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Megymenum distanti, a new species of the dinidorid subfamily Megymeninae, is described from India and is comparedwith M. affine and M. brevicorne. It is the sixth species of this genus known from India. Remarks on the habitat, wherethe type material was collected, photographs of the host plant and a brief description of all instars are provided. This species is of a different color as an adult and as nymphs, a situation which is unusual.

Species of Dinidoridae in Brazil are currently known only from five localities, which has been attributed in the literature to the lack of field collections. We report the first record of Dinidor mactabilis (Perty, 1833) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, also representing the first record of the family Dinidoridae in São Paulo. A female of Dinidor mactabilis was collected in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest close to the Billings Reservoir, in the municipality of São Bernardo do Campo, extending its known distribution in southeastern Brazil by at least 200 km.

Dinidoridae Apesar de seu tamanho relativamente grande (10 a 30 mm) e sua colora����o aposem��tica, estes percevejos raramente est��o representados em cole����es. Compreende 115 esp��ciesem 13 g��neros, sendo predominantemente encontrados nas regi��es Afrotropical e Oriental. Afam��lia foi revisada por Durai (1987), que reconheceu as subfam��lias Dinidorinae (com duas tribos) e Megymeninae (duas tribos); Kocorek & Lis (2000) propuseram uma nova tribo para Megymeninae. Chaves para identifica����o dos t��xons podem ser encontradas em Durai (1987) e Kocorek & Lis (2000). Rolston et al. (1996) sumarizaram a classifica����o corrente para a fam��lia; Schaefer et al. (2000) revisaram a biologia das esp��cies de import��ncia econ��mica, nenhuma delas com ocorr��ncia para o Brasil. Oconhecimento da biologia das esp��cies neotropicais se restringe �� dados de etiqueta, principalmente registros de plantas-hospedeiras. Dinidor mactabilis Perty foi registrada formando agrupamentos em Smilax japecanga Grisebach (Smilacaceae) no sul do Brasil (Schwertner & Grazia no prelo). Aaus��ncia de registro de esp��cies de Dinidoridae para o Estado de S��o Paulo (Tabela 1) certamente �� resultado da falta de coleta., Published as part of Grazia, Joc��lia & Schwertner, Cristiano Feldens, 2011, Checklist dos percevejos-do-mato (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea) do Estado de S��o Paulo, Brasil, pp. 705-716 in Biota Neotropica 11 on page 707, DOI: 10.1590/S1676-06032011000500034, http://zenodo.org/record/3903462, {"references":["DURAI, P. S. S. 1987. A revision of the Dinidoridae of the world (Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea). Oriental Ins. 21: 163 - 360.","KOCOREK, A. & LIS, J. 2000. A cladistic revision of the Megymeninae of the World (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Dinidoridae). Pol. Pis. Entomol. 69 (1): 7 - 30.","ROLSTON, L. H., RIDER, D. A., MURRAY, M. J. & AALBU, R. L. 1996. Catalog of the Dinidoridae of the World. Papua New Guinea Jl Agric. Forest. Fish. 39 (2): 22 - 101.","SCHAEFER, C. W., PANIZZI, A. R. & JAMES, D. G. 2000. Several small pentatomoid families (Cyrtocoridae, Dinidoridae, Urostylidae, Plataspidae, and Tessaratomidae). In Heteroptera of economic importance (C. W. Schaefer & A. R. Panizzi, ed.). CRC Press, Boca Raton, p. 505 - 512. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1201 / 9781420041859"]}

