Formal Assignation of the Kissing Bug Triatoma lecticularia (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) to the Genus Paratriatoma †

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The genus Paratriatoma is closely related to the paraphyletic genus Triatoma—the most diverse and relevant in the epidemiology of Chagas disease. Molecular phylogenetic treatments consistently place the species Triatoma lecticularia (Stål, 1859) as a sister to the genus Paratriatoma. To determine its correct taxonomic assignment, we examined the morphology of several specimens, including types, and cytogenetic data for both taxa. The observations clearly support the transfer of Triatoma lecticularia (Stål, 1859) to the genus Paratriatoma, with the resulting new combination: Paratriatoma lecticularia (Stål, 1859) comb. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae). ABSTRACT: The subfamily Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) comprises hematophagous insects that are vectors of Chagas disease; including species assigned to the genera Triatoma and Paratriatoma. Initial examination of Triatoma lecticularia revealed the hirsuteness covering the entire body—a characteristic and striking feature of members of the genus Paratriatoma—and a systematic study revealed several other morphological characters that are in diagnostic alignment with Paratriatoma. Based on the examination of several specimens (including the lectotype), and with the additional support of molecular and cytogenetic data, we propose the formal transferal of Triatoma lecticularia (Stål, 1859) into the genus Paratriatoma with the resulting new combination: Paratriatoma lecticularia (Stål, 1859) comb. nov. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae).