The Systematics and Phylogeny of the Plant Bug Tribes Felisacini and Monaloniini (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae: Bryocorinae)

Abstract

The Monaloniina and Odoniellina are plant bug subtribes within the subfamily Bryocorinae (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae: Dicyphini) that have been considered to be sister-taxa. Prior to my study they comprised 41 genera and about 250 species, mostly in the palaeotropics. There has been no modern testing of the monophyly of these subtribes and their included genera nor a detailed phylogenetic assessment of their position within the subfamily. In addition, the systematic position of the enigmatic genus Felisacus is in dispute, as it has been placed variously, in both the Monaloniina and the tribe Bryocorini. My PhD thesis specifically addresses these systematic questions in four chapters, as follows: Chapter 3 is a morphologically based phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily Bryocorinae with an emphasis on relationships within the Dicyphini sensu Schuh. Chapter 4 is a systematic monograph Felisacus and phylogenetic analysis of the included species. Chapter 5 is a phylogenetically based generic conspectus of the Monaloniini rev. stat. Chapter 6 is a systematic revision and phylogenetic analysis of the Australian genus Rayieria. The main conclusions of my work are: 1) The Bryocorinae is monophyletic and has the following sister-group relationships (Dicyphini rev. stat. (Bryocorini + Eccritotarsini rev. stat. (Felisacini nov. trib. + Monaloniini rev. stat.). The Palaucorina is transferred from the Eccritotarsini sensu Schuh and is not a member of the subfamily Bryocorinae. 2) The subtribes Monaloniina and Odoneillina are not monophyletic taxa. The tribe Monaloniini is resurrected and defined as a monophyletic group. The Monaloniini comprises 30 genera, including nine new synonymies and a single new genus. 3) The Felisacini is erected as a new bryocorine tribe to accommodate Felisacus. 4) Fifty-three species of Felisacus are recognised including the description of 27 new species. The phylogenetic analysis resulted in the recognition of three major clades. 5) Eleven species of Rayieria are recognised, including two new synonymies and 10 new species. The phylogenetic analysis resulted in Rayieria being recognised as a monophyletic genus and the sister-species relationships are fully resolved.