taxonID	type	description	language	source
52663A498F10FFF5FF30FE9CFE860B8F.taxon	description	(Figs. 1 – 5)	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F10FFF5FF30FE9CFE860B8F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Castolus rafaeli sp. nov. is easily recognized from all the known species of Castolus by its contrasting black and orange or red coloration, being sexually dimorphic, in which males have a black body with red thorax (Figs. 1 A, B), whereas females have a mostly black body with red areas on the head, anterior pronotal lobe, posterior margin of posterior pronotal lobe, and abdomen (Figs. 2 A, B); by having both sexes the postantennal spines long and erect (Fig. 1 C); and the humeral spines long (Fig. 1 D).	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F10FFF5FF30FE9CFE860B8F.taxon	description	Description. Male. Average measurements, range within parentheses, n = 2 (first measurement is of holotype): Total length 14.88 mm (15.07 – 14.68); head length: 2.55 mm (2.51 – 2.60); head width: 1.57 mm (1.60 – 1.53); pronotal length: 2.86 mm (2.88 – 2.84); pronotal width: 3.39 mm (3.38 – 3.39). COLORATION: Overall coloration black with red areas (Fig. 1 A, B). Head: Black, collum red. Thorax: Red; pronotum red, humeral spines black; scutellum red (Fig. 1 D). Legs: Black, coxae red with an apicodorsal black area. Hemelytron: Shiny black, membrane dark. Abdomen: Black; sternite II ventrally and up to below spiracle red, sternite III on anteromedial portion red; pygophore black. VESTITURE: Hemelytron with sparse, very delicate, semi-decumbent setae. STRUCTURE: Elongated body. Head: Anteocular and postocular regions about the same length (Fig. 1 D); eye hemispherical, protruding laterally in dorsal view, not reaching dorsal or ventral margin in lateral view (Fig. 1 C); ocellus protruding, raised on postocular region, ocellus closer to eye than to other ocellus; postantennal spine thick, erect, long, almost as long as eye height (Fig. 1 C); scape as long as basiflagellomere, pedicel and distiflagellomere about the same length, nearly a third of scape length, basiflagellomere slightly wider on basal third (Fig. 1 D); first (visible) labial segment reaching posterior margin of eye, second and third segment as long as first, third less than half of second (Fig. 1 C). Thorax: Anterior angle of pronotum blunt; anterior pronotal lobe rounded, shorter than second, surface polished, longitudinal sulcus on posterior area deeply marked; posterior pronotal lobe trapezoidal, disc slightly elevated, humeral spines long, directed laterad (Fig. 1 D); scutellum with disc elevated, slightly medially depressed, apex with a blunt spine directed caudad; mesepisternum flat, without tubercles. Hemelytron: Membrane surpassing apex of abdomen (Fig. 1 A). Genitalia: Pygophore ovoid (Fig. 1 E); process of the genital opening (pgo) broadly produced dorsally, beset with long, dense setae on its posterior margin (Fig. 1 E); posterior margin of pygophore deeply emarginated medially, with paired setose areas, located close to the paramere socket (ps) (Fig. 1 F), setose areas (sa) placed on slightly elevated cuticle; median process of the pygophore (mpp) sigmoid in lateral view (Fig. 1 E), uniform in width in caudal view (Fig. 1 F), apex blunt; paramere long, almost reaching median process of pygophore, nearly cylindrical, with long, dense setae on dorsal surface of apex (Figs. 1 E, F); aedeagus with basal plate arms wide, slightly sinuous, close to each other, basal plate bridge very narrow and nearly membranous; dorsal phallothecal sclerite (dps) ovoid (Fig. 1 G), nearly flat in lateral view (Fig. 1 I); struts reaching about midpoint of dps, nearly parallel on basal half, divergent on apical half; endosoma with medial basal sclerotization (mbs) as a pair of short, longitudinal, slightly corrugated sclerites (Fig. 1 G); medial dorsal lobe (mdl) with a posterior, dorsally projected, strongly sclerotized Vshaped portion, beset with triangular microtrichia, anterior portion a pair of rounded, poorly sclerotized areas, with more sclerotized, strongly recurved margin beset with longer microtrichia (Fig. 1 G); distal dorsal lobe (ddl) beset with very small microtrichia; distal ventral lobe (dvl) with a pair of narrow sclerites (Fig. 1 H). Female: Stouter, similar to male except as follows. Average measurements, range within parentheses: Total length: 17.37 mm (16.37 – 18.51; n = 5); head length: 2.57 mm (2.36 – 2.68; n = 5); head width: 1.60 mm (1.48 – 1.64; n = 4); pronotal length: 2.86 mm (2.48 – 3.02; n = 5); pronotal width: 3.84 mm (3.35 – 4.08; n = 5). COLORATION: Overall coloration bright red with black markings (Figs. 2 A, B). Head: Red; labrum and anterior portion of clypeus black; antenna black, flagellomeres paler than scape and pedicel; area between antennal tubercles black, sometimes black coloration extending anteriorly reaching the clypeus; postantennal spine black; postocular region adjacent to ocelli black; second and third (visible) labial segments black (Fig. 2 B). Thorax: Anterior pronotal lobe red, anterior angle black; posterior pronotal lobe including humeral spines black, posterior margin with a broad red area, with three prolongations extending anteriad, one at base of each humeral spine, and one medial, lateral ones longer than medial one, length and width on these anteriad red markings variable, from almost not extending anteriad (Fig. 2 C, 3 B) to strongly extending anteriad nearly reaching anterior lobe of pronotum (Fig. 3 A); scutellum red; pleura red, procoxal lobes black connecting to black area of posterior pronotal lobe, meso- and metacoxal lobes with a smaller black area, mesepisternum on area dorsal to mesocoxal lobe with a small black