Ridica achira OPITZ, 2019

Opitz, Weston, 2019, Descriptions of new genera and new species of Western Hemisphere checkered beetles (Coleoptera, Cleroidea, Cleridae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 51 (2), pp. 959-1076 : 989

Ridica achira OPITZ nov.sp. ( Figs 55 , 103 , 306 )

Holotype: ♀. Type locality: BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz, Achira, rd to Amboro , Elev . 6670', X/2008, Morris & Wappes ( FSCA).

D i a g n o s i s: The members of this species are conveniently distinguished from those of its congener (R. merida OPITZ, new species) by the shape of the 8 th antennomere and by the sculpture on the elytral disc. In Ridica achira the 8 th antennomere is narrowoblong and the elytral disc is devoid of longitudinal carinae, whereas in specimens of R. merida the 8 th antennomere is broad-oblong and the elytral disc shows 4 longitudinal carinae.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 7.5 mm; width 1.8 mm. Form: As in Fig. 306 . Color: Cranium bicolored, margin of frons black, testaceous in remainder; pronotum bicolored, with two black lines that are continuous with frons lines, black lines are contiguous basally, middle and lower sides of pronotal disc testaceous; antenna bicolored, last antennomere yellow, rest of antennomeres black; pterothorax black; elytra bicolorous, sutural margins black in basal 1/2, disc black in distal 1/3 rd, testaceous in remainder; legs mostly black, femoral base testaceous. Head: Antenna ( Fig. 55 ) capitate, funicular antennomeres transverse, capitular antennomeres narrow-oblong; eyes large, finely facetted, eye as wide as frons (EW/FW 20/20). Thorax: Pronotum ( Fig. 103 ) slightly oblong, disc coarsely punctate (PW/PL 58/60); pronotal tubercle broad, disc concave paralaterally near pronotal collar, discal and lateral trichobothria well developed; elytral asetiferous punctures small, profusely distributed (EL/EW 340/55); anterior margin of protibia with 5 spines. Abdomen: Pygidium transverse/scutiform.

N a t u r a l H i s t o r y: The available specimen was collected in October.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: This species is known from Bolivia.

E t y m o l o g y: The trivial name, achira, is a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality.

Figures

Figs 43-60: Antennae; (43) Ordinis taxis; (44) Pelonium tayrona; (45) Neorthopleura turnbowi, male; (46) N. turnbowi, female; (47) Megaphloeus imparilus; (48) Plocamocera catalexis; (48 a) Cregya entrerios; (49) Ridica merida. (50) Kataspinula puebla. (51) Cregya tobagoensis; (52) Topainca patchacutii; (53) Eurycaulis anaxeis; (54) Amboakis expandosa. (55) Ridica achira. (56) Ampleris cacuminis; (57) Sicamus suprus; (58) Sirpa latiflava; (59) Alarius careoritus; (60) Cregya petalosa.

Figs 101-117: Pronota; (101) Aphelocerus ligulus; (102) A. yoro; (103) Ridica achira; (104) R. merida; (105) Ampleris cacuminis; (106) Plocamocera catalexis; (107) Aphelocerus tigra; (108) A. sparicapillus; (109) A. nolus; (110) A. magnipannus; (111) Pyticeroides desodes; (112) Cregya petalosa; (113) C. livida; (114) C. tobagoensis; (115) C. maura; (116) Pujoliclerus flavidus; (117) Amboakis collucoatis.

Figs 306-309: Habitus; (306) Ridica achira; (307) R. merida; (308) Kataspinula puebla; (309) Nelsopelonium aspikelum.