Phylogenetic classification of the family Pentatomidae Leach (Insecta: Hemiptera)

Abstract

The suborder Heteroptera is one of the megadiverse lineages of animals, with more than 40.000 species successful in virtually all types of habitats. The group includes species of medical and agricultural importance, such as vectors of the Chagas disease and pests of major crops like corn, cotton and soybean. Studies on the evolution of Heteroptera have been expanded in recent years; however the phylogenetic relationships of several groups remain virtually unknown. The Pentatomidae comprise nearly 5,000 species of true bugs, the highest diversity and abundance found in the tropics. Most species are phytophagous but a small group of species presents predaceous habits, which seems to have arisen secondarily in the family. The great diversity and abundance in natural environments and their association with agroecosystems makes this family one of the best known group of Heteroptera. Nevertheless, studies on the evolution of pentatomids are still scarce and important aspects such as the morphological diversity, feeding habits and parental care are poorly understood in an evolutionary context. The monophyly of the group is supported in several studies, however the subfamilial classification as currently proposed were never tested, and the phylogenetic relationships among them was virtually ignored. A phylogenetic classification of Pentatomidae is considered critical to advance the knowledge on this important group of insects. This project aims to investigate the monophyly of the subfamilies of Pentatomidae and establish a hypothesis of phylogenetic relationship among them. The study will be based on molecular and morphological characters, obtained from the study of dry specimens and specimens preserved in ethanol. Moreover, a comprehensive review and documentation of characters proposed in the literature will be carried out, discussed in a comparative context and included in the data matrix to be used in the phylogenetic analyses. (AU)