21. Peridinetus lateralis Champion

(Fig. 54, 55)

Peridinetus lateralis Champion, 1907: 175 . Seidlitz (1909: 326), Hustache (1938: 9), Blackwelder (1947: 887), O’Brien & Wibmer (1982: 178).

Diagnosis. Peridinetus lateralis and the very similar P. m e l a s t o m a e are rather conspicuous by having reddish legs and slender, subtriangular elytra with white apices and ill-defined subapical fasciae. Initially, I had lumped the two species, but further collecting revealed stable though subtle differences. The main differences occur on the pronotum, i.e., base subparallel and disk with pair of white spots in P. lateralis (Fig. 54) versus subconical and without spots in P. m e l a s t o m a e (Fig. 11). Peridinetus lateralis also has the basal one-fourth of the elytral disk more depressed. The studied specimens were 6.0– 8.1 mm long (standard length 5.8–7.8 mm).

Distribution. The species has been found in Costa Rica and Panama at 1100–2440 m elevation.

Plant association. Piper sp. (Prena 2 ×).

Type material. Holotype, Panamá, Volcán (BMNH).

Material examined. Costa Rica. Cartago: transecto Irazú - Braulio Carrillo, camp 1, 1760 m (INBC 1). Guanacaste: P.N. Guanacaste, Est. Cacao, 1000–1400 m (INBC 6), Est. Mengo, 1400 m (INBC 1). Heredia: P.N. Braulio Carrillo, 5 km N San Isidro, Cerro Zurquí, 1800 m (JPPC 1). Puntarenas: Monteverde, 1500 m (JPPC 1). Panamá. Chiriquí: Volcán, 2440 m (BMNH 1); Reserva La Fortuna, 1100 m (JPPC 1). Total 12 specimens.