98 Invasive Stink Bugs and Related Species (Pentatomoidea)
The spermathecal bulb is usually small, ball-shaped, simple, and lacks diverticula; the distal and
proximal flanges tend to be quite small. Further studies are needed to determine if the Australian genera
Kapunda (longer ostiolar ruga) and Adelaidena Distant (not examined by us), and the South American
Trincavellius (less sulcate mesosternum with faint medial carina) actually belong in the Sciocorini; also,
the two New World species with expanded propleura may deserve a new generic name. Additionally,
recent work by Gapon and Baena (2005) seems to indicate that based on the male and female genitalia,
Dyroderes Spinola (Figure 2.24C) may not belong in the Sciocorini.
Sciocorine species seem to be well-adapted to more arid regions. The Indian species of Sciocoris were
recently treated (Azim and Shafee 1987); the Palearctic species have also been reviewed (Péricart 2002,
Derjanschi and Péricart 2005).
2.2.10.7.41 Sephelini Breddin, 1904
Stål (1876) first recognized this group at the family-level when he provided a key for the “Sephela,
Brachymna et affinia” group; this group contained Sephela Amyot and Serville, Brachymna Stål,
Ochrophara, Drinostia Stål, and Aenaria. Breddin (1904) was the first to give this group a formal
family-group name, the Sephelaria.
This tribe contains 10 genera and 34 species (Table 2.3). Members of this tribe are elongate, slender,
pale brown species occurring in the African, Indian, and Oriental regions (Figures 2.13C, 2.32C). The
body is somewhat depressed, the antennifers are rather small, and the first antennal segment does not
reach the apex of the head. The juga are usually longer than and meet in front of the tylus (except in
Niphe Stål, they are subequal in length); the head is usually parabolic in shape, except it is distinctly
triangular in Brachymna. Rostral segment II is usually shorter than segments III and IV combined. The
pronotum is flattish with the anterolateral margins lamellate. The scutellum is long and slender, narrowly
triangular. The mesosternum is sulcate (except in Niphe in which a medial carina is present). The ostiolar
rugae are medium in length, extending just beyond the middle of the metapleura, and usually curving
cephalad; the evaporative areas are relatively large. The male pygophore usually has a deep medial
emargination; the parameres are small and weakly sclerified. The female spermathecal bulb is somewhat
elongate, forming a ball distally with a long fingerlike diverticulum arising from the top of the ball.
According to Linnavuori (1982), the African species feed on grasses in savanna habitats. Two sephe-
line genera have been studied recently: Aenaria (Fan and Liu 2009) and Niphe (Zaidi and Ahmad 1990).
2.2.10.7.42 Strachiini Mulsant and Rey, 1866
Mulsant and Rey (1866) proposed the Strachiaires for two genera, Nitilia Mulsant and Rey and Strachia.
Nitilia now is considered to be a subgenus of Bagrada Stål, and Mulsant and Rey treated Strachia
essentially the same as the current genus Eurydema; that is, all of the species they treated in their work
are now placed in Eurydema. The Eurydemaria was proposed by Distant (1902) and, although Oshanin
(1906) synonymized the two, Eurydemini continued to be used by many workers, even into the 1990s.
Oshanin (1906) also proposed the Trochiscocoraria for the genus Trochiscocoris Reuter, but this genus
now is considered to be a member of the Strachiini (see comments below).
This tribe contains 20 genera and 142 species (Table 2.3). Members of this tribe are small to medium
in size (3-12 mm), oval to elongate oval in shape, and are often quite colorful with reds, oranges, and
yellows mixed with the black patterns (Figures 2.12H; 2.32D-G). This tribe has members in all major
regions of the world. There seems to be a general reduction in punctation, and the dorsum and especially
the venter are shiny and nearly impunctate (not so much in Eurydema). The single most useful character
for recognizing this tribe is the reduction of the ostiole and associated external structures of the scent
glands. The opening has become extremely small and is situated more mesad between the middle and
hind coxae; the ostiolar rugae are extremely short and merge into the surrounding pleuron; each, in turn,
is flanked anteriorly and posteriorly by an extremely reduced V-shaped evaporative area (Figure 2.9A).
A reduced ostiolar structure may appear in other tribes but usually not to the extent seen in the Strachiini;
an exception is found in Otantestia, but this genus in all other structures and colors aligns itself with
the Antestiini. The head is subtriangular, with the width usually greater than the length; the eyes are
prominent; and the lateral margins of the head are narrowly reflexed (the anterolateral margins of the
pronotum are also usually narrowly reflexed). In some genera (e.g., Eurydema [Figure 2.32E], Madates