Epikastea poguei Erwin

Erwin, Terry L., 2004, The beetle family Carabidae of Costa Rica: The genus Epikastea Liebke of the Plochonida Group, with new Neotropical species and notes on their way of life (Insecta: Coleoptera, Lebiini, Agrina), Zootaxa 790, pp. 1-20 : 17-18

Epikastea poguei Erwin , new species

(Fig. 6)

Holotype. Female. PERÚ, MADRE DE DIOS, Rio Manu, BIOLAT Biodiversity Station, Pakitza Guard Station, 356m, 11º 56’ 47” S, 071º 17’ 00” W, September (T.L. Erwin & M.G. Pogue)( MUSM: BIOLAT / COLE 000012611).

Derivation of specific name. The specific epithet, poguei , is used as a noun in apposition based on the name of the collector, Michael G. Pogue, now USDA­SEL Entomologist who supported my studies in the early years as the BIOLAT assistant scientist.

Common name. Mike’s big­headed carabid beetle.

Diagnosis. With the attributes of the genus as described above and pronotum bicolorous, rufous with bilateral infuscated patches; head, venter and elytral subapical spot rufous. Head with fine isodiametric microscupture, surface shiny. Size moderate, SBL = 6.5.

Description. (Fig. 6). Size small: ABL = 6.7 mm, SBL = 6.5 mm, TW = 3.0 mm. Color: Dorsum of head and entire venter rufescent; prothorax bilaterally infuscated; mouthparts, antennomeres and legs rufotestaceous; elytral suture, lateral flanges, and subapical spots rufous. Metathorasic wings clear. Luster: Shiny. Microsculpture: Isodiametric meshes throughout, these mostly effaced on pronotum. Head: Subequal in width across eyes to that of pronotum; frontal furrows extended to anterior supraorbital pore, moderately impressed proximal to clypeus, margined laterally by well developed carina, surface near carina slightly rugose; eyes very large, hemispheric, gena absent; frons and occiput nearly flat; labrum slightly emarginate; labial palpomere 4 depressed, subequal in size to maxillary palpomere 4. Prothorax: Pronotum cordiform, moderately convex, depressed along midline, side margin broadly explanate, slightly sinuate anterior to marked obtuse hind angle, base slightly rounded, not lobed posteriorly. Pterothorax: Normal for Agrina, fully winged. Legs: Normal for Agrina. Abdomen: Sterna normal for Agrina, glabrous, except normal paired ambulatory setae on sterna III–V; female with 3 pairs long setae on sternum VI. Male genitalia: Unknown.

Dispersal potential. The single specimen was collected at black light and is fully winged, thus they are likely good dispersers.

Way of life. See under genus. One adult of this species was collected at black light in September; hence there is activity by them in the late dry season.

Other specimens examined. None.

Geographic distribution. Known only from the Manu River watershed, Perú.