Mimosticus aeneipennis Brunke et Solodovnikov sp. n.

(Fig. 1 C, 2C, G, 3C, 4C, 6C, 7C, 9C, 10A (map))

Type material. Holotype [point-mounted, terminalia and aedeagus dissected and attached to the specimen in a plastic genitalia vial with glycerin]: male, “ EQUADOR: Napo, Sierra Azul, 2300 m, 0°40'0'' S, 77°55'0'' W, 17 FEB-8 MAR 1996, P. Hibbs ECU 2H96 004E; ex. Malaise trap/ (SEMC); 1 male, 1 female, Sierra Azul, 2300 m, 0°40'0'' S, 77°55'0'' W, 17.II.–26.III.1996, flight intercept trap P. Hibbs/ [SEMC barcode label]/ Holotype Mimosticus aeneipennis sp. n. Brunke et Solodovnikov des. 2014 [red label]” (SEMC).

Paratypes: Colombia: Cauca: 1 male, PNN [national park] Munchique Sector La Romelia, Dentro del Bosque, 2°38' N, 76°54' W, 2640 m, Malaise trap, 10–26.VII.2004, H. Pino (SEMC); Boyacá: 1 male, SFF Iguaque La Planada, 2850 m, 05°25' N, 73°27' W, 21.XII.2000 – 7.I.2001, Malaise trap, P. Reina (ZMUC). Ecuador: Napo: 1 female, Sierra Azul, 2300 m, 0°40'0'' S, 77°55'0'' W, 17.II.–8.III.1996, Malaise trap P. Hibbs (ZMUC); 1 male, 1 female, Sierra Azul, 2300 m, 0°40'0'' S, 77°55'0'' W, 17.II.–26.III.1996, flight intercept trap P. Hibbs (SEMC).

Description. Measurements: HL 1.0–1.1; HW 1.2–1.3; PL 1.6; PW 1.9–2.3; EL 2.3–2.4; EW 1.2–2.4. Total body length 10.5–12 mm.

Blackish, with distinct golden iridescence on head and pronotum; elytra bright, metallic gold-green; abdomen strongly iridescent. Last two antennomeres visibly paler: brownish.

Head in dorsal view with nuchal ridge distinct laterally. Eyes moderately large, in dorsal view 1.6–2.0 times as long as tempora, the latter about as half as long as an eye. Antennae as in Fig. 2 C, with relatively long antennomeres: antennomere 4 about 2.2–2.5 times as long as wide.

Pronotum distinctly transverse, ca. 1.3–1.4 times as wide as long.

Elytra slightly wider and longer than pronotum.

Male: sternite VIII with characteristically sinuate apical margin (Fig. 4 C), with shallow but distinct apical incision; sternite IX pointed basally, gradually widening apicad and not forming a basal stalk (Fig. 6 C); tergite X without long dark macrosetae, with only smaller setae and with shallow but distinct notch on apical margin (Fig. 7 C). Aedeagus as in Fig. 9 C: paramere dilated subapically, its apex slightly pointed to evenly rounded, without pale, sensory peg setae-like structures; internal sac with strongly sclerotized, densely packed spine-like structures grouped in fields that differ in their size and degree of sclerotization.

Comparison. Based on the dorsally visible nuchal ridge, relatively smaller eyes and more elongate antennae, Mimosticus aeneipennis can be easily distinguished from M. viridipennis and M. tenuiformis . Among species with a dorsally visible nuchal ridge, M. aeneipennis can be distinguished by the bright gold-green elytra (bright blue, bluish purple or brassy purple in others), distinctly shorter eyes and head, and wider antennomeres 7–10. Unlike M. sharpi, M. pseudosharpi and M. latens, male sternite VIII is distinctly sinuate apico-laterally in M. aeneipennis . The shape of male sternite IX in M. aeneipennis is similar (though still different (Fig. 6 C vs. 6F)) to M. latens but the former species is easily distinguished by the shape of male sternite VIII and the external differences above.

Distribution and bionomics. Mimosticus aeneipennis is known from three localities in the Andes of Colombia and Ecuador. All specimens were collected by Malaise or flight intercept traps in montane forests at elevations between 2300 and 2850 m.

Etymology. The species epithet refers to the distinctive bronze-green, metallic reflection of the elytra.