New paper!

Loures-Ferreira M. et al.: "TModeling the current and future potential distribution of Leptoglossus zonatus (Hemiptera: Coreidae) under climate change scenarios".

Leptoglossus zonatus is an economically important leaf-footed bug across the Americas, damaging several high-value crops. We assessed its current and future potential distribution using an ensemble species distribution modelling framework calibrated with climatic and topographic predictors and evaluated via spatial block cross-validation to reduce spatial autocorrelation. Future projections were generated for SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 using CMIP6 general circulation models (MIROC6 and MRI-ESM2-0) for mid-century (2041–2060) and late-century (2061–2080). Ensemble models showed high predictive performance and identified annual mean temperature and precipitation seasonality as dominant determinants of suitability. Projections indicated a spatial redistribution of climatic suitability, characterized by the expansion of marginally suitable areas and the contraction of moderate to highly suitable habitats, rather than a simple range expansion, especially under SSP5-8.5. Despite declining high-quality habitat, major agricultural regions currently affected by L. zonatus are expected to remain climatically suitable, albeit under increasingly suboptimal conditions. These results support climate-informed surveillance and adaptive pest management under ongoing climate change.

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New paper!

Yasunaga T., Yap E.-H.& Hwang W.S.: "Two new species of the eccritotarsine plant bug genus Ernestinus Distant, 1911 (Heteroptera: Miridae: Bryocorinae) from Singapore".

Two new species of the plant bug genus Ernestinus Distant, 1911 (Bryocorinae: Eccritotarsini), E. singaporensis, new species and E. windsor, new species, are described from Singapore. Findings of the new taxa also represent the first distributional record for the genus on this island nation. The host plant association was revealed for each new species; gregarious adults and every instar immature forms of both species were found to inhabit the leaves of Alocasia spp. (Araceae). An updated checklist is provided. Ernestinus nigriscutum Lin, 2001, described from Taiwan, is synonymised with E. tetrastigma Yasunaga, 2000, and E. pallidiscutum Poppius, 1915 is reported from Vietnam for the first time.

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New paper!

Martínez M.C. et al.: "Rotundedessa gen. n., a New Edessinae Genus with the Description of Two New Species from Argentina (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)".

The Edessinae is a Neotropical subfamily of Pentatomidae comprising hundreds of species in 20 genera. The nominal genus Edessa Fabricius, 1803 includes most of this diversity with approximately 350 nominal species, and can be considered a “depot taxon.” Studying small groups of morphologically similar species is an efficient approach to deal with the taxonomic diversity in Edessa and has led to the description of several new genera. The viridula group comprises five species and is characterized by short metasternal processes, wrinkled ventrolateral areas, and pygophore with several unique features. Following the current standards in the taxonomy of Edessinae, we consider these characteristics distinctive enough to propose a new genus to the species included in the viridula group. The new genus is herein described and new combinations for the five species formerly placed in the viridula group are proposed. Additionally, two new species from Argentina are described, and a key to the species of the new genus is given.

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