Muisca bitaeniata SPINOLA, 1844b (Figs 36, 72, 97, 119, 150)

Muisca bitaeniata SPINOLA, 1844b: 148. Holotype: ♀. Colombia (MRSN). CORPORAAL 1950: 298. EKIS (now OPITZ), 1975: 55.

Pelonium ampliatum CHEVROLAT, 1876: 41. syn.nov. Holotype: ♀. Colombia, Guayabal,?-II-?, 6100 feet, Steinheil (MNHN). CORPORAAL 1950: 285.

D i a g n o s i s: Muisca bitaeniata specimens may be distinguished from those of its sister species, M. biordinis, by coloration of the pronotal disc. In M. bitaeniata specimens the pronotal disc is uniformly castaneous. In M. biordinis specimens the pronotal disc shows two black lines.

R e d e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 4.3 mm; width 2.0 mm. Form: As in Fig. 150. Color: Light castaneous, except elytral disc with crescentiform brown maculation that extends from humeral margin, touches sutural margin at middle and bends towards epipleural margin where it meets broad brown region along the epipleural margin. Head: Basal funicular antennomeres filiform, distal funicular antennomeres become shorter towards capitulum, capitular antennomeres 9 and 10 triangular (Fig. 36), antennomere 11 obovate; frons wider than width of eye (EW/FW 18/30). Thorax: Pronotum (Fig. 72) oblong (PW/PL 75/80), side margin with well-developed tubercle, disc coarsely punctate at sides, widely subglabrous at middle; elytral asetiferous punctation striate, punctures extend to elytral apical 3/4 th (EL/EW 230/60). Abdomen: Pygidium scutiform; distal margin of 6 th visible sternite slightly concave at middle; aedeagus, phallic apex as in Fig. 119.

V a r i a t i o n: Size: Length 4.5-6.0 mm; width 2.0- 2.8 mm. The elytral brown crescentiform fascia varies in expression, and may be entirely obliterated.

N a t u r a l h i s t o r y: Specimens was collected during February, March, and July; at altitudes ranging from 1535 to 2220 m. D i s t r i b u t i o n (Fig. 97): In addition to the holotype, I examined 9 specimens. Panamá: Provincia de Chiriquí, Cerro Pando, 24-V-1973, 1535 m, G. Ekis. Colombia: Departamento de Risaralda, Otún Quinbaya, El Monilillo, 4°43'N 75°34'W, 17-II-4-III-2003, 2220 m, Malaise, G. López; Departamento del Valle de Cauca, near Saladito, 13-VII-1970, 6700 feet, H. & A. Howden; Farallones de Cali, La Meseta, 3°34'N 76°40'W, 9-26-X- 2003, 2080 m, Malaise, S. Sarria. Venezuela: Estado de Aragua, Colonia Tovar, 18-VII-1988, 6780 feet, C. W. & L. B. O’Brien. Specimens are deposited in CMNC and WOPC.