area (Fig. 2 B). Legs: Black, coxae red with an apicodorsal black area; mid and hind femur with narrow pale ring on middle of segment, inconspicuous dorsally, rarely visible dorsally. Hemelytron: shiny black, membrane dark. Abdomen: Red; tergites darkened; lateral areas on sternites III – VII, between each segment, with irregular ovoid dark areas, sometimes anterior lateral area of segment III with a smaller ovoid black area (Fig. 2 B); posterior lateral area of segment VII with a small dark area; gonocoxa 8 medially darkened; gonapophysis 8 darkened apically; syntergite 9 / 10 darkened apically. STRUCTURE: Head: Eye slightly reniform (Fig. 2 B); basiflagellomere of uniform diameter. Genitalia: Gonocoxa 8 (gcx 8) with posterior margin slightly concave; gonapophysis 8 (gap 8) narrow, apically with numerous, stout, short setae (Fig. 2 F); gonocoxa and gonapophysis 9 not examined; gonoplac (gpl) not medially fused, apically rounded; syntergite 9 / 10 quadrangular, proximal half with a round, strongly convex area, with small anterior portion concave, distal half with narrow transversely depressed area, distal portion strongly convex; bursa copulatrix subrectangular, membranous (Fig, 2 D), area of insertion of median oviduct (mo) in bursa completely membranous (Fig. 2 E); subrectal glands present, nearly as long as bursa (Fig. 2 D). Nymphs: 1 st instar (Fig. 4 B): pale yellow without dark markings. 3 rd instar (Fig. 4 C): dark yellow; antenna dark, distiflagellomere yellow; wing pads dark; abdominal mediotergites with a longitudinal red line reaching mid length of abdomen; head ovoid, postantennal spine not conspicuous; anterior lobe of pronotum ovoid, shiny, strongly convex; abdomen large and ovoid. 4 th instar (Fig. 4 D): similar to 3 rd instar, darker, postantennal spines small, blunt. 5 th instar: orange-red with black markings; seemly dimorphic; female (Fig. 4 E) with apex of clypeus black; second and third (visible) labial segments black; postantennal spine and adjacent area black; ocellar area black; postocular portion of head laterally black; antenna black with flagellomeres paler; pronotum with anterolateral angle black, large lateral, smaller medial, and posterior markings black; wing pads black, legs black; abdominal mediotergites 7 – 8 with a medial black area, segment 9 black; male (Fig. 4 F) similar to female, but with less dark markings on head ant thorax; mid and hind femur with medial, narrow pale ring; both sexes with long and erect postantennal spine (Figs. 4 E, F).	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F10FFF5FF30FE9CFE860B8F.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. HOLOTYPE: COLOMBIA — Antioquia • 1 ♂; El Retiro, finca la Pilarica; 06.07118 ° N 75.496831 ° W; 2100 m; 30 ene 2018; A. Mejía leg.; criado de huevos [bred from egg batch] / CEUA 109653 / (red label) Holotype Castolus rafaeli sp. nov. Forero & Mejía-Soto (CEUA). PARATYPES: COLOMBIA — Antioquia • 1 ♀; El Carmen de Viboral, v [ere] da Camargo; [06.0720 ° N, 75.3409 ° W]; 2150 – 2200 m; May 2010; K. Quintero leg.; [colecta] manual; CEUA 99058 (CEUA) • 1 ♀; same data; 22 May 2010; J. Garcia leg.; CEUA 99059 (CEUA) • 1 ♀; Girardota, vda [vereda] Juan Cojo; [06.3504 ° N, 75.4574 ° W]; 1600 – 1700 m; 22 – 26 ago 2009; bosque; CEUA 99128 (CEUA) • 1 ♂; El Retiro, finca la Pilarica; 06.07118 ° N, 75.496831 ° W; 2100 m; 30 ene 2018; A. Mejía leg.; criado de huevos [reared from eggs]; [genitalia dissected]; MPUJ _ ENT 00064056 (MPUJ _ ENT) • 1 ♂; same data; 11 Jul 2018; reared from eggs; MPUJ _ ENT 0068465 (MPUJ _ ENT) • 1 ♂; same data; 28 Jul 2018; reared from eggs; MPUJ _ ENT 0068466 (MPUJ _ ENT) • 1 ♀; same data; 8 May 2018; reared from eggs; MPUJ _ ENT 0068467 (MPUJ _ ENT) • 1 ♀; same data; 3 Feb 2018; breeding female; MPUJ _ ENT 0068468 (MPUJ _ ENT) • 1 ♀; Guarne, vereda La Honda; [06.2261 ° N, 75.4587 ° W]; 1250 m; 13 Abr 2014; Edison Toro S. leg.; 237 [abdomen dissected] (MEFLG) • 1 ♀; San Vicente, v [ere] da Chaparral; 6 ° 15 ’ 49 ” N, 75 ° 21 ’ 40 ” W; 2100 – 2200 m; 11 Dic 2015; A. Mejía leg.; [en] domicilio, [colecta] manual; CEUA 99110 (CEUA). OTHER EXAMINED MATERIAL: COLOMBIA — Antioquia • 6 nymphs, 1 st instar; El Retiro, finca la Pilarica; 06.07118 ° N, 75.496831 ° W; 2100 m; 11 Mar 2018; A. Mejia leg.; criados de huevos [reared from egg batch]; in ETOH; CEUA 109646 (CEUA) • 4 nymphs, 2 nd instar; same data; 30 Mar 2018; in ETOH; CEUA 109647 (CEUA) • 4 nymphs, 3 rd instar; same data; 20 Apr 2018; in ETOH; CEUA 109648 (CEUA) • 3 nymphs, 4 th instar; same data; 15 May 2018; in ETOH; CEUA 109649 (CEUA) • 5 nymphs, 5 th instar; same data; 2 Jun 2018; in ETOH; CEUA 109650 (CEUA). (iNaturalist observations): COLOMBIA — Antioquia • 1 nymph; Envigado; 06.1181 ° N, 75.5814 ° W; 29 Jan 2014; A. Ortega leg; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 66622640 • 1 ♀; Carrera 43 C, Cl. 4 Sur # 199, Medellín; 06.1995442 ° N, 75.5765974 ° W; 28 Jan 2017; David Foster leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 20262656 • 1 ♀; El Carmen de Viboral; 06.051249 ° N, 75.326458 ° W; 2300 m; 8 Dic 2019; Á. M. Gómez leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 36488939 • 1 ♂; El Carmen de Viboral; 06.051249 ° N, 75.326458 ° W; 2300 m; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 36513106 • 1 ♀; [near El Carmen de Viboral]; 6.0573 ° N 75.3709 ° W; 2300 m; 30 Apr 2019; Á. M. Gómez leg.; seen walking around the house, among the house plants, roofs, grass, frequent in the garden, [preying on a Muscidae]; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 36488934 • 1 ♀; [near El Carmen de Viboral]; 06.0607 ° N, 75.3023 ° W; 29 Sep 2019; Á. M. Gómez leg.; seen walking around the house, among the house plants, roofs, grass, frequent