Ridica merida OPITZ nov.sp. (Figs 49, 104, 307)

Holotype: ♀. Type locality: VENEZUELA, 20 km SW El Vig’a Merida, XII-10-1969, el. 50 m, L. Wood (FSCA).

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

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 9.0 mm; width 2.2 mm. Form: As in Fig. 307. Color: Cranium bicolored, mostly black, upper frons with central linear testaceous line; prothorax bicolored, pronotal sides testaceous, remainder of prothorax black; antenna black, last antennomeres not seen; pterothorax, legs, and abdomen black; elytra bicolorous, sutural margins narrowly black in basal 1/2, disc testaceous. Head: Antenna (Fig. 49) capitate, funicular antennomeres transverse, capitular antennomeres 8 and 9 broad-oblong, capitular antennomere 10 missing; eyes large, finely facetted, eye as wide as frons (EW/FW 29/29). Thorax: Pronotum (Fig. 104) quadrate, disc coarsely punctate (PW/PL 75/75); pronotal tubercle broad, disc concave paralaterally near pronotal collar, discal and lateral trichobothria well developed; elytral asetiferous punctures small, profusely distributed (EL/EW 430/75); anterior margin of protibia with 7 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 December, at 50 m.

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

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