Mirambulus morio Breddin, 1903

Forero, Dimitri, 2006, New records of Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from Colombia and other Neotropical countries, Zootaxa 1107, pp. 1-47 : 38

Mirambulus morio Breddin, 1903

The genus Mirambulus Breddin, 1901 has two described species ( Maldonado 1990). Following the criteria of Wygodzinsky (1950), M. morio is the name assigned to the specimens studied here ( Figs. 62­63 ). According to him, the two species can be differentiated by the size of the tubercles of the anterior femora. Those tubercles are very small in the examined specimens, which assigns them to M. morio . However, comparison of several specimens revealed strong variation, from nearly unarmed anterior femora with only very small tubercles, to very tuberculated femora, the tubercles of the males being larger than those of the females (Forero, pers. obs.). Possibly only one species exists, M. niger Breddin, 1901 , which shows some morphological variability and possible sexual dimorphism, the males having well developed anterior femoral tubercles, while the females have them reduced (as in the series of specimens from Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca). In Colombia, M. morio has been found in disturbed habitats such as secondary forests and roadsides; nevertheless, this species is infrequent in collections. Mirambulus has been recorded from Guyana, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia ( Wygodzinsky 1950; Maldonado 1995). M. morio has been recorded from Guyana and Bolivia ( Maldonado 1990). The specimens listed here are a new generic record from Colombia and Honduras.

Material examined: HONDURAS, 1ɗ, [Gracias a Dios], 15 mi. up Patuca Rio, 12­ V­1947, C.W. Cook [ CAS]. COLOMBIA, 1Ψ, [Cundinamarca?], Soacha [04º35’N 74º13’W], 13­VII­1994, Orlando [ UNAB]; 1Ψ, Cundinamarca, El Colegio, 30­V­1996, J. Ardila [ UNAB]; 1Ψ, Nariño, Reserva Natural La Planada, 1°09’N 77°58’W (bosque secundario), 1850 m, III­1995, C. Estrada [ IAVH]; 1Ψ, Nariño, Reserva Natural La Planada (bosque entresacado de 15 años), 1850 m, 1­III­1995, C. Estrada [ IAVH]; 1Ψ, Quindío, Filandia, Estación Bremen C.R.Q. (Corporación Regional del Quindío), sobre carretera, 1800­1900 m, 14: 20­IV­1998, C. J. Gómez et al. [ MUJ]; 1Ψ, [Valle del Cauca], bet. Queremal and Buenaventura, alt. 3500­4000 ft., 7­II­1935, Severo Quintero coll. / Mirambulus morio Bredd. Wygod. det. [ AMNH]; 4ɗɗ, 2ΨΨ, 2 nymphs, Valle [del Cauca], 40 mi. E Buenaventura, 570 m, 23­III­1953 / E.I. Schilinger & E.S. Ross collectors / “ Mirambulus sp. ” Wygodzinsky det. [ CAS].

Figures

FIGURES 61 – 66. Dorsal and lateral views of Reduviidae species. 61, M. costalimai, lateral view. 62, Mirambulus morio, dorsal view; 63, lateral view; 64, Pessoaia limai; 65, Vescia spicula; 66, Ves cia sp., brachypterous female. Scale bar: 1 mm (61); 2 mm (64 ­ 66); 3 mm (62, 63).