Conspectus of Aeptini Stål, 1871 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae)

Abstract

The Pentatominae tribe Aeptini is revised. A key to the known genera is provided, together with redescription and figures. The genus Paramenestheus is revised, including a key to the species and figures to all the included taxa. Two new genera and eight new species are discovered and described. A phylogenetic analysis is included for the Aeptini, with two approaches, cladistic and maximum likelihood, both morphologically based. After these analysis it is concluded that it is a monophyletic tribe and has to be split into two subtribes: Aeptina (including Aeptus and Eribotes) and Menesthina (including Aeliosoma, Hillieria, Menestheus, Paramenestheus, Pseudaelia, New Genus 1, New Genus 2.). Diagnoses for both subtribes are included. Biogeographically it is hypothesized that the Aeptini have a Gondwanian origin which explains it current disjunct distribution in Africa and Australia. The importance of the findings on this dissertation, as well as the relationships among Aeptini and other Pentatominae groups is commented and disccused. Special reference is made to the importance of the presence of a mesosternal sulcus as a major character that may lead to a reclassification of the Pentatominae, having the Aeptini as one of the basal groups. After all the changes proposed on this dissertation the Aeptini is now comprised of two subtribes, nine genera and 30 species.