Higher Systematics of the Pentatomoidea 83
the mesosternum and metasternum have two ridges, one on each side of the rostral channel. The other
included genus, Ambiorix Stål (type species: A. aenescens Stål) is much smaller (about 10 mm), lacks
the ridges on each side of the rostral groove, but the base of the abdominal venter has an anteriorly
directed spine that reaches to the base of the head. Ambiorix is apparently closely related to Iphiarusa
Breddin (currently Pentatomini, see Section 2.2.10.7.34) and it likely will be necessary to be remove it
from the proximity of Diplostira.
Interestingly, the unusual structure of the mesosternum and metasternum in Diplostira is similar to
that found in the asopine genus Ealda Wa l ker.
2.2.10.7.20 Diploxyini Atkinson, 1888
Stål (1876) was the first to formally recognize this group at a higher level, but he did not formally
name it. He included three genera in his “Diploxys et affinia”: Adria, Diploxys Amyot and Serville,
and Steleocoris. Atkinson (1888) proposed Diploxyaria, based on the African genus Diploxys. As his
paper concerned the Indian fauna, he did not specifically mention Diploxys. Interestingly, he originally
included four additional genera in this tribe, all of which have been transferred to other tribes. The four
genera he specifically included are Adria, Scylax, Aeschrocoris, and Aeliomorpha. Adria has, at times,
been included in the Aeliini, but we have tentatively placed it in the Eysarcorini (but see discussion on
this genus in the Eysarcorini section, Section 2.2.10.7.22). Scylax and Aeschrocoris are both now con-
sidered members of the Aeschrocorini although the placement of Scylax is questionable (see discussion
under Aeschrocorini, Section 2.2.10.7.4). And Aeliomorpha has had a confused history, having been
included in the Aeliini, the Carpocorini, and in its own group (see discussion within the Aeliomorpha
group of Linnavuori, Section 2.2.10.7.45.3).
This is a relatively small tribe, containing four genera (and one subgenus) and 29 species (Table
2.3), but some of the included species are relatively common. The four genera are Acoloba (Figure
2.21D), Aeladria Cachan, Coponia Stål, and Diploxys (Figures 2.21E, 2.29K). All known species
occur in Africa or Madagascar with Acoloba lanceolata ( F.), D. orientalis Linnavuori, and D. pulchri-
cornis Linnavuori also known from Yemen, and D. cordofana (Mayr) also known from Saudi Arabia
(Linnavuori 1975, 1982, 1986, 1989). As a group, they are medium in size, elongate and slender, and usu-
ally brownish or yellowish in color. There is a tendency for the formation of spines on the apices of the
juga, humeral angles, posterolateral angles of the last connexival segment, and the apices of the femora
(Figure 2.29K). The posterior angles of the bucculae are triangularly produced. The prosternum, meso-
sternum, and metasternum are medially sulcate, lacking carinae. The ostiolar rugae are short, some-
times obsolete, and curve cephalad; the associated evaporative areas are also reduced. The pygophore
is somewhat robust with the apical margin weakly sinuate. The spermathecal bulb may be simple and
ball-shaped, or it may have a couple of finger-like tubules.
There is some general resemblance between these genera and the Australian genera presently included
in the Aeptini. The situation is complicated because the Australian genera may not actually be related
to Aeptus, the type species of the Aeptini, so they may deserve a new tribal name; however, they may
be related to the diploxyine genera. Interestingly, there are two genera that occur in the Indian subre-
gion that presently are placed in the Carpocorini but may be related to these genera. In both of these
(Bonacialus and Gulielmus), the mesosternum is distinctly sulcate. The South American genus Poriptus
is also quite similar in general appearance (and it has a sulcate mesosternum) to the diploxyines.
Linnavuori (1982) stated that members of this tribe are “grass feeders in mesic or moist savannah
habitats, marshes and shore meadows.”
2.2.10.7.21 Eurysaspini Atkinson, 1888
Atkinson (1888) erected the Euryasparia [sic] for a single genus, Eurysaspis Signoret (incorrectly
spelled as Euryaspis). The grammatically correct stem derived from Eurysaspis would be Eurysaspid-,
but as the spelling Eurysaspidini is not in prevailing usage, Eurysaspini is to be maintained (ICZN
1999, A r ticle 29.3.1.1). This is a relatively small tribe presently containing three genera (Eurysaspis
[Figure 2.29L], Flaminia Stål [Figure 2.21F], Platacantha Herrich-Schäffer) and 25 species (Table
2.3). There is some doubt about the validity of this tribe as all three genera have strikingly different
morphology. The single unifying character is the enlarged, spatulate scutellum (Figures 2.21F, 2.29L),