Edessinae is one of the largest and more diverse subfamily of Pentatomidae. This is due to the large number of described (about 260) and undescribed species (about 300). Edessinae comprises today six genera: Edessa, Brachystethus, Peromatus, Olbia, Pantochlora and Doesburgedessa. Along the time, species not fitting in one of the
genera remaining were automatically placed in Edessa, leading to confusion between
the limits of the genus and subfamily. The large number of species resulted in
concentration of the taxonomical and nomenclatural problems of the Edessinae in
Edessa. Therefore, new taxonomical studies are needed to solve these problems involving Edessinae and Edessa: revising the genera of Edessinae, reviewing the status of the subgenera of Edessa, redescribing species and proposing nomenclatural changes.
The main objective of this study was to review the status of Aceratodes as well as to
propose some nomenclatural changes detected. Were analyzed 283 specimens belonging
to 22 institutions from Brazil and other countries. For each species were provided
descriptions, measures, photographs, drawings of the taxonomically significant
structures (metasternal process and genitalia of both sexes), identification key and
distributional maps. Aceratodes was raised to genus level based on morphological
characteristics common to all species,such as: humeral angle not developed and
rounded; female genital plates of female not produced posteriorly; hemelitron with
embolium showing texture, color and punctures pattern different from the remaining
corium; arms of the metasternal process laterally flat and not reaching anterior third of
mesosternum. Aceratodes now is composed by 19 species. A new species from Atlantic
Forest; two originally described in this genus: A. albomarginatus and A. marginalis; and
16 transferred from Edessa: E. abdominalis, E. aulacosterna, E. brasiliensis, E.
carnosa, E. castaneolineta, E. cerradensis, E. chapadensis, E. fulvicornis, E.
luteovenulata, E. meditabunda, E. mexicana, E. ovalis, E. piperitia, E. rufodorsata and
E. rufomarginata and E. sternalis. The female of A. meditabundus is here described for
the first time. The lectotype of Edessa mexicana is here designated. The species Edessa
corallipes, E. cogitabunda and E. virididorsata were considered junior synonyms of A.
carnosus, A. meditabundus and A. fulvicornis respectively.
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