Microlestria costalimai, Wygodzinsky, 1943

Forero, Dimitri, 2006, New records of Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from Colombia and other Neotropical countries, Zootaxa 1107, pp. 1-47 : 37

Microvescia costalimai Wygodzinsky, 1943

This genus and species were described by Wygodzinsky (1943) from a single female from “Rio Araguaia, Goiaz,” Brazil. It has been recorded additionally from Brazil, from Nova Teutonia (Santa Catarina) ( Drake & Harris 1945). M. costalimai has never been cited again in the literature ( Maldonado 1990). Here, a specimen from Brazil was examined ( Figs. 60­61 ), also from “Rio Araguaia,” but in the state of Mato Grosso, and hence a new state record. In Wygodzinsky’s habitus drawing (1943, fig. 86), he did not show the prolongation on the fore tibiae, although he mentioned it in the description and illustrated it in figures 93 and 94 ( Wygodzinsky 1943). In the female examined here, this character was confirmed. China & Usinger (1948) erroneously stated –without examining any specimens– that Microvescia has “the front tibiae straight and simple at their apices,” based on Wygodzinsky (1943). Nevertheless, this is not an accurate translation of Wygodzinsky statement (1943, pg. 220): “Tibia anterior ventralmente sem espinhos ou saliências; proceso distal liso, sem pêlos,” which can be translated as “Anterior tibiae ventrally without spines or protuberances; distal process smooth, without hairs” (my translation). China & Usinger (1948) used this observation to question the status of the Vesciinae .

Material examined: BRAZIL, 1Ψ, M[ato] Grosso, 20: 30­XI­1960, B. Malkin / Tapirape Indian Village at confluence of R. Tapirape and R. Araguaia / “ Microvescia costalimai Wygodzinsky” Wygodzinsky det. [ FMNH].

Figures

FIGURES 52 – 60. Dorsal and lateral views of Reduviidae species. 52, Rasahus costaricensis, late instar nymph; 53, Rasahus rufiventris; 54, Microlestria laevis; 55, Opisthacidius mexicanus; 56, Volesus nigripennis, dorsal view; 57, V. nigripennis, lateral view; 58, Kodormus bruneosus; 59, Ocrioessa lobuliventris; 60, Microvescia costalimai, dorsal view. Scale bar: 1 mm (52, 54, 60); 3 mm (53); 4 mm (55 ­ 59).

FIGURES 61 – 66. Dorsal and lateral views of Reduviidae species. 61, M. costalimai, lateral view. 62, Mirambulus morio, dorsal view; 63, lateral view; 64, Pessoaia limai; 65, Vescia spicula; 66, Ves cia sp., brachypterous female. Scale bar: 1 mm (61); 2 mm (64 ­ 66); 3 mm (62, 63).