Zelus paracephalus 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 paracephalus Zhang & Hart sp. n.

Materials

Type status: Holotype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00057803 ; recordedBy: Richter; sex: Adult Male; Taxon: scientificName: Zelusparacephalus; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: COLOMBIA; stateProvince: Meta; locality: Rio Guamal [Quamal?] ; verbatimElevation: 400 m; decimalLatitude: 3.71667; decimalLongitude: -73.1667; georeferenceSources: Gazetteer; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2013; Event: eventDate: 1948-01-24; Record Level: institutionCode: AMNH Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00004997 ; occurrenceRemarks: Primary DNA voucher RCW_2164; recordedBy: G. Zhang & J. Avendaño; sex: Adult Male; Taxon: scientificName: Zelusparacephalus; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: COLOMBIA; stateProvince: Meta; locality: San Martin: Reserva Natural El Caduceo ; verbatimElevation: 380 m; decimalLatitude: 3.66593; decimalLongitude: -73.65773; georeferenceSources: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2012; Event: eventDate: 2010-10-21 to 2010-10-23; Record Level: institutionCode: UCR Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00009475 ; occurrenceRemarks: LOT#992; Drake Collection; recordedBy: T. L. Erwin et al.; sex: Adult Male; Taxon: scientificName: Zelusparacephalus; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: ECUADOR; stateProvince: Orellana; locality: Reserva Etnica Waorani, 1 km S. Onkone Gare Camp, Transect Ent. ; verbatimElevation: 216 m; decimalLatitude: -0.65714; decimalLongitude: -76.453; georeferenceSources: Label; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2012; Event: samplingProtocol: Fogging; eventDate: 1995-02-10; Record Level: institutionCode: USNM Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00009476 ; occurrenceRemarks: Drake Collection; recordedBy: T. L. Erwin et al.; sex: Adult Male; Taxon: scientificName: Zelusparacephalus; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: ECUADOR; stateProvince: Orellana; locality: Reserva Etnica Waorani, 1 km S. Onkone Gare Camp, Transect Ent. ; verbatimElevation: 216 m; decimalLatitude: -0.65714; decimalLongitude: -76.453; georeferenceSources: Label; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2012; Event: samplingProtocol: Fogging; eventDate: 1996-10-02; Record Level: institutionCode: USNM Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00009477 ; occurrenceRemarks: Drake Collection; recordedBy: T. L. Erwin et al.; sex: Adult Male; Taxon: scientificName: Zelusparacephalus; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: ECUADOR; stateProvince: Orellana; locality: Reserva Etnica Waorani, 1 km S. Onkone Gare Camp, Transect Ent. ; verbatimElevation: 216 m; decimalLatitude: -0.65714; decimalLongitude: -76.453; georeferenceSources: Label; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2012; Event: samplingProtocol: Fogging; eventDate: 1996-10-02; Record Level: institutionCode: USNM Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00009479 ; occurrenceRemarks: Lot#1582 - Collection code moved to this field to prevent duplication.; recordedBy: T. L. Erwin et al.; sex: Adult Male; Taxon: scientificName: Zelusparacephalus; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: ECUADOR; stateProvince: Orellana; locality: Reserva Etnica Waorani, 1 km S. Onkone Gare Camp, Transect Ent. ; verbatimElevation: 216 m; decimalLatitude: -0.65714; decimalLongitude: -76.453; georeferenceSources: Label; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2012; Event: samplingProtocol: Fogging; eventDate: 1996-06-26; Record Level: institutionCode: USNM Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00025329 ; recordedBy: G. Zambrano; sex: Adult Male; Taxon: scientificName: Zelusparacephalus; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: COLOMBIA; stateProvince: Caqueta; locality: Valparaiso, Vda. Palastina Fca. La Ilusion ; verbatimElevation: 225 m; decimalLatitude: 1.18333; decimalLongitude: -75.7; georeferenceSources: Label; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2012; Event: eventDate: 1997-01-24; Record Level: institutionCode: UNAB Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00029302 ; occurrenceRemarks: Drake Collection; recordedBy: J. E. Eger; sex: Adult Male; Taxon: scientificName: Zelusparacephalus; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: BRAZIL; stateProvince: Rondonia; locality: 62 km SW of Ariquemes, near Fzda. Rancho Grande ; decimalLatitude: -10.32921; decimalLongitude: -63.46881; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2012; Event: eventDate: 1992-03-30 to 1992-04-10; Record Level: institutionCode: USNM Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00029304 ; occurrenceRemarks: Drake Collection; recordedBy: Unknown; sex: Adult Male; Taxon: scientificName: Zelusparacephalus; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: PERU; stateProvince: Ucayali; locality: Porvenir, Pulcal[l]pa ; verbatimElevation: 158 m; decimalLatitude: -8.3825; decimalLongitude: -74.5381; georeferenceSources: Gazetteer; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2012; Event: eventDate: 1992-07-01; Record Level: institutionCode: USNM Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00029305 ; occurrenceRemarks: Drake Collection; recordedBy: L. E. Peña; sex: Adult Male; Taxon: scientificName: Zelusparacephalus; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: COLOMBIA; stateProvince: Vaupes; locality: Mitu ; verbatimElevation: 184 m; decimalLatitude: 1.1983; decimalLongitude: -70.1733; georeferenceSources: Gazetteer; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2012; Event: eventDate: 1990-07-06 to 1990-07-17; Record Level: institutionCode: USNM Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: UCR_ENT 00057802 ; occurrenceRemarks: Previously designated as 'allotype', a type status not used in the formal publication of this name (Zhang et al.); recordedBy: H. Sturm; sex: Adult Female; Taxon: scientificName: Zelusparacephalus; family: Reduviidae; genus: Zelus; scientificNameAuthorship: Zhang and Hart, 2016; Location: country: COLOMBIA; stateProvince: unknown; locality: unknown ; Identification: identifiedBy: G. Zhang; dateIdentified: 2012; Event: eventDate: No date provided; Record Level: institutionCode: AMNH

