Heteroptera research in Latin America and the Caribbean (Insecta, Hemiptera): status and perspectives in the 21st century.

Latin American and the Caribbean regions (LAC) harbor one of the most biodiverse areas of the world, the Neotropics. True bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) are a diverse lineage of insects, with more than 45,000 species, particularly speciose in the Neotropical region. True bugs are fundamental in the dynamics of natural and modified ecosystems, with several species critical to agriculture and public health. We compiled Heteroptera research in LAC from 1998-2022 using bibliographic databases. Productivity, collaborative networks, and the main topics studied were analyzed. A total of 1,651 Heteroptera studies from LAC were found, with continuous growth being 2021 the most prolific. Four categories (Taxonomy of extant species, Faunistic inventories and new records, Pest species biology, and Community ecology) represent most of the published research. About 60 percent of the records evaluated correspond to five families (Pentatomidae, Reduviidae, Coreidae, Miridae, and Rhyparochromidae). We emphasize the need to keep working on Heteroptera taxonomy because it will allow further advances in other areas such as phylogenetic analyses, biogeography, ecology, and natural history, among others. The results of our analyses characterize the current state of heteropterology in the region, establishing a baseline for future studies and efforts to broaden the knowledge of the group.

Diversity of true bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from the El Impenetrable National Park, Argentina.

The study of the Heteroptera (Hemiptera) fauna of the El Impenetrable National Park, resulted in an inventory composed of: Alydidae (2 spp.), Aradidae (1 sp.), Belostomatidae (5 spp.), Berytidae (1 sp.), Blissidae (1 sp.), Coreidae (11 spp.), Corixidae (2 spp.), Geocoridae (1 sp.), Gerridae (1 sp.), Hebridae (1 sp.), Largidae (4 spp.), Lygaeidae (5 spp.), Miridae (17 spp.), Nabidae (1 sp.), Notonectidae (1 sp.), Oxycarenidae (1 sp.), Pachygronthidae (1 sp.), Pachynomidae (2 spp.), Pentatomidae (16 spp.), Pleidae (1 sp.), Pyrrhocoridae (1 sp.), Reduviidae (30 spp.), Rhopalidae (5 spp.), Rhyparochromidae (12 spp.), Saldidae (1 sp.), Scutelleridae (2 spp.), Tingidae (1 sp.), and Veliidae (1 sp.). These findings include six new records for the Argentinean fauna: Prytanes foedus (Stl), Saldula pallipes (Fabricius), Camirus brevilinea (Walker), Atopozelus opsimus Elkins, Doldina bicarinata Stl, Rocconota sextuberculata St and 39 new records for Chaco Province.

Outside the pattern: Evolution of the genital asymmetry in Saicinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae).

Despite genital structures in insects being consistently important as systematic and taxonomy evidence, within assassin bugs (Heteroptera, Reduviidae) at least, the male and female genitalic structures of several subfamilies are poorly or totally unknown. The genital structure is mostly symmetric within Saicinae genera, but male genital asymmetry has been recorded in Gallobelgicus, Polytoxus, and recently Pseudosaica. The subfamily has been considered as closely related to Emesinae and Visayanocorinae but this hypothesis has never been tested using a comprehensive taxa sampling, being a constraint to test morphological traits changes or exploring characters' evolution hypotheses. Here, we compiled a morphological data set of 170 characters that includes external morphological characters and genitalia of both sexes of Saicinae which was analyzed cladistically including 55 terminals, comprising 16 genera (64% of the generic diversity), 43 species of Saicinae and 12 outgroups. Saicinae was recovered as polyphyletic, Saicireta correntina is recovered as sister-species of Empicoris armatus + Collartida (Emesinae), Oncerotrachelus, Carayonia (Visayanocorinae), and the Clade Saicinae sensu stricto. Carayonia orientalis is recovered as sister-species of Saicinae sensu stricto. Ancestral state reconstruction of symmetry of the male genitalia shows an ancestor with symmetric male genitalia, two independent emergences of asymmetrical male genitalia within Saicinae sensu stricto, and the asymmetrical endosomal sclerites appearing before the other asymmetric traits.

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) of Colombia: An annotated checklist of species.

A checklist of 5 subfamilies, 108 genera, and 246 species of stinks bugs (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) from Colombia is provided. Three genera [Andrallus Bergroth, Placocoris Mayr, and Pseudobebaeus Distant], and eight species [Arocera spectabilis (Drury), Andrallus spinidens (Fabricius), Banasa excavata Thomas, Banasa saileri Thomas, Banasa varians Stl, Chinavia scutellata (Distant), Pelidnocoris haglundi Ruckes, and Pseudobebaeus truncatus (Fallou)] are recorded for the first time from Colombia. Images of dorsal external habitus for all genera that occur in Colombia are offered. This is the first time a comprehensive list of the stink bugs from Colombia is presented, providing a baseline to develop further studies in this group of true bugs.

emTagalis graziae/em, a new species of Saicinae from the Chocó biogeographic region in Colombia (Hemiptera: Reduviidae).

