Epikastea limonae Liebke

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 : 14

Epikastea limonae Liebke

(Figs. 3, 14)

Epikastea limonae Liebke 1936:125 . Holotype female in NMNH. Type locality: COSTA RICA. LIMÓN, Rio Reventazon, Ebene, 17km E Siquirres, Waldeck Farm, 10m, 10° 04' 0 N, 083° 18' 0 W, July (F. Nevermann)(NMNH: ADP007958).

Common name. Limón big­headed carabid beetle.

Diagnosis. With the attributes of the genus described above and elytron with disc, extreme lateral margin, and apex pale, humeri, marginal intervals, and subapical band infuscated. Pronotum with margin broadly explanate, width slightly greater than head across eyes; pronotum cordiform­transverse with hind angle slightly obtuse, margin markedly constricted anterior to hind angle; base slightly rounded, not lobed. Elytron without punctulae in interneurs, intervals moderately convex.

Description. (Fig. 3). Size small: ABL = 6.5 to 6.7 mm, SBL = 6.1 mm, TW = 2.6 mm. Color: Dorsum of head, prothorax and entire venter rufescent; mouthparts, antennomeres 1–4 and legs rufotestaceous; antennomeres testaceous. Metathorasic wings clear. Luster: Shiny. Microsculpture: Isodiametric meshes throughout, these slightly transverse on elytra. Head: Pronotum subequal in width to head across eyes; frontal furrows very short, shallowly impressed proximal to clypeus; eyes large, produced, gena very short; frons and occiput slightly convex; labial palpomere 4 depressed, subequal in size to maxillary palpomere 4. Prothorax: Pronotum cordiform, moderately convex, depressed along midline, side margins broadly explanate, markedly sinuate anterior to slightly 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; males with two and females with 3 pairs long setae on sternum VI. Male genitalia: Unknown.

Dispersal potential. One fully winged beetle was repeatedly fogged from the rainforest canopy, thus adults are probably good dispersers like most arboreal beetles.

Way of life. These beetles have been found on rotting logs and by fogging the tree Pourouma minor Benoist. The known altitudinal range of this species is 10 to 150 m above sea level in lowland rainforest. They have been found only in the lowlands east of the Cordillera Central in January and July indicating they function as adults in both the dry and rainy seasons.

Other specimens examined. COSTA RICA. 1 female, HEREDIA, Estación Biológica La Selva, 3.0 km S Puerto Viejo, Finca La Selva, 50–150m, 10° 25' 55’ N, 084° 00' 32’ W, LN535500, 268000, January (INBio­OET: CRI 002725465); 1 sex not determined, LIMÓN, Rio Reventazon, Ebene, Hamburg Farm, 10m, 10° 15' 0 N, 083° 28' 0 W, July (F. Nevermann)(Liebke Collection, WAR).