First report of Panstrongylus megistus (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) in the State of Acre and Rondônia, Amazon, Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: This article reports, for the first time, the occurrence of Panstrongylus megistus in the Brazilian Western Amazon. METHODS: Specimens of P. megistus were collected in the cities of Rio Branco, Acre and Extrema, Rondônia. RESULTS: The number of triatomine species in the State of Acre increased from eight to nine and in Rondônia from seven to eight. This was also the first report of P. megistus in the Brazilian Western Amazon. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of P. megistus in the Western Amazon evidences an epidemiological alert, since it is an important vector of T. cruzi.

Temporal transcriptomic profiling of the ant-feeding assassin bug Acanthaspis cincticrus reveals a biased expression of genes associated with predation in nymphs.

Acanthaspis cincticrus (Stål) is an assassin bug with a specialized camouflaging behavior to ambush ants in the nymphal stages. In this study, we comprehensively sequenced all the life stages of A. cincticrus, including the eggs, five nymph instars, female and male adults using Illumina HiSeq technology. We obtained 176 million clean sequence reads. The assembled 84,055 unigenes were annotated and classified functionally based on protein databases. Among the unigenes, 29.03% were annotated by one or more databases, suggesting their well-conserved functions. Comparison of the gene expression profiles in the egg, nymph and adult stages revealed certain bias. Functional enrichment analysis of significantly differentially expressed genes (SDEGs) showed positive correlation with specific physiological processes within each stage, including venom, aggression, olfactory recognition as well as growth and development. Relative expression of ten SDEGs involved in predation process was validated using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).

Functional Response of the Predators Alloeocranum biannulipes (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) and Teretrius nigrescens (Coleoptera: Histeridae) Feeding on Dinoderus porcellus (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) Infesting Yam Chips.

The functional response and some predation parameters of the predators Alloeocranum biannulipes Montrouzier & Signoret (Hemiptera: Reduviidea) and Teretrius nigrescens Lewis (Coleoptera: Histeridae) were evaluated at five different densities of larvae and pupae of Dinoderus porcellus Lesne (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) with the aim to understand their roles in the biological control of this major pest of stored yam chips. Experiments were performed in petri dishes at 25 ± 1 °C, 60 ± 10% RH, and a photoperiod of 12:12 (L:D) h in a controlled temperature room. Both predators showed Type II of functional response with respect to larvae, determined by a logistic regression model. However, T. nigrescens significantly killed more larvae of D. porcellus compared with A. biannulipes. This behavior, however, changed to a linear functional response (Type I), when pupae of D. porcellus were offered to both predators, possibly because of their immobility. In addition, there was no significant difference between T. nigrescens and A. biannulipes in terms of the killed pupae. Parameters of the Holling disc equation for both predators were estimated. Estimated handling time on larvae of D. porcellus for T. nigrescens and A. biannulipes was 0.254 and 0.677 h and the rate of searching efficiency was 0.289 and 0.348 h-1, respectively. Results indicated that T. nigrescens was a more suitable candidate for augmentative release for D. porcellus control than A. biannulipes. However, semifield studies are required to draw firm conclusions.

New synonymies among species of Nitornus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae).

Based on examination of types and additional specimens, the following new synonymies are proposed in the genus Nitornus Stål, 1859 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Stenopodainae): Nitornus lobulatus Stål, 1859 = Nitornus monrosi (Wygodzinsky, 1959), syn. nov. = Nitornus barberi Froeschner, 1999, syn. nov.; and Nitornus parkoi (Costa Lima & Campos Seabra, 1945) = Nitornus seabrai (Prosen & Martínez, 1958), syn. nov. These synonymies result in Nitornus having only two valid species. Comments on morphological variations and the male genitalia of the species studied here are provided.

A revision of the Australian genus Trachylestes with the description of two new species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae).

Two new species, Trachylestes barrowensis sp. nov. from Barrow Island, Western Australia and T. queenslandensis sp. nov. from southeastern Queensland are described, and a key for their separation from other known species of the Australian endemic genus Trachylestes Stål, 1868 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) is given.