Tagalis graziae sp. nov., is described from a specimen collected in Risaralda, Colombia, in an area considered part of the Chocó biogeographic region. Among the species of Tagalis with a large and nearly horizontal posteromedial process of the pygophore, T. graziae sp. nov. can be recognized by its coloration pattern, in particular by having the profemur with a basal and apical dark brown band, the apex of the meso and metafemur with an apical narrow dark brown band, and the supracoxal lobes dark brown. Digital images of external morphological characters and of the genitalia are provided. An updated key to the species of Tagalis is presented to facilitate the identification of the new species.

Delicate and diverse: A taxonomic monograph with a phylogenetic analysis of the Neotropical genus Ghilianella Spinola (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae).

The Neotropical thread-legged bug genus Ghilianella Spinola, 1850 is the most diversified within Metapterini. A taxonomic revision of Ghilianella is presented, in which seventy seven species are recognized as valid, with twenty-one described as new: Ghilianella berengeri sp. nov.; Ghilianella bifurcata sp. nov.; Ghilianella bolivari sp. nov.; Ghilianella caldensis sp. nov.; Ghilianella dilatata sp. nov.; Ghilianella embera sp. nov.; Ghilianella fernandezi sp. nov.; Ghilianella ferruginosa sp. nov.; Ghilianella gilsantanai sp. nov.; Ghilianella goliath sp. nov.; Ghilianella gracilis sp. nov.; Ghilianella huaorani sp. nov.; Ghilianella jaguar sp. nov.; Ghilianella laticauda sp. nov.; Ghilianella maricruzae sp. nov.; Ghilianella quimbaya sp. nov.; Ghilianella scimitarra sp. nov.; Ghilianella tica sp. nov.; Ghilianella urbanoi sp. nov.; Ghilianella ventrimaculata sp. nov.; and Ghilianella weirauchae sp. nov. For the first time a female specimen is described for Ghilianella atriclava Bergroth, 1911, Ghilianella colona McAtee Malloch, 1925 and Ghilianella pachitea McAtee Malloch, 1925. Three new synonyms are recognized: Ghilianella bulbifera Champion, 1898 (=Ghilianella pendula McAtee Malloch, 1925 syn. nov.; Ghilianella inflata Maldonado, 1981 syn. nov.) and Ghilianella strigata McAtee Malloch, 1925 (=Ghilianella fenestrata Maldonado, 1960 syn. nov.). Eleven species are considered nomina dubia and one species nomen nudum. A key to species and digital images of the external morphology and genitalic structures for each species are provided. Additionally, we offer the first phylogenetic hypothesis of relationships within Ghilianella, using cladistic methods. Based on the phylogenetic results we dismiss all subgenera in Ghilianella and discuss the complex evolution of the abdominal expansions.

Evolutionary mechanisms for camouflage in Cladomorphus phyllinus (Phasmatodea): A reflection on the role of evidence for hypotheses proposition.

We address and discuss some of the many flaws exhibited by Costa et al. (2019) which tried to explain the twig-like camouflage of Cladomorphus phyllinus. Given the lack of both empirical and theoretical underpinnings in Costa et al. (2019), we call into question the validity of their conclusions, in particular, that horizontal gene transfer is a causal mechanism for the camouflage in C. phyllinus.

More new records of spider wasps from Colombia (Hymenoptera, Pompilidae).

Aporinellus Banks, Austrochares Banks and Dicranoplius Haupt are new generic records for Colombia, as well as the species Dipogon ariel Banks, Evagetes peruana Banks, and Euplaniceps notabilis (Smith). Five new combinations are formally endorsed: Aimatocare argentinica (Banks), comb. n.; Aimatocare longula (Banks), comb. n.; Aimatocare imitator (Evans), comb. n.; Aimatocare impensa (Evans), comb. n.; Aimatocare vitrea (Fox), comb. n. Although these names have been used in Pompilidae, no formal nomenclatural act had been proposed. The presence of Chirodamus paramicola Roig-Alsina, previously reported with uncertainty, is confirmed. Finally, a new combination for Euplaniceps notabilis (Smith), comb. n. is proposed based on molecular phylogenetics and morphological data. The Colombian fauna of Pompilidae sums up to 38 genera and approximately 150 species.

Small range distributions in the high Andes: two new species of Liaghinella (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae) from Colombia.

Liaghinella Wygodzinsky, 1966 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae: Metapterini), is an endemic Neotropical genus with two described species, one from Jamaica and one from Colombia. In this paper we describe two additional new species from the high Andes in Colombia, Liaghinella heldamariae sp. nov from Monserrate and Villa de Leyva, and L. tuberculata sp. nov. from Chicaque Natural Park, both in the Eastern Cordillera. The new species were collected very close to the type locality of the previously known Colombian species, L. andina Forero, 2007. These two new species differ from L. andina by having both a pair of conspicuous tubercles on the posterior margin of the pronotum, and by the structure of the male and female genitalia. Species diagnosis and descriptions, digital macrophotographies, and a key to separate the species of Liaghinella are presented. A discussion on the small range distributions exhibited by the high Andean species of Liaghinella is provided.

