Introduction

The Artheneidae are a family of lygaeoid bugs that are most diverse in the Palaearctic Region. In the Southern Hemisphere they are restricted to eastern Australia and New Zealand. Elsewhere, a native species has been described from the northern Neotropical Region. Despite their recent capture in the Nearctic and Afrotropical Regions, presently artheneids are not thought to be endemic to those regions; these records are construed as adventitious (Wheeler & Fetter 1987; Hoffman & Slater 1995).

The family comprises four subfamilies, eight genera and 20 species (Slater 1964; Slater & Brailovsky 1986; Schuh & Slater 1995; Slater & O'Donnell 1995; Kerzhner 1997; Zoological Record 1995–2001).

Stål (1872) first recognised the artheneids as a suprageneric group. Lethierry & Severin (1894) raised it to family status. Most subsequent workers considered them a subfamily of Lygaeidae sensu lato. Slater et al. (1962) recognised three tribes (Artheneini, Dilompini, Nothochromini) and Slater & Brailovsky (1986) added a fourth tribe (Polychismini).

Henry (1997) restored the group to family status in his phylogenetic reclassification of the Lygaeoidea. Following this revised family status, we raise the four tribes to subfamily level as follows: Artheneidae: Artheneinae, Dilompinae, Nothochrominae and Polychisminae.

Henry (1997) established a sister-group relationship between the Artheneidae and Oxycarenidae, on the basis of the following character states: abdominal laterotergites absent, phallothecal process present, and eclosion fractures hexagonal. This relationship was supported by Grozeva & Kutznetsova (1989) who reported that both families share the feature of presence of two testis follicles. The only alternative arrangement for the group was given by Scudder (1957b), who placed them within the Stygnocorini (Rhyparochromidae).

The family is represented in Australia by the endemic monogeneric subfamily Dilompinae, which contains two largely temperate species (Scudder 1957a; Malipatil 1988). Dilompus robustus Scudder is found from the subtropical regions of Queensland, through the eastern States, including Tasmania and the coastal gulf region of South Australia. Dilompus woodwardi occurs across southern Australia, although a significant disjunction exists between the western and remaining populations. Slater et al. (1962) indicated that specimens identified as D. robustus within the literature may represent more than one species. Significant collections exist within Australian museums and additional species are likely to be described.

The Nothochrominae are a monotypic endemic New Zealand subfamily (Nothochromus Slater, Woodward & Sweet), comprising a single brachypterous species (Slater et al. 1962; Malipatil 1977). The Artheneinae include five genera (Artheneidea Kiritshenko, Artheneis Spinola, Chilacis Fieber, Holocranum Fieber and Teutates Distant) and 16 species, distributed across the Palaearctic Region (and introduced into eastern USA and tropical Africa) (Slater 1964; Slater & O'Donnell 1995; Kerzhner 1997). The Polychisminae are a monotypic subfamily (Polychisme Kirkaldy) restricted to Colombia (Slater & Brailovsky 1986).

Much of the known biology of artheneids is confined to the cattail bugs of the Palaearctic Region. Slater (1964) provided a listing of biological references. Wheeler & Fetter (1987) gave an account of the introduced species Chilacis typhae (Perris) in the eastern United States. This species is a seed-feeder on the genus Typha (Typhaceae), with all life stages found on the seed-heads. A second cattail species, Holocranum saturejae (Kolenati), has similar habits and hosts and is thought to overwinter in litter (Hoffman & Slater 1995).

Very little is known of the biology of the Australian Dilompus species. Malipatil (1988) associated D. woodwardi Malipatil with two Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) species. Anderson (1985) reported this species feeding on the fruits of Eucalyptus baxteri (Benth.)Maiden&Blakely ex J.Black. One of us [GC] has commonly encountered Dilompus species on Leptospermum (Myrtaceae) species, associated with seeds on the plant. Slater et al (1962) reported that D. robustus was found in dry leaf litter, composed of Eucalyptus and grass leaves. As is so for the cattail bugs, this habitat may represent the overwintering site for this species.

