Pseudotoglossa terminalis (Chaudoir)

Erwin, Terry L., 2004, The beetle family Carabidae of Costa Rica: The genera of the Cryptobatida group of subtribe Agrina, tribe Lebiini, with new species and notes on their way of life (Insecta: Coleoptera), Zootaxa 662, pp. 1-54 : 50-51

Pseudotoglossa terminalis (Chaudoir)

(Figs. 31, 32, 39)

Otoglossa terminalis Chaudoir 1872:161 . Type specimen: Lectotype designated by Mateu (1961), in MNHP (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris). Type locality: BRAZIL, Petrópolis. Pseudotoglossa rufitarsis nigrescens Mateu 1961:177 , new synonymy.

Common name. Terminally pale false­tongued carabid beetle.

Diagnosis. With the attributes of the genus as described above and head, antennal scape, prothorax, and elytra rufopiceous to black, elytra with faint metallic blue reflections; venter of head, thorax and legs except tarsi black; abdomen, apical sixth of elytron and tarsi rufous; antennal flagellum and palpi infuscated. Eye diameter to gena length ratio: 0.57. Head very large in proportion to pronotum. Pronotum broad for genus, side margin beaded, not explanate, moderately sinuate anterior to hind angle, subangulate at mid­lateral setiferous pore.

Description. (Fig. 31). Size small: ABL = 5.75 to 5.92 mm, SBL = 5.33 to 5.54 mm, TW = 2.33 to 2.67 mm. Color: See Diagnosis. Wings grey. Luster: Ver y sh in y. Microsculpture: Dorsal surface of head and elytra with very shallowly impressed isodiametric meshes, meshes slightly transverse on pronotum. Head: Markedly broader across eyes than pronotum; frontal furrows shallowly impressed to front margin of eye; eyes very large, hemispheric; frons and vertex continuously swollen, not divided; ultimate labial palpomere slightly securiform; antennae of moderate length, reaching just posterior of humerus. Eye diameter to gena length ratio: 0.57. Prothorax: Moderately convex, side margin narrowly beaded, subangulate at mid­lateral setiferous pore, moderately sinuate anterior to hind angle. Hind angle slightly lobed posterior to seta. Pterothorax: Normal for Agrina, fully winged. Legs: Normal for Agrina. Abdomen: Sterna normal for Agrina, mostly glabrous, except normal paired ambulatory setae and a few very short and scattered setae on sterna 3–5; males and females with two pairs long setae on sternum 6. Male genitalia: Phallus ( Fig. 32 ) with ostium 1/3 its length, catopic; Phallus apex slightly elongate, rounded; endophallus with long flagellum, flagellum apex barbed. Parameres asymmetric, left larger that right, right small.

Way of life. Elsewhere adults of these beetles have been fogged from the forest canopy. In Costa Rica they have been beaten from suspended dead foliage and collected at UV lights. The known altitudinal range of this species is between 50 and 500 meters above sea level. Adults have been obtained from east of the Cordillera Central in January, February, March, August, and November, hence they are active in both the dry and rainy season in the lowlands.

Other specimens examined. COSTA RICA. 1 male, LIMÓN, R.V.S. Jaguarandi, Sector Cerro Cocori, Finca de E. Rojas, 150 m, 10° 32' 24” N, 083° 42' 59” W, August (E. Rojas)( INBIO: CRI 002021416). 1 male, 1 female, Rio Reventazon, Ebene, Hamburg Farm, 10 m, 10° 15' 0 N, 083° 28' 0 W, (F. Nevermann), 1 female, February NMNH: ADP008587), 1 male, October ( NMNH: ADP008585), 1 male, 1 female, November ( NMNH: male, ADP008600, female, ADP008599), 1 female, January ( NMNH: ADP008601), 1 male, March (C.P. Dodge)( MCZ: ADP008605).

Geographic distribution. ( Fig. 39 ). This widespread species is presently known from México, south to Brazil and Paraguay, east to French Guiana.

Figures

FIGURE 32. Phallus, dorsal, ventral, left lateral aspects of Pseudotoglossa terminalis (Chaudoir), specimen # ADP 008605.

FIGURE 39. Geographical distribution map of the species of Pseudotoglossa in Costa Rica: P. marginella (Bates) (solid circle,), P. obscurella (Bates) (open circle,), P. ufitarsis (Chaudoir) (open box,), P. terminalis (Chaudoir) (diamond,).