Blaena tamasi sp. n., the first species of Cydnidae with staphylinoid modification of wings, is described from Western Australia. The rare cases of wing modifications in Cydnidae and Pentatomoidea are briefly discussed. A key to all known species of the genus Blaena Walker is also provided.
Cephalic chaetotaxy of nymphal and adult stages of species from all the subfamilies of Cydnidae s. str. (sensu Froeschner, 1960 and Lis, 1994), namely Garsauriinae, Cephalocteinae, Cydninae, Sehirinae, and Amnestinae, was studied. Two types of setae, primary and secondary, are described, and changes they undergo during ontogeny reviewed. The adaptive, taxonomic and phylogenetic significance of the cephalic setae in the Cydnidae s. str. is discussed. A ground-plan of the original cephalic chaetotaxy of the family, and its evolution within the family Cydnidae s. str. are proposed.
A revision of species of the Australian burrower bug genus Blaena Walker, 1868 is presented. Eight previously known species are redescribed and four new ones, B. hirta n. sp. (Queensland), B. parathroposa n. sp. (Queensland), B. pseudosetosa n. sp. (Western Australia), and B. serrata n. sp. (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia) are described and illustrated. The male and female genitalia of all the species of the genus are studied for the first time. A key for species determination is also provided.
A revision of species of the genus Macroscytus Fieber distributed in Madagascar and adjacent islands is presented. Four previously known species [M. fryeri Distant, M. lobatus Signoret, M. madagascariensis (Signoret), M. privignus Horváth] are redescribed, and lectotypes are designated for three of them. Four new species (M. mayottensis sp. n., M. simulans sp. n., M. tamatavei sp. n., and M. viettei sp. n.) are described and compared with their congeners. A key to all species of the genus known from Madagascar and adjacent islands is also provided., Jerzy A. Lis, and Lit