Will the invasive western conifer seed bug Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Coreidae) seize all of Europe?

In our day, thanks to high-speed transport systems, people are moving living species (intentionally or not) across ecosystems and countless borders. As we know, most introduced species usually do not survive, because they find neither a tolerable environment nor an available ecological niche. Sometimes, successful establishment may also require multiple introductions (Balcom 2004).

Two new species of the Lace-bug genus Agachila from the Democratic Republic of Congo (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Tingidae)

Abstract Two new species of the genus Agachila Drake and Gomez-Menor, 1954, Agachila raunoi sp. nov. and A. linnavuorii sp. nov., are described from the Virungas National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Images of female holotype specimens of both described species are provided.

<strong><em>Amnestus mendeli</em> sp. n., the first burrower bug species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae) recorded on Ascension Island, central Atlantic Ocean</strong>

A new species of the genus Amnestus Dallas, 1851, Amnestus mendeli, is described from the cloud zone of Green Mountain, Ascension Island, and compared with its closest relatives, the Brazilian Amnestus lenkoi Froeschner, 1975 and Amnestus pequinus Froeschner, 1975. It is the first representative of the family Cydnidae recorded on the island thus far. The species is presumed to be an introduction from the Americas, but the hypothesis that it might be endemic to Ascension Island is also not excluded.

<p><strong>Description and DNA barcoding of <em>Ochetostethomorpha</em> <em>secunda</em>, a new species of the South African endemic burrower bug genus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae) from Namibia</strong></p>

Ochetostethomorpha secunda sp. nov. from Namibia, the second species of the South African endemic genus is described, illustrated, and compared with O. nollothensis Schumacher, 1913. The new species is the third of the subfamily Sehirinae known from Namibia. Moreover, a DNA barcode sequence was generated for this new species (827 bp of cytochrome oxidase I) and was deposited in GenBank.

Another alien bug in Europe: the first case of transcontinental introduction <br />of the Asiatic burrower bug Macroscytus subaeneus (Dallas, 1851) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae) to the U.K. through maritime transport

The Oriental burrower bug Macroscytus subaeneus (Dallas, 1851) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae: Cydninae), presently known only from single localities in Flores (Indonesia), the Philippines and Thailand, is recorded from the United Kingdom (hereafter U.K.). A single female specimen was collected on the semi-rural edge of Bath city by a Starling (Sturnus vulgaris L.) and taken to its nest from which it was retrieved during 2015. The specimen is illustrated and its diagnostic characters are provided. We hypothesize that this specimen could have been imported with a shipping container from Thailand. 

Partially disarticulated new Miocene burrower bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae) from Cerová (Slovakia) documents occasional preservation of terrestrial arthropods in deep-marine sediments

The state of preservation of the bug Sehirus carpathiensis J.A. Lis, Vršanský & Schlögl, sp. n. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae) from the Lakšárska Nová Ves Formation at Cerová (Slovakia) supports extremely rapid sinking and burial in upper bathyal Early Miocene sediments. The specimen originated from land at most a few kilometers away, but transport via a river can be excluded as the head and wings are still attached. Its most likely source based on fossil flora and the habitat of several living representatives of the genus is a riparian habitat in an adjacent area of land. Phylogenetically the new species is closely related to both Oligocene and living representatives of the genus, thus…

Cydnidae (Burrowing Bug) Pigmentation

Coxal combs in the Cydnidae sensu lato and three other related “cydnoid” families – Parastrachiidae, Thaumastellidae, Thyreocoridae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera): functional, taxonomic, and phylogenetic significance

Lis, Jerzy A. (2010): Coxal combs in the Cydnidae sensu lato and three other related " cydnoid " families - Parastrachiidae, Thaumastellidae, Thyreocoridae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera): functional, taxonomic, and phylogenetic significance. Zootaxa 2476: 53-64, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.893992

Presence of uradenia in male adults of the genus Dismegistus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Parastrachiidae)

Uradenia, often referred to as paragenital glands, are usually voluminous paired exocrine glands located ventrally in the abdomen mostly on the intersegmental membrane between abdominal segments (= urites) VII-VIII or VIII-IX, depending on sex or the taxon. They have been previously recorded from eight pentatomomorphan families belonging to Coreoidea, Lygaeoidea and Pyrrhocoroidea (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), found either in males, females or both sexes, and were thought to be absent in Pentatomoidea. We report here the first instance of uradenia in a pentatomoid genus, the African Dismegistus Amyot & Serville, 1843 (Parastrachiidae). Only the male adult possesses uradenia located on the i…

