Mecodema undecimus sp. n.

Figure 62.

Diagnosis: Distinguished from other North Island Mecodema species by having: 1, vertexal groove very distinctly broad entire length, formed by ridge posterad frons; 2, a unique shape of the apical portion of the penis lobe (Fig. 62 PL).

Description: Length 24–29 mm, pronotal width 5–7 mm, elytral width 6–8 mm. Colour of entire body matte to glossy black, coxae dark reddish-brown.

Head: Broad and deflected laterally (Fig. 14B). Vertex smooth (Fig. 62); vertexal groove very distinctly broad entire length, formed by ridge posterad frons, may be micropunctate laterally; small supraorbital puncture bearing 4–5 setae (may be another setose puncture near orbital puncture); 2–3 indistinct to shallow supraorbital grooves; frons with rugose wrinkles antero-laterally, a large and shallow depression each side of midline; frontoclypeal suture (Fig. 9) and tentorial pits indistinct; anterior area of clypeus with grooves, 1 setose puncture each side bearing 2 setae and 1 medial setose puncture bearing 1–2 setae (Fig. 62). Labrum lobate, anterior edge medially emarginated with 2 proximate central setae, 2 setae each side evenly spaced. Mentum lobes rounded (Fig. 12F), median process broad and short, upward angle absent, moderately indentate (Fig. 12B); mentum setae variably absent or present. Submentum sclerite constriction broad with 6 evenly-spaced setae. Stipes with 2 basal setae. Gula pits (Fig. 8) small, suture indistinct, gula flat and smooth. Gena with very fine, transverse lines forming an isodiametric pattern laterally.

Prothorax: Prothoracic carina broad the entire length, crenulations absent with 9–12 setae each side (Fig. 62), extended beyond anterior angle; posterior lateral sinuation indistinctly carinate, parallel to slightly angled inward; pronotum broad and deflected laterally, overall shape triangular; midline poorly impressed, anterior medial triangular impression and posterior medial diamond-shaped impression present, disc with fine transverse lines laterally (Fig. 62); pronotal foveae broad and shallow; anterior edge inwardly curved, posterior edge straight. Prosternum flat and smooth; proepisternum without microsculpture. Procoxal setae absent; protibia distally expanded and shovel-like (Fig. 10B).

Elytra: Narrow and moderately deflected; humeral angle evenly convex (Fig. 6B); basal margin moderately curved and bevelled to base, interval 1 extended to margin; lateral carina narrow anterior and medial ⅓, broadened in posterior ⅓, extended to anterior angle; humerus with 2–3 setose punctures high in angle (Fig. 62); suture slightly impressed; striae with small, regularly spaced, asetose punctures, striae 1–6 punctures may be obsolescent; intervals 1–6 flat (or weakly convex), intervals 7–9 moderately convex; interval microsculpture absent; 7 th strial setal pattern with 2–3 setose punctures in anterior ½, 4–5 setose punctures in posterior ½ (Fig. 62), setose punctures large.

Ventral surface: Mesepisternum and metepisternum without microsculpture; setose punctures present on mesocoxae (2) and metacoxae (2). All abdominal ventrites (Fig. 2) finely lineate laterally; ventrites 3–5 ventrites with 1 setose puncture each side of midline; ventrite 6 setae (Fig. 2) present: ♂ male with 1 setose puncture at junction of straight apical edge and curve anterad, ♀ with 2 setose punctures each side of midline, evenly spaced along rounded apical edge; ventrites 3 and 4 foveate laterally (very shallow). Anterior metaventrite process a short triangle with carina narrow the entire length.

Male genitalia: (some variation in specimens from distinct populations). Apical portion of penis lobe asymmetrically hooked with a dstinct deflection to right of vertical axis (VV) (Fig. 15A); apex broad (especially Moirs Hill), ventral process a rounded point slightly forward of vertical axis, apex asymmetrical curved to form dorsal process (Fig. 62 PL), process broad, flattened without recurve, short, gentle curve to shaft; shaft of penis lobe (apical portion) with weak curve to right (VV); overall length of penis lobe slightly curved ventrally (LV) (Fig. 16A), shaft narrow at apex to ⅓ of length, then gradually broadens to base. Structures of the endophallus (Fig. 4): lateral form of the apex of the central spicule flattened; dorsal form of the apex of the central spicule greatly expanded without projection; setal (scales) coverage of the apical plate extensive (76–100%); size of left setose flange small; size of right setose flange very large. Left paramere basal lobe narrow and rectangular with moderate anterior hump forming gradual (45°) slope to arm (Fig. 62 LP); arm very short and narrow, broadened to form short and broad terminal lobe with apical tuft of medium-lengthed setae, very short and sparsely distibuted setae continued along arm junction curve (Fig. 62 LP); ventral edge straight. Right paramere narrowly triangular, gradually narrowed to terminus with a double row of very long setae along apical ¾ of ventral edge (Fig. 62 RP), apical ⅓ inwardly curved toward penis lobe.

