Ridica achira OPITZ nov.sp. (Figs 55, 103, 306)

Holotype: ♀. Type locality: BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz, Achira, rd to Amboro, Elev . 6670', X/2008, Morris & Wappes (FSCA).

D i a g n o s i s: The members of this species are conveniently distinguished from those of its congener (R. merida OPITZ, new species) by the shape of the 8 th antennomere and by the sculpture on the elytral disc. In Ridica achira the 8 th antennomere is narrowoblong and the elytral disc is devoid of longitudinal carinae, whereas in specimens of R. merida the 8 th antennomere is broad-oblong and the elytral disc shows 4 longitudinal carinae.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 7.5 mm; width 1.8 mm. Form: As in Fig. 306. Color: Cranium bicolored, margin of frons black, testaceous in remainder; pronotum bicolored, with two black lines that are continuous with frons lines, black lines are contiguous basally, middle and lower sides of pronotal disc testaceous; antenna bicolored, last antennomere yellow, rest of antennomeres black; pterothorax black; elytra bicolorous, sutural margins black in basal 1/2, disc black in distal 1/3 rd, testaceous in remainder; legs mostly black, femoral base testaceous. Head: Antenna (Fig. 55) capitate, funicular antennomeres transverse, capitular antennomeres narrow-oblong; eyes large, finely facetted, eye as wide as frons (EW/FW 20/20). Thorax: Pronotum (Fig. 103) slightly oblong, disc coarsely punctate (PW/PL 58/60); pronotal tubercle broad, disc concave paralaterally near pronotal collar, discal and lateral trichobothria well developed; elytral asetiferous punctures small, profusely distributed (EL/EW 340/55); anterior margin of protibia with 5 spines. Abdomen: Pygidium transverse/scutiform.

N a t u r a l H i s t o r y: The available specimen was collected in October.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: This species is known from Bolivia.

E t y m o l o g y: The trivial name, achira, is a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality.