Poecilometis

Poecilometis patruelis, from Brisbane Insects.

Belongs within: Pentatominae.

Poecilometis is an Australian genus of shield bugs usually found under the bark of Eucalyptus and other native trees. The antennae are four-segmented but may appear five-segmented in some species due to the presence of a pseudo-articulation in the second segment (Gross 1976). Species include P. extraneus, a relatively small species (12.5–13 mm long) with antennae shorter than the body, found in northwestern Victoria.

Characters (from Gross 1976): Generally largish, oval to somewhat lanceolate in outline. Anteclypeus protruding beyond apices of juga, the latter apically rounded or oblique and their lateral margins sometimes somewhat elevated, behind apices of antennifers the lateral margins of the head somewhat obtuse. Eyes prominent, often touching anterior margins of pronotum, basal region of head behind eyes somewhat swollen. Antennifers unarmed exteriorly, antennae four- or 'five'-segmented, the first segment thicker than rest and slightly bowed. Pronotum strongly hexagonal, lateral angles obtuse, acute, or armed with a short slender spine. Anterior margin excavate behind collum, exterior to this obtuse and obliquely truncate. Anterolateral margins marginate, crenulate, or denticulate and somewhat concavely angulate. Posterolateral and posterior margins almost straight or very slightly sinuate. Scutellum constricted towards apex. Hemelytra concealing most of abdomen, coriaceous parts longer than membrane. Venation of membrane mostly longitudinal, arising from vein running parallel to apical margin of corium. Upper surface mostly covered with coarse punctations, the punctation beneath finer and less regular. Bucculae well elevated, higher anteriorly than posteriorly and not reaching base of head. Rostrum long, reaching to at least base of third abdominal segment. Legs relatively long and slender, tibiae concave on outer surfaces, first segment of tarsi as long or nearly as long as remaining two together. Abdomen below shallowly sulcate on at least first visible segment medially, laterotergites armed with spine posteriorly, or unarmed. Male pygophore varying in shape, generally produced into two posteriorly directed lobes, one on either side of midline, these lobes sometimes notched or further subdivided.

<==Poecilometis Dallas 1851 [incl. Eumecopus Dallas 1851] G76
    |--*P. strigatus (Westwood 1837) [=Halys strigata] G76
    |--P. acanthopygius (Stål 1876) [=Eumecopus acanthopygius] G76
    |--P. alienus Walker 1876 G76
    |--P. apicalis (Westwood 1837) [=Halys apicalis] G76
    |    |--P. a. apicalis G76
    |    |--P. a. abdominalis G76
    |    `--P. a. conspersus G76
    |--P. armatus C91 [=Eumecopus armatus C70]
    |--P. borealis G76
    |    |--P. b. borealis G76
    |    `--P. b. obesus Gross 1972 G76
    |--P. calidus Walker 1867 G76
    |--P. callosus Gross 1972 G76
    |--P. extraneus Gross 1972 G76
    |--P. fuscescens (Stål 1876) [=Eumecopus fuscescens] G76
    |--P. histricus G75
    |--P. horni (Bergroth 1916) [=Eumecopus horni] G76
    |--P. longicornis G76
    |--P. nigriventris G76
    |    |--P. n. nigriventris G76
    |    `--P. n. superbus (Distant 1899) [=Eumecopus superbus] G76
    |--P. parilis Gross 1972 G76
    |--P. patruelis Stål 1859 G76
    |    |--P. p. patruelis G76
    |    `--P. p. ynigrum (Bergroth 1916) [=Eumecopus ynigrum] G76
    |--P. punctiventris (Stål 1876) [=Eumecopus punctiventris] G76
    |--P. spenceri Bergroth 1916 G76
    `--P. vermiculatus (Bergroth 1916) [=Eumecopus vermiculatus] G76

*Type species of generic name indicated

REFERENCES

[C70] CSIRO. 1970. The Insects of Australia: A textbook for students and research workers. Melbourne University Press.

[C91] CSIRO. 1991. The Insects of Australia: A textbook for students and research workers 2^nd ed. vol. 1. Melbourne University Press: Carlton (Victoria).

[G75] Gross, G. F. 1975. Plant-feeding and Other Bugs (Hemiptera) of South Australia. Heteroptera—Part I. Handbook of the Flora and Fauna of South Australia.

[G76] Gross, G. F. 1976. Plant-feeding and Other Bugs (Hemiptera) of South Australia. Heteroptera—Part II. Handbook of the Flora and Fauna of South Australia.

Last updated: 9 May 2022.