Microtomus tibialis Stichel, 1926

Coscaron, María Del Carmen, Melo, María Cecilia & Cuello, Nora, 2003, Synonymizing Microtomus sticheli Costa Lima, 1935 under M. tibialis Stichel, 1926 and redescription of the species (Heteroptera: Reduviidae), Zootaxa 288, pp. 1-6 : 2-3

Microtomus tibialis Stichel, 1926

Figs.1–18.

Microtomus tibialis Stichel, 1926 ; 6: 180–184.

Microtomus sticheli Costa Lima, 1935; 7: 316–321. New Synonymy.

Body compressed dorsoventrally, color dark brown ( Fig. 1).Total length 20.5–24.9 (mean = 23.39). Head cylindrical and elongate, with abundant granulations and setae ( Fig. 2). Length 3.1–3.92 (mean = 3.48), width 3.29–3.54 (mean = 2.97). Anteocular region much longer than postocular one. Eyes very prominent and lateral, with black and golden spots, reduced posteriorly. Behind them, close to neck, light brown areas. Width of eyes 0.88– 1.52 (mean = 1.21). Length of interocular space 1.06–1.43 (mean = 1.26). Ocelli present between eyes, color light brown; anterior to ocelli, two triangular light brown areas are present without granulations or setae. Rostrum curved, brown, except distal portion of each segment light brown or reddish brown, with abundant setae ventrally. In some specimens, first segment with external longitudinal light brown stripe. Length 3.29–4.5 (mean= 3.59). Ratio of length of segments ca. 1: 1.81: 3.44. Antenna inserted at middle of anteocular region. Antenna dark brown, setose. Length 11.64–13.54 (mean = 11.4). Ratio of length of segments ca. 1: 0.08: 0.22: 0.37. Second segment with 33­35 articles. Neck dark brown, without granulations or setae. Thorax dark brown, with granulations and setae.

Humeral angles of pronotum with short protuberances. Scutellum with granulations and setae, posterior process as Fig. 3. Length 4.8–5.69 (mean = 5.59), width 5.7–6.8 (mean = 6.6). Legs with abundant setae and granulations, more conspicuous on fore and middle legs, color dark brown, except red rounded spot in middle of femur III, sometimes reaching distal portion. Femora I and II enlarged medially. Tibia brown or reddish brown, very pilose. Spongy fossula on tibia I and II. Tarsi brown, with setae. Hemelytra dark brown, except variable yellowish­white stripe on chorion and clavus ( Fig. 4–9). In males, hemelytra reaching posterior border of abdomen, in females, not reaching posterior border of abdomen. Length 12.53–15.82 (mean = 14.37). Abdomen dark brown, pilose, without granulations. Males with setose area in central part of segments 2,3,4 ( Fig. 10). Length 9.62–13.16 (mean = 10.25), width 6–10.76 (mean = 7.58). Connexivum dark brown with colored area on every segment ( Fig. 11–13). Color varing from yellowish white, to reddish light brown; with setae but without granulations.

Male: Figs. 14–16. Parameres ( Figs. 14–15) curved, acute distally, with abundant long setae medially in the external surface; pygophore ( Fig. 16) subrounded with sparse long setae.

Female: Figs. 17–18. Gonocoxite VIII ( Fig. 18) with abundant short and sparse long setae; gonapophysis VIII ( Fig. 18) with two short setae distally; gonocoxite IX ( Fig. 17) with long setae.

Geographic distribution: Brazil: Minas Gerais 19º S, 44º9’ W; Goiás 15º 56’ S, 49º 59’ W; Matto Grosso 15º 1’ S, 59º 44’ W; Bolivia: Santa Cruz 17º 47’ S, 63º 4’ W.

Material studied: Holotype, female, Lassance g. 935, R. Pereira, 2194, M. sticheli Costa Lima (IOC); Alotype, male, M. sticheli Costa Lima, Costa Lima det. (IOC); Brazil: Minas Gerais: Pedra Azul. XI­1970, F.M. Oliveira. (AMNH); 4 males 3 females, Sta. Victoria, II­1970, F.H. Oliveira (AMNH); 1 male, Bahia: Divisa Km 965 ruta Est. de Rio a Bahia. XI­1971, C.A.C. Seabra (AMNH); 1 male, Encruzilhada, 960m, XI­1972, Alvarenga (AMNH); 1 male, Goiás: Jatal, XI­1971. F.M.Oliveira (AMNH); 1 female, Viannopolis, coll. R Spitz III­1930. 2197, em pau padre, (IOC); BOLIVIA: 1 female, Santiago: Chiquita, Santa Cruz (AMNH); 1 male, M. tibialis Stichel Costa Lima det. (IOC); 1 female 1 male, without locality.