A revision of Australian species of the genus Macroscytus Fieber (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae)

AbstractA revision of Australian species of the genus Macroscytus Fieber is presented, including descriptions of eight new species: M. annulipoides (Queensland), M. arnhemicus (Queensland, Northern Territory), M. australoides (South Australia), M. bisetosus (Queensland), M. glaberrimus (Queensland), M. minimus (Queensland), M. monteithi (Queensland), and M. pseudaustralis (Western Australia). M. dilatatus (Signoret, 1881) is synonymized with M. piceus (West-wood, 1837). A key for the determination of all Australian species of the genus is provided.

Review of the genus Prolactistes (Heteroptera: Cydnidae), with two new combinations, first Indonesian records and a key to species of the genus

Two species of the genus ParaethusJ. A. Lis, 1994 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae: Cydninae: Geotomini) are transferred to ProlactistesJ. A. Lis, 2001, resulting in the following new combinations: Prolactistes jani(J. A. Lis, 1995), comb. nov., and Prolactistes lisi(Magnien, 2014), comb. nov. Diagnostic characters for Prolactistes, and a key for its three species are provided. The present note also reports the first Indonesian record for Prolactistes australisJ. A. Lis, 2001 (Ambon Island, Timor) and P. lisi(Ambon Island), both known previously only from Australia.

<strong>First record of <em>Megacydnus</em> <em>secundus</em> J. A. Lis, 2002, a representative of Afrotropical endemic burrower bug genus from Uganda, and an annotated checklist of Ugandan Cydnidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)</strong>

The Cydnidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea) is a true bug family with almost 700 species distributed worldwide (Lis 1996, 1999, 2006). These bugs usually dig in the ground (e.g., sand, soil, litter) and, therefore, are commonly known as the burrower bugs or burrowing bugs. Digging in the ground is possible because of several morphological adaptations, including well-developed tibial combs (Lis and Schaefer 2005), coxal combs (Lis 2010), and strong hair-like and peg-like setae on the head margins in larval and adult stages (Lis and Pluot-Sigwalt 2002) (see: Fig. 1A).

<p><strong><em>Chilocoris</em> <em>serratus</em> n. sp., the first burrower bug species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae) recorded in Guinea-Bissau with an annotated checklist of the Afrotropical species of the genus <em>Chilocoris</em> Mayr, 1865</strong></p>

The first burrower bug species recorded in Guinea-Bissau, Chilocoris serratus n. sp., is described and compared with morphologically related species. Additionally, an annotated checklist of Afrotropical species of the genus Chilocoris is provided.

<p><strong>Towards resolving a problem of the identity of the <em>Aethus</em> species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae) occurring in Cambodia</strong></p>

The genus Aethus in Cambodia is known only from a single species collected in the 1950s that was originally identified as A. indicus. However, what was regarded as A. indicus in the Oriental and Australian regions appeared to consist of three sibling species, recognizable only on the basis of male genital structures, i.e., A. philippinensis, A. pseudindicus, and true A. indicus. To date, the lack of males representing this genus from Cambodia made it impossible to verify which species actually occur in this country. The present study, based on eight males collected at the same locality in Cambodia where the specimens were originally identified as A. indicus more than 50 years ago (i.e., Sie…

An annotated checklist of burrower bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae) from Bali (Indonesia) with new records*

Abstract An annotated checklist of the Balinese Cydnidae is provided. Three species (Chilocoris adelphus, Macroscytus dominiqueae, M. javanus) are recorded for the first time from Bali, including the first Indonesian record for M. dominiqueae. Fromundus pygmaeus is recorded for the second time from the island. Our study increases the number of Cydnidae recorded from Bali to seven, and that known from Indonesia to 58.

