Embates mendax Prena 2005, sp. n.

(Fig. 253)

Holotype male (dissected), Costa Rica, labeled: “Est. Pittier, Prov. Punta, COSTA RICA./ 1670m. 22–28 JUN 1995. A. Picado,/ L_S_330900_577400 #5899”, CRI002 338075 (INBC).

Paratype 1 (male), labeled: “ Costa Rica, PUNTA.: P.N./ Corcovado, Est. Agujas, 8°/ 32' N 83° 25' W, 300 m,/ 19– 21.3.2000, leg. Prena ” (JPPC).

Description. Habitus: similar to Fig. 1, total length 5.2–5.4 mm (m=5.3, n=2). Color: integument piceous, funicular segments and legs rufous, basic vestiture of light brown scales; elytron with black subcircular macula slightly behind middle; scales light brown to ochreous in post­macular element and dorsolateral pronotal vitta, flank of preapical callus black. Head: frontal fovea minute or absent, rostrum moderately slender, subcylindrical, subcostate dorsomedially, basolateral margin edged, length of rostrum ♂♂ 1.14–1.17 x (n=2) pronotal length, length of ante­antennal portion ♂♂ 0.41–0.42 x (n=2) total rostral length, dorsal margin of antennal scrobe reaching rostral base well before eye; funicular segment 2 longer than 1, club oblong ovate. Pronotum: length 0.97–0.98 x (n=2) maximum width, proportionately larger than in E. biguttatus, sides rounded, widest in basal third, anterior portion tubulate; disk densely punctate, intervals granulose. Elytra: length 1.71–1.82 x (n=2) width at humeri, width 1.29–1.37 x (n=2) maximum pronotal width, sides subparallel (or very slightly converging) in basal half, then increasingly narrowed toward apex, apices rounded conjointly, preapical callus produced, striae fine, punctures indistinct, interstriae flat, 9 (7 partially) subcostate. Legs: tibiae almost straight, ventral margin slightly bisinuate, metatibia ventrodistally with fringe (♂♂) of cupreous hairs, tarsal claws arcuate and separate at base. Male: apex of aedeagus rounded narrowly, middle sclerotized, anterolateral portion membranous (as Fig. 73), body of aedeagus angular in basal third, apodemes 1.7 x longer than body of aedeagus, flagellum thin, as long as apodemes, transition to curved base gradual, basal appendage moderate, fused laterally with base of flagellum, projecting beyond base (as Fig. 74).

Plant association. Piper sp. (Prena 1).

Distribution. Costa Rica, Pacific side of Cordillera de Talamanca (Fig. 253).

Specific epithet. The name is a Latin noun meaning “fake”.

Discussion. Embates mendax belongs to the E. biguttatus complex. A character state useful for rapid recognition of E. mendax is the black vestiture below the post­macular elytral fascia. The species is very similar to its Atlantic sibling species E. paucilimbatus. The latter species has a short, evenly curved and medially membranous aedeagus.