146 



I. AHMAD 



This species can be separated from all the species of this genus except insularis 

 by absence of black dots or marks on ventro-lateral of third and fourth abdominal 

 segments. From insularis Stal it can be separated by the presence of black tri- 

 angular marks on the underside of the abdomen in the middle of fifth and sixth seg- 

 ments. 



ZOOGEOGRAPHY AND PHYLOGENY 



The subfamily Leptocorisinae is represented in all zoogeographical regions, but 

 in the Nearctic and Palearctic it is only found in the extreme southern areas and it is 

 not recorded from New Zealand. 



An exact phylogeny of this group cannot be attempted, for there is no fossil 

 material, little knowledge of the biology of many members of the group and none of 

 the biochemistry. Further more the phylogeny and even the classification of the 

 family Alydidae, indeed of the whole Coreoidea is uncertain (Stys, 1961 ; Scudder, 

 1963). However, a study of the zoogeography and the comparative morphology 

 of the group throw at least some light on the relationships and a very tentative phylo- 

 genetic scheme is shown on Text-fig. 472. 



Median groove developing ir> pro- 

 jection on 7ih abd sternum, 

 paired dorsal thecal appendages 



of 7th abdom 



PS£UDOlfPTOCOftlSA 



LEPTOCORIS1NI 



Clvpeus 

 elongated 



I 



HYPOTHETICAL ANCESTOR 

 Normal head, (ore lemora unarmed, both dorial and ventral thecal 

 appendages (in pair), supporting conjunctival appendages present, 

 absence or frontal and dorso-lateral conjunctival appendages in the 

 male ac-deagus, Intervalvular sacs in the female ovipositor, emar- 

 ginate posterior margin of (he seventh abdominal sternum and 

 spermacheca without a median flange 



Fig. 472. Phylogenetic tree of the Leptocorisinae. 



