Anna A. Namyatova

Phylogeny and systematics of the subfamily Bryocorinae based on morphology with emphasis on the tribe Dicyphini sensu Schuh

The classification of the hyperdiverse true bug family Miridae is far from settled, and is particularly contentious for the cosmopolitan subfamily Bryocorinae. The morphological diversity within the subfamily is pronounced, and a lack of explicit character formulation hampers stability in the classification. Molecular partitions are few and only a handful of taxa have been sequenced. In this study the phylogeny of the subfamily Bryocorinae has been analysed based on morphological data alone, with an emphasis on evaluating the tribe Dicyphina sensu Schuh, 1976, within which distinct groups of taxa exist. A broad sample of taxa was examined from each of the bryocorine tribes. A broad range of outgroup taxa from most of the other mirid subfamilies was also examined to test for bryocorine monophyly, ingroup relationships and to determine character polarity. In total a matrix comprising 44 ingroup, 15 outgroup taxa and 111 morphological characters was constructed. The phylogenetic analysis resulted in a monophyletic subfamily Bryocorinae sensu Schuh (1976, 1995), except for the genus Palaucoris, which is nested within Cylapinae. The tribe Dicyphini sensu Schuh (1976, 1995) has been rejected. The subtribe Odoniellina is synonymized with the subtribe Monaloniina and the subtribes Dicyphina, Monaloniina and Eccritotarsina are now elevated to tribal level, with the Dicyphini now restricted in composition and definition. The genus Felisacus is highly autapomorphic and a new tribe – the Felisacini – is erected for the included taxa. This phylogeny of the tribes of the Bryocorinae comprises the following sister‐group relationships: Dicyphini ((Bryocorini + Eccritotarsini)(Felisicini + Monaloniini)).

Systematics, phylogeny and host associations of the Australian endemic monaloniine genus Rayieria Odhiambo (Insecta : Heteroptera : Miridae : Bryocorinae)

Abstract. The Australian endemic plant bug genus Rayieria Odhiambo (Heteroptera : Miridae : Bryocorinae : Monaloniina) is revised. Ten species are described as new to science: Rayieria acaciae, sp. nov., R. albaornata, sp. nov., R. decorata, sp. nov., R. frontalis, sp. nov., R. gearyi, sp. nov., R. grandiocula, sp. nov., R. kennedyi, sp. nov., R. minuta, sp. nov.. R. queenslandica, sp. nov., and R. rubranigra, sp. nov. Rayieria braconoides (Walker) and R. tumidiceps (Horváth) are synonymised with R. basifer (Walker), syn. nov. Diagnoses, descriptions, distribution records and host-plant information for all species are given. Digital habitus illustrations of males and females are provided for most species and sexes where available. Male and female genitalia are illustrated for each species. A key to all species is given. Phylogenetic analysis of the ingroup relationships of Rayieria is given, based on 11 ingroups, 16 outgroups and 56 morphological characters. The analysis supports monophyly of Rayieria and establishes a clade comprising all other elongate monaloniine genera, inclusive of Arthriticus Bergroth, Ragwelellus Odhiambo, Helopeltis Signoret and Monalonion Herrich-Schaeffer. Braconid-mimic species of Rayieria are reported. Host-plant associations for this genus and the subtribe Monaloniina are discussed.

SCHUHIRANDELLA FULVA, NEW GENUS AND NEW SPECIES FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA (HEMIPTERA: HETEROPTERA: MIRIDAE: BRYOCORINAE: MONALONIINA)

Abstract Schuhirandella fulva, a new genus and new species from Western Australia, is described. A differential diagnosis for the genus is given, and is compared to other monaloniine and odonielline Bryocorinae. Digital images of habitus, SEM images, drawings of male and female genitalia, and information on host plants are provided.

Revision of the Australian endemic plant bug genus Volkelius Distant, 1904 (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae: Bryocorinae)

The Australian endemic plant bug genus Volkelius is revised, and four species are recognised, with three new to science: V. carvalhoi sp. nov., V. maculatus sp. nov. and V. niger sp. nov. Descriptions, diagnoses and distribution maps (species only) are given for the genus and species, including a key to species. Digital habitus images and female genitalia illustrations are given for all species. Illustrations of the male genitalia are provided for all species, except V. niger.

Revision and Phylogeny of the Fern-Inhabiting Genus Felisacus Distant (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae: Bryocorinae)

Abstract The fern-feeding genus Felisacus (Miridae: Bryocoronae) was revised. The genus contains 55 species, 29 are new to science, they are: Felisacus albus, F. australicus, F. bau, F. bismarckiensis, F. bradi, F. caledonicus, F. ceylonicus, F. cristobalus, F. fedori, F. indicus, F. lamkinae, F. linae, F. lindbergae, F. liui, F. lordhowensis, F. luzonus, F. malayensis, F. meilingae, F. myersi, F. ovalau, F. schuhi, F. senaru, F. solomonicus, F. tanna, F. vitilevu, F. wangae, F. webbi, F. yasunagai, F. zuparkoi. Felisacus capitatus is synonymized with F. magnificus; F. okinawanus is synonimized with F. longiceps F. carpenterae is synonymized with F. javanus. Felisacus jacobsoni, previously synonymized with F. javanus, is treated as a separated species. The status of F. signis, described as a subspecies of F. carpenterae, is raised to a separate species. Genus Felisacoris is synonymized with Felisacus. The diagnosis and key are provided for all species and descriptions are provided for the species, where the specimens were available. The drawings of male genitalia are provided where available, and drawings of female genitalia are given for some species. Phylogenetic analysis with inclusion of most of the species has been performed and discussed.