in the garden; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 36488930 • 1 ♂; [near El Carmen de Viboral]; 06.0399 ° N, 75.3224 ° W; 2300 m; 17 Oct 2019; Á. M. Gómez leg.; relatively frequent near the house and surroundings; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 36513101 • 1 ♀; Guarne, 06.295493 ° N, 75.472604 ° W; 23 Jun 2019; S. Serna leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 27601988 • 1 ♂; Guarne; 06.29563 ° N, 75.47256 ° W; 1 Jan 2020; S. Serna leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 37217235 • 1 ♀; [Hacienda] Fizebad, [near embalse La Fe]; 06.09581 ° N, 75.51282 ° W; 14 Ago 2020; V. Aboultaif leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 56446616 • 1 ♀; Peñol; 06.21996 ° N, 75.24353 ° W; 23 Dic 2018; V. Mercier leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 27835514 • 1 ♂; Retiro; 06.05890 ° N, 75.49937 ° W; 15 May 2020; S. Múnera leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 46021041 • 1 ♂; Retiro; 06.09734 ° N, 75.50804 ° W; D. Foster leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 36544670 • 1 ♀; Rionegro; 06.18338 ° N, 75.46163 ° W; 9 Jan 2020; S. Jisi leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 42307121 — Santander • 1 ♀; Bolívar; 06.146553 ° N, 73.81020 ° W; 14 Feb 2020; U. Camargo leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 39544078 • 1 ♀; Bolívar; 06.14642 ° N, 73.81005 ° W; 13 Feb 2020; U. Camargo leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 39544102. PANAMA — Coclé • 1 ♀; el Valle [de Anton]; 08.621605 ° N, 80.1394312 ° W; 2 Sep 2012; E. R. Nielsen leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 18126830.	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F10FFF5FF30FE9CFE860B8F.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Colombia and probably also Panama. Examined specimens from entomological collections are all from northern Colombia, from localities on the Central Cordillera in Antioquia, especially on eastern areas between 2,000 – 2,250 m (Fig. 5 A, circles). Observations from iNaturalist (Fig. 5 A, inverted triangles) are also from these areas in Antioquia, with an additional locality in Santander on the Eastern Cordillera. Additionally, an examined image from iNaturalist of this new species is from central Panama (Fig. 5 A, inverted triangle). Future studies should corroborate with specimens the presence of C. rafaeli sp. nov. in Panama.	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F10FFF5FF30FE9CFE860B8F.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. Most of the observed specimens in the field were found in low vegetation or close to houses in the countryside during the day. The observations from iNaturalist are congruent with our field observations and show that both sexes can be found in these circumstances. In some cases, specimens were observed hunting Muscidae flies, as well as other Brachycera, but from the iNaturalist images examined it is certain that other prey can be consumed as well. The female kept in the rearing chamber laid 5 eggs masses (Fig. 4 A), hatching between 30 – 35 nymphs from each. The first oviposition was on February 5 th, 2018, and after 30 to 31 days the nymphs emerged. The last oviposition was on April 7 th, 2018. The average time between each oviposition was 10 – 24 days, and it took 29 – 31 day to hatch all the eggs. After hatching, it took between 22 – 35 days to molt into II instar, from II to III instar 22 – 28 days, from III to IV instar 23 – 27 days, from IV to V between 23 – 26 days, and finally from V to adult 14 – 25 days for males and 34 – 40 days for females. Nevertheless, very few individuals were able to reach the adult stage; e. g., in one egg mass, only 9 out of 35 specimens reached the adult stage, where 8 were males and 1 a female. The female which oviposited the egg masses remained alive for 3 months after capture as an adult, but the longevity must be much longer. It must be noted that these observations were based on different egg masses from a single female, which does not allow generalization of developmental times for the species.	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F10FFF5FF30FE9CFE860B8F.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The new species is named after the senior author’s son, Rafael Forero, in celebration of his life and the possibility to help him accomplish his dreams. Rafael likes to paint and enjoys using vibrant colors, and thus, we are sure he will be thrilled having such a striking-colored true bug named after him.	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F10FFF5FF30FE9CFE860B8F.taxon	discussion	Discussion. Maldonado (1976) provided a redescription of Castolus, indicating the most relevant external characters that characterize this genus. Castolus is nonetheless a challenging taxon to diagnose, as evidenced by the molecular phylogenetic analysis of Zhang & Weirauch (2014), in which most terminals assigned to Castolus fall into a single clade, with a few terminals identified as “ cf. Castolus ” found outside this clade. At least some of the terminals in their analysis identified as such might be in fact other taxa, e. g., UCR _ ENT 00005122 (“ cf. Castolus 2280 ”), which is a good Repipta species based on its external morphology. Swanson and Chordas (2018) highlighted the most important attributes that might allow recognition of the genus, including the mesopleuron without a tubercle (= “ plica ” of authors), the first visible labial segment longer than the second, the lack of spines on the posterior margin the posterior pronotal lobe, femora apically without spines, and hemelytra not wider than pronotal width. Both Maldonado (1976) and Swanson and Chordas (2018) also