taxonID	type	description	language	source
7238B639DD35FFE0FF6CFB76FB46FB0F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Sub-triangular head, at least 1.4 times longer than wide; mandibular plates pointed apically and lateral margins before the eyes rectilinear; clypeal suture inserted anteriorly to an imaginary line crossing anterior margin of compound eyes; antenniferous tubercles not visible in dorsal view of head; extremely long labium, surpassing the middle of abdominal sternite 7. Valvifers 8 flat, mesial margins reflected.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD35FFE0FF6CFB76FB46FB0F.taxon	description	Redescription. Body oval. Dorsal and ventral surface of body convex. Head longer than wide, triangular. Mandibular plates shorter than clypeus, pointed at apices; outer margins of mandibular plates rectilinear and lower than inner margins. Clypeus base narrower than its apex, apex obtuse; clypeus at a higher level than mandibular plates in lateral view; clypeal suture inserted anteriorly to an imaginary line crossing anterior margin of compound eyes (Figure 1). Anteocular processes present or not. Antenniferous tubercles not visible in dorsal view, each with an obtuse lateral process. Proportions of antennomeres: 1> 2 <3> 4 <5. Antennomere 1 not reaching apex of head; antennomere 2 apparent (Figure 1); antennomere 3 showing interespecific varibility variable speciesin shape; antennomere 4 slightly flattened dorsally, grooved or not dorsally. Bucculae tapering towards base of the head, not reaching head base (Figure 2). Labium surpassing the middle of abdominal sternite 7. First labiomere contained between bucculae, labiomere 2 flattened laterally and smaller than 3 and 4 combined (Figure 2). Labiomeres 3 and 4 flattened. Pronotum trapezoidal; each anterior angle of pronotum with an obtuse process, directed laterally, varying in length; anterolateral margins of pronotum straight, explanate and reflexed dorsally, with variable outline; humeral angles not produced; posterolateral margins of pronotum sinuous; posterior margin of pronotum rectilinear (Figure 1). Mesosternum with a low carina, higher anteriorly, smooth. Metasternum with a shallow groove. Each ostiole of the thoracic ESES elliptical, opening posterolaterally; periostiolar depressions present; each ostiolar peritreme spout-like, long, reaching half of the distance to lateral margin of evaporatorium. Evaporatorium punctate, reaching more than half of the width of meso- and metapleuron. Anterolateral margins of evaporatorium on metapleura rounded. Evaporatorium on mesopleuron surpassing the limits of mesocoxal sutures, reaching its anterior and posterior lateral angles, and the outer margin (Figure 3). Legs not concolorous with ventral surface of body. Femora unarmed, femora longer than tibiae. Tibiae grooved dorsally. Tarsi 3 - segmented. Scutellum longer than wide; apex rounded, surpassing the posterior margin of abdominal tergite 5. Basal angles of scutellum foveate, foveae smaller than the diameter of a compound eye. Corium longer than scutellum, surpassing apices of abdominal tergite 5; apex of radial vein calloused or with inconspicuous callosity, callus varying in size and colour; membrane with linear veins, varying in number. Membranal suture sinuous. Apex of hemelytra not surpassing apex of body. Connexivum exposed. Abdominal sternites with medial longitudinal groove reaching sternite 7. Posterolateral angles of sternites unarmed, straight. Callus mesial to each spiracle. Spiracles elliptical, black. Trichobothria lateral to an imaginary longitudinal line tangent to the spiracles. Genital cup of pygophore narrow, opened dorsoposteriorly, and occupying less than half the length of pygophore. Middle region of dorsal rim entire, and extension of dorsal rim obsolete. Layers of ventral rim not separated by a carina; area between layers depressed and striated in caudal view. Superior layer of ventral rim projected over genital cup, developed laterally to segment X, not covering parameres; lateral margins of superior layer of ventral rim entire in superior view; superior processes present or not. Inferior layer of ventral rim with processes, except in M. bonariensis. Segment X ogival (rectangular, with arcuate apex), carinate, with tumescent processes basally. Parameres present, crown reduced. Dorsal connectives of articulatory apparatus short, reaching the middle of phallotheca. Processus capitati longer, reaching phallotheca distal margin. Phallotheca piriform, long, and with three pairs of projections; dorsal processes of phallotheca wider basally, apically curved, and longer than the posterodorsal projections of phallotheca; conjunctiva with one pair of processes, and two or three pairs of lobes (Figure 9). Process of vesica long. Ductus seminis distalis long or extremely long, in relation to conjunctiva, convolute. Valvifers 8 flat, partially covering valvifers 9, mesial margins emarginate and juxtaposed. Valvulae 8 not visible externally. Laterotergites 8 lacking spiracles. Valvifers 9 flat, except in M. bonariensis, level with segment X in lateral view, with sclerotised lateral arms attaining anterior margins of laterotergites 9. Laterotergites 9 surpassing the abdominal tergite 8, mesial margins divergent. Valvulae 9 with 1 + 1 medially sclerotised areas. Ring sclerites elliptical. Arcuate posterior portion of thickening of vaginal intima longer than the round anterior portion. Median wall of vesicular area enlarged subproximally. Proximal ductus receptaculi long or extremely long in relation to length of vesicular area. Anterior annular flange smaller than pars intermedialis and posterior annular flange wider than capsula seminalis. Pars intermedialis rectilinear. Capsula seminalis globose and shorter than pars intermedialis (Figure 10).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD35FFE0FF6CFB76FB46FB0F.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay (Figure 29).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD39FFE7FE59FAC7FDE6FB27.taxon	description	(Figures 1 a, 2 a, 3 a – d, 4 a – h, 9 a – c, 10 a, d, 29; Table 1)	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD39FFE7FE59FAC7FDE6FB27.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. URUGUAY: MONTEVIDEO: Holotype, f *, Type, a, M [onte] video [Uruguay], Brit [ish] Mus [eum] type no. Hem – 058 // Holotype Mecocephala acuminata // Presented by Charles Darwin (NHMUK). Type material examined. ARGENTINA: BUENOS AIRES: Holotype, f *, Tandil, December 1957, [Raul J.] Llano leg. // ‘ Holotypus ̍ // ‘ Mecocephala holmbergi, 1969, det. A. A. Pirán ̍ (MACN). Other material examined. ARGENTINA: BUENOS AIRES: m *, Mar del Plata, 22 December 1919, A. Frers leg. (UFRG); f *, G [eneral] Alvarado, 18 November 1986, Bachmann leg. <female illustrated> (MACN – 2990); f *, Las Flores, 29 June 1931 (MACN – 27664).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD39FFE7FE59FAC7FDE6FB27.taxon	description	No data: m * <male illustrated> (UFRG).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD39FFE7FE59FAC7FDE6FB27.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Body colour brown. Anteocular processes present. Antennomere 3 slightly flattened dorsally. Bucculae sinuous. Proportions of labiomeres 1 <2> 3 <4. Outline of anterolateral margins of pronotum smooth, not punctate. Median furrow of each peritreme of ESES short, reaching less than half of peritreme; outer margin of metapleural evaporatorium convex; metathoracic spiracles wide (Figure 3 a – d). Spiracles of abdominal sternite 2 covered by metathorax.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD39FFE7FE59FAC7FDE6FB27.taxon	description	Male genitalia. Pygophore sub-rectangular (Figure 4 d – g). Posterolateral angles acute. Superior layer of ventral rim with two pairs of processes (Figure 4 e – f). Inferior layer of ventral rim with a pair of processes (Figure 4 g). Phallus (Figure 9 a – c): Phallotheca shorter than wide apically; dorsal processes of phallotheca wider apically than medially. Conjunctiva with a pair of processes, each acute apically, and two pairs of lobes: median and ventral, membranous. Ductus seminis distalis extremely long in relation to length of conjunctiva. Female genitalia. Valvifers 8 smaller than the laterotergites 9; posterior margins arcuate. Posterior margins of laterotergites 8 obtusely projected. Laterotergites 9 triangular, obtusely projected apically. Valvifers 9 flat, anterior margins concave, posterior margins straight (Figure 4 h). Proximal ductus receptaculi at least three times longer than the length of vesicular area, and constant diameter along its length. Median wall of vesicular area enlarged subproximally. Distal ductus receptaculi convoluted, long, at least two times longer than vesicular area, same diameter as the diameter of the median wall of vesicular area. Annular flanges parallel to each other (Figure 10 a, d). Measurements. See Table 1.