Author
Henry, Thomas | |
CARPINTERO, D. - Universidad De Buenos Aires |
Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 9/17/2012 Publication Date: 11/9/2012 Citation: Henry, T.J., Carpintero, D.L. 2012. A review of the jumping tree bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Isometopinae) of Argentina and nearby areas of Brazil and Paraguay, with descriptions of nine new species. Zootaxa. 3545:41-58. Interpretive Summary: Plant bugs represent the largest family of true bugs and include numerous agriculturally important species. Many are important crop pests, causing millions of dollars in losses in the United States annually. Many others, however, are valuable predators of various arthropods, making them of considerable interest to researchers involved in insect control. This paper reviews a group of plant bugs that specialize in feeding on scale insects, which are serious pests of fruit crops and ornamentals. In this paper, nine species new to science are described from Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay and two identification keys are provided to help recognize these potentially important predatory bugs. This information will be of interest to a wide range of researchers, regulatory personnel, and Federal and state departments of agriculture working in insect pest management and biocontrol. Technical Abstract: Nine new species of jumping tree bugs, or Isometopinae, from Argentina, Paraguay, and southern Brazil are described. The genus Aristotelesia is revised and the two new species A. fuscata (Brazil) and A. medialis (Argentina) are described, and the Argentine and Paraguayan species of Myiomma are reviewed and the new species M. apicalis (Paraguay), M. argentinensis (Argentina and Paraguay), M. binotata (Argentina), M. pallidopleura (Argentina), M. pallipes (Argentina), M. scutellata (Paraguay), and M. uniformis (Argentina) are described. Previously published records for Argentina are clarified. Color photographs, illustrations of male genitalia when available, and keys are provided to help distinguish species. |