Comments on Two Controversial Oriental Assassin Bug Species of the Genus Rhynocoris (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae), with the Description of R. minutus sp. nov. from China

The two closely related Oriental species of the genus <i>Rhynocoris</i>, <i>R. costalis</i> (Stål, 1867) and <i>R. fuscipes</i> (Fabricius, 1787), exhibit remarkable morphological similarity, particularly in their overall red and black body coloration, including the head, thorax, and abdomen. Based on the examination of type specimens and non-type material collected from various localities of southern China, we found these two congeners were misidentified in many previous publications. Due to the restricted distribution and limited population size of <i>R. fuscipes</i> in China, most taxonomic, biological, and biocontrol studies conducted under the name <i>Harpactor fuscipes</i> or <i>Rhynocoris fuscipes</i> should be instead attributed to <i>R. costalis.</i> To address this confusion regarding these two species, the present study clarifies the taxonomic status of the two controversial species-<i>R. costalis</i> and <i>R. fuscipes</i>. Additionally, a new species, <i>Rhynocoris minutus</i> Liu, Zhao & Cai <b>sp. nov.</b>, collected from southwestern China, is described and illustrated. A key to the 13 species in <i>Rhynocoris</i> currently recorded in China is provided.