SUBFAMILY MACROCORINAE SUBFAM. NOV.

FIGS 10G, 11G

Z o o b a n k r e g i s t r a t i o n: u r n: l s i d: z o o b a n k. org:act: 75C4C846-27F8-42DC-91B4-7812C7789D36

Type species: Macrocoris flavicollis Signoret, 1861 . Taxonomic history: The genera Macrocoris and Neomacrocoris have been held in Naucorinae: Naucorini (Štys & Jansson, 1988; Zettel, 2001). Two species of Macrocoris from Madagascar were originally described in Pseudambrysus (Montandon, 1897a); however, the genus was downgraded to subgenus by Montandon (1900), then appeared as a synonym of Macrocoris in the catalogue of La Rivers (1971).

Revised taxonomy: Based on the evidence from the molecular analyses and morphology of the aedeagus, I here erect the new subfamily Macrocorinae to hold these two sister genera. As such, Macrocoris (Fig. 10g) and Neomacrocoris are transferred from Naucorinae to Macrocorinae .

Diagnosis: Members of Macrocorinae are among the most dorsoventrally robust in the family. Both genera have a dramatically asymmetrical aedeagus with a characteristic shape and substantial, heavily sclerotized, articulated vesica (Fig. 11g). Large, elliptical parameres flank the aedeagus in Macrocoris (Fig. 11g), whereas parameres are absent in Neomacrocoris . The mesosternal carina is sufficiently setose to obscure the cuticular structure of the carina, which can be entire ( Macrocoris) or crenulate ( Neomacrocoris) ( Sites & Mbogho, 2012). The pygophore is greatly elongated at the midline to nearly half the aedeagus length (Fig. 11g).

Comments: This subfamily is endemic to Africa, with Macrocoris occurring on both the mainland and Madagascar and Neomacrocoris restricted to the African mainland. Neomacrocoris was revised recently ( Sites & Mbogho, 2012), whereas Macrocoris is in need of revision.