Comparison of the Male and Female Genitalia of Mecidea major and M. minor (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae: Mecideini)

The male genitalia, including the pygophore, parameres, and inflated aedeagus, and the female terminalia, are compared between Mecidea major Sailer and M. minor Ruckes (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). These structures are markedly different between these species, particularly the inflated aedeagus. In M. major, the penial lobes tof the aedeagus diverge in the basal 1/3, converge distally, with each lobe subquadrate apically. In M. minor, the penial lobes diverge midway to the apex, weakly converge distally, with each lobe rounded apically. We suggest the same 3 structures should be examined in the remaining 15 species of Mecidea to determine if the taxonomic status of each of these species is supported by the results.