A distributional synopsis of the Pentatomidae (Heteroptera) north of Mexico, including new state and provincial records.

The species of Pentatomidae known to occur north of Mexico, comprising 223 species in 68 genera, are enumerated with taxonomic notes and updated and annotated distributions. Included in this update are 126 new state records reported for 62 pentatomid species in 30 genera. The copious annotations in these distributions and attendant bibliography serve as an extensive compilation of overlooked references that might contain distributional records for other insect, especially heteropteran, species.

Four new species of emHeza/em Amyot amp; Audinet-Serville (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) from the Neotropics.

Four new species of the Neotropical harpactorine genus Heza Amyot Audinet-Serville are newly described: Heza graziae sp. nov. from Ecuador, Heza nebrias sp. nov. from Peru and Brazil, Heza phthinica sp. nov. from Brazil and Peru, and Heza viridipes sp. nov. from Bolivia. Two new country records for two other species are also reported: Heza aurantia Maldonado, 1976 from Ecuador and Heza ventralis Stål, 1872 from Brazil.

Homalosphodrus Stål, 1867 (Insecta: Heteroptera: Reduviidae): a junior objective synonym of Parsialus Stål, 1863.

The purpose of this note is to review the usage of the generic names Parsialus Stål, 1863 and Homalosphodrus Stål, 1867 (type species: Parsialus depressus Stål, 1863) for a genus of harpactorine assassin bugs from the Oriental Region, the latter apparently being an unnecessary replacement name proposed for the former. Although Parsialus Stål, 1863 has been used rarely since its replacement and Homalosphodrus is undoubtedly in prevailing usage, it is demonstrated that neither name has been used extensively in the last century; thus, the case for suppression of Parsialus Stål, 1863 lacks strong support, similar to the case of Lanchnophorus Reuter, 1887 in Rhyparochromidae discussed by Kment et al. (2017) and nearly mirroring the case of Cutocoris Stål, 1859 and Cydnocoris Stål, 1867 in Reduviidae discussed by Swanson (2019). As a consequence, Homalosphodrus Stål, 1867 is replaced by its senior objective synonym, Parsialus Stål, 1863.

The Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of Alabama, with a morphological key to species.

Alabama is one of the most speciose states in the United States, yet many common groups of organisms, including assassin bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae), have yet to be fully documented. The purpose of this manuscript is to identify all known assassin bug species occurring in the state using literature records and specimens from natural history collections, most notably the Auburn University Museum of Natural History Entomology Collection, to provide new state records, a checklist, and a morphological species key of the Alabama Reduviidae. All total, 61 species within 36 genera and 10 subfamilies are reported from Alabama. Additionally, 40 new state literature records are documented: 34 from Alabama and six from other states.

Dasyleistes nom. nov. (Insecta: Heteroptera: Anthocoridae): a new replacement name for the junior homonym Dasypterus Reuter, 1872.

The purpose of this note is to replace the generic name Dasypterus Reuter, 1872, preoccupied by Dasypterus Peters, 1871, in accordance with the principles of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999).

Cydnocoris Stål, 1866 (Insecta: Heteroptera: Reduviidae): a junior synonym of Cutocoris Stål, 1859.

The purpose of this note is to review the usage of the generic names Cutocoris Stål, 1859 and Cydnocoris Stål, 1866 (type species: Myocoris gilvus Burmeister, 1838) for a genus of harpactorine assassin bugs from the Oriental Region, the latter being an unnecessary replacement name proposed for the former. Although Cutocoris Stål, 1859 has been used rarely since its replacement and Cydnocoris is undoubtedly in prevailing usage, it is demonstrated that neither name has been used extensively in the last century; thus, the case for suppression of Cutocoris Stål, 1859 lacks strong support. As a consequence, Cydnocoris Stål, 1866 is replaced by its senior synonym, Cutocoris Stål, 1859.

Doomed to a vile lot: new taxa, notes, and an updated generic key for the Old World corsairs (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Peiratinae).

