Zelus truxali Zhang & Hart

Zhang, Guanyang, Hart, Elwood R & Weirauch, Christiane, 2016, A taxonomic monograph of the assassin bug genus Zelus Fabricius (Hemiptera: Reduviidae): 71 species based on 10,000 specimens, Biodiversity Data Journal 4, pp. 8150-8150 : 8150

Zelus truxali Zhang & Hart sp. n.

Materials

Type status: Holotype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00022668 ; recordedBy: F. S. Truxal; sex: Adult Male; otherCatalogNumbers: LACM ENT 160234; Taxon: scientificName: Zelustruxali; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: PERU; stateProvince: Pasco; locality: Chontilla 22 km. SE of Iscozazin ; decimalLatitude: -10.3357; decimalLongitude: -75.11004; georeferenceSources: Google Earth; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2013; Event: eventDate: 1961-07-20; Record Level: institutionCode: LACM Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00046974 ; recordedBy: Wygodzinsky and Monros; sex: Adult Male; Taxon: scientificName: Zelustruxali; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: BOLIVIA; stateProvince: Cochabamba; locality: Villa Tunari, Chapare ; verbatimElevation: 500 m; decimalLatitude: -16.91666; decimalLongitude: -65.36667; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2013; Event: eventDate: 1958-01-09; Record Level: institutionCode: AMNH Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00047331 ; recordedBy: Wygodzinsky and Monros; sex: Adult Female; Taxon: scientificName: Zelustruxali; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: BOLIVIA; stateProvince: Cochabamba; locality: Villa Tunari, Chapare ; verbatimElevation: 500 m; decimalLatitude: -16.91666; decimalLongitude: -65.36667; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2013; Event: eventDate: 1958-01-09; Record Level: institutionCode: AMNH Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00046896 ; recordedBy: F.R. Barbosa; sex: Adult Male; Taxon: scientificName: Zelustruxali; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: BRAZIL; stateProvince: Para; locality: Jacareacanga ; verbatimElevation: 88 m; decimalLatitude: -6.2667; decimalLongitude: -57.65; georeferenceSources: Gazetteer; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2013; Event: eventDate: 1969-10-01; Record Level: institutionCode: AMNH Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00009317 ; occurrenceRemarks: Additional Labels C.J. Drake Fund Accession 1997; recordedBy: J. E. Eger; sex: Adult Male; Taxon: scientificName: Zelustruxali; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: BRAZIL; stateProvince: Rondonia; locality: 62 km SW Ariquemes, near Fzda. Rancho Grande ; decimalLatitude: -10.3081; decimalLongitude: -63.44383; georeferenceSources: Google Earth; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2013; Event: eventDate: 1996-12-03 to 1996-12-15; Record Level: institutionCode: USNM Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00015109 ; recordedBy: Dodge Engleman; sex: Adult Male; Taxon: scientificName: Zelustruxali; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: ECUADOR; stateProvince: Sucumbios; locality: Limoncocha ; verbatimElevation: 274 m; decimalLatitude: -0.43333; decimalLongitude: -76.63333; georeferenceSources: Label; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2013; Event: eventDate: 1974-03-23 to 1974-03-31; Record Level: institutionCode: AMNH Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00010797 ; recordedBy: F. S. Truxal; sex: Adult Male; Taxon: scientificName: Zelustruxali; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: PERU; stateProvince: Pasco; locality: Chontilla 22 km. SE of Iscozazin ; decimalLatitude: -10.3357; decimalLongitude: -75.11004; georeferenceSources: Google Earth; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2013; Event: eventDate: 1961-07-20; Record Level: institutionCode: LACM Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00010798 ; recordedBy: F. S. Truxal; sex: Adult Female; Taxon: scientificName: Zelustruxali; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: PERU; stateProvince: Pasco; locality: Chontilla 22 km. SE of Iscozazin ; decimalLatitude: -10.3357; decimalLongitude: -75.11004; georeferenceSources: Google Earth; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2013; Event: eventDate: 1961-07-20; Record Level: institutionCode: LACM Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00010799 ; recordedBy: F. S. Truxal; sex: Adult Female; Taxon: scientificName: Zelustruxali; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: PERU; stateProvince: Pasco; locality: Chontilla 22 km. SE of Iscozazin ; decimalLatitude: -10.3357; decimalLongitude: -75.11004; georeferenceSources: Google Earth; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2013; Event: eventDate: 1961-07-20; Record Level: institutionCode: LACM Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00010800 ; recordedBy: F. S. Truxal; sex: Adult Female; Taxon: scientificName: Zelustruxali; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: PERU; stateProvince: Pasco; locality: Chontilla 22 km. SE of Iscozazin ; decimalLatitude: -10.3357; decimalLongitude: -75.11004; georeferenceSources: Google Earth; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2013; Event: eventDate: 1961-07-20; Record Level: institutionCode: LACM Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00010801 ; recordedBy: F. S. Truxal; sex: Adult Female; Taxon: scientificName: Zelustruxali; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: PERU; stateProvince: Pasco; locality: Chontilla 22 km. SE of Iscozazin ; decimalLatitude: -10.3357; decimalLongitude: -75.11004; georeferenceSources: Google Earth; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2013; Event: eventDate: 1961-07-20; Record Level: institutionCode: LACM Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00022671 ; occurrenceRemarks: Previously designated as 'allotype' of his manuscript name Zelustruxali by Hart, a type status not used in the formal publication of this name (Zhang et al., 2016).; recordedBy: F. S. Truxal; sex: Adult Female; otherCatalogNumbers: LACM ENT 160235; Taxon: scientificName: Zelustruxali; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: PERU; stateProvince: Pasco; locality: Chontilla 22 km. SE of Iscozazin ; decimalLatitude: -10.3357; decimalLongitude: -75.11004; georeferenceSources: Google Earth; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2013; Event: eventDate: 1961-07-20; Record Level: institutionCode: LACM