DINIDORIDAE St��l Historical: Durai (1987), in a world revision of the Dinidoridae, recognized the subfamilies Dinidorinae, with the two tribes Dinidorini and Thalmini, and Megymeninae, also with two tribes, Megymenini and Eumenotini. Lis (1990) catalogued the Old World Dinidoridae. Rolston et al. (1996) summarized the current classification in their world catalogue of Dini- doridae. Gapud (1991) considered Dinidoridae and Tessaratomidae to be sister groups with two synapomorphies supporting the grouping: partially exposed spiracles on the second abdominal segment (these becoming completely exposed in Tessaratomidae), and greatly enlarged ninth paratergites. The Dinidoridae, on the other hand, is separated from the Tessaratomidae by the reduced gonangulum and the enlarged and often reticulate hemelytral membrane, both of which characters are not found exclusively in this group. Kocorek and Lis (2000), in a cladistic revision of the Megymeninae, proposed anew tribe, Byrsodepsini, and established Eumenotini as a junior synonym of Megymenini sensu stricto. Analytical result: After extensive searching, we were unable to secure, either through our own fieldwork or that of others, material adequate for sequencing other than for the genus Megymenum, leaving the Dinidorinae without molecular data. Our unweighted and successively weighted morphological analyses (Figs 42 and 43) treat the broadly conceived Dinidoridae as paraphyletic; analysis of the morphological data under implied weights using PIWE (Fig. 44) treats the Dinidoridae as a monophyletic subset of a paraphyletic Tessaratomidae. Megymenum is treated as the sister-group of Tessaratomidae in the 52-taxon molecular and combined analyses when using a 1: 1 cost ratio (Figs 45 and 51). In the 92-taxon combined analyses, the Dinidoridae is paraphyletic within a larger Tessaratomidae using a 1: 1 cost ratio (Fig. 53), is the monophyletic sister group of a monophyletic Tessaratomidae using a 1: 2 cost ratio (Fig. 54), and also includes Urochela (Urostylididae) when applying a 2: 2 cost ratio (Fig. 55). The close association of the Dinidoridae with the Tessaratomidae in our analyses is concordant with the conclusions of Gapud (1991), although there is no clearcut set of morphological characters that diagnoses that larger grouping. Future efforts should aim to produce a more broad-based taxon sample of sequence data for the group to test more rigorously its monophyly as well as its relationship with the Tessaratomidae as well as the remaining Pentatomoidea., Published as part of Grazia, Jocelia, Schuh, Randall T. & Wheeler, Ward C., 2008, Phylogenetic relationships of family groups in Pentatomoidea based on morphology and DNA sequences (Insecta: Heteroptera), pp. 932-976 in Cladistics 24 on page 967, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-0031.2008.00224.x, http://zenodo.org/record/3968591, {"references":["Durai, P. S. S., 1987. A revision of the Dinidoridae of the world (Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea). Orient. Insects 21, 163 - 360.","Lis, J. A., 1990. New genera, new species, new records and checklist of the Old World Dinidoridae (Heteroptera, Pentatomoidea). Ann. Upper Silesian Mus., Entomol. 1, 103 - 147.","Rolston, L. H., Rider, D. A., Murray, M. J., Aalbu, R. L., 1996. Catalog of the Dinidoridae of the World. Papua New Guinea J. Agric. For. Fish. 39, 22 - 101.","Gapud, V., 1991. A generic revision of the subfamily Asopinae with consideration of its phylogenetic position in the family Pentatomidae and superfamily Pentatomoidea (Hemiptera-Heteroptera). Philippine Entomol. 8, 865 - 961.","Kocorek, A., Lis, J. A., 2000. A cladistic revision of the Megymeninae of the world (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Dinidoridae). Polskie Pismo Entomol. 69, 7 - 30."]}

Phylogenetic relationships within the Pentatomoidea are investigated through the coding and analysis of character data derived from morphology and DNA sequences. In total, 135 terminal taxa were investigated, representing most of the major family groups; 84 ingroup taxa are coded for 57 characters in a morphological matrix. As many as 3500 bp of DNA data are adduced for each of 52 terminal taxa, including 44 ingroup taxa, comprising the 18S rRNA, 16S rRNA, 28S rRNA, and COI gene regions. Character data are analysed separately and in the form of a total evidence analysis. Major conclusions of the phylogenetic analysis include: the concept of Urostylididae is restricted to that of earlier authors; the Saileriolinae is raised to family rank and treated as the sister group of all Pentatomoidea exclusive of Urostylididae sensu stricto; a broadly conceived Cydnidae, as recognized by Dolling, 1981, is not supported; the placement of Thaumastellidae within the Pentatomoidea is affirmed and the taxon is recognized at family rank rather than as a subfamily of Cydnidae, although its exact phylogenetic position within the Pentatomoidea remains equivocal; the Parastrachiinae is treated as also including Dismegistus Amyot & Serville and placed within a broadly conceived Corimelaenidae, the latter group being treated at family rank; the family-group taxa Dinidoridae and Tessaratomidae probably represent a monophyletic group, but the recognition of monophyletic subgroups will benefit from additional representation in the sequence data set; and the Lestoniidae is treated as the sister group of the Acanthosomatidae. The Acanthosomatidae and Scutelleridae are consistently recovered as monophyletic. The monophyly of the Pentatomidae appears unequivocal, inclusive of the Aphylinae and Cyrtocorinae, on the basis of morphology, the latter two taxa not being represented in the molecular data set. © The Willi Hennig Society 2008.

