Phasmatocoris spectrum Breddin, 1904

Forero, Dimitri, 2006, New records of Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from Colombia and other Neotropical countries, Zootaxa 1107, pp. 1-47 : 10

Phasmatocoris spectrum Breddin, 1904

The genus Phasmatocoris Breddin, 1904 , has 14 described species, three of them known from Colombia ( Wygodzinsky 1966; Maldonado 1990). P. s p e c t r u m is the type species of the genus. Wygodzinsky (1966) illustrated certain aspects of this species. Some details are redrawn here and others are shown to facilitate its recognition ( Figs. 10­17 ). The fore tibia has a depression on its dorsal surface, covered with medium­sized dense setae, character not mentioned by Wygodzinsky; the pygophore has a pointed and long posterior process; the parameres are subtriangular, and densely covered in setae; the non­extended phallus, exhibit a symmetrical and laterally expanded apical part of the struts, with a large and asymmetrical endosomal process. An illustration of a late instar nymph is given ( Fig. 18 ).

The specimens were found among the leaves of a “Palma Real” ( Scheelea sp. [ Arecaceae ]), of an approximately height of nine meters that was in the interior of the forest. Together with these specimens, some Triatominae (Reduviidae) , scorpions and others arthropods were found. As far as is known, this is the first biological information for any species of this genus.

P. s p e c t r u m was originally described from Bolivia, and additionally recorded from Brazil (Manaos) and Venezuela ( Wygodzinsky 1966; Maldonado 1968, 1990). This species is recorded for the first time from Colombia ( Fig. 19 ).

Material examined: COLOMBIA, 1ɗ, 1 nymph, Meta, Puerto Gaitán, El Porvenir, orilla sur del Río Meta, 4 km al este del poblado de El Porvenir (4º45’N 71º25’W), 150 m, 23­XI­1979, M. Barreto [ CMUV]; 1ɗ ­same data­ [ UNCB].

Figures

FIGURES 10 – 18. Morphological details of Phasmatocoris spectrum. 10, fore tibia; 11, posterior view of pygophore; 12, lateral view of pygophore, without parameres; 13, internal view of paramere; 14, external view of paramere; 15, non­extended phallus, dorsal view; 16, phallus, ventral view; 17, phallus, lateral view; 18, late instar nymph. Scale bar: 0.5 mm (11 ­ 17); 1 mm (10, 18).

FIGURES 19 – 27. Dorsal and lateral views of Reduviidae species. 19, Phasmatocoris spectrum; 20, Phasmatocoris usingeri; 21, Polauchenia marcapata; 22, Polauchenia protentor; 23, Stenolemus mirabilis, dorsal view; 24, S. mirabilis, lateral view; 25, Empicoris barberi, head and pronotum; 26, Agriocleptes albosparsus; 27, Agriocleptes wygodzinskyi, female paratype. Scale: bar 0.5 mm (25); 2 mm (19 ­ 24, 26 ­ 27).