Description

Figs 193, 194, 195

Male: (Fig. 193a, b) Medium-sized, total length 11.59-12.25 mm (mean 11.91 mm, Suppl. material 2); slender. COLORATION: Two major patterns recognized, one of predominantly brown to orangish-brown, the other of dark brown to reddish-brown. In former, posterior lobe lighter colored than anterior lobe, orangish-brown; meso- and meta-femora with two minor bands. In latter, posterior pronotal lobe same color as anterior lobe, or only slightly lighter, somewhat reddish; legs not banded. In both patterns, medial longitudinal lighter colored stripe on postocular lobe. VESTITURE: Sparsely setose. Short, recumbent setae on entire surface of head; very short, erect, spine-like setae on dorsum, denser on anterior lobe; few moderately long, erect, fine setae on ventral surface. Pronotum with sparse, recumbent setae and short, erect setae over dorsal surface; denser, recumbent setae on lateral surface and pleura, intermixed with short, erect setae; scutellum with sparse, semi-erect and recumbent setae. Legs with sparse setation on femora and moderately dense setation on tibiae. Corium and clavus with mix of sparse, short, recumbent and erect setae. Abdomen with moderately dense, short recumbent setae, intermixed with sparse, short to long, erect setae. STRUCTURE: Head: Cylindrical, L/W = 2.30. Postocular lobe long; in dorsal view distinctly narrowing through anterior 2/3, posterior 1/3 constant, tube-like. Eye moderately sized; lateral margin much wider than postocular lobe; dorsal margin attaining postocular transverse groove, ventral margin removed from ventral surface of head in lateral view. Labium: I: II: III = 1: 1.9: 0.4. Basiflagellomere diameter larger than that of pedicel. Thorax: Anterolateral angle bearing small, somewhat acute projection; medial longitudinal sulcus evident throughout, deepening posteriorly. Posterior pronotal lobe with rugulose surface; disc distinctly elevated above humeral angle; humeral angle armed, with dentate or spinous process. Scutellum moderately long; apex angulate, slightly projected upward in some specimens. Legs: Slender. Hemelytron: Slightly surpassing apex of abdomen, not more than length of abdominal segment seven; quadrate cell small; Cu and M of cubital cell subparallel. GENITALIA: (Fig. 194) Pygophore: Elongate ovoid; lightly sclerotized expansion below paramere; not expanded laterally in dorsal view. Medial process cylindrical; slender; moderately long, slightly longer than paramere; laterally slightly compressed towards apex; semi-erect; basally slightly curved, apex recurved; apex in posterior view acute, with small hooklike projection. Paramere: Cylindrical; moderately long, not reaching medial process; directed posteriad; slightly curved ventrad; apical part not enlarged. Phallus: Dorsal phallothecal sclerite shield-shaped; sclerotization reduced (yet not absent) on dorsal surface close to posterior margin of foramen; apical portion of phallothecal sclerite gradually tapering, distinctly keeled medially, laterally indistinctly angulate; apex truncate; posterior margin of foramen broadly concave. Struts apical portion missing; basally separate. Basal plate arm slender; separate; in lateral view slightly curved; bridge short; extension of basal plate expanded laterally onto arm, covering more than 1/2 of arm, curved.

Female: (Fig. 193c, d) Different from male as outlined below. Larger than male, total length 14.65-15.26 mm (mean 14.96 mm, Suppl. material 2). Yellowish and brown; anterior pronotal lobe, lateral and ventral surfaces yellowish; posterior pronotal lobe and hemelytron brown; femora brown, with yellow bands, tibiae brown, without band. Basiflagellomere subequal in diameter to pedicel. Process on humeral angle spinous, long.

Diagnosis

The uniquely slender, recurved medial process can distinguish this species among the members of the Zelus panamensis species group (Fig. 12). In females the anterior pronotal lobe yellowish and posterior lobe brown; the lateral and ventral surface of the body yellowish is unique among females of all species. Females are very similar to Z. sphegeus , but are separate from that species by the banded legs and the anterior pronotal lobe nearly flat, not distinctly elevated.

Etymology

Named after F. S. Truxal, the collector of the type specimen.

Distribution

South America (Fig. 195). Countries with records: Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru.