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.