Transfer of the assassin bug Nitornus fuliginosus to the genus Apronius (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Stenopodainae).

Based on examination of its lectotype (here designated), the assassin bug Nitornus fuliginosus Distant, 1902 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Stenopodainae) is transferred to the genus Apronius Stål, 1865, with the resulting new combination: Apronius fuliginosus (Distant, 1902), comb. nov.

Transmission Capacity of Trypanosoma cruzi (Trypanosomatida: Trypanosomatidae) by Three Subspecies of Meccus phyllosomus (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) and Their Hybrids.

Three behaviors of epidemiological importance: the time lapse for the onset of feeding, actual feeding, and defecation time for Meccus phyllosomus pallidipennis (Stål), Meccus phyllosomus longipennis (Usinger), Meccus phyllosomus picturatus (Usinger), and their laboratory hybrids were evaluated in this study. The mean time lapse for the beginning of feeding was between 0.5 and 8.3 min considering all instars in each cohort, with highly significant differences only among fifth-instar nymphs, females, and males of M. p. pallidipennis and M. p. longipennis relative to the hybrid cohorts. Four hybrid (LoPa [M. p. longipennis and M. p. pallidipennis] and LoPi [M. p. longipennis and M. p. picturatus] and their reciprocal experimental crosses) cohorts had similar mean feeding times to one of the parental subspecies, but longer than the other one. The remaining hybrid cohort (PaPi [M. p. pallidipennis and M. p. picturatus]) had longer feeding times than both of its parental subspecies. The specimens of the LoPa and LoPi hybrid cohorts defecated faster than the respective instars of the three parental cohorts. With exception of first- and fifth-instar nymphs, PaPi cohorts defecated faster than the remaining seven cohorts. More than 60% of defecation events occurred during feeding in the six hybrid cohorts. Our results indicate that hybrid cohorts have more potential to acquire infection and transmit Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas than their parental cohorts.

Two new species of Phasmatocoris Breddin from Brazil, and description of the male of Phasmatocoris borgmeieri (Wygodzinsky) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae).

Phasmatocoris catarinae sp. nov. and P. galvaoi sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae: Emesini) are described from Brazil based on female and male specimens. The male of Phasmatocoris borgmeieri (Wygodzinsky, 1945) is described and short taxonomical notes on this species and P. xavieri Gil-Santana et al., 2007 are provided.

The first fossil record of the Emesinae genus Emesopsis Uhler (Hemiptera: Heteroptera, Reduviidae) from Eocene Baltic amber.

Two new fossil representatives of the assassin bug family Reduviidae are described as new from Baltic amber (Upper Eocene), belonging to the genus Emesopsis of the tribe Ploiariolini (Emesinae): Emesopsis putshkovi sp. nov. and E. similis sp. nov. These representatives of the Emesinae are the oldest fossil bugs of the genus Emesopsis known so far, and reported for the first time. This genus is also briefly diagnosed.

Distribution Pattern and Climate Preferences of the Representatives of the Cosmopolitan Genus Sirthenea Spinola, 1840 (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Peiratinae).

The main goal of this study was to predict, through the use of GIS tool as ecological niche modelling, potentially suitable ecological niche and defining the conditions of such niche for the representatives of the cosmopolitan genus Sirthenea. Among all known genera of the subfamily Peiratinae, only Sirthenea occurs on almost all continents and zoogeographical regions. Our research was based on 521 unique occurrence localities and a set of environmental variables covering the whole world. Based on occurrence localities, as well as climatic variables, digital elevation model, terrestrial ecoregions and biomes, information about the ecological preferences is given. Potentially useful ecological niches were modelled using Maxent software, which allowed for the creation of a map of the potential distribution and for determining climatic preferences. An analysis of climatic preferences suggested that the representatives of the genus were linked mainly to the tropical and temperate climates. An analysis of ecoregions also showed that they preferred areas with tree vegetation like tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests biomes as well as temperate broadleaf and mixed forest biomes. Therefore, on the basis of the museum data on the species occurrence and ecological niche modelling method, we provided new and valuable information on the potentially suitable habitat and the possible range of distribution of the genus Sirthenea along with its climatic preferences.