Description

Figs 153, 154, 155

Male: (Fig. 153a, b) Medium-sized, total length 11.87-13.06 mm (mean 12.51 mm, Suppl. material 2); slender. COLORATION: Head reddish-brown, anterior to antennal insertion and posterior third of postocular lobe lighter. Rest of surface of body nearly uniformly blackish-brown, area around humeral angle lighter, somewhat reddish. Membrane with blue, purple iridescence. VESTITURE: Sparsely setose. Dark, moderately dense, short, erect, spine-like setae on dorsum of head, more curved on postocular lobe; ventral surface with sparse, short, erect and recumbent setae, few long setae. Pronotal dorsum nearly glabrous, very sparse, short, erect and recumbent spine-like setae; lateral surface with sparse, erect to recumbent setae; setal tracts on anterior lobe very reduced. Pleura with sparse, erect setae and moderately dense, recumbent setae. Abdomen with sparse, short, semi-erect or recumbent setae, intermixed with few longer setae. Pygophore with sparse, short to long, semi-erect or erect setae; Paramere apical half with dense, long setae, more than 1/2 length of medial process. STRUCTURE: Head: Cylindrical, L/W = 2.39. Postocular lobe long; in dorsal view distinctly narrowing through anterior 2/3, posterior 1/3 constant, tube-like. Eye prominent; lateral margin much wider than postocular lobe; dorsal margin removed from postocular transverse groove, ventral margin attaining ventral surface of head in lateral view. Labium: I: II: III = 1: 1.9: 0.3. Basiflagellomere diameter larger than that of pedicel. Thorax: Anterolateral angle bearing small projection; medial longitudinal sulcus shallow near collar, 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, very slightly projected upward. Legs: Very slender. Hemelytron: Surpassing apex of abdomen by about length of abdominal segment seven; quadrate cell small, relatively broad; Cu and M of cubital cell subparallel. GENITALIA: (Fig. 154) Pygophore: Ovoid; mid-lateral fold adjacent to paramere insertion inconspicuous; not expanded laterally in dorsal view. Medial process expanded laterally; rather broad; long; anteroposteriorly compressed; erect; straight; apex in posterior view rounded, subapical transverse hooklike bridge. Paramere: Cylindrical; long, surpassing medial process; curved ventrad at mid-point, apex recurved. Phallus: Dorsal phallothecal sclerite shield-shaped, sclerite absent laterad to basal arms; lateral longitudinal blade-like heavy sclerotization, pressed against phallothecal sclerite, reaching apical margin; area between these raised; apical portion of phallothecal sclerite not distinctly tapered, flat, lateral margin narrowly angulate, angulation ending anteriorly in sharp, dorsad projection; apex with small medial emargination; posterior margin of foramen inversely V-shaped. Struts attached to dorsal phallothecal sclerite; apically separate, connected by bridge; basally separate. Basal plate arm robust; basally fused; in lateral view strongly curved at midpoint; bridge extremely short; extension of basal plate expanded onto arm.

Female: (Fig. 153c, d) Similar to male, except for the following. Larger than male, total length 15.02 mm (n=1, Suppl. material 2). Spinous process on humeral angle long.

Diagnosis

The dorsal coloration nearly uniformly dark brown, the head reddish-brown, the membrane with indistinct iridescence are characteristic of this species. Most similar to Z. erythrocephalus and Z. russulumus ; males can be distinguished from both by the rather wide medial process and the uniquely shaped paramere (Fig. 14). Females of Z. erythrocephalus , Z. paracephalus and Z. russulumus are difficult to separate.

Distribution

South America (Fig. 155). Countries with specimen records: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.