88 Invasive Stink Bugs and Related Species (Pentatomoidea)
2.2.10.7.27 Memmiini Cachan, 1952
This is currently a monotypic tribe containing a single genus, Memmia Stål, and seven species (Table
2.3), all endemic to Madagascar. They are relatively large in size, oval in shape, and darkly colored or
mottled (Figure 2.30G). The head is somewhat slender with the juga and tylus subequal in length or the
juga slightly longer than the tylus. The antennae are four-segmented. The anterolateral pronotal margins
are crenulate, and the scutellum is somewhat elongate, sometimes reaching beyond apex of coria. The
mesosternum may or may not be sulcate, but, in either case, there is a weak but distinct medial carina.
The ostiolar rugae are small, nearly obsolete, each forming a small circular elevation around the ostiole.
The abdominal venter in females is nearly covered with a large opaque area on each side; these opaque
areas possess many long hairs that seem to accumulate waxy secretions (this also is seen in several
halyine genera including Atelocera, Carenoplistus, and Pseudatelus).
This genus often has been associated with the Halyini. Distant (1882) and Linnavuori (1982) both
indicated a close relationship with halyine genera, Atelocera for Distant and Pseudatelus for Linnavuori.
Cachan (1952) erected a new tribe (Memmiini) for this genus, but a thorough phylogenetic analysis
may determine that it belongs in the Halyini. Or, alternatively, the presence of the opaque glands on the
abdominal venter of females may be important, and it may be necessary to transfer those continental
African and Palearctic genera (Atelocera, Carenoplistus, and Pseudatelus) into the Memmiini.
2.2.10.7.28 Menidini Atkinson, 1888
Although he did not formally name it, Stål (1876) was the first to recognize this group at a higher level
when he referred to it as “Menida et affinia”; he included eleven genera in this group: Aegaleus Stål,
Alciphron Stål, Ambiorix, Amphimachus Stål, Anaximenes Stål, Anchesmus Stål, Antestia, Brachycoris
Stål, Cresphontes Stål, Menida Motschulsky, and Piezodorus Fieber. Five of the eleven are no longer
included in the Menidini: Alciphron tentatively is treated in the Nezarini, Ambiorix is currently doubt-
edly placed in the Diplostirini, Anaximenes and Piezodorus are currently members of the Piezodorini,
and Antestia is the type genus for the Antestiini. Atkinson (1888) formally named the group (Menidaria),
placing in it three of the above genera: Antestia, Cresphontes, and Menida, plus a fourth genus, Apines.
This is a relatively large tribe with 28 genera and 164 species (Table 2.3). Members in general are
small to medium in size (4-12 mm), usually elongate, and rounded to circular in shape (Figures 2.22C-E;
2.30H). The head is usually somewhat shorter and broader than in most other tribes. The base of the
abdominal venter usually is armed with a forwardly projected spine (Figure 2.8B); the spine may be
short or long, and the apex usually is not apposed by the metasternum. The humeral angles are usually
rounded. In some genera (Amphimachus, Aspideurus Signoret, Decellella Schouteden, Keleacoris Rider
and Rolston, Saceseurus Breddin), the scutellum is somewhat enlarged and spatulate-like. The mesoster-
num is carinate medially although the carina may be more weakly developed than in some tribes. The
ostiolar rugae are relatively long, reaching beyond the middle of the metapleuron. The parameres are
somewhat T-shaped. The spermathecal bulb is usually simple, ball-shaped and lacks diverticula.
As with other large and variable tribes, there seem to be several genera that have been placed in this
tribe that, perhaps, do not belong here. For example, members of the genus Dabessus Distant are much
larger than most menidines and are more cryptically colored in light browns. Their general body form
is wedge-shaped with their greatest width across the humeral angles. The abdominal spine is obsolete
in one species, and in two other species, the abdominal spine meets with an elevated metasternum. The
genus Lathraedoeus Breddin may belong in the Menidini, but it differs by having the last abdominal
sternite in males extending posteriorly over the genital capsule; that is, the male pygophore is hidden up
inside the pocket formed by the last abdominal sternite and tergite. Gross (1976) indicated that the genus
Sciomenida Gross differs from other menidine genera by having a much shorter ostiolar ruga.
The South American genus Elanela Rolston (Figure 2.22C) superficially resembles members of
the Menidini, but the abdominal armature is short and spine-like and fits into a bifurcate notch in the
metasternum. Additionally, the genus Udonga Distant does not appear to be related to the menidines.
In fact, the pentagonal shape of the head seems to ally it with several other Old World genera (e.g.,
Parvacrena Ruckes), which may form a separate monophyletic group. Linnavuori (1982) indicated
that the African genera Decellella and Brachycoris have a misleading resemblance to Sepontia of the