Aspasiola steineri Erwin

Erwin, Terry L., 2004, The beetle family Carabidae of Costa Rica: The genera of the Cryptobatida group of subtribe Agrina, tribe Lebiini, with new species and notes on their way of life (Insecta: Coleoptera), Zootaxa 662, pp. 1-54 : 18-19

Aspasiola steineri Erwin , new species

(Figs. 11, 12, 33)

Holotype. Male, COSTA RICA. HEREDIA, Estación Biológica La Selva , 3.0 km S Puerto Viejo, Finca La Selva , 50–150 m, 10° 25' 55” N, 084° 00' 32” W, LN535500, 268000, March (W.E. Steiner, J.M. Hill, et al.)( NMNH: ADP006027).

Derivation of specific name. The specific epithet, steineri , is used as a noun in apposition based on the last name of Warren Steiner, who has contributed significantly to our field knowledge of the species richness in Coleoptera . The NMNH collection, where his collection is deposited, vouchers his many years of efforts and includes the type specimen of this new species.

Common name. Steiner's colorful fungus dweller.

Diagnosis. With the attributes of the genus as described above and elytron bright rufous, with humeral area darkly pigmented with bluish reflections, legs bicolored, femur testaceous, tibia and tarsomeres piceous, apex of femur infuscated.

Description. (Fig. 11). Size small: ABL = 4.5 to 4.92 mm, SBL = 4.2 to 4.5 mm, TW = 1.83 to 2.0 mm. Color: Dorsum and venter rufescent, humeri infuscated with purple highlights; palpi, four basal 4 antennomeres dorsally, tibiae and tarsi, antennomeres 5–11 infuscated­blackish, femora and basal 4 antennomeres ventrally testaceous. Metathorasic wings smoky grey. Luster: Ve r y s h i n y. Microsculpture: Absent. Head: Moderately broader across eyes than pronotum; frontal furrows shallowly impressed, very short; eyes large, produced; frons slightly convex, vertex moderately convex; ultimate labial palpomere slightly securiform; antennae of moderate length, reaching just posterior of humerus. Prothorax: Quadrate, moderately convex, side margin narrowly explanate and slightly produced at level of anterior setigerous pore, slightly sinuate anterior to slightly obtuse hind angle. Base markedly lobed posteriorly. Pterothorax: Normal for Agrina, fully winged. Legs: Normal for Agrina. Abdomen: Sterna normal for Agrina, mostly glabrous, except normal paired ambulatory setae on sterna 3–5; males and females with two pairs long setae on sternum 6. Male genitalia: Phallus ( Fig. 12 ) with ostium of 1/3 its length, catopic, apex markedly elongate, rounded; endophallus with flagellum, flagellum without barb. Parameres asymmetric, right very small, left larger.

Way of life. The known altitudinal range of this species is between 50 and 150 meters above sea level. They have been collected in March and October hence they occur as adults in both the dry and rainy season in the lowlands east of the Cordillera Central. Other specimens examined. Paratype: COSTA RICA. 1 male, LIMÓN, Cariari, Sector Cerro Cocori, 30.0 km N Finca de E. Rojas, 150 m, 10° 35' 29” N, 083° 42' 29” W, LN285700,568400, October (E. Rojas)(INBIO: CRI000981559).

Geographic distribution. ( Fig. 33 ). Known only from Costa Rica.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Phallus, dorsal, ventral, left lateral aspects of Aspasiola steineri Erwin n. sp., specimen # CRI 000981559.

FIGURE 33. Geographical distribution map of the species of Aspasiola in Costa Rica: A. bonita Erwin n. sp. (solid circle,