Revision of Heteroscelis Latreille, 1829 (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae) with the description of a new species from Colombia.

The Asopinae comprises about 300 species and 63 genera of predatory stinkbugs, of which around 100 species and 23 genera occur in the Neotropical region. The species of the Neotropical genus Heteroscelis Latreille, 1829 are easily recognized by the small size, vivid and often iridescent colors, the elongated head, and the foretibial foliaceous expansions. In this work we provide a taxonomic revision of Heteroscelis.

An annotated and illustrated Type Catalogue of the predacious Shieldbugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae) in the Collection of the Natural History Museum, London.

We present an annotated and illustrated type catalogue of the predacious shieldbugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae), housed in the collection of the Natural History Museum, London. This work involves recognising types and their status, recording their label data and providing images of both the types and their labels. Although we personally refrain from designating lectotypes as the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature recommends that it should be done "as part of a revisionary or other taxonomic work" (ICZN 1999: Recommendation 74G), we have nevertheless accepted that lectotypes were designated before 2000 (see ICZN 1999: Art.

Lost and found-Discovery of the presumed lost type of emArma/em empallipes/em Dallas, new synonymy and description of two new species of emPodisus/em Herrich-Schäffer (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae).

The presumed lost type of Arma pallipes Dallas is found and Thomas's (1992) neotype is hereby set aside (ICZN 1999, Art. 75.8).

Taxonomic modifications in Tylospilus Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae): redescription of T. nigrobinotatus (Berg), description of a new species and an updated identification key for the genus.

The systematics of the New World Asopinae genera is still not completely understood, thus hampering their study in many areas of biological science. Tylospilus Stål is one of the less known genera among New World predatory stink bugs, despite its common occurrence and potential as a biological control agent in crops. Here, we make a contribution to the knowledge of Tylospilus; the species Tylospilus nigrobinotatus (Berg, 1879) is redescribed, and based upon the examination of type specimens, T.

Comparative morphology of clasping structures in predator stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae): Insights into their function and evolution.

Parameres are male genital structures found in many insects which are often used as clasping devices to exert dominance in copula. The asopines have evolved a remarkable additional pair of similar structures, often denominated processes, which combines with the parameres in a tweezers-like system. Processes in similar positions have also been found in other subfamilies of Pentatomidae, but smaller and less developed.

External morphology of the abdominal glands in Asopinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae).

Heteropterans communicate chemically through thoracic or abdominal glandular complexes. The dorso-abdominal scent glands (DAGs) are externalized by cuticular specialized structures forming the external scent efferent system (SES). Different groups in Heteroptera present other glands, such as the Asopinae (Pentatomidae), whose males can have ventral abdominal pheromonal glands externalized by cuticular modifications, called glandular patches (GPs).

Taxonomy of widespread Neotropical species of Podisus Herrich-Schäffer (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae): redescription of P. distinctus (Stål, 1860) and revalidation of P. fuscescens (Dallas, 1851).

Some species of Podisus Herrich-Schäffer have a confuse taxonomic history with several modifications and loss of information over time. The genus has been considered a taxonomic dumping ground in Asopinae, and its current species composition is doubtful. After examining the type specimens of Telepta distincta Stål, Arma submarginata Walker, Arma monospila Walker, Arma fuscescens Dallas, Arma caliginosa Walker, Arma turbida Walker and Podisus mellipes Bergroth, we redescribe and revalidate A.

Phylogeny and revision of Schraderiellus Rider, 1998 with the description of five new species (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae, Discocephalinae, Ochlerini).

A cladistic analysis of Schraderiellus Rider, 1998 is provided in this study. Were used 60 morphological characters for 34 taxa, including the two known species of Schraderiellus and five new species in the ingroup, two species of Discocephalini and 24 species of Ochlerini in the outgroup, and Euschistus hansi Grazia, 1987 as root. The analysis was made using TNT through heuristic searches under implied weighting of characters.

Nomenclatural changes in Ochlerini (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Discocephalinae).

Several nomenclatural problems were found while studying the types of Ochlerini in the Natural History Museum, London. These problems are addressed and corrected: Hemingius Distant, 1899 syn. nov.

Description of four new species of Ochlerini from South America (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Discocephalinae).

The tribe Ochlerini Rolston was proposed in 1981 to house 23 genera of Neotropical pentatomids, most of them containing few species and poorly represented in entomological collections. After a quarter century of accumulated taxonomic knowledge the tribe totals 36 genera and 133 species, but a number of taxa still require revision or remain undescribed. Here we describe and illustrate four new species from South America, Cromata flavida sp.

Candeocoris bistillatus, new genus and new species of Ochlerini from Ecuador (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae).

Recent examination of specimens from Ecuador revealed a series of males and females of an undescribed species clearly belonging to the Discocephalinae. The new species presents characteristics similar to genera of both Discocephalini and Ochlerini, preventing an undoubtful placement of the new species within any genus and tribe. We conducted a cladistic analysis to investigate the possible relationships of the new species within Discocephalinae.