Muisca fera

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 : 610-612

Muisca fera (W OLCOTT, 1927) ( Figs 20, 59, 95, 106, 133)

Muisca fera WOLCOTT, 1927: 97. Holotype. ♂. Turrialba, Costa Rica, Schild & Burgdorf USNM Type No. 40864 (USNM). CORPORAAL 1950: 280. Allotype: Costa Rica: Provincia de Cartago, Turrialba, Schild & Burgdorf (USNM).

D i a g n o s i s: Muisca fera specimens may be distinguished from those of its sister species, M. signa by markings of the elytral disc In M. fera specimens each elytron shows two black spots near the humeral angle and a curvate black fascia at the center of the disc. In M. signa specimens the elytral dark markings are more linear and angular. Also, M. fera specimens do not show two paralateral dark lines on the pronotal disc. Such lines are present in M. signa specimens.

R e d e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 6.5 mm; width 2.2 mm. Form: As in Fig. 133. Color: Light castaneous, except each elytron with 2 black spots in humeral region and curvate black fascia at middle of disc. Head: Funicular antennomeres subfiliform, capitulum about as long as combined length of funicular antennomeres, capitular antennomeres 9 and 10 oblong triangular ( Fig. 20), antennomere 11 obovate; frons as wide as width of eye (EW/FW 27/27). Thorax: Pronotum (Fig. 59) oblong (PW/PL 87/100), side margin with well-developed tubercle, disc subglabrous at middle; number of elytral asetiferous punctation reduced, punctures striate, prominent along sides of at basal 5 th just beyond discal middle, single row of punctures at basal ½ of sutural margin (EL/EW 200/65). Abdomen: Pygidium subquadrate, distal margin strongly concave; 6 th visible sternite doubly incised; aedeagus phallobase wide in basal half, tapered to lobe apices, phallic apex triangular ( Fig. 106).

V a r i a t i o n: Size: Length 4.8-6.5 mm; width 1.3-2.2 mm. Other than body size, the available specimens are quite homogeneous.

N a t u r a l h i s t o r y: One specimen was collected in June at 760 m, another on a "light sheet" at 1500 m. D i s t r i b u t i o n ( Fig.95): In addition to the 2 types, I examined one specimen: Costa Rica:

Provincia de Alajuela, 10°42'65''N 65°02'43''W, Hotel Alberque Heliconias, 25-27-VI-2001, J. &

A. Rifkind, P. Gum, I. Lopez. Specimens are deposited in JNRC and USNM.