Mecyclothorax balli Perrault, 1978b: 147; 1986: 454

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 72

59. Mecyclothorax balli Perrault, 1978b: 147; 1986: 454

Identification.

Among the Mecyclothorax viridis group species with basally reduced elytral striae and two dorsal elytral setae (Figs 32 B–E), diagnosable by the very transverse elytral microsculpture composed of transverse lines with little development of a mesh, and larger standardized body length, 4.8-5.1 mm. From the smaller bodied Mecyclothorax putaputa , with which this species shares the very transverse elytral microsculpture, this species can be differentiated by the deep, distinctly punctate discal elytral striae and associated convex intervals (Figs 32B), and the distinctly sinuate lateral pronotal margins and projected pronotal hind angles. The vertex of the head is glossy with the shallow to obsolete transverse microsculpture partially to totally obscured by irregular transverse wrinkles. The pronotal disc is covered with an obsolete (male paratype) to shallow (female paratype) elongate transverse mesh mixed with transverse lines, the defined sculpticells 2 –4× broad as long. The male aedeagal median lobe has an elongate, parallel-sided apex with oblique apical face (Fig. 30G); the elongate apex a shortened version of the exaggeratedly elongate apex observed in males of Mecyclothorax ata (Fig. 30H). Setal formula 2221.

Distribution and habitat.

All that is known about the biology and distribution of this species is restricted to the 1976 collection of the eight-member type series from 1300-1400 m elevation on Mont Marau ( Perrault 1978b).