Male Genitalia Structures in Eight Pentatomid Species From Assam, India

For precise species identification and classification in Pentatomidae, the morphology of the male genitalia plays a crucial role. Specifically, the phallus, genital capsule, and paramere exhibit distinct differences that serve as diagnostic markers for different species. Eight pentatomid species - Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister, 1835), Eurydema ornata (Linnaeus, 1758), Carbula scutellata Distant, 1887, Eysarcoris guttigerus (Thunberg, 1783), Plautia crossota (Dallas, 1851), Tolumnia latipes (Dallas, 1851), Halyomorpha picus (Fabricius, 1794), and Rhynchocoris humeralis (Thunberg, 1793) were considered for external male genitalia examination in the present study, as these bugs were available in the entomology collections in the Department of Zoology, Cotton University. Specific phallus and genital capsule geometries, as well as variations in paramere size and shape, were reported as possible diagnostic features of these bugs. These structures can serve as reliable taxonomic keys to aid in identifying and categorizing species within the Pentatomidae family..