Thoracic scent efferent system of the Tessaratomidae sensu lato (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea) with implication to the phylogeny of the family
Abstract
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.
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.
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.