122 Invasive Stink Bugs and Related Species (Pentatomoidea)
Eobanus Distant, 1901
This genus is distributed in the Oriental region (Distant 1901a). It has been placed at one time or another
in the Podopinae near the genus Bolbocoris (Distant 1902), in the Graphosomatini (Schouteden 1905b),
or in the Podopini (Ahmad 1977). Eobanus appears to be most similar to the Deroploa group, but this
cannot be ascertained confidentally without further study.
Kundelungua Schouteden, 1951
This genus was not originally placed in any tribe (Schouteden 1951). It has been confirmed that it, dis-
tributed in the Afrotropical region in savannah type habitats, belongs in the Podopinae, but it does not
seem to fit readily into any of the known generic groups. In Gapon’s (2008a) classification, Kundelungua
was placed with Kayesia in the subtribe Kayesiina (Podops group), but this is not strongly supported;
many of the characters uniting the two genera are reduced in Kundelungua (Davidová-Vilímová 1993).
Neocazira Distant, 1883
This genus traditionally has been placed in the Podopinae with which it shares a number of important
synapomorphies (e.g., pattern of frena), but it is not possible to place this genus unambiguously into any
of the podopine genera groups. Neocazira is distributed in the Palearctic and Oriental regions. It is phe-
notypically most similar to the Brachycerocoris group.
Tahitocoris Ya n g, 1935
Yang (1935) erected a new family, the Tahitocoridae, for his new genus and species, Tahitocoris
cheesmani Yang. The characters he used to differentiate this taxon from other pentatomoid families
included (1) ocelli absent; (2) ostioles extremely reduced, simple and without rugae or evaporative
areas; (3) scutellum quite short and broad, not extending beyond posterior margin of metathorax;
and (4) wings rudimentary. China and Miller (1955) lowered this group to subfamily status within
the Pentatomidae indicating that several of the characters listed by Yang also occur in various mem-
bers of the Pentatomidae. Miller (1971) treated Tahitocoris as a member of the pentatomine sub-
family Asopinae. Thomas (1994b), after conferring with W. R. Dolling, transferred Tahitocoris from
Asopinae to the Podopinae, but kept it in its own tribe, the Tahitocorini. Dolling (1997) speculated
that the broad scutellum probably evolved from a scutellerid or podopine ancestor; he further indicated
that the female genitalia (presence of a triangulum with loss of distinct rami and valvulae) clearly
placed this taxon within the Pentatomidae (he also described the female spermathecal duct as hav-
ing a dilation with a sclerotized rod). Dolling (1997) acknowledged that the posteriorly convergent
bucculae might signify a relationship with the Asopinae, but, ultimately, he indicated that the pedun-
culated eyes, the somber coloration, and the form of the trichobothria (single) was more indicative
of the Podopinae: Podopini. Interestingly, the types for this species were reported to have been col-
lected above 2000 ft. on the island of Tahiti from a giant fern, Angiopteris evecta (G. Forst.) Hoffm.
(Marattiaceae) (Yang 1935).
2.2.10.9.8 Phylogenetic Notes
The Podops group represents the sister group to a clade including all other groups; within this clade,
the Deroploa and Graphosoma groups appear as intermediate lineages, with the clade Tar isa +
Brachycerocoris being the most advanced in the evolution of the Podopinae (Table 2.7).
Within the Podops group, the genus Kayesia is the basal taxon, with the genus Tor nosia more
advanced (its classification in the Podopinae and Podops group was confirmed by Davidová-Vilímová
1999), and the next group of genera related to Podops and finally the group related to Scotinophara. The
specific movable protuberances of the lateral rim of the pygophore (parandria) are often erroneously
mentioned as a characteristic feature of the Podopinae. They are, however, developed as a synapomorphy
in the genera Allopodops Harris and Johnson, Amaurochrous, Crollius Distant, Oncozygia Stål, Podops,
Severinina Schouteden, Thoria Stål, and Weda Schouteden forming a monophyletic group (subgroup
Podopina). The remaining ten genera related to the genus Scotinophara form another monophyletic
group (subgroup Scotinopharina).