BIG-EYED BUGS OF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS: TAXONOMY, ECOLOGICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY SIGNIFICANCE (HETEROPTERA: LYGAEOIDEA: GEOCORIDAE)

ABSTRACT

The genus Germalus Stål, 1862 is the second most species-rich genus of the predaceous true bug subfamily Geocorinae Baerensprung, 1860 (commonly known as big-eyed bugs), distributed in the tropical regions of the Old World. We report the presence of the genus for the first time from the Solomon Islands, describing three new species: G. scabrus sp. nov., G. t-nigrum sp. nov. and G. redeii sp. nov. Label data of the specimens suggest predaceous feeding of the newly described species, supporting previous findings on the possible importance of the genus for plant protection. Investigation on the placement of these newly described taxa within the genus highlighted the presence of morphologically coherent taxon complexes in the Pacific Region with a well-defined distribution area. To summarise, the discovery and description of three new representatives of the genus Germalus contribute to the taxonomic, ecological and evolutionary knowledge of this long-neglected big-eyed bug taxon.

KEYWORDS:

• Hemiptera
• Geocorinae
• new species
• taxon complexes
• predation

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