Amauroclopius ornatus Distant, 1903

Forero, Dimitri, 2006, New records of Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from Colombia and other Neotropical countries, Zootaxa 1107, pp. 1-47 : 19-20

Amauroclopius ornatus Distant, 1903

Amauroclopius Stål, 1868 , has two described species, A. ornatus and A. bispinus Stål, 1868 ( Maldonado 1990) . The genus is recognized by having the anterior femora somewhat thicker and longer than the medium and posterior ones, with the anterior tarsi extremely reduced, and first antennal segment thin ( Stål 1872; Wygodzinsky 1947b). Amauroclopius is very close to Beharus and Ponerobia , but can be separated from them by the shape of the median process of the pygophore, which is bifurcated in the former, while in the other two it is truncated ( Wygodzinsky 1947b; Gutiérrez 1999). Wygodzinsky (1947b) illustrated the dorsal aspect of the adult and nymph, and the head and male genitalia of this species.

Costa Lima et al. (1948) referred to one female of A. ornatus from Colombia, also from the MEFLG collection, but without giving any specific locality data. Here, a different female from the same collection was examined. This specimen was found associated with Beharus cylindripes and Ponerobia bipustulata (see below) on the same tree, a “cativo” ( Prioria copaifera [Leguminosae / Caesalpinioideae ]). Bérenger and Pluot­Sigwalt (1997) demonstrated that B. cylindripes , P. bipustulata , and Manicocoris rufipes have strong associations with at least two species of Caesalpiniaceae [= Caesalpinioideae sensu Mabberley (2002) ] found in French Guiana. Wygodzinsky (1947b) stated that A. ornatus was found feeding on a bee. Since the resins of Prioria are used by euglossine bees for their nest constructions ( Mabberley 2002), this observation on A. ornatus is further evidence for the assumption that euglossine bees constitute the prey of this assassin bug. Furthermore, other Apiomerini also exhibit this kind of ‘bee­killing’ behavior using plant resins ( Adis 1984; Johnson 1986; Maldonado et al. 1993).

A. ornatus is known from Brazil (Mato Grosso and Minas Gerais), Colombia, French Guiana and Nicaragua ( Wygodzinsky 1947b; Costa Lima et al. 1948; Bérenger 1995; Bérenger and Pluot­Sigwalt 1997; Gil­Santana et al. 2003). This is the first time that an exact locality is known from Colombia for this genus.

Material examined: COLOMBIA, 1Ψ, Antioquia, Turbo (en cativo) [8º06'N­ 76º43'W], 2 m, II­1965, R. Vélez [ MEFLG].