Systematics and host plant associations of the Australian lace bug genus Nethersia (Insecta: Heteroptera: Tingidae), including the description of eighteen new species

Abstract

A systematic revision of the lace bug genusNethersiaHorváth 1925 is given including a redescription of the genus. Previously described speciesN.absimilisDrake 1944,N.haplotesDrake and Ruhoff 1962,N.maculosaHorváth 1925 andN.setosa(Hacker 1927) are redescribed. The New Caledonian speciesTingis chazeauiGuilbert (1997) is transferred toNethersia. Eighteen new species are described:N.acaciaphilasp.n.,N.apphasp.n.,N.bipannanotasp.n.,N.boorabbinensissp.n.,N.costatasp.n.,N.finlayaesp.n.,N.kimberleyensissp.n.,N.magnasp.n.,N.mareebasp.n.,N.mcquillanisp.n.,N.nigrasp.n.,N.pilbarasp.n.,N.silveiraesp.n.,N.stipulasp.n.,N.tatarnicisp.n.,N.tanamisp.n.,N.tomentosasp.n. andN.westralensissp.n.Nethersia pugnaDrake 1944 is removed from synonymy withN.maculosaHorváth and treated as a valid species. An identification key species is given which relies on colour patterning, vestiture and texture of the dorsum.Nethersia nigritarsis(Horváth, 1925) is transferred fromNethersiatoTingisand designated asincertae sedis. Phylogenetic analysis ofNethersiawas undertaken resulting in fully resolved topologies for a range of concavity constant settings (K= 2–6) under implied weights. The plant associations ofNethersiaare documented, with most species recorded from phyllodinousAcaciaspecies, with twenty designated as host plants.