Muisca bitaeniata

Muisca bitaeniata is the accepted^[2] type species of checkered beetles of the genus Muisca in the subfamily of Clerinae or Enopliinae. It was first described by entomologist Maximilian Spinola in 1844.^[1]

Muisca bitaeniata
Muisca bitaeniata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Cucujiformia
Family:	Cleridae
Genus:	Muisca
Species:	M. bitaeniata
Binomial name
Muisca bitaeniata Spinola, 1844[1]

Etymology

The genus Muisca has been named after the Muisca from the Altiplano Cundiboyacense in central Colombia.^[3] Bitaeniata means "two-striped".^[4]

Description

The description of the beetle is made in French and Spinola used for measuring the body parts of the sole specimen, which he thinks was a male,^[1] the old French unit of length ligne. One ligne corresponds to 2.2558291 millimetres (0.08881217 in).^[5]

The labium and maxilla of the genus Muisca are less wide than long. This differs from the genus Aulicus.^[3]

Antennas, body and legs are red. Eyes and extremities of the mandibles are black. Two black stripes over each elytra (forewing).^[1]

• body length - 3 1/2 ligne ~ 8 mm (0.31 in)
• prothorax - 2/3 ligne long, maximum 1/2 ligne wide ~ 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long, max 1.1 mm (0.043 in) wide
• elytra - 2 ligne long, base 1 ligne wide ~ 4.5 mm (0.18 in) long, base 2.2 mm (0.087 in) wide
• head - 1/2 ligne wide ~ 1.1 mm (0.043 in)

See also

• Colombia portal
• Insects portal

• List of flora and fauna named after the Muisca