Muisca heppneri OPITZ nov.sp. (Figs 30, 60, 95, 112, 142)

Holotype: ♀. PANAMÁ: Pmá. Prov., Cerro Campana, 820 m, 8°40'N, 79°56'W. A second label reads: 5 Sept. ’77, H. P. Stockwell (FSCA). Paratypes: 19 specimens. Costa Rica: Provincia de Guanacaste, 9 km S Santa Ceciliam Parque Nacional Guanacaste, 24-VIII-1992, P Rios (WOPC, 1). Panamá: Provincia de Veragua, Santa Fe, Alto Piedra, 11-16-VI- 2010, 850 m, J. B. Heppner (FSCA, 1); Provincia de Panamá, Cerro Campana, 8°40'N, 79°56'W, 850 m, 2-IX-1972, H. Stockwell (WOPC, 2); idem, 5-IX-1977, H. P Stockwell (WOPC, 1); idem, 18-VII-1970, H. P. Stockwell (WOPC, 1); idem, 13-V-1978, 2700', C. W. & L. B. O’Brien & Marshall (WOPC, 5); idem, 18-VI-1976, W. E. Clark (WOPC, 5); idem, 16-VII-1976, W. Clark (WOPC, 1); idem, 6-V- 1973, 454 m, O’Brien & Marshall (WOPC,1); idem, 29-VI- 1974, L. & C. O’Brien, Marshall, & H. Stockwell (WOPC, 1).

D i a g n o s i s: Muisca heppneri specimens may be distinguished from those of its sister species, M. lateripunctata, by coloration near the elytral humeral angle. In M. heppneri specimens there are 2 distinct black maculae near the humeral angle. In M. lateripunctata specimens the humeral region is marked by 1 irregularly-shaped brown macula.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 6.0 mm; width 2.5 mm. Form: As in Fig. 142. Color: Light castaneous, except each elytron with 2 black spots near the humeral angle and a black angular fascia at middle of disc. Head: Funicular antennomeres filiform, capitulum about as long as combined length of funicular antennomeres, capitular antennomeres 9 and 10 oblong triangular (Fig. 30), antennomere 11 obovate; frons wider than width of eye (EW /FW 30/35). Thorax: Pronotum (Fig. 60) oblong (PW /PL 95/115), side margin with well-developed tubercle, disc subglabrous at middle; elytral asetiferous punctation striate to distal 2/3 rd (EL /EW 280/90). Abdomen: Pygidium subquadrate, posterior margin slightly concave; distal margin of 6 th visible sternite broadly concave; aedeagus phallobase wide in basal half, tapered to lobe apices, phallic apex (Fig. 112) triangular.

V a r i a t i o n: Size: Length 5.0- 8.5 mm; width 1.5-3.0 mm. Other than body size the available beetles are quite similar in appearance.

N a t u r a l h i s t o r y: Specimens were collected during May through September at altitudes ranging from 800 to 850 m; most were taken with a beating sheet.

E t y m o l o g y: The specific epithet, heppneri, is a dedicative patronymic. It honors John B. Heppner for his many contributions to taxonomic entomology, among which is his dedication to field taxonomy.

D i s t r i b u t i o n (Fig.95): This species is known only from Panamá.