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD39FFE7FE59FAC7FDE6FB27.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Mecocephala acuminata differs from its congeners by the outer margins of evaporatorium convex, posterolateral angle of pygophore acute, superior layer of ventral rim of pygophore with two pairs of processes, phallotheca wider apically than medially, valvifers 8 smaller than laterotergites 9, posterior margin of valvifers 9 straight, distal ductus receptaculi at least two times longer than vesicular area.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD39FFE7FE59FAC7FDE6FB27.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Argentina (Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, and Alvarado / Miramar) and Uruguay (Montevideo) (Figure 29).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD3EFFFBFF06FB0DFD58FF7F.taxon	description	(Figures 1 b, 2 b, 3 e – g, 5 a – h, 9 d – f, 10 b, e, 29; Table 1)	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD3EFFFBFF06FB0DFD58FF7F.taxon	materials_examined	Type material examined. BRAZIL: PARANÁ: Holotype, m *, Ponta Grossa, Olaria, September 1942 // Holotype / Mecocephala bonariensis Schwertner, Grazia and Fernandes, 2002 (DZUP). Paratypes: BRAZIL: MINAS GERAIS: f *, Alto Itatiaia, 2.200 m, 10 November 1955, J. F. Zikan leg. (FIOC); RIO DE] ANEIRO: m * f *, Itatiaia, June 1902, C. Moreira leg. (FIOC, MCNZ – 2797 – 2799); PARANÁ: f *, Curitiba, 27 December 1937, C. Westerman leg. (FIOC). ARGENTINA: BUENOS AIRES: m *, [Buenos Aires], Capital, 10 Octuber 1949, M. Fritz leg. (MACN); m * f *, Buenos Aires, Belgrano, 28 March 1917 (UFRG); m *, Buenos Aires, Tigre (UFRG); m *, Buenos Aires, 14 Octuber 1896, S. Venturini leg. (MACN – 5659); m *, Buenos Aires, 09 Octuber 1896, S Venturini leg. (MACN – 5653); f *, Buenos Aires, 20 January 1899, S. Venturini leg. (MACN); f *, Buenos Aires, 22 January 1899, S. Venturini leg. (MACN); f *, Buenos Aires, 23 January 1899, S. Venturini leg. (MACN); f *, Buenos Aires, 24 June 1899, S. Venturini leg. (MACN); f *, Buenos Aires, 04 November 1899, S. Venturini leg. (MACN). URUGUAY: MONTEVIDEO: (gender not defined), Montevideo, Pajas Blancas, 21 Octuber 1956 (UFRG); f *, Santiago Vasques, 21 Octuber 1960, [em Caraguata] (UYIC).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD3EFFFBFF06FB0DFD58FF7F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Body colour dark brown to reddish-dark brown. Antennomere 3 convex dorsally. Antennomere 4 dorsally not grooved. Bucculae sinuous. Proportions of labiomeres 1 <2 <3 <4. Outline of anterolateral margins of pronotum red, crenulate, not punctate. Median furrow of each peritreme of ESES short, reaching less than half of peritreme. Outer margins of metapleural evaporatorium concave. Metathoracic spiracles narrow (Figure 3 e – g). Spiracles of abdominal sternite 2 not covered by metathorax.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD3EFFFBFF06FB0DFD58FF7F.taxon	description	Male genitalia. Pygophore sub-quadrangular (Figure 5 d – g). Posterolateral angles rounded (Figure 5 d). Superior processes of dorsal rim of pygophore present (Figure 5 e). Superior layer of ventral rim with a pair of processes (Figure 5 e). Inferior layer of ventral rim without processes (Figure 5 e – f). Phallus (Figure 9 d – f): Phallotheca shorter than wide apically; dorsal processes of phallotheca uniformly wide. Conjunctiva with a pair of processes, each acute apically, and three pairs of lobes: lateral, median, sclerotised apically, and ventral lobes, entirely membranous. Ductus seminis distalis long relative to conjunctiva. Female genitalia. Valvifers 8 subequal to laterotergites 9 in length; posterior margins straight. Posterior margins of laterotergites 8 obtusely projected. Laterotergites 9 triangular, obtusely projected apically. Valvifers 9 swollen, anterior margins concave, posterior margins convex (Figure 5 h). Proximal ductus receptaculi one and a half times longer than the length of vesicular area, lesser diameter, and aspect laminate. Median wall of vesicular area cylindrical subproximally. Distal ductus receptaculi twisted, shorter than vesicular area, same diameter as the diameter of the median wall of vesicular area, and lamellar aspect. Annular flanges convergent relative to each other (Figure 10 b, e). Measurements. See Table 1.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD3EFFFBFF06FB0DFD58FF7F.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Mecocephala bonariensis differs from its congeners by antennomere 4 not grooved dorsally, hemelytra surpassing apex of body, inferior layer of ventral rim of pygophore without processes, dorsal processes of phallotheca basally uniformly wider, conjunctiva with three pairs of lobes, median lobe sclerotised apically, ductus seminis distalis long, valvifers 9 swollen, with posterior margin convex, proximal ductus receptaculi convoluted, long, one and a half times longer than vesicular area; lesser diameter, and aspect laminate, median wall of vesicular area cylindrical subproximally, distal ductus receptaculi twisted, shorter than vesicular area and annular flanges convergent.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD3EFFFBFF06FB0DFD58FF7F.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Brazil (Minas Gerais, and Paraná), Argentina (Buenos Aires, Belgrano, and Tigre) and Uruguay (Montevideo) (Figure 29).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD22FFFBFE6BFED5FD75FBBB.taxon	description	(Figures 1 c, 29; Table 1)	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD22FFFBFE6BFED5FD75FBBB.taxon	materials_examined	Type material examined. ARGENTINA: PASTOREO GRANDE: Holotype, m *, Misiones [Argentina], November 1954, A. A. Pirán, leg. // M. c urculionoides 1955, det. A. A. Pirán // Holotypus (MACN).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD22FFFBFE6BFED5FD75FBBB.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Body colour light brown. Antennomere 3 convex dorsally. Bucculae sinuous. Outline of anterolateral margins of pronotum crenulate, not punctate.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD22FFFBFE6BFED5FD75FBBB.taxon	description	Male genitalia. Pygophore sub-rectangular. Posterolateral angles rounded. Superior layer of ventral rim with a pair of processes. Inferior layer of ventral rim with a pair of processes. Female unknown. Measurements. See Table 1.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD22FFFBFE6BFED5FD75FBBB.taxon	discussion	Remarks. See Schwertner et al. (2002), p. 181 for description.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD22FFFBFE6BFED5FD75FBBB.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Argentina (Misiones) (Figure 29).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD22FFFFFEFDFB91FB46F92C.taxon	description	(Figures 1 d, 2 c, 3 h, 6 a – 1 h, 9 g – 1 i, 10 c, 1 f, 29; Table 1)	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD22FFFFFEFDFB91FB46F92C.taxon	materials_examined	Type material examined. BRAZIL: RIO GRANDE DO SUL: Holotype, m *, Capão do Leão, 28 Octuber 1984, A. T. Barbosa leg. (MECB). Paratypes: BRAZIL: RIO GRANDE DO SUL: f *, Viamão (MCNZ – 2800); f * f *, São Leopoldo, Pe. Buck leg. (MCNZ – 2801 [without abdomen]; 2802); f *, Pelotas, September 1995, L. Krüger leg. (MECB – P 151); m *, Pelotas, November 1990, J. Freitas leg. (MECB); m *, Pelotas, March 1986, R. Brancher leg. (MECB); f *, Pelotas, 25 September 1975. URUGUAY: CERRO LARGO: f *, Santa Clara de Olimar, T [reinta] y T [res], 19 November 1958, L. C. De Zolessi leg. (UYIC).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD22FFFFFEFDFB91FB46F92C.taxon	description	No data: f * (UFRG).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD22FFFFFEFDFB91FB46F92C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Body dark brown to reddish-dark brown. Anteocular processes present. Antennomere 3 slightly flattened dorsally, and not grooved dorsally. Bucculae sinuous. Apex of the labium visible in dorsal view, in resting position. Proportions of labiomeres 1 <2 <3 <4. Outline of anterolateral margins of pronotum crenulate, punctate and reflected. Median furrow of each peritreme of ESES long, reaching more than half of peritreme; outer margins of metapleural evaporatorium concave. Metathoracic spiracles narrow (Figure 3 h). Apices of each radial vein with a large, orange to red conspicuous callosity (Figure 6 a). Spiracles of abdominal sternite 2 not covered by metathorax.