Introduction

The Piesmatidae are a small pentatomomorphan family belonging to the superfamily Lygaeoidea (Henry 1997). They are found in all the major zoogeographic regions, predominantly in the tropics. The family contains two subfamilies, six genera and about 44 species (Drake & Davis 1958; Schaefer 1981; Slater 1982; Heiss & Péricart 1983; Froeschner 1988; Zoological Record 2000–2001). The Australian fauna includes one genus and four described species belonging to the nominotypical subfamily.

Amyot & Serville (1843) first recognised the Piesmatidae as a family-group. Stål (1873) and other early workers considered the group to be a subfamily of Tingidae, because of the areolate dorsum and 2-segmented tarsi. Leston et al. (1954) and Drake & Davis (1958) recognised Piesmatidae as a family within the Pentatomomorpha, based on the presence of abdominal trichobothria, pretarsal pulvilli and specialised male genitalia.

Drake & Davis (1958) indicated that piesmatids are most closely related to the Lygaeidae and Berytidae. Heiss & Péricart (1983) speculated that they are closely related to the 'Lygaeidae-Coreidae-Pyrrhocoridae complex'. Schaefer (1975) in a review of trichophoran abdominal trichobothria suggested that piesmatids are related to Štys' 'malcid-line' of taxa. Others (Štys 1961, 1967; Kumar 1968; Slater 1982; Carver et al. 1991) regarded them as more isolated, requiring their own superfamily.

Schaefer (1972, 1981) provided a cladistic analysis of the genera of Piesmatidae. He recognised a sister-group relationship between the Gondwanan genera Miespa Drake and Mcateella Drake, in turn more closely related to Thaicoris Kormilev, than to Piesma Lepeletier & Audinet-Serville. Kormilev (1969) assigned the piesmatids to two subfamilies, the Piesmatinae and Thaicorinae, but Schaefer (1981), Schuh & Slater (1995) and Jorigtoo et al. (1998) did not accept this arrangement.

Henry (1997) established a sister-group relationship between the Piesmatidae and Psamminae (formerly a subfamily of Lygaeidae sensu lato) based on the areolate body, 2-segmented tarsi and reduced abdominal trichobothria. As a consequence he proposed the following classification: Piesmatidae: Piesmatinae and Psamminae and this classification is followed in the Catalogue.

Péricart (1974) divided the nominotypical genus Piesma, into three subgenera: Piesma, Parapiesma Péricart and Afropiesma Péricart. Heiss & Péricart (1975) described the Palaearctic piesmatid species. The genus is restricted to the Nearctic, Palaearctic and Afrotropical Regions. Thaicoris is a monotypic genus found in South-East Asia; Miespa is restricted to Chile.

The Australian piesmatine fauna includes four species in the endemic genus Mcateella. Drake (1924, 1958) and Hacker (1927, 1928) described the species; two species are endemic to Queensland, and South Australia and Western Australia each have an endemic species.

The Psamminae are a small subfamily of three monotypic genera, confined to southern Africa and India. Drake & Davis (1958) described the psammine taxa and Slater & Sweet (1965) regarded them as Lygaeidae sensu lato with uncertain relationships.

Heiss & Péricart (1983) and Narisu (2000) reviewed the biology of piesmatids. They are a phytophagous group that feed on leaves, stems and flowers. Schaefer (1981, 1983) listed their host associations with species of the Amaranthaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Cistaceae and Fabaceae. Most authors report that Australian piesmatids are known primarily from Acacia species. One of us [GC] has collected undetermined Mcatella specimens on the flowers of many new hosts, including species of Caesalpiniaceae (Senna Mill.), Proteaceae (Hakea Schrad., Isopogon R.Br. ex Knight and Grevillea R.Br.) and Santalaceae (Exocarpos Labill.). These data suggest that Schaefer's (1983) speculations on the evolution of host relationships of piesmatids require review.

Drake & Davis (1958) gave an account of the biology of some of the North American species and recorded Piesma cinereum as a vector of viral diseases of sugar beets. Narisu (2000) discussed the bionomics of economically important species. No Australian piesmatid species has been considered to have economic importance.