Tibial combs in the Cydnidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) and their functional, taxonomic and phylogenetic significance

Tibial combs in representatives of the family Cydnidae are described in detail for the first time. The structure was studied in 98 species of 58 genera representing all the subfamilies, among them 16 species were investigated using scanning electron microscopic (SEM) techniques. In addition, Parastrachia japonensis (Scott, 1880) of the family Parastrachiidae, and two species of Dismegistus Amyot and Serville, 1843 (a genus of uncertain systematic position within Pentatomoidea) have also been studied. Morphological terminology is proposed for all the structures connected with tibial combs and the term ‘the tibial comb complex’ is suggested; its functional, taxonomic and phylogenetic signific…

Pretarsal structures in the family Cydnidae sensu lato (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea)

New data on the pretarsus in Cydnidae sensu lato are presented; 56 species of 38 genera are studied based on the SEM techniques. Pretarsal structures in Cydnidae s.l. are demonstrated to be not uniform; some are typically pentatomoid, and some are atypical for Pentatomoidea. Structures associated with the unguitractor plate, described for the first time by Weirauch (2005) in Reduviidae, and not reported for Cydnidae s.l. in the past, are described for the first time.

Pullneyocoris dentatus gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Pentatomoidea: Cydnidae), the third representative of the subfamily Amnestinae from mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar

Abstract A new genus and species of burrower bug, Pullneyocoris dentatus gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Cydnidae: Amnestinae), is described from amber of northern Myanmar. It is the third representative of this family known from Burmese amber, and besides its autapomorphies, it presents a mixture of characters relevant to the extant Parachilocoris Horvath, 1919 and Pullneya Horvath, 1919. A comparison of this new genus to the two genera already described from the burmite, i.e. Chilamnestocoris Lis J.A., Lis. B. & Heiss, 2018, and Punctacorona Wang, Du, Yao & Ren, 2019 is also provided.

Systematic position of Dinidoridae within the superfamily Pentatomoidea (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) revealed by the Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial 12S and 16S rDNA sequences

Mitochondrial 12S and 16S rDNA sequences of five species of Dinidoridae Stål, 1868, a largely Paleotropical family, and 16 other shield bugs (Pentatomoidea) were studied. This was the first molecular examination of the systematic position of this family within the superfamily Pentatomoidea using more than a single dinidorid species. Phylogenetic trees obtained from the Bayesian inference of 12S and 16S sequences of these mitochondrial DNA, identified Dinidoridae as the monophylum and a sister group to the Tessaratomidae. Moreover, results of the study suggested a close molecular affinity of the genus Eumenotes to representatives of the subfamily Dinidorinae, which contradicts all previous m…

Macroscytus raunoi, a new burrower bug species from Papua New Guinea (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae: Cydninae)

Abstract Macroscytus raunoi, a new species of the genus Macroscytus Fieber, 1860, is described from the Morobe Province on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. The new species is similar in its morphological characters to Australian M. arnhemicus J. A. Lis, 1999. Differences in morphology and male genitalia which enable separation of both species are provided.

Hypsipyrgias joseliae, a new species of lace bugs (Heteroptera: Tingidae: Tinginae) from New Guinea with a key to species of the genus Hypsipyrgias, and comments on three allied genera Hypsipyrgias Kirkaldy, 1908, Diplocysta Horváth, 1925, and Hypsotingis Drake, 1960

Hypsipyrgias joseliae sp. n. (Heteroptera: Tingidae: Tinginae) from New Guinea is described, illustrated and compared with its two relatives, namely H. telamonides Kirkaldy, 1908 from Australia, and H. euphues Drake and Ruhoff, 1962 from Lord Howe Island. Key to species of the genus Hypsipyrgias is also provided. Two genera very closely related to Hypsipyrgias Kirkaldy, 1908, namely Hypsotingis Drake, 1960 and Diplocysta Horváth, 1925 are re-diagnosed. Diplocysta globuliformis Hacker, 1928, D. papuana Drake, 1960, D. rustica, Drake, 1960 and D. thaleia Drake and Ruhoff, 1965 are transferred from Diplocysta to Hypsotingis. 

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.

Chilamnestocoris mixtus gen. et spec. nov., the first burrower bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomoidea: Cydnidae) in Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber

Abstract A new genus and species of burrower bug, Chilamnestocoris mixtus gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Cydnidae), is described from Upper Cretaceous Myanmar amber. The new genus is characterized by a very long claval commissure and, therefore, is classified within the extant subfamily Amnestinae. It presents a mixture of generic characters relevant to the genus Chilocoris Mayr (Cydninae) and the genus Amnestus Dallas (Amnestinae), but also has its own autapomorphies, i.e., each cephalic marginal setigerous puncture arises from its own well-developed tubercle, and the middle and posterior tibiae are strongly compressed and flattened.