Herein are erected several new taxa and taxonomic changes based on a study of the Old World genera of Peiratinae: Sphodrembas gen. nov. is erected for a single new species, Sphodrembas fumipennis sp. nov. from Kenya and Tanzania. Ectomocoris caccabatus sp. nov. is newly described and represents the first record of the genus from the Korean Peninsula. Chaulioleistes gen. nov. is erected for Peirates singularis Stål, 1874, resulting in Chaulioleistes singularis (Stål, 1874) comb. nov. Isdegardes Distant, 1909, described in Acanthaspidinae (=Reduviinae), is considered a junior synonym of the peiratine genus Phalantus Stål, 1863 syn. nov., resulting in Phalantus melanocephalus (Distant, 1909) comb. nov. for the type species of Isdegardes. Lestomerus wroughtoni Bergroth, 1915 is transferred to Brachysandalus Stål, 1866, resulting in Brachysandalus wroughtoni (Bergroth, 1915) comb. nov. The previously proposed synonymy of Polychitonocoris formosus Miller, 1940 with Calistocoris caesareus Reuter, 1881 is corroborated. All of the above taxonomic acts are supplemented with a key to the species of Calistocoris, a key to the species of Pachysandalus, and a key to the peiratine genera of the Old World. Also reported are thirteen new country records for eleven other species: Brachysandalus bicolor (Villiers, 1948) (Kenya, Tanzania); Ectomocoris bimaculatus Schouteden, 1909 (Ghana); Ectomocoris fenestratus (Klug, 1830) (Ghana); Ectomocoris maculicrus (Fairmaire, 1858) (Uganda, Zimbabwe); Lestomerus affinis (Audinet-Serville, 1831) (Malaysia); Lestomerus basilewskyi Villiers, 1962 (Kenya); Lestomerus bicolor (Villiers, 1948) (Kenya); Lestomerus dubius Villiers, 1948 (Cameroon); Pachysandalus schoutedeni Villiers, 1962 (Sudan); Peirates collarti Schouteden, 1931 (Cameroon); Peirates quadrinotatus (Fabricius, 1798) (Malaysia); and Phalantus africanus Stål, 1874 (Ghana).

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.

Annotated list of the assassin bugs (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) of Belize, with the description of two new species.

Fifty-one species of Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) are recorded from Belize; literature citations are provided where relevant, and specimen data are included for examined material. Thirteen previously-described species are reported from Belize for the first time, ten of which represent new generic records: Eupheno histrionicus Stål, 1862 (Cetherinae); Ghinallelia signoreti (Dohrn, 1860) (Emesinae); Rasahus albomaculatus (Mayr, 1865) (Peiratinae); Leogorrus interruptus Champion, 1899; Microlestria laevis Champion, 1899; Nalata quadrituberculata Champion, 1899; Nalata setulosa Stål, 1862; Pseudozelurus superbus (Champion, 1899); Zelurus spinidorsis (Gray, 1832) (all Reduviinae); Oncerotrachelus conformis Uhler, 1894; Saica fuscipes Stål, 1862 (both Saicinae); Gnathobleda litigiosa Stål, 1862; and Stenopoda wygodzinskyi Giacchi, 1969 (both Stenopodainae). Among the ten subfamilies reported, Belizean records for one subfamily, Saicinae, are reported for the first time. Accompanying the checklist are the descriptions of Castolus omega Swanson sp. nov. (Harpactorinae) and Pygolampis aptena Swanson sp. nov. (Stenopodainae).

Three new species of Rasahus, with clarifications on the identities of three other Neotropical corsairs (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Peiratinae).

Three new peiratine species in the genus Rasahus Amyot Audinet-Serville, 1843 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Peiratinae) are described: Rasahus nesiotes sp. nov. from Grand Bahama, Rasahus deliquus sp. nov. from Panama, and Rasahus abolitus sp. nov. from French Guiana. Rasahus castaneus Coscarón, 1983 is reported for the first time from French Guiana. The identity of Reduvius scutellaris Fabricius, 1787 is clarified, resulting in the following taxonomic and nomenclatural changes: Rasahus rufiventris (Walker, 1873) is considered a junior synonym of Rasahus scutellaris (Fabricius, 1787) stat. rev. et syn. nov., and Pirates myrmecinus Erichson, 1848 is resurrected and transferred, resulting in Rasahus myrmecinus (Erichson, 1848) stat. rev. et comb. nov. Most records of Rasahus scutellaris auct. (nec Fabricius) prior to this study remain indeterminate. Additionally, the peiratine fauna known from Panama and French Guiana are enumerated, and an updated key to the species of Rasahus is provided. Lastly, Pirates digramma Walker, 1873 (p. 102), tentatively considered to belong to Rasahus by previous authors, is discussed and transferred to Tydides Stål, 1866, resulting in Tydides digramma (Walker, 1873) comb. nov.

Status of the name Argolis in Insecta.

