Both Pentalonia nigronervosa and P. caladii are distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics wherever suitable hosts are grown. To clarify the host relationships of both species on a global scale, the morphology of museum specimens of Pentalonia comprising 447 samples from 77 countries was examined, and all available mitochondrial COI sequences were analysed. Pentalonia nigronervosa is confirmed to feed almost exclusively on Musaceae (sensu stricto), while P. caladii feeds on other Zingiberales and on Araceae. Heliconia is accepted by both species. Molecular evidence suggests that there is an additional widespread species.
Keywords: Hemiptera, DNA barcode, insect morphology, species status, insect distribution, host plant range.