Muisca (beetle)

Muisca
Muisca bitaeniata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Family: Cleridae
Subfamily: Clerinae or Enopliinae
Genus: Muisca
Type species
Muisca bitaeniata
Species
Synonyms

Paracregya

Muisca is a genus of checkered beetles of the subfamily of Clerinae or Enopliinae. It is only known from two species, the type species, Muisca bitaeniata and Muisca cylindricollis. The genus was first described by entomologist Maximilian Spinola in 1844.[1]

Spinola contributed extensively to the entomological knowledge in the mid 19th century when specimens were brought to him from South America. The Muisca beetle was found in Colombia and part of the collection of Buquet.[1]

In 1962 Brazilian zoologist Adriano Peracchi described a species Cregya cylindricollis. Peracchi later transferred this species to the genus Paracregya.[2] Paracregya cylindricollis was then reclassified as Muisca cylindricollis by Ekis in 1975.[3]

Etymology

The genus Muisca has been named after the Muisca of central Colombia.[4]

Description

The labium and maxilla of the black-striped red Muisca beetle are less wide than long. This differs from the genus Aulicus.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 (in French) Spinola, 1844 Essai monographique sur les Clérites, insectes coléoptères, Volume 2 - p. 148 - accessed 21-04-2016
  2. ↑ Description of Paracregya - accessed 21-04-2016
  3. ↑ List of Cleridae with Muisca bitaeniata and Muisca cylindricollis - accessed 21-04-2016
  4. 1 2 (in French) Maresq, 1860 Encyclopédie d'histoire naturelle ou Traité complet de cette science, d'après les travaux des naturalistes les plus éminents de tous les pays et de toutes les époques: Coléoptères, Volumes 1-3 - p. 258 - accessed 21-04-2016
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