Rehabilitation of Mormoschema (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae): generic status restituted and tribal placement revised
Salini S., Kment Petr, Cassis Gerasimos
Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 63(2): 397-412, 2023
Published online: 28th December 2023
Views: 918
Abstract: Tolumnia immaculata Distant, 1900 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea:
Pentatomidae: Pentatominae) is redescribed based on the study of primary types
and additional specimens from India and Sri Lanka. This species is found to not
be congeneric with the rest of Tolumnia Stål, 1868, including the type species.
This verifies the original opinion of Breddin (1909), which was subsequently
rejected by Distant (1918) but without argumentation. As a result, the monotypic
genus Mormoschema Breddin, 1909, stat. restit., is removed from synonymy with
Tolumnia, and the combination Mormoschema immaculatum (Distant, 1900) is
restituted. The male and female genitalia of Mormoschema immaculatum are
described in detail. The tribal placement of Mormoschema is discussed; the genus
is excluded from Cappaeini and transferred to Eysarcorini. Buddleja asiatica and
Scrophularia sp. (Scrophulariaceae) are recorded as feeding plants for M.
immaculatum.
Key words: Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Pentatomidae, Cappaeini, Carpocorini, Eysarcorini, Scrophulariaceae, food plant, genitalia, lectotype, tribal placement, India, Oriental Region