New paper!

Yin J.-D. et al.: "Phylogenetic Relationships of Plant Bugs Based on Mitochondrial Genomes (Heteroptera: Miridae)".

Miridae is the most species-rich family of true bugs and plays an important role in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. However, contemporary controversies surrounding their phylogenetic relationships and subfamily classification still lack consensus. This study employs molecular systematics to resolve Miridae phylogeny, utilizing mitochondrial genomes from 42 species spanning 39 genera across six of the seven currently recognized subfamilies. Four outgroup species from Tingidae (2 species) and Thaumastocoridae (2 species) were also included in the analyses. Our results demonstrate that: (1) Bryocorinae is paraphyletic as the stem groups of Miridae; and (2) the clade ((Deraeocorinae + Mirinae) + (Orthotylinae + Phylinae)) is consistently and strongly supported as a monophyletic group across all datasets and analytical methods. We report newly sequenced mitochondrial genomes based on high-throughput sequencing platforms for four Miridae genera and species: Chlamydatus sp. (Phylinae), Deraeocoris punctulatus (Deraeocorinae), Scirtetellus sp. (Orthotylinae), and Prodromus clypeatus (Bryocorinae). These findings provide a progressive phylogenetic framework with new significance for the future phylogenetic improvement and taxonomic revision of Miridae.

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The last paper from the current issue of the Journal of the International Heteropterists’ Society:

Yasunaga T. & Oh M. S.: "Taxonomic Review of the Japanese Conifer-Inhabiting Plant Bug Genus Pinalitus Kelton, with Description of a New Species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Mirinae)"

The Japanese fauna of conifer-inhabiting plant bug genus Pinalitus Kelton is reviewed, with description of Pinalitus reoi new species. This new species, presumed to be most closely related to P. rubeolus (Kulik), was recently found on Pinus parviflora in the mountain zone of Oita Prefecture, Kyushu. A species previously recorded as P. rubeolus from Japan is now considered to be a misidentification of P. rubricatus (Fallén). A revised key to Japanese species is provided.

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The second paper from the current issue of the Journal of the International Heteropterists’ Society:

Matsushima R., Hisasue Y., Watanabe K.: "New Species and New Distributional Records of the Genus Microvelia Westwood (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae) from the Japanese Ogasawara Islands, with an Illustrated Key to Ogasawaran Species"

Microvelia (Pacificovelia) amphitrite new species is described from the Japanese Ogasawara Islands. In addition, some specimens identified as M. douglasi Scott, 1874 and previously reported by different authors from the Ogasawara Islands were examined and recognized as misidentifications actually belonging to M. yoshitomii Watanabe, 2023 and the new species herein described. These results indicate that M. douglasi is not distributed in the Ogasawara Islands. In addition, M. yoshitomii is herein reported for the first time from nine islands in the archipelago. An illustrated key to Ogasawaran Microveliinae species is provided. Field surveys revealed that two species of Microvelia in the Ogasawara Islands prey on arthropods across several taxa, more than half of which are alien species.

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