Quasigraptocleptes maracristinae, Gil-Santana & Oliveira, 2023

Gil-Santana, Helcio R. & Oliveira, Jader, 2023, A new genus and a new species of wasp-mimicking Harpactorini (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Reduviidae, Harpactorinae), with an updated key to the Neotropical genera, ZooKeys 1152, pp. 163-204 : 163

publication ID

https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1152.96058

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F2B80B9C-09A8-41F8-9E09-A31E58928A75

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/83AC7695-DE84-4133-8E8C-1FE932D55CF5

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:83AC7695-DE84-4133-8E8C-1FE932D55CF5

treatment provided by

ZooKeys by Pensoft

scientific name

Quasigraptocleptes maracristinae
status

sp. nov.

Quasigraptocleptes maracristinae sp. nov.

Figs 17-20 View Figures 17–20 , 21-24 View Figures 21–24 , 25-27 View Figures 25–27 , 28-33 View Figures 28–33 , 34-40 View Figures 34–40 , 41-44 View Figures 41–44 , 45-51 View Figures 45–51 , 52-54 View Figures 52–54 , 55-63 View Figures 55–63 , 64-67 View Figures 64–67 , 68-77 View Figures 68–77 , 78-81 View Figures 78–81 , 82-87 View Figures 82–87 , 88-94 View Figures 88–94 , 95-100 View Figures 95–100

Type material.

Brazil, Minas Gerais, Juiz de Fora Municipality, x. 1997, J. da Silva leg.: 1 male holotype (MNRJ), 2 males, 1 female paratypes (MNRJ), 6 male paratypes (CTJMSB); Paraná, Londrina Municipality, 25.ii.2004, Malaise trap, Rafael Barros leg.: 1 female paratype (CTJMSB).

Description.

Male. Figs 17 View Figures 17–20 - 87 View Figures 82–87 . Measurements are given in Table 1 View Table 1 .