A study on the genus Macroscytus Fieber, 1860 from China (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae)

Eight species of the genus Macroscytus Fieber, 1860 are reported from China. Among these is M. vietnamicus J.A. Lis, 1991, recorded for the first time from the country; moreover, the occurrence of M. badius (Walker, 1867) in its southern parts (Hainan Province) is confirmed. A key to the Chinese species of the genus is provided, along with habitus figures and illustrations of hind legs and the male genitalia. A phenomenon of instability in the cephalic chaetotaxy of M. aequalis (Walker, 1867), M. badius, M. popovi J.A. Lis, 1991, and M. vietnamicus J.A. Lis, 1994, are briefly discussed.

Notes on Afrotropical Cydnidae (Heteroptera) with emphasis on vehicle-mounted net samples and description of a new species from Liberia, West Africa

Notes on the Cydnidae fauna in Liberia, sampled with a vehicle-mounted net, the species taxonomy and general distribution are reported, including the description of Chilocoris elongatus sp. nov. In addition, new country records are provided for Angola, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guine    a-Bissau, Namibia, Niger, Republic of South Africa, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. 

Chilocoris capensis n. sp., the first species of the genus Chilocoris Mayr, 1865 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae) recorded in the Republic of South Africa with an annotated checklist of South African burrower bugs.

Chilocoris capensis n. sp. collected from fallen ripe figs of broom cluster fig Ficus sur Forsskal, 1775, the first burrower bug species of the genus Chilocoris Mayr, 1865 recorded in the Republic of South Africa, is described and compared with Chilocoris laevicollis Horvath, 1919, the morphologically most closely allied Afrotropical species. Additionally, an annotated checklist of burrower bug species recorded in the Republic of South Africa is provided. The known biology of Afrotropical Chilocoris species is briefly summarized.

<strong><em>Chilocoris laevicollis</em> Horváth, 1919, and<em> Ch. umbricola</em> Linnavuori, 1993—two trogloxenic burrower bugs recorded for the first time in Gabon (Central Africa)</strong>

First country records of two burrower bugs, Chilocoris laevicollis , and Ch . umbricola (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae) from Gabon (Central Africa) are presented. The study was based on the specimens collected by Dr. V. Aellen, a well-known Swiss speleologist, taken from two caves near Lastoursville in the Gabonese Republic. Diagnostic characters for both recorded species are provided, and data on their biology and distribution are summarized.

Geographic Distribution and Niche Divergence of Two Stinkbugs,Parastrachia japonensisandParastrachia nagaensis

Parastrachiidae is a small stinkbug family containing only one genus and two species, Parastrachia japonensis (Scott) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea) and Parastrachia nagaensis Distant. The geographic distribution of the genus has been poorly studied. Niche conservatism refers to that idea that closely related species are more ecologically similar than would be expected, whereas niche divergence predicts they occupy distinct niche spaces. The existence of only two species within one genus suggests niche conservatism or differentiation might exist among them. Herein, the distribution of the genus was mapped, potential distributions were predicted using ecological niche modeling, and …

Czy Nysius huttoni (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Lygaeidae), gatunek obcy dla Europy, może mieć w Polsce sprzyjające warunki do bytowania?

Nysius huttoni, the species endemic to New Zealand, is regarded as a pest which feeding can seriously reduce crop establishment in forage brassicas. It was discovered for the first time in Europe in 2002 (the Netherlands) and has spread in several European countries (Belgium, France, United Kingdom, Germany). Although detailed data on the natural spread of N. huttoni is lacking, it can theoretically be transported over long distances with infested plants, and is often found on apple and kiwi fruit packages exported from New Zealand. The species was hitherto not reported from Poland, therefore its potential geographic distribution was modelled using maximum entropy (Max-Ent) in order to pred…

<strong>Identification of the nymphal stages of two European seed bugs, <em>L. equestris</em> and <em>L. simulans</em> (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Lygaeidae), using DNA barcodes</strong>

The genus Lygaeus Fabricius, 1794 includes more than fifty species, mainly distributed in the Old World regions, with 17 species known from the Palearctic (Pericart 2001; Wachmann et al. 2007), and only two from Central Europe, i.e., L . equestris (Linnaeus, 1758) and L . simulans Deckert, 1985 (Pericart 2001).