Seven families of Pentatomoidea including Acanthosomatidae, Dinidoridae, Pentatomidae, Plataspididae, Scutelleridae, Thaumastellidae, and Thyreocoridae are discussed in this catalog. The Iranian fauna of Pentatomoidea (excl. Cydnidae) is represented by 99 genera and 271 species and subspecies. Elasmostethus interstinctus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Acanthosomatidae) and Derula flavoguttata Mulsant & Rey, 1856 (Pentatomidae) are new records for Iran.

The nearly complete mitochondrial genome of Coridius chinensis (Dallas) is reported in this study. The mitogenome is a double-stranded circular molecule of more than 14,648 bp in length with an A+T content of 75.1%. It encoded 37 genes as in other insect mtDNAs, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes and a control region (unsuccessful sequencing), and the gene order is the same as most other known heteropteran mitogenomes. All of the 22 transfer RNAs can be folded into the typical cloverleaf structure except tRNASer(AGN), which can only form a simple loop at the site of dihydrouridine (DHU) arm as known in other metazoans. The secondary structures of the large and small ribosomal RNAs of C. chinensis are similar to other presented insects. The rrnL consisted of six structural domains and 40 helices, and the rrnS consisted of three structural domains and 26 helices. Nine PCGs are initiated with the standard initiation codons (ATN), while ND6 and ND1 use GTG, and COI and ATP8 use TTG. All PCGs stopped with TAA/TAG termination codons except the COII terminated with a single T residue. Asymmetry in the nucleotide composition between J-strand and N-strand was observed in this mitogenome.

Coridius putoni (Bolivar, 1879) — fig. 6 Description Head black, blackish brown or brown; paraclypei longer than clypeus, lateral margins sinuate; eyes brown, reddish brown or blackish brown; antennae 4-segmented, brown or blackish brown, 4th segment yellow with basal part light brown, apical part of 3rd »segment yellow or light brown, 1st segment extending beyond apex of head, 2nd lon ­ gest, 4th longer than 3rd; rostrum brown, reaching middle part of me ­ sosternum. Pronotum blackish brown or brown, distinctly grooved, an ­ terior border concavely curved. Scutelum and wing pads same coloured as pronotum, wing pads with lateral margins narrowly lighter in sha ­ de. Legs blackish brown or brown, middle and hind legs often with coxae, basal parts of femora and middle parts of tibiae yellowish or light brown, tarsi 2-segmented. Venter dull brown, with dark brown or blackish brown square or rectangular shiny patches in middle of segments, connexival areas as well as spiracles blackish brown. Dor ­ sum same coloured as venter with blackish brown areas around abdo ­ minal scent gland orifices. Body length 10,3—12,4 mm; body width 8,2—9,2mm. Material examined TANZANIA: Usambara, II 1912, 17 larvae, Methner (MNHU, JAL)., Published as part of Lis, Jerzy A., 1991, On The Last Instar Larvae Of Some Dinidoridae Species (Heteroptera, Pentatomoidea), pp. 83-92 in Annals Of The Upper Silesian Museum (Entomology) 2 on page 8, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7782177

Sagriva vittata Spinola, 1850 — fig. 9 Description Head blackwith inner margin of paraclypei, entire clypeus and apices of anteocular teeth ochraceous; paraclypei longer than clypeus and joined in front of it; eyes round, deep brown. Pronotum black with lateral margins and median line ochraceous; anterior margin concave, lateral and posterior ones almost straight. Scutellum and wing pads Striated; scutellum black with ochraceous mid-line; wing pads ochraceous with black,broad lines. Legs yellowish brown, tarsi 2-segmented. Venter yellowish brown with broad black lines near lateral margins; spiracles black.Dorsum black with median line, abdominal scent gland orifices and connexival areas ochraceous. Body length 16,3 mm; body width 10,1 mm. Material examined INDIA: Assam, 1 larva, Robinson (HEC)., Published as part of Lis, Jerzy A., 1991, On The Last Instar Larvae Of Some Dinidoridae Species (Heteroptera, Pentatomoidea), pp. 83-92 in Annals Of The Upper Silesian Museum (Entomology) 2 on pages 10-11, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7782177