Diagnosis

Piesmatids (excluding the psammines) are small compact bugs, usually less than 5 mm in length. They resemble tingids superficially, with the thoracic nota and hemelytra having a reticulate and densely punctate pattern. The head is transverse and the eyes are contiguous with the pronotum. The bucculae are well developed. The ocelli are usually present, but can be obsolete in brachypterous forms. The mandibular plates are strongly produced and at least reach the apex of the clypeus. The antennae and labium are 4-segmented. The pronotum is subquadrate, without a collar, but with the calli distinct. The larvae and adults have dorsal abdominal glands (terga III/IV and IV/V) that remain functional in the adults. The metathoracic glands are absent. The tarsi are 2-segmented. The abdominal trichobothria are reduced with a single trichobothrium placed anteriad to the spiracle on sterna V and VI. All abdominal spiracles are dorsal. Two Malpighian tubules open into the anterior end of the rectum. (Drake & Davis 1958; Slater 1982; Heiss & Péricart 1983; Schuh & Slater 1995; Henry 1997)

Diagnosis References

Drake, C.J. & Davis, N.T. 1958. The morphology and systematics of the Piesmatidae (Hemiptera), with keys to world genera and American species. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 51: 567-581

Heiss, E. & Péricart, J. 1983. Revision of Palaearctic Piesmatidae (Heteroptera). Mitteilungen der Münchener Entomologischen Gesellschaft 73: 61-171

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.

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.

General References

Amyot, C.J.B. & Audinet-Serville, J.G. 1843. Histoire Naturelle des Insects. Hémiptères. Paris : Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret, Rue Hautefeuille 10 B13 676 pp.

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.

Drake, C.J. 1924. A new genus and species of Piesmidae (Hemip.). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 26: 85-86

Drake, C.J. 1958. A new Australian piesmid (Hemiptera). Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London B 27: 46-48

Drake, C.J. & Davis, N.T. 1958. The morphology and systematics of the Piesmatidae (Hemiptera), with keys to world genera and American species. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 51: 567-581

Froeschner, R.C. 1988. Piesmatidae. pp. 605-607 in Henry, T.J. & Froeschner, R.C. (eds). Catalog of the Heteroptera, or True Bugs, of Canada and the Continental United States. Leiden : E.J. Brill xix 958 pp.

Hacker, H. 1927. New Tingitoidea (Hemiptera) in the Queensland Museum. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 9: 19-32 pls VI-X

Hacker, H. 1928. New species and records of Australian Tingitoidea (Hemiptera). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 9: 174-188 pls XX-XXIII

Heiss, E. & Péricart, J. 1975. Introduction à une révision des Piesma paléarctiques. Étude du matérial-type; éstablissement de diverses synonymies et de nouveaux regroupements (Hemiptera Piesmatidae). Annales de la Société Entomologique de France N.S. 11(3): 517-540

Heiss, E. & Péricart, J. 1983. Revision of Palaearctic Piesmatidae (Heteroptera). Mitteilungen der Münchener Entomologischen Gesellschaft 73: 61-171

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

Jorigtoo, N., Schaefer, C.W. & Lockwood, J.A. 1998. Stridulatory apparatus of Piesma Le Peletier & Serville (Hemiptera: Piesmatidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 91(6): 848-851

Kormilev, N.A. 1969. Thaicorinae, n. subfam. from Thailand. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Piesmatidae). Pacific Insects 11: 645-648

Kumar, R. 1968. Aspects of the morphology and relationships of the superfamilies Lygaeoidea, Piesmatoidea and Pyrrhocoroidea (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 103: 251-261

Leston, D., Pendergrast, J.G. & Southwood, T.R.E. 1954. Classification of the terrestrial Heteroptera (Geocorisae). Nature (London) 174: 91-92

Narisu 2000. Ash-Gray Leaf Bugs (Piesmatidae). pp. 265-270 in Schaefer, C.W. & Panizzi, A.R. (eds). Heteroptera of Economic Importance. Boca Raton : CRC Press 828 pp.

