Sargus dichrous (Schiner, 1868) comb. nov.

(Fig. 132, A–E; A–C, holotype, NMW)

Chrysonotus dichrous Schiner, 1868: 62 (original description). Type locality: Venezuela (see comments below). Holotype ♀ [NMW].

Diagnosis. This species can be easily distinguished from the other Neotropical Sargus by an entirely metallic blue to purple abdomen (Fig. 132) that strongly contrasts to the color of the thorax, which is mostly orange in both sexes except for an oval-shaped medial dark brown macula on the scutum, a dark brown ventral mark on the katepisternum, a medially dark brown laterotergite and a dark brown mediotergite with purple reflections in males (Fig. 132, D–E). The fore and mid legs are mostly orange and the hind leg is often entirely dark brown, but it can be almost entirely orange on its femur and tibia. Male holoptic and female dichoptic, upper frons dark brown to black with metallic blue reflections, with a well-marked white callus frontally subdivided into two spots by a dark brown line in both sexes. Male often smaller and slender than females.

Material examined. Type material: HOLOTYPE (Fig 132, A–C), ♀ labeled: “ Lindig / 1864 / Venezuela [printed on white paper]”; “ dichrous [handwritten on white paper] / Alte Sammlung [printed on white paper]” (NMW).

Additional material: 4 ♀, COLOMBIA, Boyacá, SFF Iguaque, 5°70’N 73°46’W, 11–17.iii.2000, P. Reina, MT [malaise trap] #8, CAP- 8, 2795 m (3 ♀ LACM; 1 ♀ USNM) ; 3 ♀, 01–19.iv.2000, MT#9, CAP- 31, 2980 m (LACM); 2 ♀, 17.viii–01.ix.2000, MT, CAP- 518, 2850 m (LACM) . 3 ♀, Arcabuco, SFF Iguaque, 2855 m, Bosque Rastrojo Cañon de Mamarramos, Malaise 4, 28.ii–16.iii.2000, P. Reina (LACM) ; 2 ♀, 3450 m, 16.iii–01.iv.2000, Malaise 1 (LACM) . 3 ♀, SFF Iguaque, Cabaña, Carrizal, 5°42’N 73°45’W, 2850 m, 01–23.ix.2000, P. Reina, MT, CAP-614 (LACM) . 4 ♀, SFF Iguaque, Cabaña, Carrizal, 5°25’N 73°27’W, 2850 m, 07–24.ii.2001, M. 1273, P. Reina (LACM) . 2 ♀, SFF Iguaque, Cabaña Mamarramos, 5°42’N 73°45’W, 2855 m, 23.v–08.vi.2000, P. Reina, Malaise trap, CAP-149 (LACM) ; 3 ♀, 17.viii–1.ix.2000, P. Reina, CAP- 519, 2855 m (LACM) . 1 ♂, 9 ♀, SFF Iguaque, Cabaña, Mamarramos, 5°25’N 73°27’W, 2855 m, 23.ix–11.x.2000, P. Reina, M.752 (LACM) ; 4 ♀, 04– 21.xii.2000, CAP1080 (LACM); 1 ♂, 7 ♀, 21.xii.2000 – 07.i.2001, M.1072 (LACM); 1 ♀, 07–21.i.2001, M.1252 (LACM); 1 ♀, 21.i.–07.ii2001, M.1248 (LACM); 3 ♀, 13.xi–04.xii.2001, MT, CAP-1063 (LACM) . 1 ♀, SFF Iguaque, La Planada, 5°25’N 73°27’W, 2850 m, 23.v–08.vi.2000, M.152, P. Reina leg. (LACM) ; 1 ♀, 21.x.2000 – 07.i.2001, P. Reina, MT, M.1070 (LACM); 2 ♀, 21.i–07.ii.2001 (LACM) . 1 ♀, SFF Iguaque, Qda Carrizal, 5°69’N 73°45’W, 02–19.iv. 2000, 3350 m, P. Reina, Malaise trap, CAP-26 (LACM) ; 1 ♀, 25.vi–13.vii.2000, CAP-247 (LACM); 1 ♀, 17.viii–01.ix.2000, CAP-520 (USNM) . 5 ♀, SFF Iguaque, Qda Carrizal, 5°42’N 73°45’W, 04– 21.xii. 2000, 3350 m, P. Reina, Malaise trap, CAP-1078 (LACM) . 1 ♀, SFF Iguaque, Qda Carrizal, 5°25’N 73°27’W, 21.xii.2000 – 07.i. 2001, 3350 m, P. Reina, M.1071 (LACM) ; 9 ♀, SFF Iguaque, Qda Los Francos, 5°42’N 73°27’W, 2860 m, MT, 07–24.ii.2001, P. Reina, CAP-1270 (LACM) . 1 ♀, Cauca, PNN Isla Gorgona, 2°97’N 78°18’W, 25–28.ii.2000, B. Brown, G. Kung (LACM) . 1 ♀, Cundinamarca, PNN Chingaza, Bosque Palacio, 4°52’N 73°75’W 2930 m, 17.i–04.ii.2001, L. Cifuentes, Malaise trap, CAP-1258 (LACM) .

Geographic distribution. Colombia (Boyacá, Cauca, Cundinamarca) and Venezuela.

Comments. This species clearly belongs to the genus Sargus . The color pattern of S. dichrous (Schiner, 1868) comb. nov. seems to be unique among Neotropical Sargus, making it readily identifiable. Besides the records included here, there are additional females from Colombia in LACM.

The type locality of this species as indicated in the original description is “ Colombia ”, but the label on the type (Fig. 132, A–C) reads “ Venezuela ”. It was stated as being a male in Schiner (1868) and in Woodley (2001), but it is a female.