New paper!

Chen Z., Li H., Cai W. "A Review on the Nomenclature and Taxonomy of the Old World Thread-Legged Bug Genus Pleias (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae)"

The thread-legged bug genus Bagauda Bergroth, 1903 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae: Leistarchini) has native species in Africa and Asia, many of which are well known for their cave-living habits and have received attention in ecological, evolutionary, and taxonomic studies. The monotypic genus Pleias Kirkaldy, 1901 has recently been recognized as the senior synonym of Bagauda, yet the nomenclatural and taxonomic issues surrounding them have not been well resolved, resulting in the two genus-level names still being used as valid in current publications. This study presents a comprehensive review of the nomenclature and taxonomy of Pleias and its included species, providing a redescription of the genus and identification keys to the species, as well as bibliographies, diagnosis and known distributional records for each species, including the proposal of 18 new combinations, two new synonyms, and three new species.

https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/70

New paper!

Castro-Huertas V. & Melo C.M. "Saica Amyot & Serville, 1843 (Reduviidae, Emesinae, Saicini): taxonomic revision and phylogenetic analysis with morphological characters".

The Neotropical assassin bug genus Saica Amyot & Serville, 1843 (Reduviidae Latreille, 1807, Emesinae Amyot & Serville, 1843, Saicini Stål, 1859) includes thirteen valid species, nevertheless its biology and natural history is almost unknown. A taxonomic revision and a morphological phylogenetic analysis were carried out to test the species limits and to propose a hypothesis of evolutionary relationships. Saica is characterized by the tufts of strong setae on the mandibular plates and on the postocular region; the short pedicellus; the produced anterior margin of the proepisternal supracoxal lobe; the simple strong setae on the prolegs; the bifid posteromedial process of pygophore; and the vertical to subvertical posterior margin of the abdominal sternite VII in females. After this study, we propose fourteen valid species: Saica apicalis Osborn & Drake, 1915, S. carayoni Villiers, 1943, S. cruentata Bergroth, 1913, S. elkinsi Blinn, 1994, S. erubescens Champion, 1898, S. fuscipes Stål, 1862, S. lativentris Villiers, 1943, S. meridionalis Fracker & Bruner, 1924, S. ochracea Distant, 1902, S. recurvata (Fabricius, 1803), S. rubripes Champion, 1898, S. subinermis Hussey, 1953, S. tibialis Stål, 1862, and S. tupackatari n. sp. from Bolivia. The phylogenetic analyses recovered Saica as a monophyletic group with the following set of relationships: ((S. ochracea + S. tupackatari n. sp.) (S. carayoni (S. recurvata (S. rubripes ((S. subinermis (S. apicalis + S. meridionalis)) (S. elkinsi (S. erubescens (S. lativentris + S. tibialis)))))))).

https://bioone.org/journals/zoosystema/volume-46/issue-32/zoosystema2024v46a32/Saica-Amyot--Serville-1843-Reduviidae-Emesinae-Saicini--taxonomic/10.5252/zoosystema2024v46a32.short

New paper!

Nowińska A. "Report on the Types and Distribution of Antennal Sensilla in Lygaeidae (Heteroptera: Lygaeoidea) and Their Putative Functions".

Antennal sensillar structures respond to a variety of environmental stimuli. In the present study, the antennal sensilla of all three subfamilies of the family Lygaeidae are studied for the first time. This research shows the presence of five main types of sensilla (sensilla trichodea, chaetica, campaniformia, basiconica, and coeloconica). Their comparison to other, previously studied, heteropteran insects and their putative mechano-, chemo-, and thermo-hygroreceptive functions are discussed. The current study shows uniformity in the types of sensilla in all studied species. However, minor differences between the subfamilies, as well as within the subfamily Lygaeinae, are observed.

https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/44