Oak-associated Phylini

54 p. : ill. (some col.), maps ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 52).Six new genera comprising ten new species and one new combination of Phylini are described from the western United States. The species are characterized by their orange and whitish coloration, and the host records that are available for all but one species show that they feed primarily on various species of oak (Quercus). Crassomiris, new genus, comprises two species from California and Oregon. The monotypic genera Phallospinophylus, new genus and Quercophylus, new genus, are described from California. The monotypic genus Pygovepres, new genus, is created for Psallus vaccinicola Knight, widespread from British Columbia throughout the western United States, south to California and Arizona. Rubellomiris, new genus, with three species, is so far restricted to California, and Rubeospineus, new genus, is composed of three species from California

Phylogenomics and the evolution of hemipteroid insects.

Hemipteroid insects (Paraneoptera), with over 10% of all known insect diversity, are a major component of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Previous phylogenetic analyses have not consistently resolved the relationships among major hemipteroid lineages. We provide maximum likelihood-based phylogenomic analyses of a taxonomically comprehensive dataset comprising sequences of 2,395 single-copy, protein-coding genes for 193 samples of hemipteroid insects and outgroups. These analyses yield a well-supported phylogeny for hemipteroid insects. Monophyly of each of the three hemipteroid orders (Psocodea, Thysanoptera, and Hemiptera) is strongly supported, as are most relationships among suborders and families. Thysanoptera (thrips) is strongly supported as sister to Hemiptera. However, as in a recent large-scale analysis sampling all insect orders, trees from our data matrices support Psocodea (bark lice and parasitic lice) as the sister group to the holometabolous insects (those with complete metamorphosis). In contrast, four-cluster likelihood mapping of these data does not support this result. A molecular dating analysis using 23 fossil calibration points suggests hemipteroid insects began diversifying before the Carboniferous, over 365 million years ago. We also explore implications for understanding the timing of diversification, the evolution of morphological traits, and the evolution of mitochondrial genome organization. These results provide a phylogenetic framework for future studies of the group

Glandular areas associated with the male genitalia in Triatoma rubrofasciata (Triatominae, Reduviidae, Hemiptera) and other Reduviidae

In this paper, glandular areas associated with the phallus in Triatoma rubrofasciata are described and illustrated for the first time. The glandular areas lie in the membrane surrounding the articulatory apparatus. In order to unambiguously define the locality of the respective glandular areas, some features of the pygophore-phallus connection are redescribed. A possible functional context of the gland secretions is discussed. A preliminary study of several other Reduviidae implies that the described glandular areas occur in a wider range of taxa in this group

New western Nearctic Phylini

41 p. : ill. (some col.), maps ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 40).Six new genera and six new species of Phylinae are described from the western United States and Baja California, Mexico, and two new combinations are created. Most of the species are known to breed on oaks, Quercus spp. (Fagaceae). Galbinocoris caepa, new genus and species, is described from Arizona and Texas. Hamatophylus, new genus, is described to accommodate Plagiognathus guttulosus (Reuter), which breeds on several species of oaks, among them Quercus virginiana Mill. Insulaphylus, new genus, is restricted to the Channel Islands off the coast of southern California, and is described to accommodate Insulaphylus cruz, new species, from Santa Cruz Island and Insulaphylus meridianus, new species, from Santa Catalina and San Clemente Islands. Both species breed on Quercus spp. Maculamiris, new genus, is described with two species, Maculamiris baja, new species, from Baja California and southern California, and Maculamiris insulanus, new species, from the Channel Islands. Both species are associated with rosaceous plants. Quernocoris caliginosus, new genus and species, is described from mainland southern California and the Channel Islands where it breeds on a range of oak species. Vesperocoris, new genus, is described to accommodate the often oak-breeding Plagiognathus paddocki Knight from California

Revision of Polyozus group

60 p. : ill. (some col.), maps ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 58).Polyozus Eyles and Schuh, 2003 was described as a monotypic genus from New Zealand. Seven new Australian species are described and Orthotylus australianus (Carvalho, 1965) is transferred to Polyozus. Cladistic analysis of the nine species of Polyozus and seven additional, related species resulted in the hypothesis that Polyozus is a monophyletic group, with Ancoraphylus, n.gen., with four species, being its sister group. Another new genus, Exocarpocoris, n.gen., with three species, is the sister group of Ancoraphylus + Polyozus. The three species of Exocarpocoris live on the same host plant, the hemiparasite Exocarpos aphyllus (Santalaceae), and occur sympatrically over most of their distribution. Species of Ancoraphylus and Polyozus are mainly restricted to a variety of legumes, most often Acacia (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae), but also Jacksonia (Fabaceae, Papilionoideae) and Senna (Fabaceae, Caesalpinioideae). Species of Polyozus are widely distributed in Australia. Polyozus galbanus Eyles and Schuh, 2003--originally described from New Zealand--also occurs in New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania and is here proposed to have been introduced to New Zealand from Australia along with its host plant

Camouflage in reduviid nymphs

18 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 17-18).Immature stages of Reduvius personatus (Linnaeus) and some other Reduviidae are known to camouflage themselves with a range of materials found in their environment. Even though this behavior has been observed in several species, camouflaging structures have never been studied in a comparative way. This study documents for the first time the structure that is involved in the application of camouflaging material, i.e., the hind tarsal fan, and reveals structures that assure the fastening of the camouflaging material, i.e., anchor setae and trichomes, in eight species representing five subfamilies of Reduviidae. Whereas anchor setae assure the attachment of camouflaging material by their mechanical properties, short-projection trichomes, long-projection trichomes, and grouped trichomes are here proposed to secrete a sticky substance for this purpose. Primary homology hypotheses on the three types of trichomes are proposed. At least in some species, short-projection trichomes appear to be responsible for the fastening of the camouflaging layer close to the integument, whereas long-projection trichomes may hold the outer layer of camouflaging material in place

Short communication - glandular areas associated with the male genitalia in triatoma rubrofasciata (Triatominae, Reduviidae, Hemiptera) and other Reduviidae

In this paper, glandular areas associated with the phallus in Triatoma rubrofasciata are described and illustrated for the first time. The glandular areas lie in the membrane surrounding the articulatory apparatus. In order to unambiguously define the locality of the respective glandular areas, some features of the pygophorephallus connection are redescribed. A possible functional context of the gland secretions is discussed. A preliminary study of several other Reduviidae implies that the described glandular areas occur in a wider range of taxa in this group

New World Physoderinae

9 p. : ill. (1 col.) ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 8-9).A new genus and species from Ecuador of Physoderinae (Heteroptera: Reduviidae), Leptophysoderes orellana n.gen., n.sp., are described. Leptophysoderes represents one of the two New World genera now known in this group of otherwise Pacific, Indopacific, and Madagascan Reduviidae. The initial diagnosis of Physoderinae was based on the Pacific and Indopacific genus Physoderes Westwood. This diagnosis was not adjusted after the subsequent inclusion of 11 genera from Madagascar and the Neotropical genus Cryptophysoderes Wygodzinsky and Maldonado in Physoderinae. The diagnosis is here modified to characterize a more inclusive Physoderinae, comprising Cryptophysoderes, Leptophysoderes, Physoderes, and the Madagascan genera