Mecyclothorax gourvesioides Perrault, 1988: 244

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 79

66. Mecyclothorax gourvesioides Perrault, 1988: 244

Identification.

Most similar to Mecyclothorax papuhiti and Mecyclothorax gourvesi in the sinuate pronotum with broadly explanate lateral margins (Fig. 35) and setal formula 2122, but distinguished by the very distinctly punctate elytral striae and laterally pinched, very convex eighth elytral interval, the convex roll extended from inside the middle of the posterior series of the lateral elytral setae to the elytral apex. The elytral marginal depression is also very broad near the humerus in these beetles versus narrower in individuals of the other two species At standardized body length 5.0-5.2 mm, this species exhibits larger body size than Mecyclothorax papuhiti . The surfaces of the frons and vertex are superficially glossy, with an obsolete transverse mesh visible outside fields of reflected light. Isodiametric and transverse sculpticells arranged in transverse rows are more visible near the pronotum. The pronotal disc is covered with a shallow but regular transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 2 –3× length, and the discal elytral intervals bear transverse lines that are joined over limited portions of their surface into an elongate transverse mesh. The male aedeagal median lobe is robust, with a broad shaft and briefly extended apex that is ventrally expanded (Fig. 36D). Of this configuration, the short apex is shared with Mecyclothorax papuhiti (Fig. 36C), and the broad shaft is shared with Mecyclothorax gourvesi (Figs 36 E–I).

Distribution and habitat.

This species is known from lower elevations north of Mapura to Mapura summit, on the ridge that leads upward to Pihaaiateta and Pito Hiti. Specimens were collected during 1978 between 900 and 1200 m elevations by beating ferns ( Perrault 1988). The area within which this species has been collected includes the upper reaches of the Valle de Opearahi that has been developed into the Supermahina housing estate. Supermahina was one of the first areas in Tahiti known to be infested with the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata , introduced at some time before 2004 ( I.P.P.C. 2005). Thus a portion of the known range of this species has witnessed an alien ant invasion suggesting that a post-invasion assessment of populations of this species is warranted.