Distribution, origin and speciation, wing development, and host‐plant relationships of New Zealand Targaremini (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae)

Three faunal areas—northern (Three Kings Islands, Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, and offshore islands), central (most of Nelson, north‐east Buller, Marlborough, Marlborough Sounds, Kaikoura, northern North Canterbury), and southern (Fiordland, southern Otago Lakes, southern Central Otago, southern Dunedin, Southland, Stewart Island) —are each characterised by the local endemicity of about 20% of the total targaremine species of New Zealand. They are separated by areas of no endemicity. Arbitrary subareas are delineated in the northern and southern areas. Species not endemic to a single faunal area have wider ranges covering more than one area. The targaremine faunal areas and subareas are compared with those recognised for other units of the New Zealand biota. Instances of allopatric and parapatric species are listed. All 30 targaremine species in New Zealand are endemic; the effects of Pleistocene cold climate on their distribution and speciation are discussed. Wing development is discussed in relation to its role in initial distribution and dispersal over geographical barriers, and in subsequent adaptations to ecological niches and/or post‐Pleistocene extensions of range. Analysis of host‐plant data reveals that the Targaremini have no marked host specificity; ecologically significant data are presented for several species.

Notes

Present address: National Museum of Victoria Annex, 71 Victoria Crescent, Abbotsford, Vic, 3067, Australia