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD22FFFFFEFDFB91FB46F92C.taxon	description	Male genitalia. Pygophore trapezoidal (Figure 6 d). Posterolateral angles quadrate (Figure 6 d). Superior layer of ventral rim with a pair of processes (Figure 6 e – f). Inferior layer of ventral rim with a pair of processes (Figure 6 g). Phallus (Figure 9 g – i): Phallotheca shorter than wide apically; dorsal processes narrower apically than the median width and curved. Conjunctiva with a pair of processes, each acute apically, and two pairs of lobes: median and ventral lobes, membranous. Ductus seminis distalis extremely long. Female genitalia. Valvifers 8 sub-equal to laterotergites 9 in length; posterior margins sinuous. Posterior margins of laterotergites 8 straight. Laterotergites 9 triangular, obtusely projected apically. Valvifers 9 flat, anterior margins convex and posterior margins concave (Figure 6 h). Proximal ductus receptaculi long, at least three times longer than vesicular area, and equal diameter. Median wall of vesicular area enlarged sub-proximally, and straight. Distal ductus receptaculi convoluted, extremely long, at least three times longer than vesicular area, same diameter as the diameter of the median wall of vesicular area. Annular flanges parallel to each other (Figure 10 c, f). Measurements. See Table 1.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD22FFFFFEFDFB91FB46F92C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Mecocephala magna differs from its congeners by apex of labium surpassing body, outline of anterolateral margins of pronotum punctate, outer margin of evaporatorium on metapleuron convex, posterolateral angles of pygophore quadrate, dorsal processes of phallotheca narrower apically than the width medially, posterior margins of laterotergites 8 truncate, distal ductus receptaculi long, at least three times longer than vesicular area.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD22FFFFFEFDFB91FB46F92C.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) and Uruguay (Santa Clara de Olimar) (Figure 29).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD28FFF7FF3BF9DEFBCAFDFC.taxon	materials_examined	Type material examined. URUGUAY: MALDONADO: Holotype, m *, El Betete, 15. xi. 1960 // en Caraguatá (UYIC). Other material examined. ARGENTINA: BUENOS AIRES: m *, Parque Tornsquist, S de La Ventana, November 1996, P. Rebagliati leg. // no. 97.063 <male illustrated> (UFRG).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD28FFF7FF3BF9DEFBCAFDFC.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Body colour light brown. Mandibular plates and clypeus subequal. All antennomeres dorsally grooved (Figure 7 d); antennomere 3 slightly flattened dorsally. Proportions of labiomeres 1 <2> 3 <4. Outline of anterolateral margins of pronotum smooth, not punctate. Median furrow of each peritreme of ESES short, reaching less than half of peritreme. Outer margins of metapleural evaporatorium straight; metathoracic spiracles wide. Spiracles of abdominal sternite 2 covered by metathorax.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD28FFF7FF3BF9DEFBCAFDFC.taxon	description	Male genitalia. Pygophore sub-rectangular (Figure 7 e). Posterolateral angles rounded (Figure 7 e). Superior process of pygophore present. Superior layer of ventral rim with a pair of processes (Figure 7 f). Inferior layer of ventral rim with a pair of processes (Figure 7 g). Female unknown. Measurements. See Table 1.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD28FFF7FF3BF9DEFBCAFDFC.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Mecocephala maldonadensis is the smallest species of the genus, and differs from its congeners by mandibular plates and clypeus sub-equal in length, all antennomeres dorsally grooved, outline of anterolateral margins of pronotum pale yellow.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD28FFF7FF3BF9DEFBCAFDFC.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Argentina (Buenos Aires) and Uruguay (Maldonado) (Figure 29).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD2EFFC9FEF1FD59FD6CF9CB.taxon	description	(Figures 1 f, 2 e, 8 a – 1 d, 29; Table 1)	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD2EFFC9FEF1FD59FD6CF9CB.taxon	materials_examined	Type material examined. BRAZIL: MINAS GERAIS: Holotype, f *, Virginia, Fazenda Campos, 14 Octuber 1920, 1.500 m // Coleção J. F. Zikan, no. 135 (FIOC).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD2EFFC9FEF1FD59FD6CF9CB.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Body colour dark brown. Antennomere 3 slightly flattened dorsally, and not grooved dorsally. Bucculae rectilinear. Proportions of labiomeres 1 <2> 3 <4. Outline of anterolateral margins of pronotum smooth, not punctate. Median furrow of each peritreme of ESES long, reaching more than half of peritreme; outer margins of metapleural evaporatorium concave; metathoracic spiracles narrow. Spiracles of abdominal sternite 2 not covered by metathorax.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD2EFFC9FEF1FD59FD6CF9CB.taxon	description	Female genitalia. Valvifers 8 sub-equal to the laterotergites 9 in length; posterior margins sinuous. Laterotergites 8 with posterior margins acutely projected. Valvifers 9 flat, with posterior margins concave (Figure 8 d). Laterotergites 9 triangular, acutely projected apically. Male unknown. Measurements. See Table 1.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD2EFFC9FEF1FD59FD6CF9CB.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Mecocephala zikani differs from its congeners by lateral margin of bucculae rectilinear, posterior margin of laterotergites 8 and 9 acutely projected.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD2EFFC9FEF1FD59FD6CF9CB.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Brazil (Minas Gerais) (Figure 29).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD12FFC1FE42FF53FB41FCC6.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Head rounded apically; apical portion of mandibular plates sinuous; clypeal suture inserted posteriorly to an imaginary line crossing anterior margin of compound eyes; anteocular processes absent; antenniferous tubercles visible in dorsal view; antennomere 3 slightly flattened dorsally; labiomeres 3 and 4 entire; posterior margin of pronotum slightly convex; each ostiole of the thoracic ESES guttiform; marginal processes of dorsal rim of pygophore present; middle region of dorsal rim of pygophore entire or notched; area between layers of ventral rim depressed in caudal view; lateral margins of superior layer of ventral rim entire. Valvifers 8 strongly convex.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD12FFC1FE42FF53FB41FCC6.taxon	description	Redescription. Body oval. Dorsal and ventral surface slightly convex. Head longer than wide, except in P. bachmanni, and rounded apically (Figure 11). Mandibular plates shorter than clypeus, obtuse apically; outer lateral margins of mandibular plates sinuous, lower in relation to inner margins, level in P. fusca. Clypeal apex obtuse, at a higher level than mandibular plates longitudinally and in lateral view; clypeal suture inserted posteriorly to an imaginary line crossing anterior margin of compound eyes. Anteocular processes absent. Antenniferous tubercles visible in dorsal view, each with an obtuse lateral process. Proportions of antennomeres: 1> 2 <3> 4 <5. Antennomere 1 not reaching apex of head; antennomere 2 apparent (Figure 11); antennomere 3 slightly flattened; antennomere 4 slightly flattened dorsally. Bucculae sinuous, tapering towards base of head, not reaching the base of head (Figure 12). Length of labium variable between species. Proportions of labiomeres: 1 <2> 3> 4; first labiomere contained between bucculae, labiomere 2 flattened laterally and smaller than 3 and 4 combined; labiomeres 3 and 4 entire. Pronotum trapezoidal (Figure 11), sloping at the height of the humeral angles and towards the head or not; each anterior angle of pronotum with an obtuse process, directed laterally, varying in length; anterolateral margins of pronotum showing interespecific varibility, explanate and not reflexed; humeral angles not produced; posterolateral margins of pronotum sinuous; posterior margin of pronotum slightly convex (Figure 11). Mesosternal carina shallow. Metasternum grooved, shallow. Each ostiole of the thoracic ESES guttiform, opening posterolaterally; periostiolar depressions present; each ostiolar peritreme spout-like. Evaporatorium