Female genitalia: Basal gonocoxite 1 (Fig. 5) short and broad, flattened apically; internal dorso-lateral carina with 3 setae; ventral surface with a few rugose grooves. Gonocoxite 2 short and rounded, slightly recurved around apical edge. Ramus short and broad.

Comments: Mecodema undecimus is widespread from the Puhoi River north to Warkworth, and can be found in pine ( Pinus radiata) plantation forests in addition to native forests.

Distribution: New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Rodney District, Mc Elroy Scenic Reserve, Pohuehue Scenic Reserve, Moirs Hill Scenic Reserve, Puhoi (north of the Puhoi River).

Holotype: NZAC male labelled. NEW ZEALAND AK, Moirs Hill Walkway 3651 S 17462 E 150m 12.XI–10 XII 2001 Larivière.Larochelle / wet broadleaf forest along stream Pittraps / HOLOTYPE Mecodema undecimus n. sp. design. DS Seldon, TR Buckley 2018 [red label].

Paratypes: 1♂, NEW ZEALAND AK, Moirs Hill Walkway 3651 S 17462 E 150m 15.X–12 XI 2001 Larivière.Larochelle / wet broadleaf forest along stream Pittraps (NZAC) ; 1♂, NEW ZEALAND AK, Moirs Hill Walkway 3651 S 17462 E 150m 12.IX–15 X 2001 Larivière.Larochelle / wet broadleaf forest along stream Pittraps (NZAC) ; 2♂, 1♀, NEW ZEALAND AK, M c Elroy S.R. 29 XII–05 I 1999 #289 #290 # 295 P. Paquin & N. Dupérré / Pitfall traps Moist podocarp x broadleaf forest Landscape Patch Dynamic Project (NZAC) ; 2♂, 1♀, NEW ZEALAND AK, M c Elroy S.R. 22–29 XII 1998 #195 #196 # 197 P. Paquin & N. Dupérré / Pitfall traps Moist podocarp x broadleaf forest Landscape Patch Dynamic Project (NZAC) ; 1♀, NEW ZEALAND AK, M c Elroy S.R. 15–22 XII 1998 # 103 P. Paquin & N. Dupérré / Pitfall traps Moist podocarp x broadleaf forest Landscape Patch Dynamic Project (NZAC) ; 1♀, NEW ZEALAND AK, M c Elroy S.R. 16–23 III 1999 #1347 P. Paquin & N. Dupérré / Pitfall traps Moist podocarp x broadleaf forest Landscape Patch Dynamic Project (NZAC); 1♂, NEW ZEALAND AK, Pohuehue S.R. 05–12 I 1999 # 395 P. Paquin & N. Dupérré / Pitfall traps Moist podocarp x broadleaf forest Landscape Patch Dynamic Project (NZAC) ; 1♂, NEW ZEALAND AK, Pohuehue S.R. 15–22 XII 1998 # 108 P. Paquin & N. Dupérré / Pitfall traps Moist podocarp x broadleaf forest Landscape Patch Dynamic Project (NZAC) ; 1♂, NEW ZEALAND AK, Pohuehue S.R. 16–23 III 1999 #1358 P. Paquin & N. Dupérré / Pitfall traps Moist podocarp x broadleaf forest Landscape Patch Dynamic Project (NZAC); 1♀, NEW ZEALAND AK, Pohuehue S.R. 23–30 III 1999 #1451 P. Paquin & N. Dupérré / Pitfall traps Moist podocarp x broadleaf forest Landscape Patch Dynamic Project (NZAC); 1♀, NEW ZEALAND AK, Pohuehue S.R. 09–16 III 1999 #1261 P. Paquin & N. Dupérré / Pitfall traps Moist podocarp x broadleaf forest Landscape Patch Dynamic Project (NZAC); 1♂, NEW ZEALAND AK, Pohuehue S.R. 06–13 IV 1999 #1643 P. Paquin & N. Dupérré / Pitfall traps Moist podocarp x broadleaf forest Landscape Patch Dynamic Project (NZAC); 1♂, NEW ZEALAND AK, Pohuehue S.R. 05–12 I 1999 # 395 P. Paquin & N. Dupérré / Pitfall traps Moist podocarp x broadleaf forest Landscape Patch Dynamic Project (NZAC) .

Etymology: Undecimus is Latin for ‘eleventh’, and Mecodema undecimus is the eleventh species that DSS recognised as new.