Phylogeny and biogeography of the South American subgenus Euschistus (Lycipta) Stål (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Carpocorini)

Abstract

Phylogenetic analyses of the 13 species of the subgenusLyciptabased on morphological characters were performed under equal and implied weighting, following the method of Mirande (2009). Species fromDichelops,Ladeaschistus,Proxys,Spinalanx,Euschistus(Euschistus) andEuschistus(Mitripus) were included as outgroups, and the tree rooted onCarpocoris. Sixty-five morphological characters were coded in the data matrix. The cladistic analyses did not recover the monophyly of the subgenusLycipta. A clade was supported based on characters of the pygophore and female ectodermal ducts strengthening a new definition ofEuschistus(Lycipta). One species,Euschistus monrosi, was excluded from the subgenus and transferred to the nominal subgenus.Euschistus(Lycipta) species are distributed in two Neotropical subregions: Brazilian (Pará, Rondônia and Yungas provinces) and Chacoan (Pampean, Atlantic, Parana andAraucariaForests and Puna provinces). Biogeographical analyses of spatial vicariance were performed employing different sets of parameters and allowed to identify five disjunctions nodes.