Coridius chinensis (Dallas, 1851) — fig. 5 Description Head brown, paraclypei longer than clypeus, apically rounded, lateral margins sinuate; eyes blackish grey, pedunculate; antennae 4-segmented, all segments blackish brown, except the 4th one, which is yellowish brown, 2nd segment longest, 2nd and 3rd somewhat flattened; rostrum blackish brown, extending beyond fore coxae. Pronotum brown with lateral margins narrowly black, distinctly grooved, anterior border concavely curved. Scutellum and wing pads same coloured as pronotum. Legs brown, tarsi 2-segmented. Venter yellowish brown with brown patches in the middle of segments; connexival areas yellowish with two black patches on each segment; all spiracles black.Dor ­ sum yellowish brown with brown areas around scent gland orifices; connexival areas of same pattern as on venter. Body length 14,0 mm; body width 10,1 mm. Material examined MALAYA: Salanga near Malacca, 1 larva, No. 10794, Weber (JAL)., Published as part of Lis, Jerzy A., 1991, On The Last Instar Larvae Of Some Dinidoridae Species (Heteroptera, Pentatomoidea), pp. 83-92 in Annals Of The Upper Silesian Museum (Entomology) 2 on pages 6-8, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7782177

Cyclopelta tristis (Stal, 1864) — fig. 2 Description Head black, paraclypei slightly shorter than clypeus, apex truncate; lateral margins slightly sinuate before eyes; the latter blackish brown or brown; antennae 4-segmented, black, 2nd segment longest, 2nd and 3rd slightly flattened; rostrum brown, 4-segmented, 4th segment darker in shade, reaching posterior border of mid-coxae. Pronotum black, anterior border concave, lateral margins arched. Scutellum and wing pads same coloured as pronotum. Legs brown or yellowish brown, tarsi 2-segmented. Venter deep brown, with black or blackish brown patches in the middle of segments; connexival areas and spiracles black. Dorsum deep brown, with connexival areas and areas around abdominal scent gland orifices black.Body length 9,5—13,7 mm; body width 8,2—10,7 mm. Material examined RWANDA: Kiwu Lake, Kissenji (= Gisenyi), 13 larvae, Stegemann (MNHU, JAL)., Published as part of Lis, Jerzy A., 1991, On The Last Instar Larvae Of Some Dinidoridae Species (Heteroptera, Pentatomoidea), pp. 83-92 in Annals Of The Upper Silesian Museum (Entomology) 2 on page 4, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7782177

Megymenum spinosum (Burmeister, 1834) — fig. 8 Description Head light brown with brown or blackish brown puncture-like spots and patches, paraclypei longer than clypeus and joined if front of it; anteocular teeth sharply pointed and obliquely directed; eyes brownish grey; antennae 4-segmented, dark brown, 1st segment not extending beyond apex of head, 2nd flattened, 3rd flattened and somewhat dilated; rostrum light brown, reaching mid-coxae. Pronotum similarly coloured as head, anterior border slightly concave, wider than head; lateral margins crenulated. Scutellum and wing pads same coloured as pronotum. Legs yellowish brown, tibiae with brown spots and patches, tarsi 2-segmented. Venter yellowish brown with brown and red puncture-like spots and patches; spiracles black. Dorsum yellowish brown, with brown or red puncture-like spots; areas around abdominal scent gland orifices darker than the rest of dorsum; connexival areas shiny, yellowish with red puncture-likę spots and blackish margins. Body length 11,0 mm; body width 7,8 mm. Material examined SRI LANKA: Ceylon, 1 larva (JAL), Published as part of Lis, Jerzy A., 1991, On The Last Instar Larvae Of Some Dinidoridae Species (Heteroptera, Pentatomoidea), pp. 83-92 in Annals Of The Upper Silesian Museum (Entomology) 2 on pages 9-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7782177

