Diversity of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea) in the Brazilian Pampa and the Parque Estadual de Itapua, Rio Grande do Sul

Biological surveys represent important contributions to the knowledge of species diversity, conservation, taxonomy, and biogeography. Few surveys of stink bugs and allied groups (Pentatomoidea) were produced in Brazil, especially regarding the Brazilian Pampa, an overlooked biome. Here, a list of Pentatomoidea species of the Brazilian Pampa is presented for the first time, composed of seven families and 152 species. The results of five years of sampling in the Parque Estadual de Itapua (PEI) are also presented. A total of 693 individuals were sampled, representing 41 species, 29 genera, and five families of Pentatomoidea. Pentatomidae presented a higher richness (28 species), followed by Cydnidae, Scutelleridae, Dinidoridae, and Megarididae. The most abundant species collected in the PEI was Brachystetus geniculatus (Fabricius) sampled in Bromelia balansae Mez (32.76%), followed by Oebalus poecilus (Dallas) found in Persicaria hydropiper (Linnaeus) (11.99%), Pallantia macula (Dallas) collected in B. balansae (10.92%), Dinidor saucius Stal (8.57%) in Smilax cf. campestris Griseb., and Caonabo pseudoscylax (Bergroth) (5.35%) found in Homolepis glutinosa (Sw.) Zuloaga & Soderstrom. This is the first time that a list of species is presented for the Brazilian Pampa and Parque Estadual de Itapua, providing a baseline to develop further studies with Pentatomoidea in the biome.

Automated summary

Biological surveys are crucial for understanding species diversity and conservation, and this study provides important insights into the stink bugs and allied groups (Pentatomoidea) in the Brazilian Pampa. The research presents a comprehensive list of 152 Pentatomoidea species, including their abundance and distribution in the Parque Estadual de Itapua (PEI) after five years of sampling. The study highlights the higher richness of Pentatomidae and identifies the most abundant species in PEI, contributing to a baseline for future studies in this biome.