punctate, reaching more than half of the width of metapleuron. Anterolateral margins of evaporatorium on metapleuron rounded. Evaporatorium on mesopleuron surpassing the limits of mesocoxal sutures, reaching the anterior angles and in a diagonal from mesepimeron to mesepisternum (Figure 13). Gyrification of evaporatorium with high wrinkles, low in P. foveata and P. uruguayensis. Metathoracic spiracles wide. Femora unarmed, femora longer than tibiae. Tibiae grooved dorsally. Tarsi 3 - segmented. Scutellum longer than wide, apex rounded, surpassing the posterior margin of the abdominal tergite 5. Basal angles of scutellum foveate, foveae size variable. Corium longer than scutellum, surpassing apices of abdominal tergite 5; apex of each radial vein calloused; membrane with linear veins, varying in number. Membranal suture sinuous. Apex of hemelytra surpassing or not apex of body. Connexivum well exposed or not, concolourous with dorsal surface. Abdominal sternites with medial longitudinal groove reaching sternite 7. Posterolateral angles of sternites obtusely produced. Callus mesial to each spiracle. Spiracles circular, colour variable, spiracles of abdominal sternite 2 covered by metathorax. Trichobothria lateral to an imaginary longitudinal line tangent to the spiracles or separated by that line. Genital cup of pygophore narrow, broad in P. foveata and P. uruguayensis, opened dorsoposteriorly. Lateral margin of dorsal rim with marginal processes; middle region of dorsal rim entire or notched, and extension of dorsal rim well developed or obsolete. Layers of ventral rim not separated by a carina; area between layers excavated or depressed and striated in caudal view. Superior layer of ventral rim projected over genital cup, developed laterally to segment X, covering or not parameres; lateral margins entire in superior view; superior processes present, absent in P. fusca and P. guianensis. Inferior layer of ventral rim with or without processes. Segment X ogival (rectangular, with arcuate apex), not carinate, with tumescent processes basally. Parameres present, crown reduced. Dorsal connectives of articulatory apparatus variable in relation to middle of phallotheca. Processus capitati longer, reaching phallotheca distal margin. Phallotheca piriform, short, and with three pairs of projections: posterodorsal, posterolateral and ventrobasal; dorsal processes of phallotheca wider, apically curved and longer than the posterodorsal projections of phallotheca; conjunctiva with one or two pairs of processes, and three pairs of lobes (Figures 26, 27), two pairs in P. foveata. Process of vesica long. Ductus seminis distalis extremely long, in relation to conjunctiva, convolute. Valvifers 8 convex, sub-equal to laterotergites 9, smaller in P. guianensis, partially covering the valvifers 9; mesial margins not emarginate and juxtaposed. Valvulae 8 not visible externally. Laterotergites 8 lacking spiracles; posterior margins showing interespecific varibility. Valvifers 9 flat, levelled to segment X in lateral view, with sclerotised lateral arms attaining anterior margins of laterotergite 9, anterior and posterior margins varying within species. Laterotergites 9 spatulate, surpassing or not the abdominal tergite 8, mesial margins divergent, posterior margins obtusely projected. Valvulae 9 with 1 + 1 medially sclerotised areas. Ring sclerites elliptical. Arcuate posterior portion of thickening of vaginal intima longer than the round anterior portion. Proximal and distal ductus receptaculi long, at least three times longer than vesicular area, and convolute. Ductus within the vesicular area straight and median wall enlarged subproximally. Anterior annular flange shorter in relation to pars intermedialis, larger in P. foveata. Posterior annular flange wider in relation to capsula seminalis, thinner in P. fusca. Pars intermedialis rectilinear. Capsula seminalis globose, with length variable in relation to pars intermedialis (Figure 28).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD12FFC1FE42FF53FB41FCC6.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Venezuela (Aragua), French Guiana (Montsinéry), Suriname, Guiana (Rupununi), Brazil (Amazonas, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, and Rio Grande do Sul), Ecuador (Napo, and Coca), Argentina (Buenos Aires, and Corrientes) and Uruguay (Artigas, and Montevideo) (Figure 29).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD18FFC3FEE4FC0DFD5BFEE1.taxon	description	(Figures 11 a, 12 a, 13 a – d, 14, 25 a, c, 26 a – c, 28 a, 29; Table 2)	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD18FFC3FEE4FC0DFD5BFEE1.taxon	materials_examined	Type material examined. BRAZIL: RIO GRANDE DO SUL: Holotype, m *, Porto Alegre, June 1986, J. Grazia leg. (MCNZ – 182380) <illustrated specimen>. Paratypes, BRAZIL: SANTA CATARINA: f *, Imbituba, February 1994, L. A. Campos leg. (UFRG); RIO GRANDE DO SUL: São José do Ouro, m *, November 1996, E. Tolardo, leg. // MECB P 150 C (UFRG); Imbé, f *, Santa Terezinha, 16 February 1973, M. H. Galileo leg. (MCNZ – 8479), <illustrated specimen>; Eldorado do Sul, f *, 17 September 1992, J. A. M. Fernandes leg. (UFRG), <illustrated specimen>; f *, Fazenda Minuano, 16 August 1989, U. Anner leg. (UFRG); Porto Alegre, f *, 11 June 1952 (MCNZ – 002846); Pelotas, m *, July 1986, M. Carissimi leg. // UFPR (DZUP); f *, Octuber 1986, Sérgio S. leg. // UFPR (DZUP); f *, November 1996, P. Pivota leg. // MECB P 150 A (DZUP); m *, February 1991, J. Schneider leg. (UFRG); m *, 4 April 1986, J. Luiz leg. (UFRG); f *, June 1991, R. Padilha leg. (UFRG); f *, 13 November 1962, Mauri leg. (UFRG), [dated as 13 November 1961 in the paper]; m *, 28 Octuber 1986, L. Kamopp leg. // MECB (UFRG); f *, 5 June 1986, Azambuja leg. // MECB (UFRG); f *, 20 November 1993, V. Vaz leg. // MECB (UFRG), [cited as Vaziv leg. in the paper]; Capão do Leão, f *, 05 Octuber 1997, R. Rotta leg. (MECB); Rio Grande, m *, Taim, 17 Octuber 1976, C. J. Becker leg. (MCNZ – 12828); f *, Estação Ecológica do Taim, 23 March – 3 April 1981, J. Grazia leg. (UFRG). Omitted type material. No data: m * m * m * m * m * f *, Paramecocephala australis Frey-da-Silva and Grazia, 2002 / Paratype (UFRG). Other material. BRAZIL: RIO GRANDE DO SUL: Capão da Canoa, m *, 14 December 1999, J. A. M., Fernandes leg. (UFRG); Imbé, f *, February 1961, E. E. L. Buckup leg. (MCNZ); f *, Santa Terezinha, 16 February 1973, M. H. Galileo leg. // coll. MRCN 008476 (UFRG); f *, coll. MRCN 008478 (UFRG); f *, coll. MCN 008507 (UFRG); f *, coll. MRCN 008508 (UFRG); f *, coll. MRCN 008477 (UFRG); Porto Alegre, f *, August 1956, R. R. Côrrea leg. (MCNZ – 002845); f *, February 1958 // Pe. Buck leg. (MCNZ – 002848); m *, July 1961 (MCNZ – 002849); Pelotas, f *, 21 January 1961, C. M. Biezanko leg. // coll. MRCN 002847 (UFRG); f *, September 1986, R. Gain leg. // UFPR (UFRG); m *, 14 November 1952, C. Biezanko leg. (AMNH); m *, 14 March 1964, Biezanko leg. (MCNZ – 002850); m * f *, Rio Grande, Estação Ecológica do Taim, 02 December 1986, M. Rosenau leg. (MCNZ – 178806), (MCNZ – 178807); m *, 04 December 1986, R. O. Breseovir leg. (MCNZ – 178745).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD18FFC3FEE4FC0DFD5BFEE1.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Body colour brown to dark brown. Apex of mandibular plates convex. Clypeus uniformly wider (Figure 11 a). Anterolateral margins of pronotum straight; outline smooth, not punctate (Figure 11 a). Each peritreme of ESES reaching about 1 / 3 of the distance to lateral margin of evaporatorium, median furrow of each peritreme short, reaching less than half of peritreme; outer margins of metapleural evaporatorium straight; evaporatorium on mesopleuron reaching the posterolateral angles and outer margin. Foveae smaller than the diameter of a compound eye. Legs concolourous with body ventral colour. Hemelytra not surpassing apex of body. Trichobothria together lateral to the imaginary line tangent to the spiracles.