Family IDIOSTOLIDAE
Compiler and date details
15 February 2002
Introduction
The Idiostolidae a family of three genera and four species, are found in the cool temperate regions of south-eastern Australia, Chile and Argentina (Slater 1964; Woodward 1968a; Zoological Record 1968–2001). Two genera and three species occur in Australia.
Scudder (1962) erected the Idiostolinae as a new subfamily of Lygaeidae, for Idiostolus Berg and Trisecus Bergroth, both of which had been previously placed in the Heterogastrinae. He indicated that idiostolids have an isolated position within the Lygaeidae sensu lato, but share similarities with the Pachygronthinae, Heterogastrinae and Rhyparochrominae. He also reported that the presence of abdominal trichobothria, separate radial and medial veins, and the absence of gonoplacs firmly establish their position within the Pentatomomorpha.
Štys (1967) elevated the group to family rank, within its own superfamily. He considered the family to be plesiomorphic based on features of hind wing venation and the abdominal trichobothrial number and patterns, and that it lacks any synapomorphies with other lygaeoid groups. Schaefer (1966a, 1966b, 1993) and Schaefer & Wilcox (1969) also concluded that the Idiostolidae are a plesiomorphic group, based primarily on character states of the abdominal trichobothria and female genitalia (absence of spermatheca), but maintained the group within the Lygaeoidea sensu lato. Woodward (1968b), in describing the new lygaeid subfamily Henicocorinae, indicated a clear relationship between it and idiostolids, based on the arrangement of abdominal trichobothria and the absence of a spermatheca.
Most heteropterists have accepted the isolated position of the Idiostolidae (Štys & Kerzhner 1975; Schuh 1986; Carver et al. 1991; Schuh & Slater 1995). Henry (1997) established the Idiostolidae + Henicocoridae as a monophyletic group, the Idiostoloidea.
Woodward (1968a) described the Australian fauna. He recognised two species of Trisecus Bergroth from Tasmania and montane areas of New South Wales, and a monotypic genus, Monteithocoris Woodward, which is endemic to Tasmania.
The Australian idiostolids are found in moss associated with species of Nothofagus Blume. The South American species, Idiostolus insularis Berg, is also found in association with Nothofagus (N. betuloides (Mirb.)Oerst). This habitat and distribution is reminiscent of that of peloridiid species (Heteroptera: Coleorrhyncha). Scudder (1962) indicated that the distribution patterns of idiostolids resemble those of Isodermus Erichson (Aradidae), and proposed a vicariance explanation for their distribution. Unlike Isodermus, idiostolids are not presently known from New Zealand. Woodward (1968a) noted that all the Australian species are found in montane regions and suggested that these taxa differentiated during interpluvial periods of the Pleistocene. Schaefer & Wilcox (1969) provided a dispersalist argument for idiostolid distribution.
Little is known of the biology of idiostolids aside from their habitat associations. Schuh & Slater (1995) suggested that the group is most likely to be phytophagous. There is no evidence to support this contention, nor are there any obvious supporting morphological characters.
Diagnosis
Idiostolids are medium-sized, elongate-ovoid insects. The head is porrect and lygaeoid-like, with no sulci. Ocelli are present. The antennae and labium are 4-segmented. The bucculae are short. The pronotum is divided into collar and disc regions. The hemelytral membrane has four longitudinal veins. The corium has numerous longitudinal veins. The hind wings possess a hamus. The metathoracic glands are reduced, without evaporative areas and any raised peritreme. The abdomen bears numerous trichobothria on sterna III to VII. The abdominal terga and sterna are fused. All abdominal spiracles are ventral. The ovipositor is laciniate and the spermatheca is absent. The male phallus is simple and lacks a vesica. (Schaefer 1966a, 1966b; Woodward 1968a; Schaefer & Wilcox 1969; Slater 1982; Schuh & Slater 1995)
Diagnosis References
Schaefer, C.W. 1966. Some notes on heteropteran trichobothria. Michigan Entomologist 1: 85-90
Schaefer, C.W. 1966. The morphology and higher systematics of the Idiostolinae (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 59: 602-613
Schaefer, C.W. & Wilcox, D. 1969. Notes on the morphology, taxonomy, and distribution of the Idiostolidae (Hemiptera-Heteroptera). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 62: 485-502
Slater, J.A. 1982. Hemiptera. pp. 417-447 in Parker, S.P. (ed.). Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms. New York : McGraw Hill Book Co.
Woodward, T.E. 1968. A new subfamily of Lygaeidae (Hemiptera-Heteroptera) from Australia. Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London B 37: 125-132
Woodward, T.E. 1968. The Australian Idiostolidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 120: 253-261
General References
Carver, M., Gross, G.F. & Woodward, T.E. 1991. Hemiptera (bugs, leafhoppers, cicadas, aphids, scale insects, etc.) [with contributions by Cassis, G., Evans, J.W., Fletcher, M.J., Hill, L., Lansbury, I., Malipatil, M.B., Monteith, G.B., Moulds, M.S., Polhemus, J.T., Slater, J.A., Štys, P., Taylor, K.L., Weir, T.A. & Williams, D.J.]. pp. 429-509 in CSIRO (ed.). The Insects of Australia. A textbook for students and research workers. Melbourne : Melbourne University Press Vol. 1 xiii 542 pp.
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
Schaefer, C.W. 1966a. The morphology and higher systematics of the Idiostolinae (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 59: 602-613
Schaefer, C.W. 1966b. Some notes on heteropteran trichobothria. Michigan Entomologist 1: 85-90
Schaefer, C.W. 1993. The Pentatomomorpha (Hemiptera: Heteroptera): an annotated outline of its systematic history. European Journal of Entomology 90: 105-122
Schaefer, C.W. & Wilcox, D. 1969. Notes on the morphology, taxonomy, and distribution of the Idiostolidae (Hemiptera-Heteroptera). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 62: 485-502
Schuh, R.T. 1986. The influence of cladistics on Heteropteran classification. Annual Review of Entomology 31: 67-93
Scudder, G.G.E. 1962. Results of the Royal Society expedition to southern Chile, 1958–1959: Lygaeidae (Hemiptera), with the description of a new subfamily. The Canadian Entomologist 94: 1064-1075
Slater, J.A. 1982. Hemiptera. pp. 417-447 in Parker, S.P. (ed.). Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms. New York : McGraw Hill Book Co.
Štys, P. 1967. Monograph of Malcinae, with reconsideration of morphology and phylogeny of related groups. (Heteroptera, Malcidae). Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 37: 351-516
Štys, P. & Kerzhner, I. 1975. The rank and nomenclature of higher taxa in recent Heteroptera. Acta Entomologica Bohemoslovaca 72: 65-79
Woodward, T.E. 1968a. The Australian Idiostolidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 120: 253-261
Woodward, T.E. 1968b. A new subfamily of Lygaeidae (Hemiptera-Heteroptera) from Australia. Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London B 37: 125-132
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-Aug-2012 | 15-Aug-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |