Muisca mestolinea, Opitz, Pitz Pinola Weston, 2018

Opitz, Pitz Pinola Weston, 2018, Classification, Natural History, and Evolution of the Subfamily Peloniinae O (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Cleridae). Part IX. Taxonomic revision of the New World genus Muisca S, Linzer biologische Beiträge 50 (1), pp. 587-653 : 615

Muisca mestolinea OPITZ nov.sp. ( Figs 32 , 63, 96, 110, 140)

Holotype: ♂. ECUADOR, COTOPAXI, LAS PAMPAS, 12 JUN 1997, G. ONORE ( QCAZ).

Paratypes: 23 specimens. Ecuador: Provincia de Cotopaxi, Las Pampas , 26-IV-1997, 1500 m, G. Onore ( QCAZ, 1) ; N of San Francisco de los Pampas, vicinity Rio Esmeraldas, 14-15-V- 1993, 4400-5000 feet, Mercury vapor light, L. Herman ( AMNH, 1) ; Provincia de Pichincha, Alluriquín , 26-I-1985, M. Jiménez ( QCAZ, 1) ; Rio Mindo , 3-IV-2001, F. T. Hovore ( JNRC, 1) ; Mindo , 26-I-2004, F. T. Hovore ( WOPC, 1) ; Tinalandia , 2-XI-1983, L, Huggert ( WOPC, 3) ; U del Toachi, Cuesta del Gallinazo , 6-III- 1997, 950 m, G. Onore ( WOPC, 1) ; Provincia de Bolivar, Balzapamba ,?-III-IV-1894, M. de Mathan ( MNHN, 10; WOPC, 4) .

D i a g n o s i s: Muisca mestolinea specimens may be distinguished from those of its sister species, M. anachyma , by coloration of the elytral disc. In M. mestolinea specimens the elytral disc shows 4 dark brown lines. In M. anachyma specimens the elytral disc is nearly uniformly castaneous with a faint indication of 3 punctiform infuscations. Also, the sutural margin is dark brown in specimens of M. mestolinea , which is not the case in those of M. anachyma .

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 5.5 mm; width 2.0 mm. Form: As in Fig. 140 . Color: Mostly light castaneous; pronotum with 2 paralateral black lines; elytral sutural margins darkened and each disc with 4 black short lines. Head: Funicular antennomeres subfiliform, capitulum about as long as combined length of funicular antennomeres, capitular antennomeres 9 and 10 triangular ( Fig. 32 ), antennomere 11 obovate; frons wider than width of eye ( EW /FW 20/30). Thorax: Pronotum (Fig. 63) oblong ( PW /PL 73/85), side margin with well-developed tubercle, disc subglabrous at midline; elytral asetiferous punctation minute, striate to distal 2/3 rd ( EL /EW 230/60). Abdomen: Pygidium subquadrate; posterior margin of 6 th visible sternite concave at middle; aedeagus, phallic apex as in Fig. 110.

V a r i a t i o n: Length 5.2-7.3 mm; width 2.0- 2.7 mm. The infuscation of the sutural margin varies in expression.

N a t u r a l h i s t o r y: Specimens were collected from April to June, one with a Mercury vapor light set at an altitude between 1341-1524 m. One specimen was collected at 950 m.

E t y m o l o g y: The specific epithet, mestolinea, is a compound name that stems from the Greek mesto (= filled) and the Latin linea (= line). The name refers to the dark lines on the dorsum of this beetle.

D i s t r i b u t i o n ( Fig.96 ): This species is known from Ecuador.

Figures

Figs 14-33: Antennae. (14) Muisca dilatata, male. (15) M. apicalis, male. (16) M. hirtula, male. (17) M. xanthura, male. (18) M. angulicollis, male. (19) M. signa, male. (20) M. fera, male. (21) M. octonotata, male. (22) M. maculosa, male. (23) M. anachyma, male. (24) M. insigna, male. (25) M. dozieri, male. (26) M. togata, male. (27) M. irrorata, male. (28) M. menda, female. (29) M. hexa, female. (30) M. heppneri, male. (31) M. magdalena, female. (32) M. mestolinea, male. (33) M. omma, male.

Figs 137-140: Habitus. (137) Muisca hexa. (138) M. maculosa. (139) M. anachyma. (140) M. mestolinea.

Figs 107-115: Phalli. (107) Muisca signa. (108) M. angulicollis. (109) M. maculosa. (110) M. mestolinea. (111) M. omma. (112) M. heppneri. (113) M. lateripunctata. (114) M. octonotata. (115) M. tetraspilota.

Fig. 96: Geographic distribution of Muisca species as listed.