The purpose of the present notice is to identify and clarify a case of mistaken homonymy surrounding the name Argolis, pertaining to Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, and Coleoptera. It is here demonstrated that "Argolis" (Boisduval 1836: 2) is an incorrect original spelling of Ergolis Boisduval, 1836 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae); therefore, Argolis Stål, 1861 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is the valid senior synonym of Caunus Stål, 1865, while Argolis Chapuis, 1874 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) remains a junior homonym. The following details summarize the situation:.

Five new replacement names in Reduviidae (Heteroptera).

The following five new replacement names are proposed for homonymous genus- and species-level names in four different subfamilies of Reduviidae: Dithectocoris nom. nov. for Echinocoris Livingstone & Ravichandran, 1992 nec Echinocoris Miller, 1949 (Ectrichodiinae); Sphedanolestes picturellus tordoi nom. nov. for Sphedanolestes picturellus annulipes Tordo, 1969 nec Sphedanolestes annulipes Distant, 1903 (Harpactorinae); Acanthaspis celidota nom. nov. for Acanthaspis maculata Sucheta & Chopra, 1989 nec Acanthaspis maculata (Distant, 1903); Reduvius lasius nom. nov. for Reduvius villosus Fabricius, 1794 nec (Thunberg, 1783) (Reduviinae); and Oncocephalus enallus nom. nov. for Oncocephalus bipunctatus Livingstone & Ravichandran, 1990 nec Oncocephalus bipunctatus Villiers, 1952. The genus-level replacement also results in Dithectocoris coromandelensis (Livingstone & Ravichandran, 1992) comb. nov.

Nine true bugs (Heteroptera) newly-discovered in Illinois.

Six heteropteran species are reported for the first time from Illinois based on recently caught specimens from various bioinventories: the flat bug Neuroctenus pseudonymus Bergroth (Aradidae: Mezirinae), the stilt bug Metacanthus multispinus (Ashmead) (Berytidae: Metacanthinae), the leaf-footed bugs Anasa repetita Heidemann and Chelinidea vittiger Uhler (Coreidae: Coreinae), the ambush bug Phymata fasciata fasciata (Gray) (Reduviidae: Phymatinae), and the scentless plant bug Arhyssus nigristernum (Signoret) (Rhopalidae: Rhopalinae). Additionally, three more records for the flat bug Nannium pusio Heidemann (Aradidae) and the scentless plant bugs Aufeius impressicollis Stål and Niesthrea louisianica Sailer (Rhopalidae) are newly-reported for the state based on material in the Illinois Natural History Insect Collection (INHS). Supplementing these notes are dichotomous keys to the species of Mezirinae, Berytidae, Coreidae, Phymatinae, and Rhopalidae of Illinois.

Evolution of the assassin's arms: insights from a phylogeny of combined transcriptomic and ribosomal DNA data (Heteroptera: Reduvioidea).

Assassin bugs (Reduvioidea) are one of the most diverse (>7,000 spp.) lineages of predatory animals and have evolved an astounding diversity of raptorial leg modifications for handling prey. The evolution of these modifications is not well understood due to the lack of a robust phylogeny, especially at deeper nodes. We here utilize refined data from transcriptomes (370 loci) to stabilize the backbone phylogeny of Reduvioidea, revealing the position of major clades (e.g., the Chagas disease vectors Triatominae). Analyses combining transcriptomic and Sanger-sequencing datasets result in the first well-resolved phylogeny of Reduvioidea. Despite amounts of missing data, the transcriptomic loci resolve deeper nodes while the targeted ribosomal genes anchor taxa at shallower nodes, both with high support. This phylogeny reveals patterns of raptorial leg evolution across major leg types. Hairy attachment structures (fossula spongiosa), present in the ancestor of Reduvioidea, were lost multiple times within the clade. In contrast to prior hypotheses, this loss is not directly correlated with the evolution of alternative raptorial leg types. Our results suggest that prey type, predatory behavior, salivary toxicity, and morphological adaptations pose intricate and interrelated factors influencing the evolution of this diverse group of predators.

A new generic synonym in the Reduviinae of Australia, with an updated key to genera (Heteroptera: Reduviidae).

The monotypic genus Horciniella Miller, 1958 is considered a junior synonym of Archilestidium Breddin, 1900 (new synonymy), resulting in the following taxonomic change for its type species: Archilestidium variabile (Miller, 1958) (new combination). The evidence supporting this conclusion and the new composition of the genus are discussed at length. Updated keys to the reduviine genera of Australia and the Australian species of Horcinia Stål, 1874 are included. Habitus images as well as a new distributional record are provided for several Australian reduviines.