Production performance and economic traits of silkworms (Bombyx mori L., 1758) fed with mulberry tree leaves (Morus alba, var. Ichinose) significantly differ according to hybrid lines

Abstract Production performance of silkworm (Bombyx mori L., 1758) play a pivotal role in sericulture industry and good quality cocoon represents the economic driver of farms. Silkworms are monophagus insects and differences between cocoon characteristics may depend both on mulberry tree leaves quality as well as on genetic selection of hybrid lines. While a huge work was carried out to identify the best feeding sources to optimize yields, genetic types of silkworms with desirable production and economic traits were studied to a limited extent to date. This experimental feeding trial was carried out using a commercial variety of mulberry tree leaves (Morus alba var. Ichinose) to feed a tota…

Raunoloma longiceps(Linnavuori, 1977) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae): First Record from Uganda

The present note reports the first Ugandan record of Raunoloma longiceps (Linnavuori, 1977), a rarely collected African burrower bug species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae). This record increases the number of Cydnidae genera reported from Uganda to seven, with a total of 12 species. Cydnidae belong to the superfamily Pentatomoidea and are known by almost 700 species distributed in all zoogeographical regions of the world (Lis 1996, 1999, 2006; Lis & Lis 2014). Species of the family are well-known by the common name of burrower (or burrowing) bugs, because of their ability to dig into the ground. This behaviour is possible mainly due to their strong and well-developed tibial and coxal co…

<p><strong>In BOLD we trust? A commentary on the reliability of specimen identification for DNA barcoding: a case study on burrower bugs (</strong><strong>Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae)</strong></p>

An assessment was performed regarding the accuracy of various types of data deposited in the Barcode of Life Data system (BOLD) related to the true bug family Cydnidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Taxonomic nomenclature and classification, identification reliability, and the correctness of the data provided in the "Taxon description" were analyzed and commented on with respect to both available versions of the BOLD system, i.e. version 3 and beta version 4. Numerous mistakes in taxonomy, the relevance of the taxa names, and species misidentifications in BOLD version 3 were found and, more importantly, similar errors were detected in BOLD version 4 as well. We suggest that if the BOLD system is…

Megymenum tuberculatum, a new species of Megymenini from Java and a review of distribution of M. brevicorne (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Dinidoridae)

Megymenum tuberculatum Hemala & Kocorek, sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Dinidoridae: Megymeninae: Megymenini) from Java (Indonesia) is described, illustrated and compared with M. brevicorne (Fabricius, 1787). Although the description is based on only one female specimen, the differences in the morphology of head, pronotum, and spermatheca are significant. In addition, M. brevicorne is briefly redescribed and its distribution and biology reviewed along with its first record from Nepal. 

Pretarsal structures in the family Parastrachiidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea)

Parastrachiidae, for a long time regarded as a subfamily within the Cydnidae (e.g., Schaefer et al. 1988; Schuh and Slater 1995; Gapud 1991), was raised to family level by Sweet and Schaefer (2002), and this position was then accepted by many heteropterists (e.g., Lis and Heyna 2001; Lis and Schaefer 2005; Hironaka et al. 2007; Schaefer and Kikuhara 2007; Lis 2010).

Molecular Apomorphies in the Secondary and Tertiary Structures of Length-Variable Regions (LVRs) of 18S rRNA Shed Light on the Systematic Position of the Family Thaumastellidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea)

The SSU nrDNA, a small subunit of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (coding 18S rRNA), is one of the most frequently sequenced genes in molecular studies in Hexapoda. In insects, including true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), only its primary structures (i.e., aligned sequences) are predominantly used in phylogenetic reconstructions. It is known that including RNA secondary structures in the alignment procedure is essential for improving accuracy and robustness in phylogenetic tree reconstruction. Moreover, local plasticity in rRNAs might impact their tertiary structures and corresponding functions. To determine the systematic position of Thaumastellidae within the superfamily Pentatomoidea, the sec…

Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl, 1817) (Mammalia: Chiroptera): a species new to the fauna of Tajikistan

Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl, 1817) (Mammalia: Chiroptera): a species new to the fauna of Tajikistan. In the paper, the first record of Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl, 1817) in Tajikistan is described. The site is located approximately 500 km from the northern sites of this species in Afghanistan. The discussed issues are connected with the possible isolation of the Central-Eastern Asian populations of this species. The article includes a discussion on assigning the population of P. kuhlii from Eastern Europe to a subspecies and suggests the need for further research that would allow for a clear taxonomic assignment of the analysed population.