288 Accepted: 1 Septemebr 2003; published: 9 September 2003 1 ZOOTAXA ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) Copyright © 2003 Magnolia Press Zootaxa 288: 1–6 (2003) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Synonymizing Microtomus sticheli Costa Lima, 1935 under M. tibi- alis Stichel, 1926 and redescription of the species (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) MARÍA DEL CARMEN COSCARON, MARÍA CECILIA MELO & NORA CUELLO Departamento Científico de Entomología, Museo de Ciencias Naturales de La Plata. U.N.L.P. Paseo del Bosque s/nº. (1900) La Plata. Buenos Aires. Argentina. Phone: 54- 0221- 424618 coscaron@netverk.com.ar cecimelo@netverk.com.ar Abstract At present, only hemelytra and connexival color patterns are diagnostic characters for differentiat- ing Microtomus tibialis Stichel and Microtomus sticheli Costa Lima. After analysis of several spec- imens from Brazil (Minas Gerais, Goiás, Bahia) and Bolivia (Santa Cruz), we conclude that M. sticheli is a synonym of M. tibialis. The diagnostic characters are variable and of low discrimina- tory value. Microtomus tibialis is redescribed, including male and female genitalia. Key words: Reduviidae, Hammacerinae, Microtomus tibialis, Microtomus sticheli, synonymy Introduction Members of the reduviid subfamily Hammacerinae live under the loose bark of decaying trees, and are attracted by light (Miller 1956). Undiano (1963, 1968) cited them as preda- tors of "kissing bugs" (Triatominae) and as natural carriers of Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas 1909. According to Maldonado Capriles (1990), the genus Microtomus consists of 13 spe- cies. Microtomus lunifer Berg, M. purcis Drury, M. luctuosus Stål, M. cinctipes Stål, M. conspicillaris Drury , M.gayi Spinola, and M. pessoai Lent & Suarez were treated in previ- ous contributions (Coscarón & Giacchi 1985, 1987; Giacchi & Coscarón 1986, 1989), where adults, immature stages, and eggs were redescribed. Champion (1989) and Stichel (1926) considered that some of the described species in the subfamily could be chromatic variations, not true taxonomic identities. The characters which vary are: color pattern of legs (Stichel 1926, Costa Lima 1935, Giacchi & Coscarón 1986), hemelytra (Stichel 1926, Costa Lima 1935, Coscarón & Giacchi 1985, 1987), and connexivum (Stål 1862, Stichel 1926, Coscarón & Giacchi 1985, 1986). Microtomus tibialis was described by Stichel