Coloration: general coloration black, brownish or reddish (Figs 17-19 View Figures 17–20 ). Head black or reddish; antennal segments black, dark brownish or reddish; labium completely dark or with distal half of second visible segment and last segment pale or entirely reddish; neck black, mostly or completely dark yellow or reddish (Figs 17 View Figures 17–20 - 24 View Figures 21–24 , 26 View Figures 25–27 , 34 View Figures 34–40 , 36 View Figures 34–40 , 38 View Figures 34–40 , 39 View Figures 34–40 , 42 View Figures 41–44 ). Thorax completely blackish, dark brown, brownish or reddish, sometimes blackish on fore lobe and brownish on hind lobe; sometimes humeral angles and/or posterior margin of hind lobe of pronotum slightly paler (Figs 17 View Figures 17–20 - 24 View Figures 21–24 ). Scutellum with similar coloration of thorax, sometimes with the apex of the process, in variable extension paler or whitish (Figs 17-19 View Figures 17–20 , 47-50 View Figures 45–51 ). Hemelytra generally black with veins concolorous or paler, brownish to dark gray with the veins of the corium darker; a yellowish spot on external and mid-distal portions of corium reaching adjacent part of membrane, especially in basal portion of distal cell of membrane and just posterior to it; in paler specimens, the portion medial to the yellowish spot slightly paler (Figs 17-19 View Figures 17–20 ). Legs. All coxae blackish (Fig. 55 View Figures 55–63 ) or with fore coxae pale on posterior surface (Fig. 56 View Figures 55–63 ), or completely pale (Figs 57 View Figures 55–63 , 58 View Figures 55–63 ), or all coxae almost or completely pale or reddish (Fig. 59 View Figures 55–63 ). All trochanters blackish or dark brownish (Figs 55 View Figures 55–63 , 56 View Figures 55–63 ), or fore or the latter and middle trochanters partially or completely pale (Figs 57 View Figures 55–63 , 58 View Figures 55–63 ) or all of them almost or completely pale or reddish (Fig. 59 View Figures 55–63 ). Femora generally blackish, brownish or reddish. Fore femora frequently with dorsal surface paler, with dark yellowish tinge or generally reddish or dark yellowish in variable extent along the segment (Figs 17-19 View Figures 17–20 ). Middle and hind femora with one pale or yellowish submedian distal annulus or also with an additional pale or yellowish subbasal or basal annulus (Figs 17 View Figures 17–20 , 60 View Figures 55–63 , 64 View Figures 64–67 , 65 View Figures 64–67 ); sometimes the subbasal annulus is fainter, darker and/or incomplete, and as such, only evident on hind leg (Fig. 17 View Figures 17–20 ); in specimens with reddish general coloration, the portion proximal to the submedian distal annuli is sometimes variably darker (Figs 19 View Figures 17–20 , 63 View Figures 55–63 , 66 View Figures 64–67 ); additionally, in some specimens with a pair of annuli, the apex of these femora are also paler (Figs 18 View Figures 17–20 , 61 View Figures 55–63 , 62 View Figures 55–63 , 65 View Figures 64–67 ). Tibiae completely dark or variably pale brownish or reddish on its basal or distal portion, or almost completely or completely pale brownish to pale reddish (Figs 17-19 View Figures 17–20 , 64-66 View Figures 64–67 ). Tarsi in general with a similar coloration to the apex of the respective tibia. Abdomen. Sternites generally pale reddish, reddish or dark reddish with some or most segments partially or entirely darkened to blackish (Figs 67 View Figures 64–67 - 71 View Figures 68–77 ). Vestiture. Head covered by long and short, straight or somewhat curved blackish setae, which are denser, forming pubescence of long blackish thick setae on postocular portion, even more numerous on gula, and sparser or absent in the area anterior to transverse sulcus (Figs 20 View Figures 17–20 - 24 View Figures 21–24 , 26 View Figures 25–27 - 28 View Figures 28–33 , 30-33 View Figures 28–33 ). Antenna: scape with sparse short, stiff, slightly curved, dark setae, which become more numerous on mesal surface, approximately in distal two-thirds (Figs 34 View Figures 34–40 , 35 View Figures 34–40 ) and a few longer blackish thin setae scattered along the segment; pedicel, except at glabrous base, covered with numerous short, stiff, obliquely semi-erect dark setae (Figs 36 View Figures 34–40 , 37 View Figures 34–40 ), and a few (about eight to ten) very much thinner isolated elements (interpreted as trichobothria), which are present laterally on basal two-thirds of external surface and dorsally on distal third; thickened portion of basiflagellomere, except at extreme base (which is glabrous), completely covered with short, stiff, dark, adpressed setae, and with scattered stiff, darkened, semi-erect setae and a pubescence formed by longer, very thin, pale setae, which are almost imperceptible in this portion (Figs 38-40 View Figures 34–40 ); distal (not thickened) portion of basiflagellomere and distiflagellomere covered with dense pubescence formed by short, thin, pale to whitish setae and with scattered short, darkened, stiff, semi-erect setae; the latter somewhat less numerous or not evident on distiflagellomere (Figs 38 View Figures 34–40 , 39 View Figures 34–40 , 41-43 View Figures 41–44 ). Labium with scattered and somewhat curved, longer and thinner dark setae (Figs 28 View Figures 28–33 , 44 View Figures 41–44 ). Eyes and ocelli glabrous (Figs 27 View Figures 25–27 , 28 View Figures 28–33 , 30 View Figures 28–33 ). Neck almost completely or completely glabrous (Figs 20 View Figures 17–20 - 24 View Figures 21–24 , 26 View Figures 25–27 - 28 View Figures 28–33 , 30 View Figures 28–33 ). Thorax. Prothorax covered with very numerous blackish thick setae on fore lobe of pronotum, anterior portions of propleura and hind lobe of pronotum; the latter with sparse long setae at dorsal portion or, almost glabrous, except on midline, where thinner, somewhat shorter and light yellowish to whitish setae form a faint midlongitudinal line on hind lobe; median portion of posterior margin of pronotum with some long thin darkened setae (Figs 20 View Figures 17–20 - 24 View Figures 21–24 , 45 View Figures 45–51 , 52 View Figures 52–54 ). Scutellum with scattered thin dark or pale long setae more or less numerous; sometimes with midlongitudinal line of whitish setae on approximately its basal third, which may be a continuation of the line of whitish setae on hind lobe, or may be present only on the scutellum, while absent on pronotum (Figs 46 View Figures 45–51 - 52 View Figures 52–54 ). The pale setae which form the midlongitudinal line on hind lobe of pronotum and/or scutellum are sometimes partially or completely covered by a small amount of white wax-like substance (e.g. Figs 21 View Figures 21–24 , 23 View Figures 21–24 , 47 View Figures 45–51 , 49 View Figures 45–51 ). Posterior portion of propleura, mesopleura, metapleura and thoracic sterna with less numerous long darkened setae, which are shorter and thinner at center of mesosternum and metasternum (Figs 52 View Figures 52–54 , 55-59 View Figures 55–63 ). In some specimens, there is a group of thin whitish setae basally covered with rounded, flocky patches of white wax-like substance, extending along midline of mesosternum and metasternum and sometimes extending to basal half of first visible sternite (Figs 55 View Figures 55–63 , 56 View Figures 55–63 , 58 View Figures 55–63 , 59 View Figures 55–63 ). Dorsal sclerite below scutellum covered by numerous minute spiny setae (Figs 53 View Figures 52–54 , 54 View Figures 52–54 ). Legs: coxae with numerous long thin setae on posterior and lateral surfaces, which are less numerous or absent on basal third; fore trochanters densely covered with pale long setae ventrally and with some scattered even longer thinner pale setae; middle and hind trochanters progressively less setose. All femora covered with scattered, long, straight, erect or semi-erect darkened setae and dense, erect, mostly pale, brush-like setae ventrally, which are even more numerous on basal portion and absent on hind femur. All tibiae with scattered long thick blackish setae and covered with shorter dark setae on ventral surface, which become progressively more numerous towards apex, where they also cover lateral and dorsal surfaces. Tarsi covered with shorter dark setae. Hemelytron: clavus and corium generally covered by numerous curved, short, very thin, pale setae, which become much less numerous, adpressed and even shorter on distal half of corium; membrane glabrous. Abdomen: number of setae on sternites varying among individuals, generally with scattered long thin setae, which are light on reddish portions and dark on the blackish segments, and thicker, longer, and also more numerous on parts adjacent to genitalia and on the latter (Figs 67 View Figures 64–67 - 71 View Figures 68–77 ). In some specimens, median portion of basal half of first visible sternite with whitish setae covered by white wax-like substance (Figs 56 View Figures 55–63 , 59 View Figures 55–63 ); in one individual, a pair of lateral narrow stripes of sparse whitish setae on distal half of sternite VII, extending to basal exposed portion of pygophore (Fig. 69 View Figures 68–77 ). Structure. Antennal basiflagellomere variably slightly curved, from 1.6 to 1.8 times longer than scape, conspicuously thickened approximately in basal half, which is clearly separated in relation to the distal thinner portion (Figs 38-40 View Figures 34–40 ). Postantennal spines variable in length and thickness among individuals; slightly or strongly directed medially towards their apices, which are blunt to subacute (Figs 20 View Figures 17–20 - 33 View Figures 28–33 ). Abdominal segment VIII with only its distal margin of ventral surface visible externally (Figs 72 View Figures 68–77 , 73 View Figures 68–77 ); sclerotized only on ventral portion, which is subrectangular in shape and has both basal and distal margins curved, the latter more than the former, and more prominent laterally.

Male genitalia (Figs 67 View Figures 64–67 - 87 View Figures 82–87 ). Pygophore darkened, blackish; paler or reddish at proximal portion, in paler specimens (Figs 67 View Figures 64–67 - 72 View Figures 68–77 ); suboval in ventral view, somewhat enlarged laterally just below the insertions of the parameres (Fig. 73 View Figures 68–77 ); with an enlarged, somewhat arrow-shaped apex (medial process, mp), in which lateral margins are acutely pointed and the median portion is rounded (Figs 72-75 View Figures 68–77 , 77 View Figures 68–77 ); between anterior and posterior genital openings, a relatively narrow dorsal (transverse) bridge (db) (Fig. 77 View Figures 68–77 ); ventrolateral margins of exposed portion of pygophore with numerous, long, erect setae (Figs 72 View Figures 68–77 , 73 View Figures 68–77 , 75 View Figures 68–77 , 76 View Figures 68–77 ). Parameres (pa) symmetrical, rod-like in shape; apices rounded, paler at basal third, becoming darker to blackish in apical half; glabrous in basal two-thirds and with long, stout, dark setae in apical third (Figs 72 View Figures 68–77 , 73 View Figures 68–77 , 75 View Figures 68–77 , 76 View Figures 68–77 ). Phallus (Figs 78-80 View Figures 78–81 ): articulatory apparatus with basal plate arms (ba) and basal plate bridge (bb) narrow and forming a subsquared set, except in apical portion, where the arms are curved (Fig. 82 View Figures 82–87 ); pedicel (pd) (= basal plate extension) short (Figs 78 View Figures 78–81 , 80 View Figures 78–81 , 82 View Figures 82–87 ). Dorsal phallothecal plate (dp) weakly sclerotized (Figs 78 View Figures 78–81 , 81 View Figures 78–81 ); subrectangular in dorsal view, somewhat expanded laterally at basal portion and with small acute spines on lateral margins (Figs 78 View Figures 78–81 , 79 View Figures 78–81 , 81 View Figures 78–81 ); medially to the latter, a pair of somewhat depressed subrectangular areas on the disc; struts (st) with curved lateral arms, which are thicker basally, and subparallel median arms slightly converging towards apices (Fig. 81 View Figures 78–81 ). Endosoma wall smooth on basal half, becoming progressively more densely, minutely, spiny towards apex; at distal third: a pair of small more sclerotized lateral portions (sp); an apical pair of prominent sclerotized subtriangular lobes (sl), between which, ventrally, a shallower not sclerotized lobe (sn) (Figs 78-80 View Figures 78–81 , 85 View Figures 82–87 , 86 View Figures 82–87 ). The following endosomal processes were observed: 1 - a pair of elongate, parallel, flat, medial and weakly sclerotized processes (fp), wrapped in a smooth portion of endosoma wall, dorsally (Figs 78 View Figures 78–81 , 79 View Figures 78–81 , 83-85 View Figures 82–87 ); 2 - a larger U-shaped basal process (u) formed by diffuse thickening (Figs 80 View Figures 78–81 , 87 View Figures 82–87 ); 3 - a median subspherical process (m), situated between the lateral arms of the basal process and formed by a dense grouping of small thickenings (Figs 80 View Figures 78–81 , 83 View Figures 82–87 , 87 View Figures 82–87 ).

Female. Figs 88 View Figures 88–94 - 100 View Figures 95–100 . Measurements are given in Table 2 View Table 2 . Similar to male in general. One specimen with a general dark coloration (Fig. 88 View Figures 88–94 ) and other with reddish general coloration (Figs 89 View Figures 88–94 - 97 View Figures 95–100 ); both with only the submedian distal yellowish annuli on middle and hind femora evident. Structure. Head: basiflagellomere slightly thicker in basal portion (Fig. 94 View Figures 88–94 ), but much thinner as a whole than that in males, and becoming progressively thinner toward apex, without a clear separation between more or less thickened portions (Fig. 94 View Figures 88–94 ), uniformly covered with pubescence formed by thin, pale setae (blackish, stiff, adpressed, short setae that completely cover thicker portion in male are absent); approximately 1.2 times longer than scape. Sternites IV-VII with fusiform or elongated patches of minute, short, adpressed, thin, whitish setae, covered with a variable amount of white wax, present on midlateral portions of basal half (sternites IV, V) or, although with more numerous setae on basal portions, extending along the segment on sternites VI and VII; in one specimen, also sparsely on basal portion of the genital tergite 9 (Figs 97-99 View Figures 95–100 ). External genitalia in posterior view (Fig. 100 View Figures 95–100 ): tergite 9 with very long, sparse, strong blackish setae at median and lateral portions and numerous shorter, thinner setae at distal margin; tergite 10 with sparse short setae; gonocoxite 8 and gonapophysis 9 with numerous short to somewhat longer setae.

Comments.

The genitalia of different males presenting a range of color variation (e.g. Figs 17-19 View Figures 17–20 ) showed to have the same characteristics of structure (Figs 72 View Figures 68–77 - 87 View Figures 82–87 ). The females were slightly larger than the males (Tables 1 View Table 1 , 2 View Table 2 ). The minimum body length in females (to tip of hemelytra/tip of abdomen: 15.1/12.0) is greater than the maximum body length in males (14.0/11.0). Many of the other measurements are proportionally greater in females, in accordance with their bigger size (Tables 1 View Table 1 , 2 View Table 2 ), including the antennal scape and pedicel, slightly longer than in males. One apparent exception is the basiflagellomere, which was longer in most males (5.1 to 6.5 mm in length; n = 8) than in females (5.2 to 5.3 mm in length; n = 2) and showed to be generally thicker approximately in basal half in males (maximum width: 0.2-0.4 mm) (Figs 17-19 View Figures 17–20 , 38-40 View Figures 34–40 ), but thinner in females (maximum width: 0.1-0.2 mm) (Figs 88 View Figures 88–94 , 94 View Figures 88–94 ). This thickened region in males is completely covered by blackish, stiff, adpressed, and short setae (Figs 38-40 View Figures 34–40 ), which are absent in females (Fig. 94 View Figures 88–94 ). While the males presented a wide range of variation in coloration and markings, the two females examined presented different patterns of coloration, but similar to some of the males. Also, the patches of minute, short, adpressed, thin, whitish setae, covered with a variable amount of white wax, present on sternites IV-VII and even on the basal portion of the genitalia (Fig. 97 View Figures 95–100 ), were absent in the males, with the exception of the record of a narrow stripe of whitish setae on distal half of sternite VII, extending to the basal portion of the exposed portion of pygophore in a single male (Fig. 69 View Figures 68–77 ). However, because the relatively low number of specimens examined, especially of females (only two), it is not possible to be sure in what extent most of these differences are intraspecific or sexually dimorphic characteristics. Similarly, in relation to coloration, only the examination of more specimens of both sexes will allow ascertaining the range of variation and if there is any sexual dimorphism.

Distribution.

Brazil, in states of Minas Gerais and Paraná.

Etymology.

The new species is named in honor of Dr. Mara Cristina Pinto (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNESP, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil), a friend and eternal mentor of the second author (JO), as a tribute and recognition for her contributions to the studies of Medical Entomology, especially those on sandflies and also for all her meritorious performance as a teacher and knowledge as a transforming agent. The taxon’s homage is a way of rewarding all her remarkable contributions to Brazilian entomology which she has been studying for more than 33 years.

Comments.

The variation in color and number and extension of pale markings recorded among the specimens of Q. maracristinae sp. nov. studied here are considered as intra-specific variability. It is in accordance with the intraspecific variation in color, occasionally at extreme range, previously documented in many harpactorines (e.g., Stål 1872; Champion 1899; Gil-Santana 2008, 2022; Zhang et al. 2016), including in some wasp-mimicking Harpactorini ( Champion 1899; Gil-Santana et al. 2013, 2017).

The wax-like substance was sometimes absent from portions where it was observed on other specimens. It may be lost during the manipulation of the individuals, which may also include loss of the thin fragile setae associated with it (HRG-S pers. obs.; Gil-Santana et al. 2017). Body parts covered with patches of setae with whitish wax-like material have been registered in some Harpactorini species, such as Cosmoclopius curacavensis Cobben & Wygodzinsky, 1975 ( Cobben and Wygodzinsky 1975), Harpactor angulosus (Lepeletier & Serville, 1825) ( Pikart et al. 2014), various species of Heza Amyot & Serville, 1843 ( Maldonado 1976), Sphedanolestes zhengi Zhao, Ren, Wang & Cai, 2015 ( Zhao et al. 2015), and Parahiranetis salgadoi ( Gil-Santana et al. 2017). It is noteworthy that the wax-like substance may be absent when specimens are examined and described, and thus the extent of their existence may remain unknown ( Gil-Santana et al. 2017). Similarly, records of the presence or absence of a wax-like substance may be an additional feature of systematic or taxonomic importance, in the same way as suggested for the "extensive sericeous areas on the abdominal sterna" of Heza ventralis Stål, 1872 ( Maldonado 1976). Therefore, as stressed by Gil-Santana et al. (2017), future studies on Harpactorini should include careful handling of the specimens after collection, to avoid unintentional removal of these substances from their bodies. It is also recommended that this information should be included in the records and/or descriptions whenever present.

Differences in the structure and vestiture of the basiflagellomere were clear-cut enough to be considered sexually dimorphic in Q. maracristinae sp. nov. Despite the small number of females, adults can be sexed readily with the naked eye, by observing the basiflagellomeres of their antennae. The females examined were larger than males in many of the morphological characteristics measured, what can be confirmed by studying more specimens in the future. In any case, the two sexual differences pointed out in Q. maracristinae sp. nov. (i.e., females larger than males and the latter with basiflagellomere thickened) are concordant with several observations in the literature ( Champion 1899; Martin-Park et al. 2012; Gil-Santana et al. 2013, 2017; Gil-Santana 2016). Additionally, the thickened portion of the basiflagellomere in males was completely covered by short, stiff, adpressed, blackish setae, which were absent in females. Although fewer females were examined, their coloration showed similar patterns of variation of some of the males, therefore only with the examination of more specimens will be possible to ascertain possible sexual variation in coloration patterns. Yet, in the females, patches of minute, short, adpressed, thin, whitish setae, covered with a variable amount of white wax, were present on sternites IV-VII and even on the basal portion of the genitalia, while in the males they were absent (with the exception of a single male in which only a narrow stripe of whitish setae was present on distal half of sternite VII, extending to the basal portion of the exposed portion of pygophore). In other wasp-mimicking harpactorines, such as Parahiranetis salgadoi , similar patches of setae covered with white wax on sternites were observed in both sexes ( Gil-Santana et al. 2017). Therefore, it is necessary to examine more specimens in order to ascertain if the absence/presence of these patches on sternites in males and females of Q. maracristinae sp. nov., respectively, expresses another sexual dimorphism or if it is merely an inter-individual variation.

In the male genitalia, while the variation in color of the pygophore (Figs 67 View Figures 64–67 - 72 View Figures 68–77 ) is compatible with the general intra-specific variability in coloration, the uniformity of the other characteristics (Figs 72 View Figures 68–77 - 87 View Figures 82–87 ) is in accordance with the assumption that all specimens belong to the same species.

Yet, the male genitalia of Q. maracristinae sp. nov. showed similarities to those of G. bicolor ( Gil-Santana et al. 2013), H. atra ( Gil-Santana 2016), and P. salgadoi ( Gil-Santana et al. 2017), such as: - parameres similar in shape and somewhat similar in vestiture; - pygophore with a somewhat large medial process that is medially rounded at the apex, but in G. bicolor and H. atra it is subtriangular in shape, while in P. salgadoi and Q. maracristinae sp. nov. it is somewhat arrow-shaped, with the lateral margins acutely pointed (Figs 72-74 View Figures 68–77 ); - pedicel (pd) (= basal plate extension) short; - struts with subparallel median arms and curved basal lateral arms, although with different shapes in each species; - a pair of elongate, parallel, flat, weakly sclerotized endosomal processes, although with different locations and shapes in each of these species.

The presence of a somewhat laterally expanded basal portion with small acute spines on lateral margins of the dorsal phallothecal plate was recorded in P. salgadoi and Q. maracristinae sp. nov. U-shaped and median subspherical endosomal processes very similar to those of Q. maracristinae sp. nov. (Figs 80 View Figures 78–81 , 87 View Figures 82–87 ) were recorded in H. atra and P. salgadoi . Yet, variable, different, or not well evident spiny lobes or portions of endosoma wall were recorded in each of these species, making their comparison difficult.

On the other hand, the general shape and peculiarities of the dorsal phallothecal plate were different in all species ( Gil-Santana et al. 2013; Gil-Santana 2016; Gil-Santana et al. 2017; this study).

Thus, in agreement with previous studies ( Elkins 1954a, b; Hart 1975, 1986, 1987; Forero et al. 2008; Zhang et al. 2016), the features of the male genitalia of Q. maracristinae sp. nov. that should especially be taken into consideration for comparative purposes are the shape of the medial process of the pygophore and the features of the dorsal phallothecal plate.