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD18FFC3FEE4FC0DFD5BFEE1.taxon	description	Male genitalia. Pygophore sub-quadrangular, posterolateral angles quadrate (Figure 14 d – f). Genital cup narrow, occupying less than half the length of pygophore. Medial region of dorsal rim notched, and extension of dorsal rim obsolete (Figure 14 d). Area between layers of ventral rim excavated. Superior layer of ventral rim covering parameres, with two pairs of processes (Figure 14 e). Inferior layer of ventral rim without processes (Figure 14 f). Phallus (Figure 26 a – c): Dorsal connectives short, not reaching the distal half of phallotheca. Processus capitati reaching phallotheca distal margin. Conjunctiva with a pair of processes, each truncate apically, and three pairs of lobes: lateral, sclerotised apically, and median and ventral lobes, membranous and without process (see Frey-da-Silva et al. 2002 a, p. 218, figs 39, 43, 47). Female genitalia. Posterior margins of valvifers 8 sinuous. Posterior margins of laterotergites 8 straight. Anterior margins of valvifers 9 straight, posterior margins convex (Figure 14 g – h). Laterotergites 9 surpassing the abdominal tergite 8. Diameter of proximal ductus receptaculi larger in relation to diameter of the inner wall of the vesicular area. Annular flanges parallel to each other. Capsula seminalis smaller than the pars intermedialis (Figure 28 a). Measurements. See Table 2.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD18FFC3FEE4FC0DFD5BFEE1.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Brazil (Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul) (Figure 29).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD18FFC3FEE4FC0DFD5BFEE1.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Paramecocephala australis presents the pronotum clearly sloping at the level of the humeral angles and towards the head.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1AFFC3FEF7FE59FDF3F90B.taxon	description	(Figures 11 b, 12 b, 13 e, 15, 29; Table 2)	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1AFFC3FEF7FE59FDF3F90B.taxon	materials_examined	Type material examined. ARGENTINA: BUENOS AIRES: Holotype, m *, Gral. [General] Alvarado, Miramar, 20 November 1946, Bachmann leg. (MACN) <illustrated specimen>. Paratype, ARGENTINA: BUENOS AIRES: f *, Gral. [General] Alvarado, Miramar, 15 November 1946, Bachmann leg. (MCNZ – 182384) <illustrated specimen>.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1AFFC3FEF7FE59FDF3F90B.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Body colour greyish brown. Apex of mandibular plates convex. Clypeus uniformly wider (Figure 11 b). Anterolateral margins of pronotum straight; outline crenulate, punctate (Figure 11 b). Each peritreme of ESES reaching about 1 / 3 of the distance to lateral margin of evaporatorium, median furrow of each peritreme short, reaching less than half of peritreme; outer margins of metapleural evaporatorium straight; evaporatorium on mesopleuron reaching the posterolateral angles and outer margin (Figure 13 e). Foveae equal to the diameter of a compound eye (Figure 15 a). Legs not concolourous with body ventral colour (Figure 15 b). Hemelytra surpassing apex of body (Figure 15 a). Connexivum exposed. Trichobothria lateral to the imaginary longitudinal line tangent to the spiracles.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1AFFC3FEF7FE59FDF3F90B.taxon	description	Male genitalia. Pygophore trapezoidal, posterolateral angles rounded (Figure 15 d – g). Genital cup narrow, occupying half of the length of pygophore. Medial region of dorsal rim notched, and extension of dorsal rim well developed (Figure 15 d – e). Area between layers of ventral rim excavated. Superior layer of ventral rim covering parameres, with two pairs of processes (Figure 15 f). Inferior layer of ventral rim without processes (Figure 15 g). Female genitalia. Posterior margins of valvifers 8 rectlinear. Posterior margins of laterotergites 8 straight. Anterior margins of valvifers 9 straight, posterior margins convex (Figure 15 h – i). Laterotergites 9 surpassing the abdominal tergite 8. Measurements. See Table 2.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1AFFC3FEF7FE59FDF3F90B.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Argentina (Buenos Aires) (Figure 29).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1AFFC3FEF7FE59FDF3F90B.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Paramecocephala bachmanni differs from its congeners by head slightly wider than long, labium not reaching the posterior portion of abdominal sternite 4, and posterior margins of valvifers 8 arched. Shares with P. bergrothi the extension of dorsal rim well developed in a biconvex projection.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1DFFC6FEE3FF53FEDCFCE9.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. BRAZIL: RIO GRANDE DO SUL: Holotype, f *, Pelotas, 5 May 1961, C. M. Biezanko leg. (MCNZ – 182381) <illustrated specimen>. Paratypes, BRAZIL: PARANÁ: m * m * f * f * f *, Curitiba, September 1961, S. Laroca leg. (UFRG); m *, Barigui, 15 Octuber 1944 / guarda-chuva // Mecocephala acuminata Dallas (UFRG); RIO GRANDE DO SUL: Imbé, m *, Albatroz, 6 November 1973, R. Wagner Hanisch leg. (UFRG), <illustrated specimen>; Porto Alegre, f *, 18 Octuber 1948 (MCNZ – 002804); Pelotas, m *, April 1990, M. H. Tedesco leg. (MCNZ); m *, 6 Octuber 1990, C. Antonelli leg. (UFRG); m *, 20 June 1990, V. Pontes leg. (UFRG); m *, April 1985 (UFRG); m *, 10 Octuber 1960, Irigon leg. (UFRG); m *, 15 June 1951, C. M. Biezanko leg. (MECB); m *, 12 June 1957, C. Biezanko leg. (MACN), <photo examined>; f *, 10 Octuber 1984, W. Treviso leg. (UFRG), <illustrated specimen>; f *, 4 May, M. S. Souza leg. (UFRG); f *, 2 Octuber 1993, P. Timm leg. (UFRG); f *, 15 Octuber 1985, J. Vargas leg. (UFRG). No data: 1 m *, geni. [talia] prep. [arada] (UFRG), <illustrated specimen>. Omitted type material. BRAZIL: RIO GRANDE DO SUL: m *, Pelotas, 11.024, I. A. S // Coll. MRCN – 002803 // Paramecocephala bergrothi Frey-da-Silva and Grazia, 2002 / Paratype (UFRG); f *, 10 Octuber 1949, Biezanko leg. // Paramecocephala bergrothi Frey-da-Silva and Grazia, 2002 / Paratype (UFRG), [without abdomen], <illustrated specimen>.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1DFFC6FEE3FF53FEDCFCE9.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Body colour dark brown to reddish-dark brown (Figures 16 a – c, 17 a – c). Apex of mandibular plates convex. Clypeus uniformly wider (Figure 11 c). Anterolateral margins of pronotum straight to slight concave; outline crenulate, punctate (Figure 11 c). Each peritreme of ESES reaching about 2 / 3 of the distance to lateral margin of evaporatorium, median furrow of each peritreme short, reaching less than half of peritreme; outer margins of metapleural evaporatorium straight to slight convex; evaporatorium on mesopleuron reaching the posterolateral angles and outer margin (Figure 13 f). Foveae equal to the diameter of a compound eye (Figures 16 a, 17 a). Legs not concolourous with body ventral colour (Figures 16 b, 17 b). Hemelytra surpassing apex of the body (Figures 16 a, 17 a). Trichobothria separated by the imaginary longitudinal line tangent to the spiracles.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1DFFC6FEE3FF53FEDCFCE9.taxon	description	Male genitalia. Pygophore trapezoidal, posterolateral angles rounded to quadrate (Figures 16 d – f, 17 d – f). Genital cup narrow, occupying less than half the length of pygophore. Medial region of dorsal rim notched, and extension of dorsal rim well developed (Figures 16 d, 17 d). Area between layers of ventral rim excavated. Superior layer of ventral rim covering parameres, with two pairs of processes (Figures 16 e, 17 f). Inferior layer of ventral rim without processes (Figure 16 f). Phallus (Figure 27 a – f): Dorsal connectives longer, surpassing the distal half of phallotheca. Processus capitati long, surpassing the phallotheca distal margin. Conjunctiva with two pairs of processes, each acute apically, and three pairs of lobes: median sclerotised apically and lateral and ventral lobes, membranous. Female genitalia. Posterior margins of valvifers 8 sinuous. Laterotergites 8 with posterior margins straight to slightly obtusely projected, and with a process on each anterior angle. Anterior margins of valvifers 9 straight and posterior margins straight to convex (Figure 16 g – h). Laterotergites 9 surpassing the abdominal tergite 8. Diameter of proximal ductus receptaculi as large as the diameter of the inner ductus of vesicular area. Annular flanges convergent related to each other. Capsula seminalis smaller than the pars intermedialis (Figure 28 b). Measurements. See Table 2.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1DFFC6FEE3FF53FEDCFCE9.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Brazil (Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul) (Figure 29).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1DFFC6FEE3FF53FEDCFCE9.