Dilasia

Raf.

Species Guides

1

Dilasia is a of true bugs in the Lasiochilidae (Hemiptera). The genus was established by Rafinesque, though it has also been treated as a synonym of the plant genus Murdannia in literature. Very few observations exist, with only 4 records documented on iNaturalist. The genus belongs to the diverse order Hemiptera, which includes many predatory and plant-feeding true bugs.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Dilasia: /dɪˈleɪʒə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Misconceptions

The name Dilasia has been used for both an insect (Hemiptera: Lasiochilidae) and as a synonym for the plant genus Murdannia (Commelinaceae). These represent entirely unrelated organisms—one an animal, one a plant—and should not be confused. The usage appears to be a synonym, while the entomological usage represents a valid (though poorly documented) genus of true bugs.

More Details

Nomenclatural note

The name Dilasia Raf. (Hemiptera) predates or exists independently of the usage. The Catalogue of Life entry showing Dilasia as a synonym of Murdannia refers to botanical and does not affect the validity of the insect genus. Care must be taken when searching literature to distinguish between these homonymous uses.

Data scarcity

With only 4 iNaturalist observations and limited published records, Dilasia remains one of the more obscure within Lasiochilidae. The itself is relatively small and understudied compared to other Hemiptera families.

Sources and further reading