Rhodnius amazonicus Almeida, Santos & Sposina, 1973, Bona Species, Close to R. pictipes Stål, 1872 (Heteroptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae)

Abstract

Rhodnius amazonicus Almeida, Santos & Sposina, 1973 was described as a species close to R. pictipes Stål, 1872 on the basis of a single female specimen. In their revision of the Triatominae, Lent and Wygodzinsky (1979) synonymized this species with R. pictipes on the basis of a photograph of the holotype of R. amazonicus. They argue that the specific characters are not convincing, or at least doubtful, and they consider this moreover partly damaged female as an abnormal specimen of R. pictipes.The recent discovery of two atypical specimens among close to 100 R. pictipes from French Guiana, allows us to reconsider this question. These two specimens, one male and one female, correspond exactly to the description made by Almeida et al. (1973); moreover, the male genitalia show clear differences from those of R. pictipes.

The triatominae species of French Guiana (Heteroptera: Reduviidae)

“…16): Cavernicola pilosa Barber, Microtriatoma trinidadensis (Lent) and Rhodnius paraensis Sherlock et al were not recorded previously in French Guiana. Rhodnius amazonicus Almeida et al was recently restored as a valid species (Bérenger & Pluot-Sigwalt 2002). Panstrongylus mitarakaensis Bérenger and Blanchet is a newly described species (Bérenger & Blanchet 2007).…”

“…amazonicus Almeida, Santos & Sposina, 1973 ( Fig. 11) We have collected and studied five specimens, which allowed the rehabilitation of R. amazonicus as a valid species (Bérenger & Pluot-Sigwalt 2002). It is a sylvatic species, captured by light and apparently very rare.…”

Characterization of the external female genitalia of six species of Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidade) by scanning electron microscopy

“…Sherlock and Serafim (1967), in the description of Triatoma lenti, characterise the female genitalia of this species by scheme. When Bérenger and Pluot-Sigwalt (2002) revalidated Rhodnius amazonicus, they also carried out the characterization of the female genitalia of the same species, as well as of Rhodnius pictipes.…”

Vetores da doença de Chagas no Brasil

“…Habitat: Desconhecido, os únicos espécimes conhecidos foram capturados em armadilhas luminosas e sua biologia é desconhecida (Bérenger & Pluot-Sigwalt 2002).…”