Diagnosis

Artheneids are small elongate-ovoid bugs, ranging in size from 2.5–4 mm. Most species are macropterous, with the dorsum strongly punctate. Head trichobothria are absent. The lateral margins of the pronotum are explanate. The hind wings possess a hamus and intervannal veins. Abdominal laterotergites are absent. The abdominal spiracles of segments III–VII are ventral, with the 2nd spiracle mostly dorsal, but ventral in the Dilompinae. The females have the suture between abdominal sterna IV and V not fused. The spermathecal bulb is most often invaginated. The phallus has lateral processes and the gonoporal process is very short in most species. The larvae have three dorsal abdominal glands. (Scudder 1957a; Slater et al. 1962; Slater & Brailovsky 1986; Schuh & Slater 1995; Henry 1997)

Diagnosis References

Henry, T.J. 1997. Phylogenetic analysis of family groups within the infraorder Pentatomomorpha (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), with emphasis on the Lygaeoidea. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 90(3): 275-301

Schuh, R.T. & Slater, J.A. 1995. True Bugs of the World (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Classification and Natural History. Ithaca : Cornell University Press xii 336 pp.

Scudder, G.G.E. 1957. A new genus and species of Rhyparochrominae (Hem., Lygaeidae) from Australia. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 93: 143-144

Slater, J.A., Woodward, T.E. & Sweet, M.H. 1962. A contribution to the classification of the Lygaeidae, with the description of a new genus from New Zealand (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 55: 597-605

Slater, J.A. & Brailovsky, H. 1986. The first occurrence of the subfamily Artheneinae in the Western Hemisphere with the description of a new tribe (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae). Journal of the New York Entomological Society 94(3): 409-415

General References

Anderson, A.N. 1985. Seed-eating bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) at Wilson's Promontory. Victorian Naturalist 102(6): 200-204

Grozeva, S.M. & Kuznetsova, V.G. 1989. Karyotypes and some structural properties of the reproductive system of bugs of the subfamily Artheneinae (Heteroptera, Pentatomomorpha, Lygaeidae). Entomologicheskoe Obozrenie (English translation as Entomological Reviews) 68: 700-709

Henry, T.J. 1997. Phylogenetic analysis of family groups within the infraorder Pentatomomorpha (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), with emphasis on the Lygaeoidea. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 90(3): 275-301

Hoffman, R.L. & Slater, J.A. 1995. Holocranum saturejae, a Palearctic Cattail Bug established in Eastern United States and Tropical Africa (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae: Artheneinae). Banisteria 1995(5): 12-15

Kerzhner, I.M. 1997. East Palaearctic species of the genus Artheneis (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae). Zoosystematica Rossica 6(1–2): 115-121

Lethierry, L. & Severin, G. 1894. Catalogue Général des Hémiptères. Tome II. Hétéroptères Coreidae, Berytidae, Lygaeidae, Pyrrhocoridae. Bruxelles : F. Hayez 277 pp.

Malipatil, M.B. 1977. On Nothochromus maoricus Slater, Woodward, and Sweet (Heteroptera, Lygaeidae). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 4: 217-219

Malipatil, M.B. 1988. A new species of Dilompus Scudder (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 25: 459-462

Schuh, R.T. & Slater, J.A. 1995. True Bugs of the World (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Classification and Natural History. Ithaca : Cornell University Press xii 336 pp.

Scudder, G.G.E. 1957a. A new genus and species of Rhyparochrominae (Hem., Lygaeidae) from Australia. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 93: 143-144

Scudder, G.G.E. 1957b. The higher classification of the Rhyparochrominae (Hem., Lygaeidae). Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 93: 152-156

Slater, J.A. 1964. A Catalogue of the Lygaeidae of the World. Storrs : University of Connecticut xviii 1668 pp.

Slater, J.A., Woodward, T.E. & Sweet, M.H. 1962. A contribution to the classification of the Lygaeidae, with the description of a new genus from New Zealand (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 55: 597-605

Slater, J.A. & Brailovsky, H. 1986. The first occurrence of the subfamily Artheneinae in the Western Hemisphere with the description of a new tribe (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae). Journal of the New York Entomological Society 94(3): 409-415

Slater, J.A. & O'Donnell, J.E. 1995. A Catalogue of the Lygaeidae of the World (1960–1994). New York : New York Entomological Society xv 410 pp.

