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Title: A phylogenetic revision of the true bug genus Heraeus Stal 1862 (Hemiptera: Rhyparochromidae: Myodochini), with the description of two new genera and 30 new species

Author
item DELLAPE, P. - National University Of Laplata
item MELO, M. - National University Of Laplata
item Henry, Thomas

Submitted to: Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/5/2015
Publication Date: 4/19/2016
Citation: Dellape, P.M., Melo, M.C., Henry, T.J. 2016. A phylogenetic revision of the true bug genus Heraeus Stal 1862 (Hemiptera: Rhyparochromidae: Myodochini), with the description of two new genera and 30 new species. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 177:29-34.

Interpretive Summary: Ten families of true bugs are commonly called seed bugs because of their preference for feeding on ripe seeds up on plants or seeds that have fallen to the ground. Certain species of the group treated in this paper are pests of small grains and peanuts stored in piles after harvest, whereas others may seriously damage crops being grown for seed reproduction, causing millions of dollars in damage annually. In this publication, we review a genus of seed bugs, previously containing only 14 species restricted to the Western Hemisphere, including three known from the United States, and describe two new genera and 28 species new to science, Although the habits of most of these new bugs are unknown, it is speculated that they feed on mature seeds. These new bug are described and illustrated and their relationship with other seeds bugs is discussed, and an identification key is provided to help distinguish them. This information will be of interest to a wide array of researchers working in pest management, biological control, and plant-pest quarantine.

Technical Abstract: Prior to this study, the genus Heraeus Stål included 14 species, all of which are restricted to the Western Hemisphere. Three species (H. cinnamomeus Barber, H. coquilletti Barber, H. plebejus Stål) are known from the Nearctic Region, nine (H. caliginosus Slater & Baranowski, H. cincticornis Stål, H. concolor Slater & Baranowski, H. elegans Walker, H. guttatus (Dallas), H. hollyae Baranowski, H. illitus Distant, H. pacificus Barber, H. pulchellus Barber) from the Neotropical Region, and two (H. eximius Distant, H. triguttatus (Guerin)) mainly tropical elements distributed in both regions. In this contribution, we consider H. cincticornis Stål a junior synonym of H. elegans, and describe the following 28 new species: (Heraeus alvarengai, H. annulatus, H. antennalis, H. apicalis, H. bahiensis, H. baranowskii, H. bolivianus, H. brevirostris, H. chamamecinus, H. costalis, H. dominicanus, H. ecuatorianus, H. inca, H. itzelae, H. loja, H. mesoamericanus, H. mexicanus, H. morganae, H. nicaraguensis, H. pallidinervis, H. panamaensis, H. penai, H. setosus, H. similis, H. spinosus, H. splendens, H. steineri, H. tiputini). In addition, the two new genera, Baranowskiobius n. gen. to include Heraeus elegans Walker (Baranowskiobius elegans n. comb.) and the two new species, B. maculatus and B. muticus, and Paraheraeus n. gen. to include Heraeus eximius Distant (Paraheraeus eximius n. comb.) are described. Previously described species and new taxa are described and illustrated, including male genitalia. Scanning electron photomicrographs, general habitus photographs and maps are included for all species studied. A phylogenetic analysis comprising 46 terminal taxa, and 50 characters was performed. All known species of Heraeus are included in the phylogenetic analysis. The type species of the genera Myodocha Latreille, Orthaea Dallas and Paisana Dellapé are used as outgroups.