CONSPECTUS OF THE LETHAEINI (LYGAEOIDEA: RHYPAROCHROMIDAE) OF THE AMERICAS

CARRENHO, RENAN; DELLAPÉ, PABLO M.; SCHWERTNER, CRISTIANO F.

Congreso; Seventh meeting of the International Heteropterists' Society; 2022

The most diverse family in Lygaeoidea is Rhyparochromidae with over 2,000 described species and hundreds still unknown, especially for the Neotropical region, where only few specialists are dedicated to the taxonomy of the group..‘.with significant representation in the tropical and subtropical region, Lethaeini is one of the most diverse tribes within the family, with 41 genera and more than 190 species worldwide. Currently Lethaeini is considered a monophyletic bribe based on the following apomorphies: linear position of the trichobothria in the fifth abdominal sternite, Y chromosome loss, extreme modification of sperm reservoir, and development of iridescent areas in the head. The latter character allows to divide Lethaeini into two distinguishable groups: species with one or two iridescent spots in the head. Here, we present a conspectus of the Lethaeini in the Americas, with keys to genera and species. In this compilation, information about 54 species in 13 genera and updated distribution maps are presented, with several new records from Brazil. Although the tribe is considered monophyletic, it has never been properly tested. We also highlight the following questions about the group: 1) do the American genera and the current generic classification represent monophyletic groups?; 2) are the genera with one or two iridescent spots natural groups?; and 3) what are the relationships between the American genera? These questions are addressed based on a preliminary analysis of a morphological phylogenetic analysis, with 54 terminals and 52 characters. The ingroup terminals include 38 species from the Neotropical and Nearctic regions. and 12 species from the Afrotropical, Australian, lndomalayan and Palearctic regions; outgroup taxa include species belonging to four other Rhyparochromidae tribes.