discussed the value of the male genitalia in helping recognize Castolus. In general, species of Castolus have a non-bifid median process of the pygophore, and a pair of setose areas on the posterior margin of the pygophore adjacent to the median process. Nonetheless, some characters are variable within the genus, such as the armature of the humeral angles, ranging from completely rounded (e. g., C. plagiaticollis) to strongly spined (e. g., C. lineatus), or the structure of the anterior pronotal lobe, which is barely convex in some species or large and inflated in others (e. g., C. trinotatus). Maldonado (1976) stated that species of Castolus have very short postantennal spines, and some species even lack them, although might have short ones (e. g., C. subinermis). Thus, having a new species with a well-developed postantennal spine and marked sexual dimorphism, fits well with the present delimitation of Castolus (Maldonado 1976; Swanson & Chordas 2018). Castolus rafaeli sp. nov. superficially resembles a few other Harpactorini species from South America due to its contrasting black and red coloration. Females of the new species externally resembles females of Zelus chamaeleon Stål, 1872 (Zhang et al. 2016 a) (https: // bit. ly / 3 lyptjw, https: // bit. ly / 3 lwsIYJ) because of its mostly dark dorsal coloration with red areas on the head, pronotum, and abdominal sternites. Castolus rafaeli sp. nov. can easily be distinguished from Z. chamaeleon because of the presence of a large, erect, postantennal spine, which is completely lacking in Z. chamaeleon, and because the anterior lobe of the pronotum in Z. chamaeleon is always black whereas in C. rafaeli sp. nov. is always red. Another striking similar species is Repipta fuscipes (Stål, 1855), which has a nearly identical coloration (Martin-Park et al. 2012), particularly to females of C. rafaeli sp. nov. The new species can be separated from R. fuscipes because of the lack of paired posteriad medial spines on the posterior lobe of the pronotum, a character shared by all known species of Repipta, and by the large and erect postantennal spines, which in R. fuscipes are mere small tubercles. It is unknown if these species are part of a mimetic complex, but at least C. rafaeli sp. nov. and Z. chamaeleon might be sympatric because both can be found in Antioquia. The male of C. rafaeli sp. nov. was unknown among the specimens examined, until rearing egg masses from a female showed that the male exhibited a completely different coloration pattern (Figs. 1 A, 2 A). The striking different coloration between sexes might have hindered their association as a single species if not reared from the same egg batch. This extreme sexual dimorphism is not found in other species of Castolus, where only minor differences in the color pattern are found (e. g., C. lineatus). Sexually dimorphic species are rare in Harpactorini, but there are a few Neotropical species with such attribute. In Corcia columbica Stål, 1859, males and females have constant but completely different color patterns each (see female: https: // bit. ly / 350 Xt 0 u; male: https: // bit. ly / 3 w 4 PKKB). In two species of Zelus, Z. laticornis (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1853) and Z. versicolor (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1848), there is also marked sexual dimorphism (Gil-Santana 2008; Zhang et al. 2016 a). It is still unknown the biological reason for a sexually dimorphic color pattern among these species of Harpactorinae. Color pattern is the main character used to separate species within Castolus (Brailovsky 1982; Maldonado 1976; Swanson & Chordas 2018), therefore, understanding the variability of color patterns in different taxa is important to help recognize the limits for species in Castolus.	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F19FFF3FF30F911FE860CB8.taxon	description	(Fig. 6 A)	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F19FFF3FF30F911FE860CB8.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Maldonado (1976) did not include C. nigriventris Breddin, 1904 in his key or in his taxon treatment section. He stated that Breddin’s holotype seems to be lost, and apparently was not at the DEI. We recently contacted Dr. S. Blank (DEI) and he confirmed that Breddin’s type is not there. We also contacted Dr. M. Husemann (ZMUH) who stated as well that Breddin’s type is not there, so apparently Breddin’s type could be lost. Alternatively, Dr. Blank indicated that it might still be possible for Breddin’s type to be unlabeled as a type and be sitting along his undetermined material, as has been the case with other Breddin type material. Unfortunately, so far, we have not been able to find such specimen. Maldonado (1976) indicated that Breddin’s description was insufficient to identify this species, but we disagree. Breddin (1904) described C. nigriventris as follows: “ ... a dull black, broad animal, in which only a longitudinal band of the posterior lobe of the pronotum, along with its broad posterior margin and the slender spicules of the humeral angles, as well as the hemelytra, and a very narrow margin of the abdomen [connexivum], are somewhat dull light yellow. ” Following Breddin’s description it is clear that this particular and striking color pattern, being mostly black with yellow hemelytra and black and yellow posterior pronotal lobe, is exactly the same as the color pattern described for C. bicolor Maldonado (Fig. 6 A). The only difference is that the pale areas in the holotype of C. bicolor are rather orange than yellow. Therefore, because of the same coloration patter between the two species, we synonymize Maldonado’s species under Breddin’s. Maldonado (1976) also offered an intriguing observation, he mentioned that he had examined a female specimen from Trinidad with less extensive black areas on the pronotum, but otherwise very similar to the holotype of C. bicolor. He hypothesized that this might be the female of the specimen he described. Unfortunately, he did not illustrate this specimen. Similar to what happens in C. lineatus and other species, some color variation might occur, with an extreme sexually dimorphic condition in C. rafaeli sp. nov.	