Descriptions of new genera and new species of Western Hemisphere checkered beetles (Coleoptera, Cleroidea, Cleridae) Author Opitz, Weston text Linzer biologische Beiträge 2019 2019-12-20 51 2 959 1076 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.3746744 3ab3ca17-b957-454a-bdcf-d664740802e6 0253-116X 3746744 Ridica merida OPITZ nov.sp. ( Figs 49 , 104 , 307 ) Holotype : ♀ . Type locality: VENEZUELA , 20 km SW El Vig’a Merida , XII-10-1969 , el. 50 m , L. Wood ( FSCA ). D i a g n o s i s: The members of this species are conveniently distinguished from those of its congener by the shape of the 8 th antennomere and by the sculpture on the elytral disc. In Ridica merida the 8 th antennomere is quadrate and the elytral disc shows 4 longitudinal carinae, whereas in specimens of R. achira the 8 th antennomere is oblong and the elytral disc is devoid of longitudinal carinae. D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 9.0 mm; width 2.2 mm . Form: As in Fig. 307 . Color: Cranium bicolored, mostly black, upper frons with central linear testaceous line; prothorax bicolored, pronotal sides testaceous, remainder of prothorax black; antenna black, last antennomeres not seen; pterothorax, legs, and abdomen black; elytra bicolorous, sutural margins narrowly black in basal 1/2, disc testaceous. Head: Antenna ( Fig. 49 ) capitate, funicular antennomeres transverse, capitular antennomeres 8 and 9 broad-oblong, capitular antennomere 10 missing; eyes large, finely facetted, eye as wide as frons (EW/FW 29/29). Thorax: Pronotum ( Fig. 104 ) quadrate, disc coarsely punctate (PW/PL 75/75); pronotal tubercle broad, disc concave paralaterally near pronotal collar, discal and lateral trichobothria well developed; elytral asetiferous punctures small, profusely distributed (EL/EW 430/75); anterior margin of protibia with 7 spines. Abdomen: Pygidium transverse/scutiform. N a t u r a l H i s t o r y: The available specimen was collected in December, at 50 m . D i s t r i b u t i o n: This species is known from Venezuela . E t y m o l o g y: The trivial name, merida , is a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality.