A review of the genera of Plataspidae (Hemiptera) related to Libyaspis, with a revision of Cantharodes

Summary

The position of the family Plataspidae within Pentatomoidea is discussed. Eight genera including Libyaspis Kirkaldy are described or redescribed and are recognized as comprising a natural group. Keys for their separation are presented. The ten species of the genus Cantharodes Westwood are described or redescribed and keyed. Two new genera are founded: Arefbea for Ceratocoris dama Bergroth (type-species) and Ceratocoris capreolus Heinze, and Emparka for Canthurodes mayumbensis Schouteden (type-species) and Isoplatys polita Villiers. Two new species, Cantharodes schmitzi and Cantharodes schoutedeni are described from Zaïre. The synonymies Isoplatys Montandon (= Gelastaspis Kirkaldy; = Dokada Schouteden; = Maesia Schouteden), Cantharodes maculatus Montandon (= Apotomogonius vicinus Miller), Cantharodes jaspideus Fairmaire (= Cantharodes lujai Schouteden) and Cantharodes bouvieri Montandon (= Cantharodes congolensis Schouteden) are established. Cantharodes nubilosus Montandon is raised from synonymy with Cantharodes rutherfordi Distant. Lectotypes are designated for Plataspis caenosa Westwood, Cantharodes congolensis Schouteden and Cantharodes bouvieri Montandon.