Péricart, J. 1974. Subdivision du genre Piesma (Hem. Piesmatidae) et remarques diverses. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France NS 10: 51-58

Schaefer, C.W. 1972. A cladistic analysis of Piesmatinae. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera-Piesmatidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 65: 1258-1261

Schaefer, C.W. 1975. Heteropteran trichobothria, (Hemiptera-Heteroptera). International Journal of Insect Morphology and Embryology 4: 193-264

Schaefer, C.W. 1981. Improved cladistic analysis of Piesmatidae and consideration of known host plants. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 74: 536-539

Schaefer, C.W. 1983. Host plants and morphology of the Piesmatidae and Podopinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera): further notes. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 76: 134-137

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.

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.

Slater, J.A. & Sweet, M.H. 1965. The systematic position of the Psamminae (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 67: 255-262

Stål, C. 1873. Enumeratio Hemipterorum. Bidrag till en förteckning öfver aller hittills kända Hemiptera, jemte systematiska meddelanden. 3. Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Academiens Nya Handlingar, Stockholm n.f. 11(2): 1-163

Štys, P. 1961. Morphology of the abdomen and female ectodermal genitalia of the trichophorous Heteroptera and bearing on their classification. Transactions of the 11th International Congress of Entomology 1: 37-43

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

History of changes

History of changes

• Mcateella Drake, C.J. 1924. A new genus and species of Piesmidae (Hemip.). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 26: 85-86 [85].

  Type species:

   Mcateella splendida Drake, 1924 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

IBRA

NSW, Qld, SA, WA: Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Esperance Plains (ESP), Gawler (GAW), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), NSW North Coast (NNC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT) ; NSW, Qld, WA: Sydney Basin (SB) ; NSW, WA: South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC) ; NT: Finke (FIN) ; Qld, SA, WA: Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Coolgardie (COO), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), Mallee (MAL), Mulga Lands (ML), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), Nullarbor (NUL), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Yalgoo (YAL)

General References

Elias, M.A. & Cassis, G. 2012. Systematic revision, phylogeny and host plant associations of the Australian endemic genus Mcateella Drake (Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Piesmatidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 26: 83-114

History of changes

• Mcateella austera Elias, M.A. & Cassis, G. 2012. Systematic revision, phylogeny and host plant associations of the Australian endemic genus Mcateella Drake (Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Piesmatidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 26: 83-114 [90].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM USI 00017101 ♂, Australia: Western Australia: Frenchman’s Peak, Cape Le Grande National Park [33°58'14''S 122°10'05''E].
  Paratype(s) AM numerous specimens (also various depositories).

  Type host:

   Conospermum sp. [Proteaceae]

Distribution

States

Western Australia

IBRA

WA: Esperance Plains (ESP), Jarrah Forest (JF), Mallee (MAL), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Warren (WAR)

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder (associated flora: Eucalyptus sp. [MYRTACEAE] Gum Tree; Conospermum stoechadis sclerophyllum (Lindl.) E.M.Benn. [PROTEACEAE] Smoke Grass; Isopogon sp. [PROTEACEAE]; Adenanthos cuneatus Labill. [PROTEACEAE]; Conospermum triplinervium R.Br. [PROTEACEAE]).

History of changes

• Mcateella coolgardie Elias, M.A. & Cassis, G. 2012. Systematic revision, phylogeny and host plant associations of the Australian endemic genus Mcateella Drake (Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Piesmatidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 26: 83-114 [98].

  Type data:

   Holotype WAM USI 00016673 ♂, Australia: Western Australia: 123km W of Coolgardie on Great Eastern Highway [31°14'03''S 120°09'02''E].
  Paratype(s) WAM numerous specimens.

  Type host:

   Beyeria sp. [Euphorbiaceae]

Distribution

States

Western Australia

IBRA

WA: Coolgardie (COO)

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder (associated flora: Beyeria sp. [EUPHORBIACEAE]).

