Rainforest understory beetles of the Neotropics, Mizotrechus Bates 1872, a generic synopsis with descriptions of new species from Central America and northern South America (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Perigonini)

Abstract. Information on the single previously described species, Mizotrechus novemstriatus Bates 1872 (type locality: Brazil – Amazonas, Tefé), is updated and 17 new species for the genus from Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panamá, Colombia, Venezuela, and Guyane are described. The species records in the literature and on determined specimens in some collections of Mizotrechus novemstriatus Bates from Central America are not that species; currently, Mizotrechus novemstriatus is known only from its type locality in Amazonian Brazil. For the new species described, their known general distributions are as follows: Mizotrechus batesi sp. n. (Guyane), Mizotrechus bellorum sp. n. (Guyane), Mizotrechus brulei sp. n. (Guyane), Mizotrechus belevedere sp. n. (Guyane), Mizotrechus costaricensis sp. n. (Costa Rica), Mizotrechus dalensi sp. n. (Guyane), Mizotrechus edithpiafae sp. n. (provenance unknown), Mizotrechus fortunensis sp. n. (Panamá), Mizotrechus gorgona. sp. n. (Colombia), Mizotrechus grossus sp. n. (Guyane), Mizotrechus jefe sp. n. (Panamá), Mizotrechus marielaforetae sp. n. (Guyane), Mizotrechus minutus sp. n. (Guyane), Mizotrechus neblinensis sp. n. (Guyane, Venezuela), Mizotrechus poirieri sp. n. (Guyane), and Mizotrechus woldai sp. n. (Panamá). Long-term use of flight intercept traps in Guyane provided so many new species that apparently the use of FITs is the way to collect adults of this taxon, previously known from very few specimens. Many more species of this genus can be expected to be discovered throughout the Neotropics; the present contribution is a preliminary synopsis with identification key and adult images of all known species. Likely numerous species are yet to be discovered throughout tropical climes.