[Taxacom] Suborders Homoptera and Heteroptera

[Ken Kinman]

Dear All,
     In my 1994 classification, I recognized two separate Orders for the 
Homoptera and Heteroptera.  I didn't particularly like the name Hemiptera 
because it has been used at least three different ways, equivalent to: (1) 
Heteroptera alone, (2) Heteroptera + Homoptera; and (3) Heteroptera + 
Homoptera + Thysanoptera.  The third usage is that of Linnaeus who named 
Hemiptera.

     But the second (and middle) course has clearly now won out, so I plan 
to begin recognizing a single Order Hemiptera.  HOWEVER, it will be divided 
into two Suborders: a paraphyletic Homoptera, and a holophyletic 
Heteroptera.  Latreille recognized the utility and naturalness of this 
division way back in 1810.  They are not only quite different 
morphologically, but it nicely divides the Hemiptera into roughly two equal 
parts in terms of species and families.

     Furthermore, the premature attempt at strictly cladifying the Homoptera 
based solely on one molecule (18S rRNA sequences) was ill-advised.  The 
situation was exacerbated by erecting new names for Cicadomorpha (namely, 
Clypeorrhyncha) and Fulgoromorpha (namely, Archaeorrhyncha, which I think is 
particularly poorly named).  Thus the new subordinal names are being 
resisted by many, especially with new evidence that Auchenorrhyncha may not 
even be paraphyletic anyway.  And even if it is paraphyletic, I suspect they 
got the cladistic topology wrong, and that sequences of other molecules will 
bear this out.  And what happens when Sternorrhyncha turns out to be 
paraphyletic (which wouldn't surprise me).  More and more new clade names 
will be proposed in light of new topologies and the confusion will only get 
worse.  I'm not going down that road, and many others have no intention of 
doing so either.

    Clearly the ONLY reason Homoptera is being abandoned by strict cladists 
is that it is paraphyletic.  The attempt to cladify it was not only 
premature and poorly done, but it is totally unnecessary in the Kinman 
System.  Suborder Homoptera will only need the addition of an exgroup marker 
{{Heteroptera}} showing that the latter are sister group to Family 
Peloridiidae.

     ----Cheers,
           Ken Kinman