History of changes

• Mcateella elongata Hacker, H. 1927. New Tingitoidea (Hemiptera) in the Queensland Museum. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 9: 19-32 pls VI-X [30].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) QM 5 specimens, [Lamington] National Park; Kobble Creek, QLD.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Western Australia

IBRA

NSW, WA: NSW North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ)

Ecological Descriptors

Folivore, herbivore (associated flora: Acacia mearnsii De Wild. [FABACEAE] Black Wattle; Acacia decurrens Willd. [FABACEAE] Black Wattle; Acacia longifolia sophorae (Labill.) Court [FABACEAE] Coast Wattle), sap-feeder, terrestrial, volant.

General References

Drake, C.J. 1958. A new Australian piesmid (Hemiptera). Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London B 27: 46-48 [46] (note)

History of changes

• Mcateella esperancensis Elias, M.A. & Cassis, G. 2012. Systematic revision, phylogeny and host plant associations of the Australian endemic genus Mcateella Drake (Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Piesmatidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 26: 83-114 [103].

  Type data:

   Holotype WAM USI 00016852 ♂, Australia: Western Australia: 4.2 km SE of Esperance, Lake Mullet Nature Reserve [33°47'49''S 121°57'15''E].
  Paratype(s) WAM numerous specimens.

  Type host:

   Melaleuca brevifolia Turcz. [Myrtaceae]

Distribution

States

Western Australia

IBRA

WA: Esperance Plains (ESP)

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder (associated flora: Beyeria lechenaultii (DC.) Baill. [EUPHORBIACEAE] Pale Turpentine-bush; Melaleuca sp. [MYRTACEAE] Tea-tree; Melaleuca brevifolia Turcz. [MYRTACEAE]; Baeckea uncinella Benth. [MYRTACEAE]).

History of changes

• Mcateella exocarposa Elias, M.A. & Cassis, G. 2012. Systematic revision, phylogeny and host plant associations of the Australian endemic genus Mcateella Drake (Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Piesmatidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 26: 83-114 [106].

  Type data:

   Holotype WAM USI 00030335 ♂, Australia: Western Australia: Salmon Beach (headland), D’Entrecasteaux National Park, Windy Harbor [34°48'57''S 116°00'27''E].
  Paratype(s) WAM numerous specimens.

  Type host:

   Exocarpos sparteus R.Br. [Santalaceae]

Distribution

States

Western Australia

IBRA

WA: Warren (WAR)

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder (associated flora: Exocarpos sparteus R.Br. [SANTALACEAE]).

History of changes

• Mcateella gibber Drake, C.J. 1958. A new Australian piesmid (Hemiptera). Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London B 27: 46-48 [47].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH ♂, Mundaring Weir, WA.
  Paratype(s) BMNH ♀.

Distribution

States

Western Australia

IBRA

WA: Mallee (MAL)

Ecological Descriptors

Diurnal, folivore, herbivore (associated flora: Conospermum stoechadis Lindl. [PROTEACEAE]; Grevillea sp. [PROTEACEAE]; Grevillea anethifolia R.Br. [PROTEACEAE]), terrestrial, volant.

History of changes

• Mcateella interioris Hacker, H. 1928. New species and records of Australian Tingitoidea (Hemiptera). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 9: 174-188 pls XX-XXIII [187].

  Type data:

   Holotype SAMA I8244 ♂, Parachilna, Flinders Ranges, SA.
  Paratype(s) SAMA 10 specimens.

Distribution

States

Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

SA—Hallett Cove.

IBRA

Qld, SA, WA: Coolgardie (COO), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Mulga Lands (ML)

Ecological Descriptors

Diurnal, folivore, herbivore (associated flora: Acacia melanoxylon R.Br. [FABACEAE] Blackwood; Acacia acinacea Lindl., 1838 [FABACEAE] Gold-dust Acacia; Darwinia vestita (Endl.) Benth. [MYRTACEAE] Pom-pom Darwinia; Callitris preissii Miq. [CUPRESSACEAE] Rottnest Island Pine; Hakea leucoptera R.Br. [PROTEACEAE]; Melaleuca brevifolia Turcz. [MYRTACEAE]; Hakea adnata R.Br. [PROTEACEAE]; Callitris tuberculata R.T. Baker & H.G. Smith [CUPRESSACEAE]), terrestrial, volant.

