Systematic revision, phylogeny and host plant associations of the Australian endemic genus Mcateella Drake (Hemiptera:Heteroptera:Piesmatidae)

Abstract

A systematic revision of Mcateella is given including the description of seven new species: M. austera, sp. nov., M. coolgardie, sp. nov., M. esperancensis, sp. nov., M. exocarposa, sp. nov., M. kwoki, sp. nov., M. reidi, sp. nov. and M. schuhi, sp. nov. The following species are redescribed: M. elongata Hacker M. gibber Drake, M. interioris Hacker and M. splendida Drake. Mcateella is defined as a monophyletic group on the basis of clavate guard setae and the stridulatory apparatus. Phylogenetic analysis of the Piesmatidae recognised Eopiesma as the sister-taxon relative to the remaining extant Piesmatidae. The ingroup relationships of Mcateella contained one polytomy. Miespa was found to be the sister taxon to Mcateella, positing a transantarctic relationship. Host plant analysis indicates that Mcateella are not all Acacia specialists as stated in the literature but feed on a wide range of angiosperms.