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species shows chromatic variation, regarding its cuticle colour, presenting dark brown to black specimens and reddish specimens (Figures 16 – 17). The melanic and reddish specimens also present small differences in the size and shape of some structures (i. e. outline of dorsal rim of pygophore and posterolateral angles of pygophore). The extension of the dorsal rim is well developed, in a biconvex projection, in all specimens and presents variation in the width of the apical projections, and in the colour. The phallus is variable in outline and degree of sclerotisation. The articulatory apparatus of the phallus is variable in width, and with dorsal connective and processus capitati of variable length. The projections and processes of phallotheca and conjunctiva also present small variations in length and width (Figure 27 a – f). Lateral and posterior margins of valvifers 8 and 9 with slightly variable outline. Despite these variations, the distributional overlap of the two forms and the interchanging combinations of characteristics do not allow the reliable separation of these forms into different taxonomic entities. Comments. Frey-da-Silva et al. (2002 a) examined the male specimen designated as the allotype of Mecocephala rubripes by Pirán (1967). The M. rubripes holotype is a female and was not found in museums in Argentina. According to Berg ̍ s original description (1894), Frey-da-Silva et al. (2002 a) concluded that it was not the same species, proposing a new species. Ruschel et al. (2013), on the types of Hemiptera deposited in the collection of the Museu de Ciências Naturais da Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do Sul, listed three species of Paramecocephala and made the following observations: for P. bergrothi, the holotype, with the following labels: ‘ [Pelotas, 5 May 1961, RG do Sul, CM Biezanko leg.] [Paramecocephala bergrothi Frey-da-Silva and Grazia, Holotype] [MCNZ 182381] ̍, it is a female specimen and not a male as mentioned in the original description (Frey-da-Silva et al. 2002 a, p. 220). A male paratype with the labels: ‘ [Pelotas, April 90, Tedesco, M. H. leg.] [Genit. Prep.] [Paramecocephala bergrothi Frey-da-Silva and Grazia, 2002, Paratype] ̍ is missing the genital capsule and has a collection number [2803]. Of the total type material available for the species, only one female paratype from Santa Catarina, Brazil ‘ [Breddin Coll., Dallas acuminata] [DEIC] ̍ was not examined. We examined the paratype with the missing pygophore and associated it with one specimen of prepared genitalia available at the Laboratório de Entomologia Sistemática – LES, matching the respective illustration presented by Frey-da-Silva et al. (2002 a). This prepared pygophore is very similar to that of another male specimen, without data on the collection label, but with a paratype label and another label numbered [43], deposited at UFRG. However, this specimen, together with three more specimens, was not included in the list of standard material available in the publication. We believe that this specimen may be the male holotype, designated by the authors; probably an exchange of labels was made when the specimens were returned to MCNZ. This is likely since the original description matches the morphological and genitalic characters for such a specimen and because among the omitted paratypes, a female was found with the following labels: 10 Octuber 1949, C. M. Biezanko leg. // UFRG. Another female, listed in the original description with the label ‘ 10 Octuber 949 (UFRG) ̍, was not found. In addition, when examining the female specimen deposited as a holotype and the prepared genitalia described and illustrated for the species, we found that the female associated with the prepared genitalia has somewhat different morphological and genital characters.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1FFFC7FE89FC45FB94FB03.taxon	description	(Figures 11 d, 12 d, 13 g, 18, 19, 28 c, 29; Table 2)	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1FFFC7FE89FC45FB94FB03.taxon	materials_examined	Type material examined. BRAZIL: MINAS GERAIS: Holotype, m *, Belo Horizonte, 4 November 1965, R. Hilbert leg. (MCNZ – 3301) <illustrated specimen>. Other material examined. BRAZIL: MATO GROSSO: f *, Chapada dos Guimarães, 2 February 1961, J. and B. Bechyné leg. (MPEG) <illustrated specimen>.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1FFFC7FE89FC45FB94FB03.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Body colour pale brown to yellowish brown. Apex of mandibular plates sinuous. Clypeus wider apically (Figure 11 d). Anterolateral margins of pronotum straight; outline smooth, not punctate, and pale yellow (Figure 11 d). Each peritreme of ESES reaching about half the distance to lateral margin of evaporatorium, median furrow of each peritreme long, reaching more than half of peritreme; metapleural evaporatorium reaching half of wider of segment; outer margins concave; evaporatorium on mesopleuron not reaching the posterolateral angles and outer margin; gyrification of evaporatorium with low wrinkles (Figure 13 g). Foveae larger than the diameter of a compound eye (Figures 18 a, 19 a). Legs not concolourous with body ventral colour. Hemelytra not surpassing apex of body (Figure 19 b). Trichobothria lateral to the imaginary longitudinal line tangent to the spiracles (Figure 19 a).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1FFFC7FE89FC45FB94FB03.taxon	description	Male genitalia. Pygophore sub-quadrangular, posterolateral angles rounded. Genital cup broad, occupying more than half the length of pygophore. Median region of dorsal rim entire, and extension of dorsal rim obsolete. Area between layers of ventral rim excavated. Superior layer of ventral rim not covering parameres, with two pairs of processes. Inferior layer of ventral rim without processes. Phallus (Figure 18 g): Dorsal connectives shorter, not reaching the distal half of phallotheca. Processus capitati long, surpassing the phallotheca distal margin. Phallotheca long. Conjunctiva with a pair of processes, each acute apically, and two pairs of lobes: median and ventral lobes, membranous. Female genitalia. Posterior margins of valvifers 8 sinuous. Laterotergites 8 with posterior margins obtusely projected. Anterior margins of valvifers 9 concave and posterior margins straight (Figure 19 d – e). Laterotergites 9 surpassing the abdominal tergite 8. Diameter of proximal ductus receptaculi equal to diameter of the inner wall of vesicular area. Annular flanges convergent related to each other. Anterior annular flange larger in relation to pars intermedialis. Capsula seminalis smaller than the pars intermedialis (Figure 28 c). Measurements. See Table 2.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1FFFC7FE89FC45FB94FB03.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Brazil (Mato Grosso, and Minas Gerais) (Figure 29).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1FFFC7FE89FC45FB94FB03.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Paramecocephala foveata differs from its congeners mainly by foveae larger than the diameter of a compound eye, conjunctiva with two pairs of lobes, and posterior annular flange thinner in relation to capsula seminalis. Comments. The female specimen from Mato Grosso, Brazil, was mistakenly considered a paratype of P. foveata by Frey-da-Silva et al. (2002 a, p. 221), overlooking Benvegnú ̍ s original description (1968) where the species was based on a single male specimen.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1EFFD8FE79FB2EFEDBFA33.taxon	description	(Figures 11 e, 12 e, 13 h – 11 j, 20, 27 g – 11 i, 28 d, 29; Table 2)	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1EFFD8FE79FB2EFEDBFA33.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. SURINAME: f *, P. H. v. Doesburg Jr. leg. (RMNH). ECUADOR: NAPO: f *, Lago Agrio (18 Km), 30 August 1975, A. Langley leg. // Ecuador – Peace Corps – Smithsonian Institution Aquatic Insect Survey (USNM); [ORELLANA], f *, El Coca, April 1985, G. Onore leg. // ex. oil palm with marchitez descase (UFRG). BRAZIL: AMAZONAS: f *, Benjamin Constant, November 1962, A. Silva leg. (MZUSP), <illustrated specimen>. PARÁ: f *, Belém, January 1997 // FCAP – 3.793 (UFRG).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1EFFD8FE79FB2EFEDBFA33.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Body colour pale brown to yellowish dark brown. Apex of mandibular plates sinuous, lateral margins levelled in relation to mesial margins. Clypeus apically wider (Figure 11 e). Anterolateral margins of pronotum concave; outline crenulate, not punctate and pale yellow (Figure 11 e). Each peritreme of ESES reaching about 1 / 3 of the distance to lateral margin of evaporatorium, median furrow of the each peritreme short, reaching less than half of peritreme; outer margins of metapleural evaporatorium straight; evaporatorium on mesopleuron reaching the posterolateral angles and outer margin (Figure 13 h – j). Foveae equal to the diameter of a compound eye (Figure 20 a). Legs concolourous with body ventral colour. Hemelytra surpassing apex of body (Figure 20 b). Trichobothria separated by the imaginary longitudinal line tangent to the spiracles (Figure 20 a).