Review of the seven new species of Isometopinae (Heteroptera: Miridae) in Australia and discussion of distribution and host plant associations of the subfamily on a worldwide basis

The Isometopinae are a poorly known subfamily of Miridae (Heteroptera) with 42 genera and 239 described species worldwide. Prior to this study, the subfamily was represented in Australia by a single species, Eurocrypha thanatochlamus. In this work, three isometopine genera, Jozefus, Paratopus and Myiomma, are reported from Australia for the first time, and Australotopus gen. nov. is described as new to science. The following seven new species are described: Australotopus cooperensis sp. nov., Jozefus brunetus sp. nov., Jozefus monteithi sp. nov., Myiomma albalata sp. nov., Myiomma basseti sp. nov., Paratopus brunocapitus sp. nov. and Paratopus flavocapitus sp. nov. Habitus images, scanning electron micrographs, measurements and illustration of male and female genitalia are provided to support the diagnoses of the above taxa. The distribution and plant associations of the subfamily Isometopinae are discussed.

Parallel evolution of mound-building and grass-feeding in Australian nasute termites

Termite mounds built by representatives of the family Termitidae are among the most spectacular constructions in the animal kingdom, reaching 6–8 m in height and housing millions of individuals. Although functional aspects of these structures are well studied, their evolutionary origins remain poorly understood. Australian representatives of the termitid subfamily Nasutitermitinae display a wide variety of nesting habits, making them an ideal group for investigating the evolution of mound building. Because they feed on a variety of substrates, they also provide an opportunity to illuminate the evolution of termite diets. Here, we investigate the evolution of termitid mound building and diet, through a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis of Australian Nasutitermitinae. Molecular dating analysis indicates that the subfamily has colonized Australia on three occasions over the past approximately 20 Myr. Ancestral-state reconstruction showed that mound building arose on multiple occasions and from diverse ancestral nesting habits, including arboreal and wood or soil nesting. Grass feeding appears to have evolved from wood feeding via ancestors that fed on both wood and leaf litter. Our results underscore the adaptability of termites to ancient environmental change, and provide novel examples of parallel evolution of extended phenotypes.

A synopsis of the bryocorine tribes (Heteroptera : Miridae : Bryocorinae): key, diagnoses, hosts and distributional patterns

Abstract. The higher classification of the mirid subfamily Bryocorinae has received comparatively little attention. It is not highly species-rich in comparison with other mirid subfamilies but does exhibit extraordinary morphological heterogeneity. In this work we provide a synthesis of the subfamily on a global basis, providing a new key and updated diagnoses of supraspecific taxa. Five tribes are recognised: Bryocorini, Dicyphini, Eccritotarsini, Felisacini and Monaloniini. The genus Campyloneura Fieber is transferred from the tribe Dicyphini to the Eccritotarsini. Analysis of distributional patterns and a survey of host plant associations are provided. Available data on distribution of the main bryocorine lineages are summarised in tabular form and evaluated using UPGMA methods, and geographically structured patterns were detected. The synthesis will enable users to identify bryocorines to tribal level with confidence and provides a classificatory framework for future revisionary and phylogenetic studies.

First record of the subfamily Psallopinae (Heteroptera: Miridae) from Australia and discussion of its systematic position and diagnostic characters: First record of Psallopinae from Australia

Psallopinae are the smallest subfamily within the heteropteran family Miridae, including only two extant genera and 18 species. This group is widely distributed in the Old World but previously has never been recorded from Australia. In this work, Psallopinae is recorded for the first time from the Australian continent, with the description of three new species of Psallops Usinger . A comparison of the Australian taxa with extralimital species is provided. The distribution of Psallops in Australia, the morphology of the genus and the systematic position of Psallopinae within Miridae are discussed.

A review of the status of Coptotermes (Isoptera : Rhinotermitidae) species in Australia with the description of two new small termite species from northern and eastern Australia

Abstract. Integrative taxonomy, including molecular, morphological, distributional and biological data, is applied in a review of the taxonomy of the Australian species of the pest termite genus Coptotermes. The validity of the previously described species is discussed, and two new species, Coptotermes nanus, sp. nov. and Coptotermes cooloola, sp. nov., are described from the Kimberley region of Western Australia and south-east Queensland respectively. Their delimitation is based on morphological and distributional data, and the results of generalised mixed Yule-coalescent analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequence data. Images of the external view of the two new species are provided, as well as a key, based on soldier characters, for all Australian species of Coptotermes.