Coridius nubilus (Westwood, 1837) — fig. 3 Description • Head blackish brown or black, paracylpei longer than clypeus, apically rounded, lateral margins sinuate; eyes deep brown or yellowish brown, pedunculate; antennae 4-segmented, 1st and 2nd segments deep brown, or black, 3rd and 4th segments entirely yellowish orange or yellow, 1st segment extending well beyond apex of head, 2nd segment longest; rostrum brown or blackish brown, short, reaching middle part of fore coxae. Pronotum reddish brown with lateral margins narrowly blackish brown, distinctly grooved; anterior border almost straight. Entire scutellum and wing pads reddish brown, distinctly grooved. Legs blackish brown or black, tarsi 2-segmented. Venter dull brown or grey, with square or rectangular black patches in the middle of each segment; connexival areas brownish black or black; all spiracles black. Dorsum same coloured as venter, with black areas around abdominal scent gland orifices, and brownish black or black connexival areas. Body length 12,1—16,8 mm; body width 10,1—13,6 mm. Material examined TANZANIA: Langenburg (= Tukuyu), Nyassa Lake, 19—31 II [18]88, 1 larva, Fülleborn (MNHU); MOZAMBIQUE: 2 larvae, No. 1768/07, W. Tiesler (MNHU); REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: Zoutpansberg, Transvaal, 2 larvae (IZPAS)., Published as part of Lis, Jerzy A., 1991, On The Last Instar Larvae Of Some Dinidoridae Species (Heteroptera, Pentatomoidea), pp. 83-92 in Annals Of The Upper Silesian Museum (Entomology) 2 on pages 4-6, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7782177

Coridius xanthopterus (Fairmaire, 1858) — fig. 7 Description Head blackish brown, paraclypei longer than clypeus and joined in front of it, rounded apically, lateral margins sinuate; eyes brownish, pedunculate; antennae 4-segmented, brown, 2nd segment slightly lon ­ ger than 3rd, 1st extending beyond apex of head; rostrum brown, al ­ most reaching mid-coxae. Pronotum brown, with lateral margins yello ­ wish brown, distinctly grooved, anterior margin distinctly sinuated. Scutellum grooved, yellowish brown; wing pads striated, yellow. Legs deep brown, tarsi 2-segmented; hind tibiae dilated. Venter dull brown With square or rectangular brown shiny patches in the middle of seg ments; connexival areas yellow; spiracles black.Dorsum same coloured as venter with lighter areas around abdominal scent gland orifices; connexival areas yellow. Body length 11,9 mm; body width 9,5 mm. Material examined CAMEROON: Sanagalafl., Lolodorf, 26 VII — 6 VIII [19]01, 1 larva, Glauning (MNHU)., Published as part of Lis, Jerzy A., 1991, On The Last Instar Larvae Of Some Dinidoridae Species (Heteroptera, Pentatomoidea), pp. 83-92 in Annals Of The Upper Silesian Museum (Entomology) 2 on pages 8-9, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7782177

Lis, Jerzy A. (1991): On The Last Instar Larvae Of Some Dinidoridae Species (Heteroptera, Pentatomoidea). Annals Of The Upper Silesian Museum (Entomology) 2: 83-92, DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7782177, {"references":["Durai p. S. S., 1987, A revision of the Dinidoridae of the World (Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea), Orient. Ins., 21: 162-360.","Kobayashi T., 1955, The developmental stages of some species of the Japanese Pentatomoidea (Hemiptera) IV, Trans. Shikoku Ent. Soc., 4. 79 82.","Lis J. A., 1990 ,New genera, new species, new records and checklist of the Old World Dinidoridae (Heteroptera, Pentatomoidea), Ann. Upper Siles. Mus., Ent., 1 : 103-147.","Sinha P. B., 1969 ,Studies on the anatomy of \"Cyclopelta siccifolia\" Westw. (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae, Dinidorinae), Rev. Bras. Biol., 29 : 135 -138."]}

