24. Peridinetus frontalis Chevrolat

(Fig. 60, 61)

Peridinetus frontalis Chevrolat, 1883: 81 . Bertkau (1883: 247), Jekel (1883: 85), Ganglbauer (1884: 282), Wibmer & O’Brien (1986: 279).

Drepanamabates frontalis . Hustache (1938: 6), Blackwelder (1947: 886).

Peridinetus humilis Hustache, 1949: 17 . Kuschel (1983: 41) [synonym of P. frontalis].

Diagnosis. Peridinetus frontalis is a small species with usually inconspicuous, mottled vestiture (Fig. 60). The only similar species in Middle America is P. opacus, which is more slender and has the pronotum angularly constricted. The studied specimens were 2.6–4.2 mm long (standard length 2.4–3.9 mm).

Distribution. This species has been found from the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica south to Bolivia and Brazil. It is here newly recorded for Middle America.

Plant association. Piper hispidum complex (Prena 13 ×).

Type material. P. frontalis: holotype, Colombia, Río Magdalena (NHRS). P. humilis: holotype, Colombia, Ibaque [Ibagué] (MNHP); paratype, Colombia, Muzo (MNHP 1); paratype, Colombia, Bogotá (MNHP 1); paratype, Brazil, Espírito Santo (MNHP 1).

Material examined. Costa Rica. Limón: Valle de la Estrella, Pandora (CMNC 4); Valle del Silencio, R.B. Hitoy Cerere, 100–140 m (INBC 3). Puntarenas: Osa, P.N. Corcovado, Est. La Leona, 50 m (JPPC 1); 2.5 mi SW Rincón, 200 m (HPSC 1). Panamá. Bocas del Toro: 4 km W Chiriquí Grande, 100 m (JPPC 10); 15 km SSW Changuinola, 300 m (JPPC 2); Corriente Grande, 100 m (HPSC 3); La Fortuna Reserve, 8 km N Continental Divide (CMNC 1). Canal Zone: numerous sites (AMNH 1, CWOB 1, HPSC 19, USNM 6). Colón: Portobelo, XX Plantation (USNM 2). Darién: Cana, 450 m (HPSC 1). Panamá: Cerro Campana, 850 m (CWOB 1, HPSC 3, USNM 4); El Llano – Cartí road, km 8–9, 300 m (HPSC 3); Arraiján, Loma del Río (HPSC 2). Veraguas: Alto de Piedra above Santa Fe, 850 m (HPSC 1). Colombia. Cundinamarca: Bogotá (MNHP 1); Muzo (MNHP 1). Magdalena: San Pedro, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, 1200 m (CMNC 1). Tolima: Ibagué (MNHP 1). Valle: Río Tatabra, 35 km E Buenaventura, 100 m (CMNC 1). Without location: (USNM 1). Ecuador. Napo: Puerto Misahuallí (CWOB 1). Venezuela. Aragua: Rancho Grande (CMNC 2, JPPC 1); El Limón (CMNC 1, JPPC 1). Peru. Huanuco: Tingo Maria (CWOB 4); Las Palmas (CWOB 1). Pastaza: Llandia, 17 km N Puyo, 1000 m (CMNC 1). Brazil. Espirito Santo: (MNHP 1). Rondônia: 62 km SW Ariquemes (CWOB 15). Bolivia. La Paz: Chuani (USNM 1). Santa Cruz: Vicoquin area, above Achira, 1730– 2000 m (JPPC 1, MNKM 1). Total 105 specimens.

Note. Champion (1907) apparently was unaware of P. frontalis when he described P. opacus . The latter is closely related and occurs in the northern distributional range of P. frontalis . Due to a lack of material from a greater variety of sites, I maintain them as distinct species, chiefly based on the shape of the pronotum. The issue needs to be readdressed in connection with other deviant subpopulations from South America. Peridinetus frontalis and P. sanguinolentus represent species complexes with similar distribution patterns and morphological developments.