Mecodema temata sp. n.

Figure 55.

Diagnosis: Differing from other North Island Mecodema species by having: 1, 4–8 setae along the prothoracic carina ( curvidens species group); 2, the vertexal groove being defined laterally by a very shallow depression behind the supraorbital puncture; 3, a setose puncture at the anterior junction of elytra intervals 6 and 7; 4, the setal distribution along the ventral edge of the left paramere (Fig. 55 LP).

Description: Length 16.5–19.5 mm, pronotal width 4.5–5.7 mm, elytral width 5.6–6.5 mm. Colour of entire body glossy black, coxae and legs dark red to black.

Head: Narrow and convex (Fig. 14D). Vertex smooth; vertexal groove defined laterally by a very shallow depression behind supraorbital puncture; small supraorbital puncture (Fig. 9) and deep bearing 3–4 setae; 1 shallow supraorbital groove; frons smooth; frontoclypeal suture very narrow, very small tentorial pits; anterior area of clypeus with very shallow depressions (poorly defined); clypeus with 1 small puncture each side bearing 1 seta (Fig. 55). Labrum rounded, anterior edge straight with 2 proximate central setae, 2 setae each side evenly spaced. Mentum lobes squared (Fig. 12G), process long and narrow, upward angle absent, indentation notched (Fig. 12D); mentum setae present. Submentum sclerite constriction narrow with 2 setae each side, widely spaced laterally. Stipes with 2 basal setae. Gula pits deep and narrow, suture well-defined, gula flat with very fine transverse lines. Gena (Fig. 8) smooth.

Prothorax: Prothoracic carina (Fig. 11) very narrow the entire length, slightly crenulated (or smooth) with 4–8 setae each side (Fig. 55), extended beyond anterior angle; posterior lateral sinuation indistinctly carinate, slightly angled inward; pronotum narrow and deflected, overall shape squared; midline well-defined, without anterior medial diamond-shaped depression and posterior medial depression, disc with fine transverse lines laterally (Fig. 55); pronotal foveae shallow and narrow; anterior edge inwardly curved, posterior edge straight. Prosternum flat and smooth; proepisternum without microsculpture. Procoxal setae absent; protibia distally expanded and shovellike (Fig. 10B).

Elytra: Broad (in relation to pronotum) and deflected; humeral angle anteriorly convergent (Fig. 6A); basal margin slightly curved and bevelled to base, interval 1 extended to margin; lateral carina narrow the entire length, extended to humeral angle; humerus with 2 setose punctures; suture well-defined; striae asetose punctures regularly spaced and equal size, all striae well-defined; all intervals moderately convex, interval microsculpture absent; 7 th strial setal (Fig. 1) pattern with 3 setose punctures in anterior ½, 4–5 setose punctures in posterior ½ (Fig. 55), setose punctures large; setose puncture at the anterior junction of intervals 6 and 7.

Ventral surface: Mesepisternum (Fig. 2) and metepisternum without microsculpture; setose punctures present on mesocoxae (1) and metacoxae (1). Abdominal ventrites 1 and 2 finely lineate laterally; ventrites 3–5 with 1 setose puncture present each side of midline; lateral foveae absent; ventrite 6 setae present: ♂ with 1–2 setose punctures each side, apical edge bluntly rounded, (♀ specimen not available). Anterior metaventrite process (Fig. 2) a rounded triangle without a carina.

Male genitalia: Apical portion of penis lobe symmetrically rounded (Fig. 55 PL) but short and broad, narrowed to a round apex (VV); ventral edge of penis lobe straight (VV/LV). Structures of the endophallus (Fig. 4): lateral form of the apex of the central spicule pointed; dorsal form of the apex of the central spicule short and narrow; setal (scales) coverage of the apical plate sparse (1–25%); size of left setose flange small; size of right setose flange large. Left paramere basal lobe narrowly rectangular, narrowed slightly toward arm, short slope to arm (Fig. 55 LP); arm long and narrow; terminal lobe very small, indistinct from arm with a small apical tuft of short setae only (Fig. 55 LP); ventral edge straight. Right paramere long, narrowly rectangular with a double row of long setae extended along apical ¾ of ventral edge (Fig. 55 RP).

Female genitalia: no female specimen available.

Comments: This species has persisted in a very small wet gully of native scrub and old karaka ( Corynocarpus laevigatus) trees, which have escaped the fires and deforestation of the region. It is not known whether any other populations of M. temata exist in other areas of Hawke’s Bay.

Distribution: New Zealand, North Island, Hawke’s Bay, Havelock North, Te Mata peak.

Holotype: NZAC male labelled. NEW ZEALAND HB Havelock North, Te Mata Peak, Nature Trail 5 Jan 2016, DS Seldon, J. Tizard / at large, CAR301, S39°41’55.4 E176°54’03.5, 146 m / HOLOTYPE Mecodema temata n. sp. design. DS Seldon, TR Buckley 2018 [red label].

Paratypes: 1♂ [card mounted], 2♂, NEW ZEALAND Havelock North, Te Mata Peak, Nature Trail, by hand, 5 Jan 2016, DS Seldon, J. Tizard (NZAC) .

Etymology: This species is named after the type locality, Te Mata Peak.