Megymenum
Megymenum is a genus of Asian and Australian shield bugs in the family Dinidoridae and typical of the subfamily Megymeninae. It was erected by Félix Édouard Guérin-Méneville in 1831 and species have been recorded from India through to Japan, Indochina, Malesia, New Guinea and Australia.
Description
Species in genus Megymenum have extended or greatly expanded pronotal margins with a rounded scutellum: characteristic of the Dinidoridae. In most species the second valvifers are reduced, lightly sclerotised, and fused in the middle. Some species have reduced hemelytra and are flightless. Female Megymenum gracilicorne has distinctive sexual dimorphism in the hind legs, and females have a broadened part on the inner hind tibia which was thought to be a tympanal organ, but in 2025 it was discovered that this organ has a layer of secretory cells and the cavity contains special fungi. These fungi, mostly in the family Cordycipitaceae, are transferred to eggs at the time of oviposition and the fungus is thought to provide protection to the eggs against parasitic wasps.Species
The following species are currently accepted in the genus:- Megymenum affine
- Megymenum anacanthum
- Megymenum aruense
- Megymenum basale
- Megymenum brevicorne
- Megymenum confusum
- Megymenum dentatum – type species
- Megymenum distanti
- Megymenum dohrni
- Megymenum gracilicorne
- Megymenum lisi
- Megymenum megaspinosum
- Megymenum mekongum
- Megymenum obliquum
- Megymenum parallelum
- Megymenum pratti
- Megymenum quadratum
- Megymenum rectangulatum
- Megymenum salebrosum
- Megymenum semivestitum
- Megymenum severini
- Megymenum spinosum
- Megymenum sumatranum
- ''Megymenum tuberculatum''