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F19FFF3FF30F911FE860CB8.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Castolus bicolor Maldonado, 1976. HOLOTYPE: TRINIDAD [AND TOBAGO] — 1 ♂; W. I. [West Indies], Arima Valley; 800 – 1200 ft.; Feb 1966; J. G. Rozen collector / (red label) HOLOTYPE / AMNH _ IZC 00343371 (barcode) / “ Castolus bicolor det. Maldonado ” J Maldonado C 1975 (AMNH).	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F19FFF3FF30F911FE860CB8.taxon	distribution	Distribution: Castolus nigriventris is known from Bolivia (Breddin 1904) and Trinidad and Tobago (Maldonado 1976).	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F1FFFF1FF30FE05FEDC0A15.taxon	description	(Figs. 7 – 8)	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F1FFFF1FF30FE05FEDC0A15.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Stål (1862) described Repipta subinermis, which he later transferred to Castolus (Stål 1872). He based his description on females from Mexico and deposited them at the NHRS and NHMW. We are here designating a lectotype for Repipta subinermis, selecting the syntype deposited at NHMW that fits the length indicated by Stål (1862) and which was figured by Champion (1899, his fig. 6, Tab 17) (Sehnal 2000), thus following Recommendation 74 B of the ICZN (1999). Maldonado (1976) in his synopsis of Castolus stated not having examined specimens of C. subinermis, but nonetheless included this species in his identification key. Brailovsky (1982) provided additional distributional data for species of Castolus including C. subinermis. Maldonado and Brailovsky (1992) later described as new C. annulatus, based on some of those “ C. subinermis ” specimens, indicating that Brailovsky’s (1982) identification of C. subinermis was in error and that they belonged to a new species. Maldonado and Brailovsky (1992) did not provide comparative notes on how to separate these two species. Studying photos of the lectotype and paralectotype of C. subinermis (Figs. 8 A, B), and the holotype of C. annulatus (Fig. 7 A), show that both are similar in having rather short humeral angles, and a similar head, pronotal, hemelytral, and ventral abdominal coloration patterns. Given that Maldonado (1976) never stated having examined the syntype series of C. subinermis, he probably had an erroneous concept for this species, and thus the confusion about the identity of C. subinermis (e. g., Maldonado & Brailovsky 1992). Therefore, we formally synonymize C. annulatus under C. subinermis. Elkins (1962) described Mucrolicter to accommodate the new species M. alienus, and stated that this genus is related to, but different from, Castolus due to its trifid median process of the pygophore. Maldonado (1976) showed that males of Castolus species have a patch of hairs next to the median process of the pygophore, sometimes on raised tubercles giving the impression of a trifid posterior margin on the pygophore (e. g., C. nigriventris [as C. bicolor], C. spissicornis, C. plagiaticollis). Nevertheless, the situation is more complex because some species of Castolus apparently exhibit tumescent areas adjacent to the median process (e. g., C. pallidus), being an intermediate between a non-raised area (e. g., C. lineatus) (Maldonado 1976; Swanson & Chordas 2018) and a fully protruding one as the one exhibited by Mucrolicter (Elkins 1962). Even when the holotype of M. alienus (Fig. 7 B) has some minor color differences when compared to the lectotype of C. subinermis, for instance the smaller dark area on the posterior lobe of the pronotum and the darker apex of the femora (Fig. 8 A), the structure of male pygophore (Fig. 7 B) is identical to the drawing presented by Maldonado & Brailovsky (1992), in which their holotype (C. annulatus) has a color pattern extremely similar to that of the lectotype of C. subinermis. Therefore, because Mucrolicter is monotypic, and given the evidence presented, we here propose the formal synonymy of Mucrolicter under Castolus.	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F1FFFF1FF30FE05FEDC0A15.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Mexico (Maldonado & Brailovsky 1992; Stål 1862), Guatemala (Elkins 1962; Zhang & Weirauch 2013), Honduras, Belize, Nicaragua, and Panama (Elkins 1962).	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F1FFFF1FF30FE05FEDC0A15.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Castolus subinermis (Stål, 1862). LECTOTYPE: MEXICO • 1 ♀; “ Mexico ” Coll. Signoret. / “ subinermis ” det. Stal / B. C. A. Rhyn. II. Castolus “ subinermis St. ” / Sp. figured. / (red label) Syntypus Repipta subinermis Stål, 1862 etik. Hecher 1996 REDV. 211 / 1 / Lectotype Repipta subinermis Stål, 1862 Desig. by D. Forero & A. Mejía (NHMW). PARALECTOTYPE: MEXICO • 1 ♀; Mexico. / Signt. / “ subinermis Stål ” / (red label) Typus / NHRS-GULI 000000502 / Paralectotype Repipta subinermis Stål, 1862 Desig. by D. Forero & A. Mejía (NHRS). OTHER TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype of Castolus annulatus. MEXICO — Oaxaca • 1 ♂; “ Tuxtepec, Oaxaca ”; “ 29 - III- 76 ”; “ J. Bueno ” leg. / (red label) HOLOTYPE / “ Castolus annulosus Maldonado [and] Brailovsky 1992 ” (UNAM). Holotype of Mucrolicter alienus. GUATEMALA • 1 ♂; “ Guatemala, bananas ” / [USA] “ Mobile, Ala ”; “ III / 11 / 37 ” / “ Mucrolicter alienus Elk. ” 1961 Det. J. C. Elkins / (red label) HOLOTYPE / UCR _ ENT 00007989 (bar code) (USNM).	