Mecyclothorax inaequalis (Blackburn)

Liebherr, James K., 2015, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Haleakala-, Maui: Keystone of a hyperdiverse Hawaiian radiation, ZooKeys 544, pp. 1-407 : 101-102

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Carabidae

(037) Mecyclothorax inaequalis (Blackburn) Figs 52B, 53D, 54B, 55B, 56

Cyclothorax inaequalis Blackburn 1878b: 157; Blackburn and Sharp 1885: 216.

Mecyclothorax inaequalis , Sharp 1903: 249; Britton 1948b: 142.

Diagnosis.

Individuals of this species are instantly recognizable by the lustrous, shimmery dorsal surface resulting from the well-developed isodiametric and transverse microsculpture, and the presence of elytral setae on intervals 3, 5, and 7 (Fig. 52B). The dorsal surface appears similar in reflective pattern to that of the fire-adapted Sericoda species ( Liebherr 1991). In Mecyclothorax inaequalis , there are 4-6 setae on elytral interval 3, 3-5 setae on interval 5, and 3 on interval 7, each seta associated with partial convergence of the adjacent elytral striae. The dorsal microsculpture is arrayed as: 1, vertex with upraised isodiametric mesh, the sculpticells in transverse rows on the neck; 2, pronotal disc with upraised, slightly transversely stretched sculpticells in transverse rows, the median base with granulate isodiametric sculpticells, some in rows; 3, elytral disc with irregular, upraised isodiametric sculpticells plus a transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 2 × length, the apex with a shiny transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 2 –3× length. Setal formula 2 2 4 2. Standardized body length 3.9-4.7 mm.

Identification

(n = 5). The eyes are moderately convex, ocular ratio = 1.39-1.45, and situated on protruded ocular lobes, ocular lobe ratio = 0.73-0.79. The pronotum is moderately constricted basally, MPW/BPW = 1.45-1.52, and transverse, MPW/PL = 1.34-1.40. The pronotal hind angles are nearly right with an obtuse-rounded apex, and the lateral margins are subparallel for a short distance anterad the angles. The elytra are subquadrate, with rounded humeri extended laterally on the broadly rounded elytral base; MEW/HuW = 1.91-1.96. The variable dorsal reflective pattern belies monotonous dorsal coloration, with the vertex and pronotal disc brunneous with a slight piceous cast, the elytra rufobrunneous to brunneous, the apex slightly darker due to a piceous cast. Only the antennal base-antennomeres 1-3 and the base of 4-and legs deviate by their flavous coloration; the femora with a broad piceous cloud across their basal third, and the tibiae with an apically more developed piceous cast

Male genitalia (n = 1). Aedeagal median lobe gracile, distance from parameral articulation to tip 4.7 × depth at midlength (Fig. 53D); apex broadly flat with subangulate ventral tip, blunt dorsal projection; internal sac with dark fields of spicules, flagellar plate short, 0.29 × as long as parameral articulation-tip distance.

Female reproductive tract (n = 1). Bursa copulatrix columnar, elongate with rounded apex, length 0.91 mm, breadth 0.34 mm (Fig. 54B); bursal walls translucent with thin wrinkles basally, wrinkles thicker apically; gonocoxite 1 with 3 apical fringe setae and 6-7 smaller setae on medial surface (Fig. 55B); gonocoxite 2 falcate with tightly rounded apex, base broadly extended laterally, 2 lateral ensiform setae with apical seta longer and broader, apical nematiform setae on medioventral surface at 0.65 × gonocoxite length.

Lectotype.

Male (BMNH) hereby designated, labeled: Mounting platen with Blackburn Maui code ( Zimmerman 1957: 210), inaequalis (on reverse) // Type // Hawaiian Is. Rev. T. Blackburn 1888-30. // LECTOTYPE Cyclothorax inaequalis Blackburn J.K. Liebherr 1998 (black-margined red label).

Distribution and habitat.

Mecyclothorax inaequalis is a species recorded only from ground-level microhabitats in the mesic forests west of Waikamoi Gulch (Fig. 56), with collecting localities ranging 1210-1615 m elevation. Anonymous (N D) lists the species in Perkins’ lot 251: "all the small Carabids and Hem[e]iptera by grubbing." In a modern exercise of the grubbing method on 14-v-1998 at Ukulele Pipeline, this species was collected along with individuals of Mecyclothorax cognatus , Mecyclothorax longulus , and Mecyclothorax sobrinus . In a subsequent grubbing attempt-16-v-2003 along the Sugi Ridge Trail, Waikamoi Nature Conservancy Preserve-the species list added Mecyclothorax multipunctatus and Mecyclothorax perstriatus to the above.