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1EFFD8FE79FB2EFEDBFA33.taxon	description	Male genitalia. Pygophore trapezoidal, posterolateral angles rounded (Figure 20 d – f). Genital cup narrow, occupying less than half the length of pygophore. Superior processes of dorsal rim present; median region of dorsal rim entire, and extension of dorsal rim obsolete (Figure 20 d). Area between layers of ventral rim excavated. Superior layer of ventral rim not covering parameres, without processes (Figure 20 e). Inferior layer of ventral rim with a pair of processes (Figure 20 f). Phallus (Figure 27 g – i): Dorsal connectives shorter, not reaching the distal half of phallotheca. Processus capitati long, surpassing the phallotheca distal margin. Phallotheca short. Conjunctiva with two pairs of processes, each acute apically, and three pairs of membranous lobes. Female genitalia. Posterior margins of valvifers 8 straight. Posterior margins of laterotergites 8 obtusely projected, and with a process on each anterior angle. Anterior margins of valvifers 9 straight and posterior margins convex (Figures 20 g, 28 d). Laterotergites 9 not surpassing the abdominal tergite 8. Diameter of proximal ductus receptaculi larger in relation to diameter of the inner wall of vesicular area. Annular flanges parallel to each other. Posterior annular flange thinner in relation to capsula seminalis. Capsula seminalis equal to the pars intermedialis (Figure 28 d). Measurements. See Table 2.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD1EFFD8FE79FB2EFEDBFA33.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Suriname, Ecuador (Napo, and Coca) and Brazil (Pará, and Amazonas) (Figure 29).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD01FFDBFEFBFA1EFC6BFBC7.taxon	description	(Figures 11 f, 12 f, 13 k, 21, 29; Table 2)	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD01FFDBFEFBFA1EFC6BFBC7.taxon	materials_examined	Type material examined. FRENCH GUYANA: MONTSINÉRY: Holotype, m *, San Bordelaise, 4 July 1977, Reémillet leg. // Orstom (USNM) <illustrated specimen>.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD01FFDBFEFBFA1EFC6BFBC7.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Body colour dark brown. Apex of mandibular plates sinuous. Clypeus uniformly wider (Figure 11 f). Anterolateral margins of pronotum straight; outline smooth, punctate (Figure 11 f). Each peritreme of ESES reaching about half of the distance to lateral margin of evaporatorium, median furrow of each peritreme short, reaching less than half of peritreme; outer margins of metapleural evaporatorium concave; evaporatorium on mesopleuron not reaching the posterolateral angles (Figure 13 k). Fovea equal to the diameter of a compound eye (Figure 21 a). Legs concolourous with body ventral colour (Figure 21 b). Hemelytra surpassing apex of body (Figure 21 a). Trichobothria lateral to the imaginary longitudinal line tangent to the spiracles.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD01FFDBFEFBFA1EFC6BFBC7.taxon	description	Male genitalia. Pygophore sub-quadrangular, posterolateral angles quadrate (Figure 21 d – g). Genital cup narrow, occupying less than half the length of pygophore. Superior processes of dorsal rim present; median region of dorsal rim notched, and extension of dorsal rim obsolete (Figure 21 d – e). Area between layers of ventral rim excavated. Superior layer of ventral rim covering parameres, without processes (Figure 21 f). Inferior layer of ventral rim with a pair of processes (Figure 21 g). Female genitalia. Valvifers 8 smaller than laterotergites 9, posterior margins sinuous. Posterior margins of laterotergites 8 obtusely projected. Posterior margins of valvifers 9 straight. Laterotergites 9 surpassing the abdominal tergite 8 (Figure 21 h). Measurements. See Table 2.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD01FFDBFEFBFA1EFC6BFBC7.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Guiana (Rapununi) and French Guiana (Montsinéry) (Figure 29).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD01FFDBFEFBFA1EFC6BFBC7.taxon	discussion	Remarks. See Frey-da-Silva et al. (2002 a), p. 222 – 223 for description.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD02FFDCFEFEFB72FEA9FA94.taxon	description	(Figures 11 g, 12 g, 13 l, 22, 26 d – f, 28 e, 29; Table 2)	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD02FFDCFEFEFB72FEA9FA94.taxon	materials_examined	Type material examined. BRAZIL: BAHIA: Holotype, m *, Maracás, 18 August 1964, C. Elias leg. (DZUP) <illustrated specimen>. Paratypes, BRAZIL: SÃO PAULO: f *, São Paulo, 5 Octuber 1965, V. N. Alin leg. (USNM); ESPÍRITO SANTO: f *, Santa Tereza, 6 July 1964, C. Elias leg. (USNM) <illustrated specimen>; m *, 13 May 1964, C. Elias leg. (UFRG) {without pygophore}, <illustrated specimen>. Other material examined. VENEZUELA: ARAGUA: f *, El Limon, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Facultad de Agronomia, Instituto de Zoología Agrícola, 450 m, 15 January 1963, M. Gelbez leg. (MIZA), <illustrated specimen>, <new record>.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD02FFDCFEFEFB72FEA9FA94.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Body colour brown to orange-dark brown. Apex of mandibular plates convex to sinuous. Clypeus wider apically (Figure 11 g). Anterolateral margins of pronotum straight to slightly concave; outline crenulate, punctate (Figure 11 g). Each peritreme of ESES reaching about 1 / 3 the distance to lateral margin of evaporatorium, median furrow of the each peritreme short, reaching less than half of peritreme; outer margins of metapleural evaporatorium straight to slightly concave; evaporatorium on mesopleuron reaching the posterolateral angles and outer margin (Figure 13 l). Foveae smaller than the diameter of a compound eye (Figure 22 a). Legs not concolourous with body ventral colour (Figure 22 b). Hemelytra not surpassing apex of body (Figure 22 a). Trichobothria separated by the imaginary longitudinal line tangent to the spiracles.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD02FFDCFEFEFB72FEA9FA94.taxon	description	Male genitalia. Pygophore sub-quadrangular, posterolateral angles rounded (Figure 22 d – f). Genital cup narrow, occupying less than half the length of pygophore. Superior processes of dorsal rim present; median region of dorsal rim notched, and extension of dorsal rim obsolete (Figure 22 d). Area between layers of ventral rim excavated. Superior layer of ventral rim not covering parameres, with a pair of processes (Figure 22 e). Inferior layer of ventral rim without processes (Figure 22 f). Phallus (Figure 26 d – f): Dorsal connectives long, surpassing the distal half of phallotheca. Processus capitati long, surpassing the phallotheca distal margin. Conjunctiva with a pair of processes, each truncate apically, and three pairs of membranous lobes (see Frey-da-Silva et al. 2002 a: 218, figs 41, 45, 49). Female genitalia. Posterior margins of valvifers 8 sinuous. Posterior margins of laterotergites 8 obtusely projected, and with a process on each anterior angle. Anterior margins of valvifers 9 straight and posterior margins convex (Figure 22 g – h). Laterotergites 9 surpassing the abdominal tergite 8. Diameter of proximal ductus receptaculi same diameter as the diameter of the median wall of vesicular area. Annular flanges parallel to each other (Figure 10 a, d). Capsula seminalis equal to the pars intermedialis (Figure 28 e). Measurements. See Table 2.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD02FFDCFEFEFB72FEA9FA94.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Venezuela (Aragua <new record>) and Brazil (Bahia, Espírito Santo, and São Paulo) (Figure 29).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD05FFDDFE9CFA81FDADFA79.taxon	description	(Figures 11 h, 12 h, 13 m, 23, 27 j – l, 28 f, 29; Table 2)	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD05FFDDFE9CFA81FDADFA79.taxon	materials_examined	Type material examined. URUGUAY: MONTEVIDEO: Holotype, m *, Santiago Vásquez, Parque Lecoq., 15 March 1960, C. S. Morey leg. // Coll. Pirán (MACN), <photo examined>. Paratypes, ARGENTINA: BUENOS AIRES: m *, Zelaria, November 1962, J. B. Daguerre leg. (UFRG), <illustrated specimen>. URUGUAY, MONTEVIDEO: f *, Santiago Vásquez, 21 Octuber 1960 // en Caraguatá (UFRG), <illustrated specimen>. No data: f * (UFRG).