New records of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) from Colombia.

New records of genera and species of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) from Colombia are provided. Two genera are new records for South America: Alathetus and Schraderiellus. Fifteen genera are new record for Colombia: Agaclitus, Boea, Ceratozygum, Euthyrhynchus, Eritrachys, Doesburguedessa, Lopadusa, Marmessulus, Paralincus, Patanius, Peromatus, Phalaecus, Phoeacia, Rio, and Tyrannocoris. Forty-nine species from five subfamiles are recorded for the first time in Colombia. Asopinae: Coryzorhaphis carneolus Erichson, Coryzorhaphis superba Breddin, Euthyrhynchus floridanus (Linnaeus), Podisus sagitta Fabricius, Stiretrus anchorago (Fabricius), Stiretrus cinctellus Germar, Tylospilus peruvianus Horvath, Tyrannocoris nigriceps Thomas. Cyrtocorinae: Ceratozygum horridum (Germar). Discocephalinae: Agaclitus dromedarius Stål, Antiteuchus melanoleucus (Westwood), Antiteuchus sepulcralis (Fabricius), Dinocoris gibbosus (Fallou), Dinocoris variolosus (Linnaeus), Discocephalessa terminalis (Walker), Dryptocephala crenata Ruckes, Dryptocephala dentifrons (Latreille), Eurystethus ovalis Ruckes, Paralcippus dimidiatus (Ruckes), Alathetus rufitarsus Dallas, Eritrachys bituberculata Ruckes, Paralincus bimaculatus (Ruckes), Schraderiellus cinctus (Ruckes), Xynocoris recavus (Garbelotto & Campos). Edessinae: Brachystethus cribus (Fabricius), Brachystethus tricolor Bolívar, Doesburguedessa elongatispina Fernandes and Lopadusa fuscopunctata (Distant). Pentatominae: Banasa fulgida Thomas, Banasa paraexpallescens Thomas, Dichelops divisus (Walker), Dichelops nigrum Bergroth, Euschistus carbonerus Rolston, Mormidea bovilla (Distant), Mormidea triangularis (Walker), Murgantia bifasciata Herrich-Schaeffer, Murgantia violascens (Westwood), Oebalus pugnax (Fabricius), Oebalus ypsilon-griseus (DeGeer), Odmalea concolor (Walker), Patanius vittatus Rolston, Proxys albopunctulatus (Palisot), Proxys punctulatus (Palisot), Rhyncholepta grandicallosa Bergroth, Rio insularis Ruckes, Roferta marginalis (Herrich-Schäffer), Serdia concolor Ruckes, Sibaria armata (Dallas) and Taurocerus achilles (Stål). These new records for Colombia are importanst for the understanding of the distributional range of the genera and species involved.

New records of spider wasps (Hymenoptera, Pompilidae) from Colombia.

New records of genera and species of spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) from Colombia are provided. Agenioideus, Cryptocheilus, Evagetes, Mystacagenia, and Xerochares are newly recorded genera from Colombia. Nineteen species are first recorded from Colombia: Aimatocarevitrea (Fox); Ageniellaazteca (Cameron); Ageniellacurtipinus (Cameron); Ageniellafallax (Arlé); Ageniellahirsuta Banks; Ageniellapilifrons (Cameron); Ageniellapretiosa Banks; Ageniellasanguinolenta (Smith); Ageniellazeteki (Banks); Agenioideusbirkmanni (Banks); Aporus (Aporus) cuzco Evans; Aporus (Cosmiaporus) diverticulus (Fox); Aporus (Notoplaniceps) canescens Smith; Euplanicepsexilis (Banks); Euplanicepsherbertii (Fox); Irenangelusclarus Evans; Mystacageniabellula Evans; Phanochilusnobilitatus (Smith) and Xerocharesexpulsus Schulz. The following species and genera have their occurence ranges expanded for South America: Ageniellaazteca (Cameron); Ageniellazeteki (Banks); Agenioideusbirkmanni (Banks); and Xerocharesexpulsus Schulz; Cryptocheilus Panzer; and Xerochares Evans.

First record of the genus Tagalis Stål, 1860 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Saicinae) from Colombia with the description of two new species .

Tagalis Stål is recorded for the first time from Colombia and two species are described as new: Tagalis dichroa sp. nov., from Acandí (Chocó), and Tagalis albispina sp. nov., from Gorgona Island (Cauca). Based on the structure of the male genitalia of the known species, we here propose at least four species groups within Tagalis: 1) T. evavilmae, 2) T. femorata, 3) T. baenai, T. grossii, and T. marquesi, and 4) T. dichroa sp. nov., T. inornata, and T. seminigra. Tagalis albispina sp. nov. known only from the female holotype, cannot be placed into this scheme. Digital micrographs of the habitus and genitalia of the new species are provided. An updated key to the species of Tagalis is presented to facilitate the identification of the new species.