Diagnose of the nominal subgenus of Edessa and descriptionof the E. sexdens group (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae, Edessinae).

The subgenus Edessa, the largest and to date the most confusing taxon of Edessa is diagnosed here, comprising 79 species listed in this work. The subgenus is characterized by the humeral angles conical, somewhat developed, and projected, with apex rounded or somewhat acuminated, but never acute, shyny and impunctate or with a few punctures. The E. sexdens group, composed of 22 species, is proposed here to the subgenus Edessa. This group can be characterized by the anterior arms of the metasternal process with excavated apex; connexival segments with a pair of dark spots; ventral side of the abdomen raised medially; rounded shallow excavation near each spiracle; area between dorsal rim of the pygophore and posterolateral angles grooved; superior process of the genital cup laminar and continued ventrally by a carina, oblique to the parameres; parameres with three lobes; area between dorsal rim of the pygophore and posterolateral angles grooved. The species of the E. sexdens group are distributed in the Neotropical region, from Mexico to Argentina. Descriptions, measurements, and illustrations are provided. An identification key and distributional map are presented. The species Edessa suturata Dallas, 1851 is considered junior synonym of E. alces Erichson, 1848; E. inclyta Walker, 1868, E. fuscidorsata Distant, 1881, and E. gnu Breddin, 1905 are considered junior synonyms of E. electa Walker, 1868; E. olivacea Stål, 1862 and E. ventralis Walker, 1868 are considered junior synonym of E. phoenicopus Dallas, 1851; E. nigromarginata Distant, 1881 is considered junior synonym of E. sexdens Fabricius, 1803; E. subandina Breddin, 1994 is considered a valid species; Edessa dentata (Dallas, 1851) and Edessa excellens (Walker, 1868) are considered junior synonym of E. (E.) urus Erichson, 1848.

Reevaluation of the type species and redescription of five species of Edessa (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Edessinae).

In accordance with the rules in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, the type species for the genus Edessa Fabricius, 1803 is now recognized to be Cimex antilope Fabricius, 1798 rather than the previously recognized Cimex cervus Fabricius, 1787. Edessa antilope is redescribed, as well as the following four species that have in the past been related or compared to E. antilope: E. arabs (Linnaeus, 1758) from French Guiana, Costa Rica and Panama (new record), E. helix Erichson, 1848 from Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Suriname (new record), Guyana, Brazil (new record), Bolivia (new record) and Argentina (new record), E. ibex Breddin, 1903 from Costa Rica, Panama (new record), Ecuador, Brazil (new record), Peru and Bolivia (new record), and E. taurina Stål, 1862 from Mexico, Guatemala, Belize (new record), Honduras (new record). The distribution of Edessa antilope is expanded to Venezuela. The female of E. antilope and the male of E. taurina are described for the first time. Edessa antilope is removed from the synonymy of E. arabs and reinstated as valid species; additionally, E. costalis Stål, 1872 is removed from the synonym of E. helix and is placed as a junior synonym of E. antilope. Edessa saiga Breddin, 1903 is considered a junior synonym of E. ibex. Lectotypes are designated for all species. A key is provided for the identification of the species.

New species of Edessa Fabricius, 1803 (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) from Costa Rica.

The edessines from Costa Rica are little known; only 18 species have been registered or described from this country so far. Mainly based in a large sample from Instituto Nacional de Biodiverdidad (INBio), Costa Rica, we decided to update the information concerning Edessinae from Costa Rica. We present a list of species from Costa Rica raising the number of known species from Costa Rica to 65. We are also describing nine new species: Edessa bella Fernandes & Silva, E. bruneolineata Fernandes & Correia, E. curvata Fernandes & Nunes, E. lewisi Fernandes & Silva, E. nigroangulata Fernandes & Silva, E. osae Fernandes & Nunes, E. oxcarti Fernandes & Correia, E. pallidoangulata Fernandes & Nunes and E. puravida Fernandes & Correia. Species were described, illustrated and photographed. Distribution maps for the species are also provided.

Revision of Ascra with proposition of the bifida species group and description of two new species (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Edessinae).

Edessa is comprised of six subgenera, Aceratodes, Ascra, Dorypleura, Edessa, Hypoxys and Pygoda. Ascra is here elevated to genus status based on characteristics of the male and female genitalia and the gibbous pronotum. This genus is comprised of eight species previously placed in Edessa-E. bifida, E. cordifera, E. petersii, E. abdita, E. championi, E. privata, E. conspersa and E. morbosa, as well as six new species. The genus Ascra was further divided into two groups of species bifida and privata separated by a different pattern of punctuation on body and pygophore. Here we present only the bifida species group formed by A. bifida, A. cordifera, A. petersii, A. abdita, and A. championi, as well as two new species-A. vluteum and A. flavoscutellata. Lectotypes of Aceratodes sigillatus, Edessa abdita, E. championi, E. cornuta, E. densata and E. petersii are designated. Aceratodes sigillatus, Edessa cornuta, E. densata, E. picata, and E. florida are considered junior synonyms of A. bifida. Interestingly, some species of this genus are considered edible in Mexico.