Stål, C. 1872. Enumeratio Hemipterorum. Bidrag till en förteckning öfver aller hittills kända Hemiptera, jemte systematiska meddelanden. 2. Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Academiens Nya Handlingar, Stockholm n.f. 10(4): 1-159

Wheeler, A.G. & Fetter, J.E. 1987. Chilacis typhae (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) and the subfamily Artheneinae new to North America. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 89(2): 244-249

History of changes

History of changes

• Dilompus Scudder, G.G.E. 1957. A new genus and species of Rhyparochrominae (Hem., Lygaeidae) from Australia. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 93: 143-144 [143].

  Type species:

   Dilompus robustus Scudder, 1957 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IBRA

NSW, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Ben Lomond (BEL), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Gawler (GAW), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), King (KIN), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mulga Lands (ML), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Other Regions

Lord Howe Island terrestrial & freshwater

General References

Scudder, G.G.E. 1957. The higher classification of the Rhyparochrominae (Hem., Lygaeidae). Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 93: 152-156 [153] (in Rhyparochrominae: Stygnocorini)

Slater, J.A. 1964. A Catalogue of the Lygaeidae of the World. Storrs : University of Connecticut xviii 1668 pp. [707] (catalogue)

Slater, J.A. & O'Donnell, J.E. 1995. A Catalogue of the Lygaeidae of the World (1960–1994). New York : New York Entomological Society xv 410 pp. [80] (catalogue)

History of changes

• Dilompus robustus Scudder, G.G.E. 1957. A new genus and species of Rhyparochrominae (Hem., Lygaeidae) from Australia. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 93: 143-144 [143].

  Type data:

   Holotype MCZ ♂, Wentworth Falls, Blue Mountains, NSW.
  Paratype(s) MCZ ♀.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

QLD—Blackall Range, Lawes, Samford Valley, Tibrogargan Creek, NSW—Dorrigo, Leura, Mittagong, Mt Kosciuszko, Mulallely, TAS—Burnie, Cradle Mountain, Devonport, Hobart, SA—Canunda National Park, Deep Creek, Everard Park, Gawler, Lucindale, Mt Lofty, Mt Sturt, Pt Lincoln.

IBRA

NSW, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic: Australian Alps (AA), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Ben Lomond (BEL), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Gawler (GAW), Kanmantoo (KAN), King (KIN), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), NSW North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Wet Tropics (WT)

Other Regions

Lord Howe Island terrestrial & freshwater

Ecological Descriptors

Granivore, litter, subtropical, tall open forest, temperate, terrestrial, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Under dry leaf litter of Eucalyptus and grasses.

General References

Slater, J.A. 1964. A Catalogue of the Lygaeidae of the World. Storrs : University of Connecticut xviii 1668 pp. [707] (catalogue)

Slater, J.A., Woodward, T.E. & Sweet, M.H. 1962. A contribution to the classification of the Lygaeidae, with the description of a new genus from New Zealand (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 55: 597-605 [600, 602-604] (morphology, biology)

History of changes

• Dilompus woodwardi Malipatil, M.B. 1988. A new species of Dilompus Scudder (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 25: 459-462 [459].

  Type data:

   Holotype ANIC ♂, Daner's Gap, NSW [36°12‘S 148°43‘E].
  Paratype(s) NTM ♀.

  Type locality references:

  Cassis, G. & Gross, G.F. 2002. Hemiptera: Heteroptera (Pentatomomorpha). in Houston, W.W.K. & Wells, A. Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol. 27.3B. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing, Australia. xiv 737 pp. [161] (incorrect original citation of type locality as Dainers Gap).

  Type host:

   Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieber ex Sprengel [MYRTACEAE]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

VIC—Wilson's Promontory; WA—Yanchep district.

IBRA

NSW, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Esperance Plains (ESP), Flinders (FLI), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Jarrah Forest (JF), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), NSW North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Yalgoo (YAL)

Ecological Descriptors

Granivore (associated flora: Eucalyptus baxteri (Benth.) Maiden & Blakely ex J.M.Black [MYRTACEAE] Brown Stringybark; Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieber ex Spreng. [MYRTACEAE] Snow Gum), open forest, temperate, terrestrial, up-on-plants, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Hosts are mallee-like in habit, growing on poor soils, often with heath plants.

General References

Slater, J.A. & O'Donnell, J.E. 1995. A Catalogue of the Lygaeidae of the World (1960–1994). New York : New York Entomological Society xv 410 pp. [80] (catalogue)

History of changes