A new species of the genus Sphedanolestes Stål 1866 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) from China, with a key to Chinese species.

A new harpactorine bug, Sphedanolestes zhengi sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on specimens collected from southwestern China. A key to 17 Chinese species of the genus, including the new species, is provided. The bionomics of the new species is briefly noted.

Neotropical Physoderinae revisited, with description of a new, sexually dimorphic species of Leptophysoderes Weirauch (Hemiptera: Reduviidae).

The small reduviid subfamily Physoderinae has the greatest species diversity in the Oriental region and Madagascar. Only the two monotypic genera Cryptophysoderes Wygodzinsky and Maldonado and Leptophysoderes Weirauch are currently known from the Neotropical region. We here describe and document a new, sexually dimorphic species of Physoderinae, Leptophysoderes sarapiqui sp. nov. from Costa Rica. The generic diagnosis of Leptophysoderes is modified to accommodate the new species. Females and immatures of Leptophysoderes are documented for the first time.

Ultrastructure of the fossula spongiosa and pretarsus in Haematoloecha nigrorufa (Stål) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Ectrichodinae).

The ultrastructure of the fossula spongiosa and pretarsus of adult Haematoloecha nigrorufa (Stål) (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Ectrichodinae) was examined for the first time using scanning electron microscope. The fossula spongiosa of H. nigrorufa is located on the ventral surface of the distal part of the tibia of both the fore- and midlegs. The area of the fossula spongiosa on the female foreleg is approximately 251338.88 µm(2), while the area of the fossula spongiosa on the male foreleg is markedly smaller, only about 196548.98 µm(2). For both genders the area of the fossula spongiosa on the foreleg is approximately 1.50 times as large as that on the midleg. Externally, the ventral surface of the fossula spongiosa is covered by a large number of tenent hairs that are evenly interspersed with a few mechanosensory setae. Each tenent hair consists of two parts: a hair shaft and an apical plate. A tenent hair is 22.58 ± 1.60 µm in length, 1.90 ± 0.09 µm in shaft diameter, and 10.90 ± 0.63 µm(2) in apical plate area. Morphologically, the tenent hairs are similar and constitute a nearly uniform hair array on the ventral side of the fossula spongiosa. The density of tenent hairs is about 4.46 ± 0.35 hairs per 100 µm(2) and the total number of tenent hairs is more than ten thousand on the fossula spongiosa of the female foreleg. These tenent hairs are presumed to function as adherence during locomotion or prey capture of the assassin bugs. In addition, scanning micrographs and descriptions for the pretarsus are also given.

Geographic variation on biological parameters of Meccus picturatus (Usinger), 1939 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae).

The biological parameters related to the life cycles of three populations of Meccus picturatus (Usinger) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), one of the main vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas (Trypanosomatida: Trypanosomatidae), were evaluated. A cohort of each of three populations from geographically isolated localities in western Mexico was maintained under similar laboratory conditions, after which all three populations were compared to each other. In each cohort, 50.9 to 72.1% of nymphs completed the cycle. The average time from N1 to adult was approximately 175 days and different for the three studied cohorts. The number of blood meals between molts varied from one to three. The hatching rates as well as the fecundity per female per day were different among the three studied populations. Our results show that the three isolated populations are statistically different in some parameters from each other, which points to the importance of studying the biological characteristics of local populations of triatomines for estimating their capacity of transmitting T. cruzi to reservoir hosts.

Ocelliemesina sinica, the second ocelli-bearing genus and species of thread-legged bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae).

Ocelliemesina sinica, gen. & sp. nov., from Yunnan Province, China is described. It represents the second genus and species with ocelli in the reduviid subfamily Emesinae. Dorsal habitus, male genitalia, and other diagnostic morphological characters of the new species are illustrated. The type specimen is preserved in the Entomological Museum of China Agricultural University, Beijing.

A new species of Stenolemus Signoret (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae) from India.

