Agra cruciaria Erwin, 2010

Erwin, Terry L., 2010, Agra, arboreal beetles of Neotropical forests: pusilla group and piranha group systematics and notes on their ways of life (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini, Agrina), ZooKeys 66, pp. 1-28 : 5-6

Agra cruciaria Erwin sp. n. Figs 3 10

Holotype:

Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Corcovado, 585m, 22.9517°S, 43.2116°W, 5 May 1958 (C.A. Campos Seabra & M. Alvarenga)(NMNH: ADP 070044, male).

Derivation of specific epithet.

The epithet " cruciaria " is a Latin adjective meaning "of/pertaining to the cross/torture" and is based upon the large cross on Corcovado flooded each night with high powered lights that attract insects by the millions and is the type locality of this species.

Proposed English vernacular name.

Cross Elegant Canopy Beetle.

Diagnosis.

With the attributes of the genus and species-group as described above and medium sized for the pusilla group. Adults with black integument; head behind eyes and prothorax with slight brassy reflections. Frons laterad unicarinate and rugose. Occiput with sparse punctures, some punctures with short setae.

Elytra with moderately lobed apex.

Description.

( Fig. 3 ). Size: Small, ABL = 6.4 - 7.7 mm, SBL = 5.75 - 6.48 mm, TW = 1.74 -1.8 mm. Color: Head black with brassy reflection posteriorly, pronotum with brassy reflections; antennae blackish blue with scape testaceous and with slight metallic blue reflections, mouthparts piceous, and legs and tarsi blackish blue, with mostly testaceous femur. Luster: Head, pronotum and legs shiny metallic, elytra matte smoky-blue. Head: Labrum moderately elongate and truncate apically, barely emarginate medially. Frons medially raised and smooth, laterally depressed and unicarinate and rugose. Gena with hind angles broadly rounded to constricted neck in males. Genae and occiput moderately densely and coarsely some punctures setiferous.

Prothorax: Slightly broader medially, flared basally; surface with dense punctures, many setiferous; lateral elongate callous with single row of setiferous punctures along middle. Pterothorax: Elytron markedly convex, intervals slightly costate, interneurs of rows of somewhat irregularly shaped punctures that are double in some places, apex slightly oblique and moderately lobate, apical dentation asymmetric, lateral tooth small, acute, sutural apex slightly produced, narrowly pointed. Metasternum sparsely setiferous in male. Legs: Normal in male. Abdomen: Abdominal sterna III to VII of male moderately and bilaterally setiferous; sternum VII of male barely emarginated, corners rounded. Male genitalia: Phallus ( Fig. 3 ) elongate and narrow with ostium elongate, nearly half the length of the phallus, apex a narrowly lobate expansion of distal end, this slipper-shaped in lateral aspect. Parameres small, left twice the size of the right, both broadly rounded. Female ovipositor: Female unknown.

Dispersal potential.

These beetles are macropterous and are probably capable of flight; they are swift and agile runners.

Way of life.

Adults of other Agra species are found in the canopy of rainforest trees; larvae of this genus are found under the bark of these trees, however they must also roam on the surface, as they have been collected by insecticidal fogging techniques in the very early morning before first light. Members of Agra cruciaria occur at midland altitudes in the Mata Atlântica. Adults are active in May, the rainy season.

Other specimens examined.

Brazil: Minas Gerais, (MNHNP: ADP 060040, male paratype).

Geographic distribution.

( Fig. 10 ). This species is currently known from the type locality and an unknown location in the State of Minas Gerais.

Notes.

Right antenna glued to card of holotype not of this specimen.

Figures

Figure 10. Distribution map of the species of the pusilla group. Names marked with a "? " do not have precise localities on the specimen label (s).

Figures 3 - 6. 3 Agra cruciaria Erwin, sp. n., male genitalia (dorsal, ventral, left lateral aspects) (ADP 070044) 4 Agra grace Erwin, sp. n., male genitalia (dorsal, ventral, left lateral aspects) (ADP 087638) 5 Agra pseuopusilla Erwin, sp. n., male genitalia (dorsal, ventral, left lateral aspects) (ADP 070045) 6 Agra pusilla Chaudoir, sp. n., male genitalia (dorsal, ventral, left lateral aspects) (ADP 060087).