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F1DFFEFFF30F8AEFD120DC3.taxon	description	(Figs. 5 B, 9 A)	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F1DFFEFFF30F8AEFD120DC3.taxon	discussion	Remarks. At MEFLG several specimens of C. lineatus were found, although all were identified as “ C. subinermis ”. As shown above, C. subinermis is a rather different Central American species, representing all specimens a misidentification. Recently, immature forms of C. lineatus were described from Colombia (Laiton Jiménez et al. 2018).	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F1DFFEFFF30F8AEFD120DC3.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This species was described from Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia (Maldonado 1976), although no precise localities were given in the original description from Costa Rica or Colombia. A single additional locality in Huila, Colombia, was provided by Laiton Jiménez (2018). New localities from Colombia are provided here. In addition, several records from Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia based on photographs from iNaturalist are included given that this species can be easily identified by its dorsal coloration. Based on these records, C. lineatus is also recorded for the first time from Ecuador, considerably extending south the distribution of this species (Fig. 5 B).	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F1DFFEFFF30F8AEFD120DC3.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. COLOMBIA — Antioquia • 1 ♀; Medellín; [06.2365 ° N, 75.5771 ° W]; 1538 m; Jul 1943; F. Gallego leg.; No. catal. 1039; C- 32 # 64 (MEFLG) • 1 ♂; V. [alle de] Medellín; [06.2365 ° N, 75.5771 ° W]; Jul 1945; Gallego leg.; en pared (MEFLG) • 1 ♀; Guadalupe; [06.8617 ° N, 75.2238 ° W]; May 1942; Gallego leg.; No. catal. 1039 (MEFLG) • 1 ♂; Caldas; [06.0545 ° N, 75.6266 ° W]; 1700 m; Ago 1989; J. Vallejo leg.; en arbusto (MEFLG) • 1 ♂; Pto. Araujo; [06.5189 ° N, 74.1056 ° W]; Ago 1945, Gallego leg. (MEFLG) • 1 ♀; La Estrella, vereda San Jose; [06.1311 ° N, 75.6208 ° W]; 1775 m; 3 Sep 2007; S. Ramirez leg.; mano [manual collecting] (MEFLG) — Cundinamarca • 1 ♂; Venecia, vereda Espíritu Santo, ~ 1.7 km SebE de Venecia; 04.0825 ° N, 74.4636 ° W; 1864 m; 16 – 20 Sep 2019; G. Troncoso, J. Jiménez, S. Infante leg.; colecta manual, ambiente semiurbano; MPUJ _ ENT 0068896 (MPUJ _ ENT) — Huila • 1 # f; La Plata, vereda El Jazmín, finca Los Robles; 2 ° 20 ’ 24.8 ” N, 75 ° 57 ’ 37.4 ” W; 1938 m; 2017; L. Laiton leg.; en cultivo de Coffea arabica (MPUJ _ ENT). OTHER EXAMINED MATERIAL (iNaturalist observations): COLOMBIA — Antioquia • 1 ♀; Copacabana, vereda El Salado; 06.3585 ° N, 75.4818 ° W; 13 May 2017; A. Arroyave leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 21706177 • 1 adult, sex unknown; Envigado; 06.1783 ° N, 75.5774 ° W; 23 Jun 2020; S. Graciano leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 52314796 • 1 adult, sex unknown; Girardota; 06.3616 ° N, 75.4473 ° W; 8 Jun 2013; J. S. Restrepo leg; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 78740908 • 1 ♀; vía Manga Arriba, Girardota; 06.3606 ° N, 75.46084 ° W; 28 Abr 2019; D. Jiménez leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 24221472 • 1 adult, sex unknown; La Florida, Itagüí; 06.1574 ° N, 75.6252 ° W; 5 Sep 2020; N. Zambrano leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 58602229 • 1 adult, sex unknown; Medellín; 06.2643 ° N, 75.5506 ° W; 18 Jun 2018; D. Garcí leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 13552625 • 1 ♀; Medellín; 06.2173 ° N, 75.5944 ° W; 17 Jul 2019; E. Ríos leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 29082343 • 1 adult, sex unknown; Medellín; 06.2083 ° N, 75.5529 ° W; 7 Nov 2019; N. Lewis leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 35408114 • 1 adult, sex unknown; Medellín; 06.2292 ° N, 75.6090 ° W; 14 Jun 2019; M. J. Arias leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 42911216 • 1 adult, sex unknown; Medellín; 06.2377 ° N, 75.5454 ° W; 16 May 2020; A. N. Cardozo leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 46392911 • 1 adult, sex unknown; Medellín; 06.2330 ° N, 75.5630 ° W; 18 Jun 2020; G. A. Rodríguez leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 50049789 • 1 adult, sex unknown; Medellín; 06.2476 ° N, 75.56581 ° W; 25 Aug 2020; I. Tamayo leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 57919847 • 1 adult, sex unknown; Medellín; 06.2503 ° N, 75.6071 ° W; 11 Oct 2020; L. Chamorro leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 62301964 — Bogotá D. C. • 1 adult, sex unknown; Bogotá, San Cristóbal; 04.5493 ° N, 74.0909 ° W; 7 May 2021; H. N. Ussa leg; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 79194233 — Boyacá • 1 adult, sex unknown; Villa de Leyva; 05.6352 ° N, 73.5344 ° W; 23 May 2020; L. S. Quintero leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 47060919 • 1 adult, sex unknown; Jenesano; 05.3842 ° N, 73.3645 ° W; 13 May 2021; C. Cortes leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 78601379 — Caldas • 1 adult, sex unknown; Sipirra, Riosucio; 05.4298 ° N, 75.69081 ° W; 20 Jun 2014; S. Arango leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 42809383 — Santander • 1 adult, sex unknown; El Carmen de Chucurí; 06.6266 ° N 73.5954 ° W; 8 Ago 2018, J. D. Quiroga leg; https: // www. inaturalist. org / photos / 23193642 • 1 adult, sex unknown; Comuna 7 La Ciudadela, Bucaramanga; 07.1049 ° N, 73.1208 ° W; 18 Jun 2020; J. Rodriguez leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 