Mecyclothorax maninamata, Liebherr, James K., 2013

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 103-105

86. Mecyclothorax maninamata sp. n.

Diagnosis.

Among species of the Mecyclothorax globosus group with two supraorbital setae each side and one dorsal elytral seta - setal formula 2111 - this species can be diagnosed by the pallid body coloration (Fig. 45A) and very small eyes, ocular ratio 1.35. A horizontal diameter of the compound eye crosses 15 ommatidia. Standardized body length 3.7 mm. Head with frontal grooves very fine and shallow posteriorly, the convex frons immediately mesad the supraorbital carina crossed by transverse wrinkles, deeper and broader anteriorly at frontoclypeal suture, the grooves extended laterally onto labrum; ocular lobe little protruded, eyes little convex; antennae moderately elongate, submoniliform, antennomere 8 length 1.75 × maximal breadth. Pronotum transverse, lateral margins maximally curved at lateral pronotal setae; MPW/PL = 1.29; base moderately constricted, MPW/BPW = 1.48, lateral margins subparallel for 0.14 × length anterad slightly obtuse, well-defined hind angles; median base depressed relative to disc, ~7 punctures each side bordered by larger depressions mesad the laterobasal depression; anterior transverse impression broad, shallow medially, crossed by a dense array of distinct longitudinal strigae that extend nearly to pronotal anterior margin, more narrowly incised laterally near rounded, non-protruded front angles; lateral marginal depression narrow, margin beaded, depression hardly wider inside front angles; laterobasal depression consisting of two pits separated by an oblique transverse bar that crosses from base to lateral margin anterad the hind angle. Elytra narrowly ovate, the lateral margins evenly curved posterad the proximate, angulate humeri, MEW/HuW = 2.29; elytral disc broadly convex, the surface flat between the fourth intervals at midlength, sides downturned to near vertical juncture with lateral marginal depression; discal elytral striae moderately incised, punctate, the rounded punctures expanding strial width; striae 1-5 shallow basally, but traceable to basal groove; discal elytral intervals broadly, moderately convex; striae 1-7 well-developed apically, the associated intervals convex, eighth interval subcarinately upraised above stria 7 dorsad subapical sinuation, the interval convexly bulging from there to apex; lateral elytral setae 7 + 6. Microsculpture of frons obsolete, surface glossy between the transverse wrinkles, shallow transverse mesh visible on neck; pronotal disc glossy over parts, the surface appearing lapped due to irregular transverse wrinkles, an indistinct transverse mesh visible over complementary parts, sculpticell breadth 2 –4× length; pronotal median base with evident isodiametric and transverse sculpticells between the punctures; discal elytral intervals with an indistinct transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 2 –3× length visible outside areas of reflected light. Coloration of head pale rufous; antennomeres 1-4 flavous, 5-11 rufobrunneous; pronotal disc pale rufous, all margins concolorous; elytra pale rufous, lateral marginal depressions narrowly rufoflavous; femora and tibiae flavous.

Female reproductive tract. Bursa copulatrix elongate, narrowly rounded apically, length 2.6 × width when compressed under microslide cover slip (Fig. 44B); spermathecal duct broad, almost as broad as the spermathecal reservoir; basal gonocoxite 1 broad apically, narrow basally, with apical fringe of 3 setae set laterally, and 6-7 small setae arrayed along the mesal margin (Fig. 9H); apical gonocoxite 2 broad basally, narrowly arcuate apically, with broadly arcuate lateral margin; apical coxite with two elongate lateral ensiform setae, a dorsal ensiform seta, and an apical sensory furrow with two apical nematiform setae and two furrow pegs.

Holotype female (MNHN) labeled: Mt. Marau, Tahiti / 1200-1400 m / XII-1977 / J. Gourvès (on reverse) (pink paper) // Museum Paris / 1994 / Coll. G. Perrault (pink paper) // Ƶ (white paper) // HOLOTYPE / Mecyclothorax maninamata / J.K. Liebherr 2013 (black-bordered red label).

Etymology. The species epithet compounds the Tahitian words manina, in this usage meaning flat, and mata, herein meaning eye. The name therefore refers to the flat eyes diagnostic of this species.

Distribution and habitat.

The holotype specimen was placed at the end of the Georges Perrault collection, with the tertiary label “Ƶ” indicating his recognition of it as distinct, though undescribed. It was collected between 1200 and 1400 m elevation on Mont Marau, though the situation within which Professeur Gourvès collected it was not recorded.