Mecyclothorax loebli Baehr, 2002

Liebherr, James K., 2017, Review of Mecyclothorax Sharp (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Moriomorphini) from Papua New Guinea, with Descriptions of Five New Species, The Coleopterists Bulletin 71 (4), pp. 679-703 : 694-695

8. Mecyclothorax loebli Baehr, 2002 ( Fig. 32 )

Mecyclothorax loebli Baehr 2002: 698 ; Baehr 2008: 135, 2014: 128.

Diagnosis. Like M. cuccodoroi , this species is characterized by glabrous, obtuse pronotal hind angles, a punctate pronotal median base, two dorsal elytral setae, and distinctly punctate elytral striae with the outer striae 6 and 7 evidenced by serially isolated punctures. Mecyclothorax loebli is distinguished from M. cuccodoroi by the very narrow elytral lateral marginal depression behind the humerus and its larger body size, 3.8–4.2 mm ( Baehr 2002). Mecyclothorax cuccodoroi is diagnosed from M. andersoni by the obtuse hind angles, M. andersoni having the hind angles rounded ( Fig. 4 ). It is diagnosed from M. brispex , the fourth species in this treatment characterized by glabrous pronotal hind angles, by the punctate pronotal median base (impunctate in M. brispex ). The male aedeagus of M. loebli ( Baehr 2002, fig. 2) is remarkably similar in shape to that of M. andersoni ( Figs. 17, 18, 20, 21 ), and a rounded antecostal margin of mediotergite IX ( Figs. 19, 22 ) is shared by both species, suggesting a close relationship.

Distribution and Habitat. The type locality of M. loebli — “Bulldog Rd. Hidden Valley Gold 2550 m ” ( Fig. 32 ) — is identical to that of M. cuccodoroi . Mecyclothorax loebli and M. cuccodoroi are the only two sympatric Mecyclothorax species known from Papua New Guinea. Löbl (2002) described Baeocera praedicta Löbl and Baeocera cuccodoroi Löbl ( Staphylinidae : Scaphidiinae ) from this locality.

Figures

Fig. 32. Localities in Papua New Guinea from which Mecyclothorax spp. were collected and the particular species collected at each locality. 1 = Mt. Capella — M. baehri; 2 = Mt. Fugilil — M. brispex and M. medioconstrictus; 3 = Kubor Range — M. kubor; 4 = Mt. Wilhelm — M. sedlaceki; 5 = Finisterre Range — M. kavanaughi; 6 = Mt. Missim — M. gressitti; 7 = Mt. Kaindi, Edie Creek and Bulldog Road — M. andersoni, M. cuccodoroi, and M. loebli; 8 = Mt. Amungwiwa—M. amingwiwae.

Figs. 1–4. Mecyclothorax species, dorsal habitus. 1) M. kavanaughi; 2) M. baehri; 3) M. medioconstrictus; 4) M. andersoni. Range of standardized body lengths (in mm) and setal formulae (see text) for number of supraorbital setae each side, number of pronotal setae each side, number of dorsal elytral setae each elytron, and number of setae at the apex of each elytron are indicated.

Figs. 17–24. Mecyclothorax andersoni: 17) Male 8, VSB form, aedeagal median lobe and parameres, internal sac everted, right view; 18) Male 2, MEB form, aedeagal median lobe and parameres, right view; 19) Male 2, mediotergite IX plus rounded antecostal apodeme, short apex form, dorsal view; 20) Male 9, EDR form, aedeagal median lobe and parameres, internal sac everted, right view; 21) Male 3, VEN form, aedeagal median lobe and parameres, right view; 22) Male 3, mediotergite IX plus rounded antecostal apodeme, long apex form, dorsal view. Mecyclothorax gressitti: 23) Male aedeagal median lobe and parameres, right view; 24) Male mediotergite IX plus rounded antecostal apodeme, dorsal view. Abbreviations are defined in Table 1.