Cyclopelta bechynei Durai, 1987 — fig. 1 Description Head brown or blackish brown; paraclypei and clypeus almost equal in length, apex truncate; lateral margins slightly sinuate before eyes; the latter brown or blackish grey; antennae 4-segmented, deep brown or blackish brown, basal parts of segments sometimes reddish brown, 2nd segment longest, 2nd and 3rd somewhat flattened; rostrum brown, 4-segmented, reaching anterior border of middle coxae. Pronotum deep brown or blackish brown, anterior border concavely curved, lateral margins arched. Scutellum and wing pads of same colour as pronotum. Legs deep brown, tarsi 2-segmented. Venter yellowish brown, with brown or blackish brown patches in the middle of each segment; connexival areas brown or blackish brown; spiracles black or blackish brown. Dorsum yellowish brown with black, blackish brown or brown areas around abdominal scent gland orifices; connexival areas brown, brownish black or black. Body length 9,0— 12,2 mm; body width 6,7— — 9,6 mm. Material examined TOGO: Bismarckburg (= Yegue), 12 X 1892, 27 larvae, Conradt (MNHU, JAL)., Published as part of Lis, Jerzy A., 1991, On The Last Instar Larvae Of Some Dinidoridae Species (Heteroptera, Pentatomoidea), pp. 83-92 in Annals Of The Upper Silesian Museum (Entomology) 2 on page 4, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7782177, {"references":["Durai p. S. S., 1987, A revision of the Dinidoridae of the World (Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea), Orient. Ins., 21: 162 - 360."]}

Data on 2n-numbers of 55 species, belonging to six families of Ghanaian shield-bugs, collected in Southern Ghana, West Africa, are presented. Micrographs and tracings of karyotypes observed for each species are reproduced as figures. Histograms of chromosome numbers of the various families have been constructed and these results, together with the existing information in the literature, are analysed and discussed. In all, 217 species of Pentatomoidea were found to be known cytologically in the literature. With the present work, the total number of species of shield-bugs where the karyotypes are now known stands at 266. The following karyotype groups appear to emerge from the study: 14 and 12. Under group 14 is the family Pentatomidae, whilst the families Scutelleridae, Cydnidae and Plataspidae fall under the karyotype group 12. No basic chromosome number can however be cited for the other families of Pentatomoidea, namely the Dinidoridae, Tessaratomidae, Acanthosomatidae and Urostylidae, because the cytological data for each of these are too scanty for any such conclusions to be arrived at. The interrelation of various groups in the superfamily Pentatomoidea is discussed, and the present investigations tend to support the work and conclusions arrived at by morpho-taxonomical studies.

The immature stages of 5 species of Pentatomomorpha are described: Dieuches notatus (Dallas) and Pachygrontha robusta Slater (Lygaeidae), Phaenacantha australiae Kirkaldy (Colobathristidae), Physopelta famelica Stal (Largidae) and Megymenum insulare Westwood (Dinidoridae). Growth ratio between each 2 successive instars is calculated. The available biological and life history information is given.

The family Dinidoridae Stai is classified under two subfamilies: Dinidorinae and Megymeninae, and four tribes: Dinidorini, tribe nov., Thalmini, Megymenini and Eumenotini. The world genera and spec...

First molecular studies on museum specimens of five families of pentatomoid bugs, namely Cydnidae, Dinidoridae, Parastrachiidae, Tessaratomidae, and Thyreocoridae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea), are presented, as a preliminary approach to molecular phylogenetic analyses of these families. Forty-eight pin-mounted museum specimens representing 46 pentatomoid species collected in the late 19 th and the 20 th century (more than 15 years old, the oldest specimen collected in 1894) were analyzed; and the acquisition of PCR amplifiable mitochondrial DNA (16S and/or 12S rDNA fragments) was successful from 10 specimens, i.e., 2 specimens (2 species) of Cydnidae, 4 specimens (4 species) of Dinidoridae, 1 specimen (1 species) of Parastrachiidae, 1 specimen (1 species) of Tessaratomidae, and 2 specimens (2 species) of Thyreocoridae. The oldest PCR amplifiable mtDNA sample was extracted from Strombosoma impictum (Stål) (Thyreocoridae) collected in 1932 in Zaire.

