First description of the male and redescription of the female of Parahiranetis salgadoi Gil-Santana (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Harpactorinae)

Abstract

The male of Parahiranetis salgadoi Gil-Santana, 2015 is described for the first time, with a redescription of the female of this species based on additional specimens. Comments on possible mimicry and crypsis exhibited by adults and nymphs of this species, respectively, are provided.

A new genus and a new species of wasp-mimicking Harpactorini (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Reduviidae, Harpactorinae), with an updated key to the Neotropical genera

“…Most authors have only mentioned or given attention to the pattern of yellowish or straw-colored hemelytra with a median transverse black band, in relation to the alleged mimicry between Harpactorini and certain Ichneumonidae and Braconidae , as models ( Champion 1899 ; Haviland 1931 ; Maldonado and Lozada 1992 ; Hogue 1993 ; Leathers and Sharkey 2003 ; Hespenheide 2010 ; Zhang et al 2016 ). However, Gil-Santana (2015) and Gil-Santana et al (2017) emphasized that other wasp-mimicking Harpactorini , like Parahiranetis salgadoi Gil-Santana, 2015, show a pattern of darkened to reddish general coloration with yellowish ‘pterostigmata’ on the hemelytra, which is similar to the similar coloration exhibited in the forewings by several other species of Ichneumonidae and Braconidae . This pattern was also observed for instance in Graptocleptes bicolor (Burmeister, 1838), G. haematogaster (Stål, 1860), and an undescribed species of Hiranetis Spinola, 1840 ( Gil-Santana 2016 ; Gil-Santana et al 2017 ).…”

“…However, Gil-Santana (2015) and Gil-Santana et al (2017) emphasized that other wasp-mimicking Harpactorini , like Parahiranetis salgadoi Gil-Santana, 2015, show a pattern of darkened to reddish general coloration with yellowish ‘pterostigmata’ on the hemelytra, which is similar to the similar coloration exhibited in the forewings by several other species of Ichneumonidae and Braconidae . This pattern was also observed for instance in Graptocleptes bicolor (Burmeister, 1838), G. haematogaster (Stål, 1860), and an undescribed species of Hiranetis Spinola, 1840 ( Gil-Santana 2016 ; Gil-Santana et al 2017 ). Yet, in some other species of wasp-mimicking Harpactorini , the hemelytra are almost or completely dark, such as in Hiranetis atra Stål, 1872 ( Gil-Santana 2016 ).…”

“…The subfamily Harpactorinae has the largest number of genera and species of Reduviidae ( Hemiptera , Heteroptera ) and is represented by the tribes Apiomerini and Harpactorini in the Neotropical region ( Gil-Santana et al 2015 ). Harpactorini is the most diverse group within Reduviidae with about 52 genera in the Neotropics ( Forero 2011 ; Gil-Santana 2015 ; Gil-Santana et al 2015 , 2017 ; Forero and Mejía-Soto 2021 ). Several taxa of this tribe are recognized as being involved in mimicry systems with Hymenoptera , resembling bees or wasps in general body and wing coloration as well as characteristics of physical proportions ( Champion 1899 ; Haviland 1931 ; Elkins 1969 ; Maldonado and Lozada 1992 ; Hogue 1993 ; Leathers and Sharkey 2003 ; Gil-Santana 2008 , 2015 , 2016 , 2022 ; Gil-Santana et al 2013 , 2015 , 2017 ; Castro-Huertas and Forero 2021 ).…”

“… Harpactorini is the most diverse group within Reduviidae with about 52 genera in the Neotropics ( Forero 2011 ; Gil-Santana 2015 ; Gil-Santana et al 2015 , 2017 ; Forero and Mejía-Soto 2021 ). Several taxa of this tribe are recognized as being involved in mimicry systems with Hymenoptera , resembling bees or wasps in general body and wing coloration as well as characteristics of physical proportions ( Champion 1899 ; Haviland 1931 ; Elkins 1969 ; Maldonado and Lozada 1992 ; Hogue 1993 ; Leathers and Sharkey 2003 ; Gil-Santana 2008 , 2015 , 2016 , 2022 ; Gil-Santana et al 2013 , 2015 , 2017 ; Castro-Huertas and Forero 2021 ). Maldonado and Lozada (1992) presented a key to Neotropical wasp-mimicking Harpactorinae genera, which in their view helps to quickly sort out specimens from unidentified material, although this is a somewhat artificial way of grouping genera.…”

“…Among the genera presented in this key, while Coilopus is regarded as mimicking species of Vespidae ( Elkins 1969 ; Forero and Giraldo-Echeverry 2015 ), the remaining genera are considered as mimetic of Braconidae and/or Ichneumonidae and in need of a comprehensive revision in order to clarify their systematics ( Gil-Santana et al 2015 ). For most of the genera included in this group, more recent works have described or redescribed them or at least some of their species, providing figures and more comprehensive descriptions, allowing a better knowledge of their characteristics as follows: Acanthischium Amyot & Serville, 1843 ( Castro-Huertas and Forero 2021 ), Coilopus ( Elkins 1969 ; Gil-Santana and Forero 2009 ; Forero and Giraldo-Echeverry 2015 ), Graptocleptes bicolor (Burmeister, 1838) ( Gil-Santana et al 2013 ), Hiranetis Spinola, 1837 ( Gil-Santana 2016 ), Neotropiconyttus Kirkaldy, 1909 ( Maldonado and Lozada 1992 ), and Parahiranetis Gil-Santana, 2015 ( Gil-Santana 2015 ; Gil-Santana et al 2017 ). However, in regard to Myocoris Burmeister, 1835 and Xystonyttus Kirkaldy, 1909, there are no published images of their species, and the information about their characteristics are restricted to short original descriptions or their mentioning in diagnosis or keys (e.g., Stål 1872 ; Maldonado and Lozada 1992 ).…”