50618627 • 1 adult, sex unknown; Vélez; 06.0094 ° N, 73.6674 ° W; 26 Jun 2019; V. Moncada leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 27703198. COSTA RICA — Alajuela • 1 ♀; Bijagua de Upala, Las Heliconias Lodge and Hanging Gardens; 10.7131 ° N, 85.0410 ° W; 9 Abr 2016; J. M. Tobin leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / people / jmtobin 6975. ECUADOR — Los Ríos • 1 adult, sex unknown; Finca María José, Banaloly, Babahoyo; 01.7117 ° S, 79.5249 ° W; 17 Sep 2020; F. Campos leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 60393117 • 1 adult, sex unknown; Babahoyo; 01.7961 ° S, 79.5205 ° W; 10 Dec 2020; A. Hurtares leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 66517882 — Manabí • 1 adult, sex unknown; Sube y Baja, Flavio Alfaro; 00.3355 ° S, 79.7590 ° W; 13 Jun 2020; V. Herrera leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 57404762. PANAMA — Colón • 1 adult, sex unknown; Gamboa; 09.1164 °, 79.6965 ° W; 27 Abr 2020; S. Wench leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 44502669.	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F03FFEFFF30FEDDFBFB0907.taxon	description	(Fig. 9 C, 10 A)	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F03FFEFFF30FEDDFBFB0907.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species was only known from “ Nova Granada, Bogota ” (Stål 1872), a political division that encompassed mostly what is nowadays Colombia and Panama. This is the first time that an exact locality is given for this species. Unlike other Reduviidae specimens similarly labelled as “ Bogotá ” that might be actually from lowland areas (e. g., Forero 2006), the examined specimen and photograph of the syntype (Holston 2019) indicate that C. multicinctus is found in the high Andes, and only known from the Bogotá plateau. Castolus multicintus might be confused with species of Rhynocoris due to its external resemblance, but Rhynocoris do not occur in South America. Maldonado (1976) redescribed this species based on a single female syntype specimen. Label data of the examined specimen indicate that it was on a “ fique ”, probably a Furcraea (Asparagaceae), preying on a caterpillar. Males of this species are so far unknown.	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F03FFEFFF30FEDDFBFB0907.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Originally described from “ Nova Granada ” (Stål 1872), and here recorded from two localities nearby Bogotá, on the high Andes in Colombia (Fig. 10 A).	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F03FFEFFF30FEDDFBFB0907.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined: SYNTYPE: [COLOMBIA] • 1 ♀; “ Bogota ” / NHRS-GULI 000000499 (NHRS). https: // www. gbif. org / occurrence / 1146459445 OTHER EXAMINED MATERIAL: COLOMBIA — Cundinamarca • 1 ♀: El Rosal; [04.8622 ° N, 74.2641 ° W]; 2750 m; 29 Sep 2002; E. Florez leg.; sobre hoja de agave (fique), depredando sobre oruga, cerca a termal; ICN 044922 (ICN). (iNaturalist observation): COLOMBIA — Cundinamarca • 1 ♀: Facatativá; 04.8508 ° N, 74.3471 ° W; 1 Jul 2020; N. Baresch leg.; bajo tablas; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 51623700.	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F03FFEFFF30FB99FED70AAF.taxon	description	(Figs. 9 B, 10 B)	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F03FFEFFF30FB99FED70AAF.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Although no specimens from Colombia were examined, digital images from iNaturalist of two adult specimens were studied. Both specimens agree completely with the coloration pattern from specimens from Panama (Fig. 9 B). Castolus pallidus is extremely similar to C. bolivari Brailovsky, 1982 (Fig. 6 B), and the two apparently do not overlap in distribution. Both species have the postocular area of the head black, the basal area of the hemelytron black, a reddish scutellum, and the apex of the femora black. Castolus bolivari has a narrow black area dividing the anterior and posterior pronotal lobes, and a broad red area on the anterior half of the posterior lobe of the pronotum, whereas C. pallidus has a unicolor posterior lobe and no dark markings between the anterior or posterior lobes. In live specimens the posterior lobe of the pronotum in C. pallidus is pinkish. Because C. bolivari was described from a single female specimen (Brailovsky 1982), study of the male genitalia of these two closely related species will help to better assess the species limits.	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F03FFEFFF30FB99FED70AAF.taxon	distribution	Distribution: This species was described from Panama with no further records from other countries (Maldonado 1976). Examination of iNaturalist records show that this species is more widespread in Central America. This is a new species record from Costa Rica and Colombia (Fig. 10 B).	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F03FFEFFF30FB99FED70AAF.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. PARATYPE: PANAMA — [Colón] • 1 ♀; Coco Solo hospital, C. Z.; 8 May 1972; D. Engleman leg.; at light / Allotype (red label) / Castolus pallidus Maldonado 1976 (USNM). OTHER EXAMINED MATERIAL (iNaturalist observations): COLOMBIA — Choco • 1 adult, sex unknown; Capurganá; 08.6047 ° N, 77.3660 ° W; 28 Dec 2018; G. Bohne leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 26793701 — Santander • 1 adult, sex unknown; El Carmen de Chucurí; 06.6266 ° N, 73.5952 ° W; 27 Dec 2018, J. D. Quiroga leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 19419256. COSTA RICA — Alajuela • 1 adult, sex unknown; Pocosol; 10.3832 ° N, 84.6169 ° W; 2 Aug 2019; T. Prothro leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 30586791.	