We studied the cuticular structures associated with the opening of the adult metathoracic scent glands in the family Tessaratomidae. The terminology previously used for these structures in the Tessaratomidae and Pentatomoidea is briefly reviewed and most suitable terms are selected (i.e., metathoracic scent apparatus, internal and external scent efferent system, internal orifice, vestibule, ostiole, ostiolar groove, peritreme, auricle, spout, groove, ruga, disc, peritremal lobes, evaporatorium, mycoid surface, mushroom body, bridge, alveole, trabeculae, and peritremal surface). We examined and illustrated external scent efferent system of 40 species from 33 genera belonging to all three subfamilies of Tessaratomidae sensu lato, i.e. Tessaratominae, Natalicolinae, and Oncomerinae. Three basic types were recognized: i) Oncomerinae – ostiole slightly removed laterally from the position between coxal acetabula, oval, ostiolar groove not developed or very short, peritreme in form of spout attached anterolaterally to the ostiole; ii) Tessaratomidae sensu stricto (= Tessaratominae + Natalicolinae) – ostiole situated between acetabula, strongly incised mesad, thus vestibule distally opened in two planes (ventrally and laterally) as ostiolar groove, peritreme in form of anterior and posterior peritremal lobes surrounding the ostiolar groove; and iii) Platytatina (Platytatus ambiguus Bergroth, 1892) – ostiole shifted near to lateral metapleural margin, ostiolar groove reduced, situated between two flat, reniform processes (median and lateral lobe). A polarity of these structures is suggested: the type i) of Oncomerinae is regarded as plesiomorphic(shared with Urostylididae, Dinidoridae, etc.); the type iii) of Platytatina is homologized with type ii) of Tessaratominae sensu stricto; the type ii) is unique within Pentatomoidea and considered as an autapomorphy. The information content of the characters of the external scent efferent system and metathoracic spiracle for a phylogenetic hypothesis of relationships within Pentatomoidea is tested by cladistic analyses. We found some apomorphies helping to define Tessaratomidae and Plataspidae, most of the characters, however, seem to be homoplasious at family level. The results of the cladistic analyses further support the monophyly of Dinidoridae + Tessaratomidae sensu lato and that of Tessaratomidae sensu stricto, while the relationships of Oncomerinae and Tessaratomidae sensu stricto as well as the relationships among the family-group taxa within Tessaratomidae sensu stricto need further studies.

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 morphological analyses that placed it within the subfamily Megymeninae. We suggest restoring taxonomic status of the tribe Eumenotini and removing it from the synonymy of Megymenini, leaving the genus with no subfamilial assignment for the moment.

A study of the morphology of the genitalia and alimen- tary organs of Urostylidae shows that Urostylidae present a combination of features indicating a relationship to several pentatomomorphan taxa, notably Pyrrhocoridae, Tessaratomidae and Aradidae. It appears that Urostylidae and Pyrrhocoridae diverged from a Pentatomoid-Pyr- rhocoroid stock at an early date in the evolution of Pentatomomorpha, possibly close to the point where the Aradoidea branched off. to Southern and Eastern Asia where it reaches the Palearctic Region and the Malayan Archipelago. Records of its occurrence on the Australian mainland are believed to be incorrect (Yang, 1939), but a species occurs in the southern part of Papua. Although groups re- stricted in geographical distribution are often interesting as relict forms or as having special adaptations, the comparative morphology of the Urostylidae has received surprisingly little attention. Most speculations on their relationships are based on the study of single species. On the basis of study of the unexpanded aedeagus of a lone species, Pruthi (1925) related them to Acanthosomatidae. Pender- grast (1957), from an examination of the spermatheca of a single species, emphasized the relationships of Urostylidae and Pyrrho- coridae, a view originally put forth by Yang (1939) on grounds of several external features. Southwood (1956) studied the eggs and Scudder (1959), the female terminalia, but neither was able to com- ment on the relationships of the Urostylidae. More recently, how- ever, on the basis of the alimentary organs of Heteroptera, Miyamoto (1961) has considered Urostylidae closer to Pentatomidae than to Acanthosomatidae or Dinidoridae. Cobben (1968), from the study of eggs, has stressed that the occurrence of common genital features in Urostylidae, Acanthosomatidae and Dinidoridae is a case of parallel- ism and does not indicate close relationship. Recently the author has had the rare opportunity of studying the internal male reproductive organs, expanded aedeagi and spermatheca of several species of Urostylidae; the results are presented here.