Muisca magdalena OPITZ nov.sp. (Figs 31, 67, 96, 144)

Holotype: ♀. COLOMBIA, Magdalena PNN, SN de Santa Marta, Bella Vista, 10°48'N 73°39'W, 1500 m, Malaise, 7.V-1-VI-2001, J. Cantillo (FSCA) . Paratypes: 3 specimens. Colombia: Departamento de Magdalena, Magdalena PNN, SN de Santa Marta, Bella Vista, 10°48'N 73°39'W, 7.V-1-VI-2001, 1500 m, Malaise, J. Cantillo (WOPC, 1) ; idem, 22-X-7-XI-2001, 1500 m, Malaise, J. Cantillo (WOPC, 2) .

D i a g n o s i s: Within the M. octonotata group, only in specimens of M. magdalena do we find the midelytral fascia fragmented into 4 punctiform components.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 5.3 mm; width 2.0 mm. Form: As in Fig. 144. Color: Light castaneous, except each elytron with 6 black spots, 2 near the humeral angle and 4 near elytral middle. Head: Basal funicular antennomeres filiform, distal funicular antennomeres progressively shorter and more triangular, capitulum about as long as combined length of funicular antennomeres, capitular antennomeres 9 and 10 triangular (Fig. 31), antennomere 11 globose; frons wider than width of eye (EW /FW 20/35). Thorax: Pronotum (Fig. 67) quadrate (PW /PL 83/83), side margin with well-developed tubercle, disc subglabrous at middle; elytral asetiferous punctation minute, striate to distal 2/3 rd (EL /EW 250/60). Abdomen: Pygidium scutiform.

V a r i a t i o n: Length 5.0-6.0 mm; width 2.0- 2.5 mm. Other than body size, the available beetles are quite homogeneous.

N a t u r a l h i s t o r y: Specimens were collected during May, June, October, and November, some in a Malaise trap, at altitudes ranging from 1500 to 1700 m.

E t y m o l o g y: The specific epithet, magdalena, constitutes a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality.

D i s t r i b u t i o n (Fig.96): This species is known only from Colombia.