Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 July 2009
In view of the discovery of several new species and subspecies of Amblypelta (Hemiptera, COREIDAE), some of which are either known to be or else threaten to become of economic importance, a revision of the whole genus has become necessary.
The genus Amblypelta, as defined in the present paper and as known so far, is confined to Australia north of Sydney, the islands between Australia and New Guinea, New Guinea and, to the west, the Kai Is., Timor and Java; the Bismarck Archipelago, the Solomon Islands including Bougainville, Eennell and Bellona; the New Hebrides and New Caledonia. In the present revision of the genus, twelve species and five subspecies are included, of which all but seven species are new to science. Apart from the descriptions of the new species and subspecies, taxonomic notes on the previously known species are given as well as a key to all the species.
The known distribution of each species is stated, and consideration given to the zoogeography of the genus as a whole, and of certain species-groups which can be recognised within the genus.