Range Extension of Diaditus tejanus (Heteroptera: Reduviidae)

Abstract

Diaditus tejanus was described in 1980 by Giacchi, who listed it from Mexico (Tehauantepec, Oaxaca; Chuminopolis, Yucatan) and Texas (Alvin, Brownsville, Mercedes). This species represented only the second of the genus reported from America north of Mexico. D. pictipes, described by Champion in 1898, is known from Guatemala, Mexico, and Texas (Giacchi 1982). Nothing else has been published on the biology of either species. Recently, while examining material from the entomology collections at the Universities of Missouri and Mississippi, we discovered 25 specimens of D. tejanus that had been collected in Florida and Mississippi. These collection records represent an eastward range extension from Alvin to Highlands Co., Florida (see below), of approximately 1,300 km, and a northeastern extension from Yucatan to Highlands Co. of approximately 1,100 km. These distribution records, along with those of Giacchi (1980, 1982), suggest that the range of this species may be restricted by coastal factors, because all records are from Florida to Mexico along the Gulf Coast and across the isthmus of Mexico at Tehuantepec. The label information and repositories for these specimens are given below; collection abbreviations include: University of Missouri-Columbia, UMC; University of Mississippi, UMISS; Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, SIUC; and National Museum of Natural History, NMNH: MISSISSIPPI: Hancock Co., Pt. Clear Island, 12-VIII-1986, Paul K. Lago (Coll.) (5 5 5), Sam Testa (Coll.) (4 5 5); same label information other than date, 15-VIII-1986, Paul K. Lago (Coll.) (6 55), Sam Testa (Coll.) (3 55); Hancock Co., 1.5 mi SW lakeshore, 12-VIII-1986, Sam Testa (1 5) (all specimens, UMISS). FLORIDA: Highlands Co., Highlands Hammock St. Pk., black light, 30-III-1979, E. Riley & D. LeDoux (Coll.) (1 5, UMC); Gadsden Co., 15 mi SW Quincy, 21-VIII1992, R. Beiriger (Coll.) (1 6, 1 Y, NMNH; 1 5, SIUC; 2 5 , UMC). We thank Paul K. Lago, Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, for the loan of the Mississippi specimens mentioned above.