Agra max Erwin, 2010

Erwin, Terry L., 2010, Agra, arboreal beetles of Neotropical forests: pusilla group and piranha group systematics and notes on their ways of life (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini, Agrina), ZooKeys 66, pp. 1-28 : 8-9

Agra max Erwin sp. n. Fig. 10

Holotype:

Brazil: Santa Catarina, Nova Teutonia, 823m, 27.047°S, 52.394°W, 4 February 1938 (F. Plaumann)(WAR: ADP 004374, female).

Derivation of specific epithet.

The epithet " max " is an eponym, based on the given name of Max Liebke, an early pioneer in the taxonomy of the genus Agra .

Proposed English vernacular name.

Max’s Elegant Canopy Beetle.

Diagnosis.

With the attributes of the genus and species-group as described above and frons laterally unicarinate and rugose; occiput finely punctate; all elytral interneurs in apical half with double rows of cribriform punctures.

Description.

Size: Small, ABL = 7.0 mm, SBL = 5.95 mm, TW = 1.5 mm. Color: Head and pronotum black with bluish reflections, venter metallic blue, elytra matte blue, antennae and mouthparts piceous with slightly bluish reflections, scape rufous with shiny infuscated apex. Luster: Shiny metallic, elytra matte metallic. Head: Labrum moderately elongate and truncate apically. Frons medially raised and smooth, laterally depressed, slightly rugose. Gena slightly markedly rounded to constricted neck in female. Genae and occiput with sparse coarse punctures, some setiferous.

Prothorax: Short, slightly broader medially, flared basally; surface with dense and coarse punctures, some setiferous; lateral elongate callous with single row of setiferous puncture along middle. Pterothorax: Elytron markedly convex, intervals slightly costate, interneurs of rows of somewhat laterally ovate punctures, doubled in some places, apex moderately oblique and lobed, apical dentation asymmetric, lateral tooth small, broad, obtuse, sutural apex not produced. Metasternum sparsely setiferous in females. Legs: Normal in female. Abdomen: Abdominal sterna III to VII of female moderately and bilaterally setiferous; sternum VII of female barely emarginate, corners rounded. Male genitalia: Unknown. Female ovipositor: Stylomere 2 as in Agra notpusilla ( Fig. 7 ).

Dispersal potential.

These beetles are macropterous and are probably capable of flight; they are swift and agile runners.

Way of life.

Adults of other Agra species are found in the canopy of rainforest trees; known larvae of this genus ( Arndt et al. 2001) are found under the bark of these trees, however they must also roam on the surface, as they have been collected by insecticidal fogging techniques in the very early morning before first light. Members of Agra max occur at midland altitudes in the Mata Atlântica. Adults are active in February, the dry season.

Other specimens examined.

None.

Geographic distribution.

( Fig. 10 ). This species is currently known only from the type locality.

Figures

Figure 1. Agra grace Erwin, sp. n., dorsal aspect (BIOLAT 012952).

Figure 10. Distribution map of the species of the pusilla group. Names marked with a "? " do not have precise localities on the specimen label (s).