Ambonoides retinoides OPITZ nov. sp.

(Figs 1-15, 62, 87-92, 109, 110, 143-145, 175)

Holotype: ♂. Nova Teutonia, SC, Brasil, XI.1966, F. Plaumann (FSCA).

Paratypes: Four specimens. Brazil: Santa Catarina: 29-XI-1940, 27°11' La., 52°23' Lo, Fritz Plaumann (AMNH, 2) ; Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, 4-XI-1953, Pe. Buck (WOPC, 1). Uruguay: Approx. 6 km SE Melo, Dept. Cerro Largo, 25-27-II-1963, John K. Bouseman (WOPC, 1) .

Diagnosis: The members of this species resemble superficially those of Ambonoides caraguata . However, in specimens of A. retinoides the legs are entirely black, whereas in A. caraguata specimens the femora are partially flavotestaceous.

Description: Size: Length 8.5 mm; width 2.8 mm. Form: As in Fig. 145. Color: Cranium mostly black, lower frons and clypeus flavotestaceous; pronotum mostly black, upper sides, anterior margin, and small anterior wedged-shaped macula flavotestaceous; elytral disc mostly black, with midelytral testaceous fascia. Head: Antennal capitulum very long (Figs. 62, 90), each capitular antennomeres as long as combined length funicular antennomeres; antennal carina very prominent; EW/FW 12/16. Thorax: Pronotal anterior margin not projected at middle, sides of disc depressed; side margin of disc rounded (Fig. 6); PW/PL 45/45; elytra subrectangulate, sides sharply deflexed; EL/EW 210/43. Abdomen: Male pygidium incised at distal margin; aedeagus as in Figs. 109, 110. Female mesodermal reproductive organs (Fig. 143): Spermathecal capsule slightly sclerotized; spermathecal gland attached to apex of capsule; bursa copulatrix saccular; bursal sclerite present (Fig. 144).

Natural history: Specimens were collected during May and November.

Variation: Size: Length 8.0-8.5 mm; width 2.0-2.8 mm. The elytra may be entirely flavotestaceous, or flavotestaceous in basal half and black in remainder.

Distribution (Fig. 175): This species is known from Uruguay and southeastern Brazil.

Etymology: The trivial name retinoides is a compound Latin name derived from rete (= net) and the suffix – oides (= likeness). I refer to the network-like property of the surface of the elytral disc.