia, Fernandes Schwertner, Stysiana Grazia, Fernandes Schwertner, and Pedinonotus Fernandes Grazia, updating the genitalic terminology, are presented here. The differential diagnosis of 'Hypatropis complex' and all of its members are provided. Photographs of the type-specimens and genitalia, species distributional map with new records, and a key to genera and species are also provided.

The invisibile becomes visible: X-ray micro-CT reconstruction of emAneurus/em emdamzeni/em sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae) from Eocene Baltic amber.

The subfamily Aneurinae of the flat bug family Aradidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) contains about 150 extant species assigned to seven genera, and seven fossil species of which six were described from Eocene Baltic amber and one from Cretaceous Burmese amber. A new species Aneurus damzeni sp. nov. from Baltic amber is described and illustrated using X-ray micro-computed tomography (µCT) reconstructing concealed morphological characters. A key to all five extant and fossil Aneurinae species with triangular scutellum is provided.

Description of New Miridae and Tingidae Species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) and New Records from Southern Turkey.

In this study, Fulvius anatolicus Çerçi Gorczyca sp. n., Orthotylus (Pinocapsus) kmenti Çerçi Koçak sp. n. (Miridae) and Lasiacantha karamanensis Çerçi Koçak sp. n. (Tingidae) are described from Turkey. Dorsal habitus of each species, male and female genitalia of F. anatolicus sp. n. and male genitalia of O. (P.) kmenti sp. n. are illustrated. Differential diagnostic features between closely related species and the new species are given. Additionally, Hallodapus costae (Miridae) and Tempyra biguttula (Rhyparochromidae) are recorded from Turkey for the first time. Latter is a new alien species for the fauna of Turkey.

Two new species of Tingidae (Insecta: Heteroptera) from Papua New Guinea.

Two species of Tingidae (Heteroptera) sampled by fogging at Baiteta, Papua New Guinea, are described as new to science. Comments on their distribution and host-plants as well as an identification key to species of the genera concerned are provided.

A taxonomic review of the genus emPhysopelta/em (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Largidae) from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, with a new record of emPh. parviceps/em from China.

In this paper, we revised the physopeltine genus Physopelta Amyot Serville, 1843 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Largidae) from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Five species were recognized and diagnosed, including two new species, Ph. (Neophysopelta) lutaspidata sp. nov. from northern and central Taiwan and Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov. from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan and Taiwan, and three known species, Ph. (N.) gutta gutta (Burmeister, 1834), Ph. (N.) parviceps Blöte, 1931, and Ph. (N.) quadriguttata Bergroth, 1894. Physopelta (Neophysopelta) fusciscutellata sp. nov., was previously regarded as either of the two species, Ph. (N.) cincticollis Stål, 1863 and Ph. (N.) parviceps, for populations from Taiwan. Previous records of Ph. (N.) cincticollis from Japan proper and Korea, and Ph. (N.) slanbuschii (Fabricius, 1787) from the Ryukyu Islands were considered as misidentifications of Ph. parviceps. A key to facilitate the identification of the five species known in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan is provided. Additionally, Ph. (N.) parviceps is recorded from China (Guangdong Province and Zhejiang Province) for the first time.

Taxonomic notes on emSarju/em Ghauri, 1977 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) with description of a new species from India.

The genus Sarju Ghauri, 1977 (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae: Halyini) is redescribed along with the description of a new species, Sarju brevirostrata sp. nov. S. farida Ghauri, 1977 and S. nigricollis (Westwood, 1837) are redescribed based on the availability of specimens and the species Cahara nodula Fan and Liu, 2013 was transferred from Cahara to Sarju and proposed Sarju nodula comb.nov. Therefore, at present Sarju comprises 11 species worldwide. A key to the eight species of Sarju occurring in India is also provided.