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F01FFEDFF30FF6CFAF50907.taxon	description	(Fig. 9 D, 10 C)	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F01FFEDFF30FF6CFAF50907.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Castolus plagiaticollis is a conspicuous species with red head, red femora, dark tibiae, a large ovoid marking on the posterior lobe of the pronotum, mostly yellowish corium and clavus with the apex of the corium black, and a black membrane except its apex which is translucent (Maldonado 1976). Nonetheless, it is variable regarding its hemelytral color pattern. Champion (1899) had already mentioned that some specimens from Mexico and Guatemala had a more darkened clavus and corium. Among the specimens examined and the observations from iNaturalist (https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations? place _ id = any & q = castolus % 20 plagiaticollis), several instead of a yellow corium have a whitish one; a few ones have a more extended dark area on the apex of the corium, reaching in some specimens almost half the corial length, or on the other hand have a completely yellow corium without dark areas. Very rarely, the specimens have a mostly black corium being yellow only the costal area and the base of clavus. Because color patterns are important to delimit species in Castolus (Maldonado 1976), the observed color variation in C. plagiaticollis highlights the importance of understanding the intraspecific color variation to adequately assess the specific limits for other species in Castolus. Quiroz & Carmona (2011) listed two specimens identified as C. plagiaticollis from MEFLG. We examined two additional specimens from MEFLG and corroborated their initial identification. The examined Colombian specimens all have a yellow corium and small apical dark area on the corium.	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F01FFEDFF30FF6CFAF50907.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Originally described from Mexico (Stål 1858), with subsequent records from Honduras (Maldonado 1990), Guatemala, and Panama (Champion 1899). It represents the first formal record of the species from South America, and a new country record from Colombia, extending the known distribution into South America (Fig. 10 C).	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F01FFEDFF30FF6CFAF50907.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. COLOMBIA — Antioquia • 1 ♂; V. [alle] de Medellin; [06.2416 ° N, 75.5775 ° W]; Feb 1949; Gallego (MEFLG) • 1 ♂; same data; Aug 1945; Gallego; en maleza; No. Catal. 6845 (MEFLG) • 2 ♀♀; Medellín; [06.2416 ° N, 75.5775 ° W]; 1538 m; Mar 1937; F. Gallego; en Zea mais (maiz); No. catal. 113 (MEFLG).	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F01FFEDFF30FB98FBAE0AAC.taxon	description	(Figs. 9 E, 10 C)	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F01FFEDFF30FB98FBAE0AAC.taxon	discussion	Remarks. We only found two specimens in the collections examined. This species is easily recognized due to its dark overall coloration with a bright red band on the posterior and lateral margins of the posterior pronotal lobe. Males have more protruding eyes than females.	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F01FFEDFF30FB98FBAE0AAC.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This species was described from Mexico and Guatemala (Champion 1899), with additional records from Venezuela (Maldonado 1976). It represents new country records from Costa Rica, Colombia, and Ecuador, although only iNaturalist observations were available from Costa Rica and Ecuador (Fig. 10 C).	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
52663A498F01FFEDFF30FB98FBAE0AAC.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. COLOMBIA — Tolima • 1 ♀; Cunday, [vereda] El Edén; 550 m; [04.02292 ° N, 74.72698 ° W]; 8 Oct 1999; P. Ruiz, leg.; colecta manual nocturna; MPUJ _ ENT 0068463 (MPUJ _ ENT) — Valle del Cauca • 1 ♀; Tuluá, vereda Mateguadua, Jardín Botánico Juan María Céspedes; [04.02323 ° N, 76.16076 ° W]; 1100 m; en rastrojo; G. González, leg.; MPUJ _ ENT 0068464 (MPUJ _ ENT). OTHER EXAMINED MATERIAL (iNaturalist observations): COLOMBIA — Antioquia • 1 ♀; Girardota; 06.37027 ° N, 75.4677 ° W; 4 Abr 2021; D. Foster leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 72960413 • 1 ♀; same data; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 74003063 — Cundinamarca • 1 ♀; Nocaima; 05.0695 ° N, 74.3803 ° W; 14 Sep 2020; O. Enciso leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 59652248 — Santander • 1 ♀; El Carmen de Chucurí; 06.6266 ° N, 73.5954 ° W; 22 Mar 2019; J. D. Quioga leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 22414438 • 1 ♀; La Parcela, Piedecuesta; 07.0286 ° N, 73.0631 ° W; 30 Mar 2021; A. Olmos leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 72491462. COSTA RICA — Cartago • 1 ♂; [near El Copal, biological reserve]; 09.7842 ° N, 83.7515 ° W; 6 Mar 2019; G. Kunz leg; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 22405008 • 1 ♂; same data; 4 Mar 2019; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 31975581. ECUADOR — Pastaza • 1 ♀; Puyo; 01.4845 ° S, 78.0060 ° W; 12 Sep 2020; Valeria leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 59440988 — Napo • 1 ♀; Tena; 00.9962 ° S, 77.8136 ° W; 12 Sep 2018; D. Schulten leg.; https: // www. inaturalist. org / observations / 63967097.	en	Forero, Dimitri, Mejía-Soto, Andrés (2021): A striking sexually dimorphic new species of Castolus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera Reduviidae) from Colombia, with new records from Neotropical countries and taxonomic notes on the genus. Zootaxa 5048 (4): 538-560, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5048.4.4
