118 Invasive Stink Bugs and Related Species (Pentatomoidea)
only from the Podops group; the Neotropical region has members from two groups (Graphosoma group
and the Podops group); and the Australian region contains members from only two groups (Deroploa
group and Podops group). Four groups, namely the Brachycerocoris group, the Graphosoma group,
the Podops group, and the Tar isa group are distributed mainly within two regions, Afrotropical and
Palearctic. In all, there are about 269 species in 68 genera (Tables 2.2, 2.3) currently classified within
the Podopinae. Rider and Zheng (2004) provided nomenclatural notes and a checklist of the Chinese spe-
cies. The podopine species have been treated or catalogued for various geographical regions: Nearctic
(Froeschner 1988c), South America (Grazia et al. 2015), southern Europe (Péricart 2010), India (Salini
and Viraktamath 2015), and Australia (Cassis and Gross 2002).
The position of the Podopinae within the Pentatomoidea is still not resolved. The specific structure of
their frena excludes a relationship with the Scutelleridae (frena not developed), a taxon with which it was
sometimes classified. Most of the pentatomoid groups have an enlarged scutellum, but it is usually tri-
angular in outline, becoming narrowed toward its apex, with the frena lying along the lateral margins of
the scutellum, not ventrally as in the Podopinae. The taxon Podopinae is defined by a specific set/group
of apomorphies as a monophyletic group. In a recent phylogenetic study of Pentatomoidea, Grazia et al.
(2008) included only three somewhat heterogenous members of the Podopinae, and, thus, the results are
not conclusive.
The higher classification historically has varied; at present, five monophyletic genus groups are
recognized.
2.2.10.9.1 Key to the Podopinae Genus Groups
1 Compound eyes pedunculate, conspicuously protruding (Figures 2.10A, B); humeral angles
of pronotum either divided into anterior serrate section and posterior rounded section or
undivided; if rounded, then ostioles of metathoracic scent glands located on distinct tubercle
(Figure 2.4F) and frena on scutellum exceed up to 1/10 of its length; widespread (Figures
2.18L, 2.27I) .....................................................................................................Podops group
1’ Compound eyes not pedunculate, either not or only slightly protruding; humeral angles of
pronotum generally not divided into anterior serrate and posterior rounded sections ......... 2
2(1) Each humeral angle of pronotum either with conspicuous long protuberance or rounded or
divided (Figure 2.10C); medial margin of proepisternum flattened; longitudinal keel on
pronotum extending from 2/3 its length to its posterior margin; Australia (Figure 2.18J) ...
.......................................................................................................................Deroploa group
2’ Each humeral angle of pronotum simply rounded but if of a different shape, then medial
margin of proepisternum not flattened; longitudinal keel on pronotum developed only
anteriorly ................................................................................................................................ 3
3(2) Scutellum with two large, medial tubercles, one near base and the other near middle, or
basal disc of scutellum with distinct medial keel; each buccula with triangular tubercle
anteriorly or medially (Figure 2.10D); scutellum reaching at least to middle of abdominal
tergite VIII; Old World (Figure 2.18I) ..............................................Brachycerocoris group
3’ Scutellum without conspicuous medial tubercles or keel, or they are in a different pattern
than above; each buccula without tubercle or if tubercle present, then scutellum shorter,
reaching at most to middle of abdominal tergite VII ............................................................ 4
4(3) Entire surface of infoldings of lateral and dorsal pygophoral rims covered by dense, short
setae; lateral rim rounded, without protuberance (Figure 2.10E); infolding of ventral
pygophoral rim without conspicuous structures; Old World ..............................Tar isa group
4’ Infoldings of lateral and dorsal pygophoral rims without dense setae, sometimes bearing
only sparse, longer setae; lateral pygophoral rim with either larger protuberance or large
conspicuous protuberance detached by incision (Figures 2.10F-H); conspicuous structures
of different types developed on infolding of ventral pygophoral rim; widespread (Figures
2.18K, 2.27J) ............................................................................................Graphosoma group