Systematics, phylogeny and host associations of the Australian endemic monaloniine genus Rayieria Odhiambo (Insecta : Heteroptera : Miridae : Bryocorinae)

Abstract

The Australian endemic plant bug genus Rayieria Odhiambo (Heteroptera : Miridae : Bryocorinae : Monaloniina) is revised. Ten species are described as new to science: Rayieria acaciae, sp. nov., R. albaornata, sp. nov., R. decorata, sp. nov., R. frontalis, sp. nov., R. gearyi, sp. nov., R. grandiocula, sp. nov., R. kennedyi, sp. nov., R. minuta, sp. nov.. R. queenslandica, sp. nov., and R. rubranigra, sp. nov. Rayieria braconoides (Walker) and R. tumidiceps (Horváth) are synonymised with R. basifer (Walker), syn. nov. Diagnoses, descriptions, distribution records and host-plant information for all species are given. Digital habitus illustrations of males and females are provided for most species and sexes where available. Male and female genitalia are illustrated for each species. A key to all species is given. Phylogenetic analysis of the ingroup relationships of Rayieria is given, based on 11 ingroups, 16 outgroups and 56 morphological characters. The analysis supports monophyly of Rayieria and establishes a clade comprising all other elongate monaloniine genera, inclusive of Arthriticus Bergroth, Ragwelellus Odhiambo, Helopeltis Signoret and Monalonion Herrich-Schaeffer. Braconid-mimic species of Rayieria are reported. Host-plant associations for this genus and the subtribe Monaloniina are discussed.

First record of the subfamily Psallopinae (Heteroptera: Miridae) from Australia and discussion of its systematic position and diagnostic characters

“…During the last decade, the Australian mirid fauna has been extensively studied, and numerous descriptions and revisions have been published for its seven subfamilies (e.g. Namyatova & Cassis , ; Namyatova et al . ; Cassis & Symonds , ; Cassis et al .…”

Systematic revision and phylogeny of the plant bug tribe Monaloniini (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae: Bryocorinae) of the world

“…The analysis revealed two distinct monophyletic groupings, Monalonion ‐complex and Odoniella ‐complex, with the rest of the genera not nested within multiple‐taxon clades. The Monalonion ‐complex was also supported in a phylogenetic analysis of the genus Rayieria Odhiambo, (Namyatova & Cassis, ). Namyatova et al .…”

“…Carvalho () reviewed the bryocorines of Papua New Guinea. Namyatova & Cassis (2013a,b) and Namyatova et al . (in press) discussed the generic grouping within monaloniines and odoniellines.…”

“…It is a circumtropical group, inhabiting Africa, Australasia, South Asia and South America, with a handful of species known from temperate regions (e.g. Kerzhner, 1988a,b; Namyatova & Cassis, ). The representatives of this tribe feed on flowering plants, and some species are known to be pests of food crops, especially cocoa, cashew and tea.…”

Revision of the staphylinoid and ground-dwelling genus Carvalhoma Slater & Gross (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae: Cylapinae) of Australia

“…Recent surveys of the Plant Bug Inventory (Cassis et al 2007) and Bush Blitz (www.bushblitz.org.au) projects (Preece et al 2014) have reversed our notion that the family is depauperate in Australia, with many hundreds of new species discovered and remaining to be described (e.g., Cassis & Symonds 2014a, 2014b. Over the last decade many of these new Australian mirid taxa have been described, particularly those belonging to the subfamilies Orthotylinae (e.g., Cassis 2008;Tatarnic 2009;Namyatova et al 2011;Cheng et al 2012;Cassis & Symonds 2014a, 2014b, Phylinae (e.g., Soto & Weirauch 2009;Schuh & Weirauch 2010;Schuh & Menard, 2011;Schuh & Pedraza 2011), and Bryocorinae (e.g., Namyatova & Cassis 2012, 2013, 2015.…”