Mesoleptobasis cyanolineata (Wasscher 1998) comb. nov.

Figs. 3 c, d, 4c, 5d, 7c, 8a, 11a, 13a, 14c, 15c, 16c, 17c, 18c, 21

Metaleptobasis (?), sp. — Williamson 1915: 604 –607 (partial description and illustrations of Ƥ from Rockstone, Guyana).

Metaleptobasis cyanolineata Wasscher 1998: 487 –490 (description of 3 and Ƥ); — Tsuda 2000: 39 (catalog); — Heckman 2008: 395 (key and reproduction of illustrations from original description).

Types. Holotype (from Mungotapoe, Marowijne District, Surinam) in RMNH (not examined). Specimens examined. Total: 1 3, 1 Ƥ. Surinam, Marowijne District: 1 paratype 3, 1 paratype Ƥ, Mungotapoe (5°35'N, 54°15'W), 20 ix 1948, leg. D.C. Geijskes (RWG).

Diagnosis. Male prothorax with medial bifurcate process with arms directed latero-posteriorly forming a v-shaped line between them (Fig. 4 c; unique); female prothorax with similar processes (Fig. 5 d; unique). Costal side of FW pt longer than basal side, its posterior margin slightly convex in both sexes (Fig. 11 a; shared with M. cantralli, M. elongata, and M. incus). CuA relatively long (shared with M. acuminata), extending four to six cells distal to vein descending from subnodus in male (Fig. 11 a), two to six cells in female (Fig. 13). Genital ligula in ectal view with distal margin deeply bifid and lacking lateral emarginations (Fig. 14 c; shared with M. cantralli, M. elongata, and M. incus); in lateral view with a small triangular lateral lobe bearing a series of denticles along its dorsal margin (Fig. 15 c; unique), and with an inconspicuous low latero-basal lobe (shared with M. acuminata). Posterior margin of male S10 recessed and with medio-dorsal emargination, lacking postero-lateral processes (Fig. 17 c; shared with M. acuminata). Male cercus strongly arched, curled over itself with tip directed antero-ventrally (Figs. 17 c, 18c; unique); male paraproct about as high as half of S10 height at base in lateral view (Fig. 18 c; shared with M. acuminata); base of paraproct lacking a thumb-like tubercle (Figs. 17 c, 18c; shared with M. acuminata and M. incus). Ovipositor only slightly surpassing tip of cerci, for a distance shorter than cerci length (Fig. 16 c; shared with M. acuminata and M. incus).

Dimensions. Males (n 1): Hw 19.5; abdomen 35.0; total length 38.0. Females (n 1): Hw 19.5; abdomen 30.5; total length 36.

Remarks. Wasscher (1998) did not justify placement of M. cyanolineata in Metaleptobasis . He noted it differed from all Metaleptobasis species by the presence of pale blue pterothoracic stripes (Fig. 8 a), and named the species according to that feature. The presence in M. cyanolineata of well developed male prothoracic processes (Figs. 3 c, 4c, 8a) and of pale stripes in pterothorax is shared with all known species of Mesoleptobasis, as is its rounded frons (as in Fig. 1 a) and presence of affixed sclerotized processes in genital ligula (Fig. 15 c), none of which is found within Metaleptobasis . All Metaleptobasis species have a pair of well developed horns on the anterior portion of the male mesepisterna and a dark metallic-green mid-dorsal stripe on the pterothorax (Fig. 9 b), absent in M. cyanolineata and in all known Mesoleptobasis . For these reasons we transfer M. cyanolineata from Metaleptobasis to Mesoleptobasis .

Distribution. Guyana and Saramacca and Marowijne Districts in Surinam (Fig. 21).