A new species of Stenolemus Signoret, 1858, Stenolemus annulatus sp. nov. (Reduviidae: Emesinae) is described from India. This new species is closely related to S. susainathani Wygodzinsky from Nilgiri Hills, South India and S. larat Wygodzinsky from Moluccas, Larat, by sharing common characteristics such as the ratio of distance between eyes and their width, long antennal first segment, slightly elevated postocular region of head and sharply divided pronotum into three parts, but can be easily separated by the following diagnostic characteristics: pronotum with petiole about as long as forelobe and 1.3 times shorter than hindlobe, first antennal segment with five annulations, rostrum creamy white and luteous at apex, basal and lateral areas of second segment; hind lobe of pronotum with 1+1 submedian conical rounded projections; forecoxa shorter than hind lobe of pronotum, foretibia with one subbasal and one submedian annulation and hind femora reaching apex of forewings. A key to Indian species of the genus Stenolemus is given. 

A new species of Aulacogenia Stål (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Stenopodainae) from India.

A new stenopodaine reduviid, Aulacogenia darjeelingensis sp. nov. belonging to the "corniculata species group" from India is described and illustrated. A key to the Indian species of the genus Aulacogenia Stål is provided. 

A new generic synonym in the Reduviinae of Australia, with an updated key to genera (Heteroptera: Reduviidae).

The monotypic genus Horciniella Miller, 1958 is considered a junior synonym of Archilestidium Breddin, 1900 (new synonymy), resulting in the following taxonomic change for its type species: Archilestidium variabile (Miller, 1958) (new combination). The evidence supporting this conclusion and the new composition of the genus are discussed at length. Updated keys to the reduviine genera of Australia and the Australian species of Horcinia Stål, 1874 are included. Habitus images as well as a new distributional record are provided for several Australian reduviines. 

Biological characteristics of geographically isolated populations of Meccus mazzottii (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in southern Mexico.

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas, is one of the most epidemiologically important vector-borne zoonoses in Mexico. Among the 32 reported triatomine species from Mexico, Meccus mazzottii (Usinger) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is one of the most important vectors of T. cruzi in the southern part of the country. Variability among populations of triatomines has been recorded for several species (Meccus longipennis (Usinger) and Meccus pallidipennis (Stal)) that are closely related to M. mazzottii, showing an apparent influence of local environmental conditions on the biology of each population, which could modify the impact of vector control measurements. Therefore, this study sought to compare the biological features of populations of M. mazzottii from two geographically far apart areas that have similar environmental characteristics and to compare populations from close geographical areas that have different environmental characteristics. The mean longevity, percentages of mortality of nymphs, the total mean number of bloodmeals to molt (considered instar by instar), the mean number of eggs laid by females, and the percentage of hatched eggs were similar between the two localities that are geographically far apart but have similar environmental characteristics. On the other hand, important differences were noticed when a comparison was carried out on the two localities with similar environmental conditions with respect to that locality with different conditions, independent of geographic distance. Most of the studied parameters led us to conclude that the three studied populations are very highly influenced by local environmental conditions. The results of this study indicate the importance of studying the biological characteristics of local populations of triatomines to carry out specific control measurements, instead of using standard ones that could fail if they are not adapted to the target population.

Revision of the genus Acanthaspis Amyot & Serville (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Reduviinae) from China, with new records of species to adjacent countries.

The assassin bugs of the genus Acanthaspis Amyot & Serville (Reduviinae) from China are revised. Fourteen species are recognized, described or redescribed and illustrated. Three species, A. fulviconnexa, A. melanota, and A. octoguttata, are described as new to science. Acanthaspis subinermis Hsiao 1976 is synonymized with A. laoensis Distant 1919. A key for the identification of Chinese species of Acanthaspis is provided. The biology of A. cincticrus Stål is briefly noted. The following species are newly recorded from adjacent countries: A. collaris Hsiao from Laos and Thailand, A. geniculata Hsiao from Vietnam, A. picta Hsiao from Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, A. quinquespinosa (Fabricius) from Nepal, A. ruficeps Hsiao from Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, and A. laoensis Distant  from Thailand.