General References

Drake, C.J. 1958. A new Australian piesmid (Hemiptera). Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London B 27: 46-48 [46] (note)

History of changes

• Mcateella kwoki Elias, M.A. & Cassis, G. 2012. Systematic revision, phylogeny and host plant associations of the Australian endemic genus Mcateella Drake (Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Piesmatidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 26: 83-114 [108].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM USI: 00020029 ♂, New South Wales: Yathong Nature Reserve.
  Paratype(s) AM numerous specimens, as for holotype, also NT.

  Type host:

   Dodonaea viscosa [Sapindaceae]

Distribution

States

Northern Territory

IBRA

NT: Finke (FIN)

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder (associated flora: Dodonaea viscosa angustissima (DC.) J.G.West [SAPINDACEAE] Slender Hop-bush; Dodonaea viscosa (Jacq.) Sticky Hopbush [SAPINDACEAE]; Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. [SAPINDACEAE]).

History of changes

• Mcateella reidi Elias, M.A. & Cassis, G. 2012. Systematic revision, phylogeny and host plant associations of the Australian endemic genus Mcateella Drake (Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Piesmatidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 26: 83-114 [109].

  Type data:

   Holotype WAM USI: 00038839 ♂, Australia: Western Australia: Mosman Park, Perth [32°01'15''S, 115°46'07''E].
  Paratype(s) WAM numerous specimens, Perth area.

Distribution

States

Western Australia

IBRA

WA: Swan Coastal Plain (SWA)

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder (associated flora: Grevillea sp. [PROTEACEAE]; Melaleuca viminea flexuosa (Willd.) Sweet [MYRTACEAE] (())).

History of changes

• Mcateella schuhi Elias, M.A. & Cassis, G. 2012. Systematic revision, phylogeny and host plant associations of the Australian endemic genus Mcateella Drake (Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Piesmatidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 26: 83-114 [110].

  Type data:

   Holotype SAMA USI: 00016727 ♂, Australia: South Australia: 5 km SW of Whyalla [33°03'03''S, 137°30'01''E].
  Paratype(s) AM numerous specimens, various localities.

  Type host:

   Acacia enervia enervia Maiden & Blakely [Mimosaceae]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

IBRA

NSW, Qld, SA, WA: Esperance Plains (ESP), Gawler (GAW), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD)

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder (associated flora: Acacia acinacea Lindl., 1838 [FABACEAE] Gold-dust Acacia; Acacia enervia enervia Maiden & Blakely [FABACEAE]; Senna glutinosa (DC.) Randell [FABACEAE]; Melaleuca viminea Lindl. [MYRTACEAE]).

History of changes

• Mcateella splendida Drake, C.J. 1924. A new genus and species of Piesmidae (Hemip.). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 26: 85-86 [85].

  Type data:

   Holotype USNM, Australia.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

QLD—Brisbane.

IBRA

NSW, Qld: Central Mackay Coast (CMC), NSW North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SB), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

Cryptozoic, diurnal, folivore, herbivore (associated flora: Elaeocarpus reticulatus Sm. [ELAEOCARPACEAE] Blueberry Ash; Acacia concurrens Pedley [FABACEAE] Curracabah; Cuttsia viburnea F.Muell. [ROUSSEACEAE] Native Elderberry; Alphitonia excelsa (A.Cunn. ex Fenzl) Benth. [RHAMNACEAE] Red Ash; Acacia sp. [FABACEAE] Wattle), terrestrial, volant.

Extra Ecological Information

Winter generation of larvae and adults taken on flowers.

General References

Drake, C.J. 1958. A new Australian piesmid (Hemiptera). Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London B 27: 46-48 [46] (note)

Hacker, H. 1927. New Tingitoidea (Hemiptera) in the Queensland Museum. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 9: 19-32 pls VI-X [30] (host, biology)

History of changes