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD05FFDDFE9CFA81FDADFA79.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Body colour brown to greyish-dark brown. Apex of mandibular plates convex. Clypeus wider apically (Figure 11 h). Anterolateral margins of pronotum straight; outline crenulate, not punctate (Figure 11 h). Each peritreme of ESES reaching about half of the distance to lateral margin of evaporatorium, median furrow of each peritreme short, reaching less than half of peritreme; outer margins of metapleural evaporatorium straight; evaporatorium on mesopleuron not reaching the posterolateral angles and outer margin; gyrification of evaporatorium with low wrinkles (Figure 13 m). Foveae smaller than the diameter of a compound eye (Figure 23 a). Legs concolourous with body ventral colour (Figure 23 b). Hemelytra surpassing apex of body (Figure 23 a). Trichobothria lateral to the imaginary longitudinal line tangent to the spiracles.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD05FFDDFE9CFA81FDADFA79.taxon	description	Male genitalia. Pygophore trapezoidal, posterolateral angles rounded (Figure 23 d – f). Genital cup broad, occupying more than half the length of pygophore. Median region of dorsal rim entire, and extension of dorsal rim obsolete (Figure 23 d). Area between layers of ventral rim excavated. Superior layer of ventral rim covering parameres, with two pairs of processes (Figure 23 e). Inferior layer of ventral rim with a pair of tiny processes processes (Figure 23 f). Phallus (Figure 27 j – l): Dorsal connectives long, surpassing the distal half of phallotheca. Processus capitati long, surpassing the phallotheca distal margin. Conjunctiva with two pairs of processes, each acute apically, and three pairs of lobes, lateral and ventral membranous, and median sclerotised. Female genitalia. Posterior margins of valvifers 8 sinuous. Posterior margins of laterotergites 8 straight, and with a process on each anterior angle. Anterior margins of valvifers 9 straight and posterior margins convex (Figure 23 g – h). Laterotergites 9 surpassing the abdominal tergite 8. Diameter of proximal ductus receptaculi larger in relation to diameter of the inner wall of vesicular area. Annular flanges convergent related to each other. Capsula seminalis smaller than the pars intermedialis (Figure 28 f). Measurements. See Table 2.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD05FFDDFE9CFA81FDADFA79.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Argentina (Buenos Aires, and Corrientes) and Uruguay (Artigas, Montevideo, and Canelones) (Figure 29).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD07FFDFFE43FF53FD05FB21.taxon	description	(Figures 11 i, 12 i, 13 n, 24, 25 b, d, 29; Table 2)	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD07FFDFFE43FF53FD05FB21.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. HOLOTYPE: f *, BRAZIL: SANTA CATARINA: Itapema, 5 January 2002, J. Grazia leg. (UFRG) <illustrated specimen>.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD07FFDFFE43FF53FD05FB21.taxon	description	Description. Colouration: General colour dark brown dorsally; ventral surface dark brown; body densely punctate with ferruginous punctures. Head brown, punctures concolorous. Ocelli brown. Antennomeres uniformly brown, ferruginous in distal half of antennomere 5. Labium brown. Outline of anterolateral margins of pronotum brown; punctures concolorous. Corium reddish brown, callosity of radial vein concolourous with surface of hemelytra. Pro, meso, metasternum and evaporatorium dark brown; lateral margins brown. Legs reddish brown. Connexivum reddish brown with concolorous punctures. Sternites dark brown with concolorous punctures; sub-lateral margin light brown. Trichobothria concolorous to sublateral margin of abdominal sternites. Head: Head longer than wide. Apex of mandibular plates sinuous; lateral margins depressed in relation to the plan of median margins. Apex of clypeus wider than basal width (Figure 11 i). Proportions of antennomeres: 1> 2 <3> 4, 5 lacking. Long labium, reaching the middle of abdominal sternite 6 (Figure 24 c); proportions of labiomeres: 1 <2 ~ 3 <4. Thorax: Anterolateral margins of pronotum concave, smooth and punctate (Figure 11 i). Peritreme of ESES spout, reaching 1 / 3 of evaporatorium to the outer margin; ostiole guttiform; median furrow of the peritreme short, reaching less than half of peritreme. Evaporatorium punctate, reaching more than half of meso- and metapleuron; anterolateral margin of evaporatorium rounded; outer margins of evaporatorium, on metapleuron, concave, reaching its anterior and posterior angles and the outer margins. Gyrification of evaporatorium with high wrinkles (Figure 13 n). Metathoracic spiracles wide. Each basal angle of scutellum with a dark smaller fovea (Figure 24 a). Hemelytra surpassing the abdominal apex (Figure 24 a). Abdomen: Connexivum poorly exposed. Spiracle on abdominal sternite 2 not visible. Medial longitudinal groove reaching the abdominal sternite 6 (Figure 24 b). Posterolateral angles of sternites obtusely produced. Mesial area adjacent to spiracles with callosity. Trichobothria separated by the imaginary longitudinal line tangent to spiracles. Female genitalia. Valvifers 8 convex, subequal to laterotergites 9 in length, partially covering valvifers 9; posterior margins sinuous; mesial margins not emarginate and juxtaposed. Valvulae 8 not visible. Laterotergites 8 lacking spiracles, posterior margins concave. Valvifers 9 flat, levelled in relation to the position of the segment X; posterior margins convex. Laterotergites 9 spatulate, surpassing abdominal tergite 8, mesial margins divergent, posterior margins obtusely projected (Figure 24 d – e). Male unknown. Measurements. See Table 2. Differential diagnosis. Paramecocephala helenae sp. nov. is similar to P. australis but can be easily distinguished mainly by smaller body size, and because in P. australis the colouration pattern of the legs is dark brown (Figure 14 b), the anterolateral margins of pronotum are straight and with impunctate outline (Figure 25 a), pronotum clearly sloping at the height of the humeral angles towards the head (Figure 25 c), labium not surpassing the posterior portion of abdominal sternite 5, connexivum well exposed, and posterior margins of laterotergites 8 straight (Figure 14 g), whereas in P. helenae sp. nov. the colouration pattern of the legs is reddish brown (Figure 24 b), the anterolateral margins of pronotum are concave and show punctate outline (Figure 25 b), pronotum not declivent (Figure 25 d), the labium reaching the middle of abdominal sternite 6 (Figure 24 c), connexivum poorly exposed (Figures 24 a, 25 b), and posterior margins of laterotergites 8 obtusely projected (Figure 24 d). A comparison of these species is presented in Figure 25. The connexivum poorly exposed of P. helenae sp. nov. also separates this species from all other known Paramecocephala species.	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD07FFDFFE43FF53FD05FB21.taxon	etymology	Etymology. This species is named in honour of Dr Maria Helena Mainieri Galileo, a specialist dedicated to the study of Neotropical Cerambycidae (Coleoptera).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD07FFDFFE43FF53FD05FB21.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Brazil (Santa Catarina) (Figure 29).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
7238B639DD07FFDFFE43FF53FD05FB21.taxon	discussion	Discussion The close relationship of Mecocephala and Paramecocephala was found in a phylogenetic study by Barros (2021), grouping with Tibraca, Chimerocoris, Liscocephala, Triunfus and Ogmocoris (‘ Tibraca clade ̍). This clade was recovered by the following synapomorphies: elongation of head; elongation of antenna and labium, except in Tibraca; labiomere 2 flattened laterally and smaller than labiomeres 3 and 4 combined; presence of medial longitudinal groove on abdomen, with reversion on Tibraca; pygophore with genital cup broad; processes on inferior layer of ventral rim and on segment X (Barros 2021), corroborating the hypotheses of Barros et al. (2020 b).	en	de Barros, Lurdiana Dayse, Barão, Kim Ribeiro, Grazia, Jocelia (2022): Taxonomic updates on the Mecocephala group (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): redescription of Mecocephala Dallas and Paramecocephala Benvegnú. Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 55 (43 - 44): 2691-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.2013970
