Aegaleus Stål

Type Species: Aegaleus: Cimex lineatus Thunberg, 1822 (= Cimex divisus Herrich-Schäffer, 1840), by subsequent designation (Kirkaldy, 1909). Paraegaleus: Antestia inermiventris StDl, 1865, by original designation.

Tribal Placement: This genus has always been considered to be a close relative of Carvalhocoris and Menida, both members of the Menidini.

Comments: Leston (1952) described a new species, and provided a key to the known species. I have found this key to be somewhat confusing, so I have developed my own key (both keys are provided below). Also, there appears to be one more species than there are names, so there may be at least one undescribed species. Caution be noted that I have not examined any type material (except for one paratype of A. varleyi which is very distinct anyway), so it is possible that I have associated the wrong names to the wrong taxa. This is my best guess as to the identities of the taxa, based on the original descriptions, Leston's 1952 key, and determination labels on various specimens. All known species occur in southern Africa.

Also note that Kirkaldy (1909) proposed the subgeneric name Paraegaleus for those species that lacked a basal spine on the abdominal venter. I agree with Leston (1952) that most of the species seem to be very closely related, regardless of whether the abdominal venter is spined or not, and this subgeneric name serves little purpose. I do, however, believe that A. varleyi is quite distinct from the remaining species, and perhaps should have a subgeneric or generic name described for it.

1 Venter spined at base	2
- Venter unspined at base	4

2(1) Scutellar markings consisting of a pale linear fascia within and subparallel to the anterolateral and anterior margins, and a pale posterior fascia, V-shaped	bicinctus (Germar)
- Scutellar markings pale and consisting of a fascia within and subparallel to the lateral margins	3

3(2) Scutellar fasciae meeting at apex of scutellum	varleyi Leston
- Scutellar fasciae separated at apex by a distance of twice the width of the fasciae	divisus (Herrich-Schäffer)

4(1) Scutellar markings consisting of a pale linear fascia within and subparallel to the anterolateral and anterior margins, acutely angled, and a pale posterior V-shaped fascia, rather widely divergent	sparrmani (Stål)
- Scutellar fascia not so	inermiventris (Stål)

1 Ivory, impunctate, transhumeral band present; ivory markings on scutellum impunctate, not forming complete V-shaped pattern	2
- Transhumeral ivory band lacking; pale markings on scutellum brownish, punctate, forming complete V-shaped pattern with point of "V" on apex of scutellum	varleyi Leston

2(1) General coloration brown with anterior half of pronotum contrastingly fuscous; pronotal calli pale	divisus (Herrich-Schäffer)
- General coloration fuscous to black, anterior and posterior disks of pronotum similar in color; pronotal calli fuscous, not pale	3

3(2) Abdominal venter with distinct, vertically compressed, basal spine	bicinctus (Germar)
- Abdominal venter may be slightly produced or hump-like, but not with distinct basal spine	4

4(3) Anterior margin of scutellum with complete pale, impunctate, ivory callus	5
- Anterior margin of scutellum with at most a small ivory spot medially	inermiventris (Stål)

5(4) Abdominal venter at most only slightly and broadly hump-like basally; scutellum longer and narrower, usually distinctly longer than coria, apex narrowly rounded; posterior margin of pygophore with relatively narrow emargination medially, margins on each side of medial emargination substraight	sparrmani (Stål)
- Abdominal venter obsoletely tuberculate basally; scutellum shorter and broader, at most only slightly longer than coria, apex broadly rounded; posterior margin of pygophore with relatively broad and shallow medial margination, margins on each side of medial emargination sinuous	new species 1

Leston, D. 1952. Notes on the Ethiopian Pentatomidae (Hem.) III: The genus Aegaleus Stål. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 88: 16.

David A. Rider
Associate Professor of Entomology
North Dakota State University
202 Hultz Hall
Fargo, ND 58105
E-Mail: David.Rider@ndsu.nodak.edu