Mecyclothorax everardi, Liebherr, James K., 2013

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 46-47

32. Mecyclothorax everardi sp. n.

Diagnosis.

Among the Mecyclothorax dannieae group, this species shares the moderately impressed elytral striae and paler body margins observed in beetles comprising Mecyclothorax brittoni (Figs 22C, D), however the discal elytral striae 2-4 are at most irregularly impressed in their basal half, not punctate. This species exhibits a smaller standardized body length - 4.7-5.3 mm - than the preceding Mecyclothorax papau and Mecyclothorax manina . Setal formula 2222. Head with very fine, sinuous frontal grooves, their mesal slopes very shallowly wrinkled; eyes convex, ocular ratio 1.50-1.59 (n = 5), ocular lobe protruded with broad shallow groove at genal juncture; antennae shorter, submoniliform, antennomere 8 length 1.8 × maximal breadth. Pronotum transverse, MPW/PL = 1.22-1.31, moderately constricted basally, MPW/BPW = 1.39-1.46; basal setal articulation in expanded margin resulting in small jag, the jag anterad slightly convex basal margin and so seta appears to be located at hind angle; median base moderately depressed relative to disc, irregularly punctured but with distinct longitudinal strigae lining margin with disc; anterior marginal impression shallow, broad, but crossed by 6-7 indistinct longitudinal wrinkles each side of midline; lateral marginal depression narrow, margin upraised near midlength, slightly broader and margin less upraised at front angle. Elytra broadly rounded basally, slightly obovate with greatest width behind midlength; humeri tightly rounded with basal groove distinctly recurved between the bases of striae 1-4; striae 1-6 broad, shallow on disc, irregularly impressed along length, stria 7 shallower basally; interval 8 only slightly elevated laterad apex of stria 7, its surface of same convexity as interval mesad stria 7; lateral elytral setae 7 + 6. Metathoracic wings reduced to vestigial flaps that do not extend beyond posterior margin of metanotum. Microsculpture of frons and vertex a distinct transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 2 × length, neck with isodiametric mesh; pronotal disc with well-developed microsculpture, a mixture of isodiametric and transverse sculpticells in transverse rows; discal elytral intervals with a regular, shallowly margined transverse mesh, sculpticell breath 2 × length, the sculpticells shiny in reflected light. Coloration of frons and vertex rufobrunneous with metallic reflection; antennomeres 1-3 rufoflavous, 4-11 with brunneous cast; pronotal disc rufobrunneous with silvery metallic reflection, lateral margins, base and anterior callosity rufoflavous; elytral disc with intervals 2-6 dark brunneous with a metallic reflection, intervals 7-9 rufoflavous, sutural stria rufobrunneous basally, rufoflavous near apex; femora flavous, tibiae rufoflavous.

Male genitalia. Aedeagal median lobe shaft moderately slender, the apex beyond the ostium recurved first ventrally then dorsally, the apex expanded dorsoventrally, moreso ventrally, and flattened as an apical face (Fig. 24B); right paramere moderately broad, parallel sided nearly all the way to the tip; ostial canal on right face of median lobe and evenly curved in parallel with dorsal surface.

Female reproductive tract. Bursa copulatrix curved and folded to the right apically, length about 2 × maximal breadth compressed on microslide (Fig. 14B); basal gonocoxite 1 broad, with apical fringe of four setae each side, approximately 10 small setae on mesal half of coxite; apical gonocoxite 2 broad basally, lateral margin broadly arcuate (Fig. 8D), two lateral ensiform setae with maximal breadth medially along length, one dorsal ensiform seta, and apical sensory furrow with two nematiform setae and two furrow pegs.

Holotype male (MNHN) labeled: French Polynesia: Tahiti Nui / Pito Hiti el. 2070 m 2-VI- / 2006 lot 01 pyrethrin fog / 17°36.813'S, 149°27.842'W / E. M. Claridge // HOLOTYPE / Mecyclothorax / everardi / J.K. Liebherr 2013 (black-bordered red label).

Allotype female (MNHN) labeled as holotype.

Paratypes: same data as holotype (CUIC, 2; EMEC, 3); Tahiti Nui, Pito Hiti, 2000 m el., 17°36.790'S, 149°27.842'W, 2-vi-2006 lot 02, Claridge, pyrethrin fog (CUIC, 3; EMEC, 8; MNHN, 2; NMNH, 2), 2080 m el., 17°36.806'S, 149°27.842'W, 2-vi-2006, lot 03, Claridge, pyrethrin fog (CUIC, 2; EMEC, 2).

Etymology.

Based on synapomorphies of the body coloration and male genitalia, this species is hypothesized to represent the adelphotaxon of Mecyclothorax brittoni . As such, the species epithet everardi places E.B. Britton’s first name adjacent to his last name in any phylogenetic classification of Mecyclothorax . The species epithet honors Dr. Britton’s many efforts in the study of Pacific Mecyclothorax beetles, as well as his subsequent illustrious career at C.S.I.R.O., Canberra.

Distribution and habitat.

All specimens have been collected from 2000 to 2080 m elevation on Pito Hiti via pyrethrin fogging of moss-covered vegetation.