Comparative morphology of selected foretibial traits of Asopinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Publication date: Available online 2 November 2018Source: Zoologischer AnzeigerAuthor(s): Ricardo Brugnera, Kim Ribeiro Barão, Talita Roell, Augusto FerrariAbstractLegs structures are very diverse among Heteroptera groups and usually, these are related to life habits. In the family Pentatomidae, the foretibia is usually cylindrical and little variable among taxa, but the predatory stink bugs of the subfamily Asopinae shows pronounced structures. Using light and scanning electron microscopy the foretibial expansion and the foretibial apparatus of 87 and 42 species (respectively) of Asopinae were studied, representing about 75% of the generic diversity of the subfamily. Both structures show a great variation among the subfamily, and based on that, 10 morphological characters are proposed. The foretibial expansion varies in size and the position in the foretibia. The foretibial apparatus can present two types of setae, and in the majority of species other tibial setae can basally reach the structure. Furthermore, the setae that comprise the foretibial apparatus can vary from 10 to 57 setae among the species of Asopinae. Also, the morphology of cuticle that surrounds the foretibial apparatus can vary. For both structures, the terminologies are reinterpreted.

Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - November 3, 2018 Category: Zoology Source Type: research