Meonochilus bellorum, Liebherr, James K., 2011

Liebherr, James K., 2011, Cladistic assessment of subtribal affinities within the tribe Moriomorphini with description of Rossjoycea glacialis, gen. n. and sp. n. from the South Island, and revision of Meonochilus Liebherr and Marris from the North Island, New Zealand (Coleoptera, Carabidae), ZooKeys 147, pp. 277-335 : 303-306

1. Meonochilus bellorum sp. n.

Diagnosis.

Differing from all other species of the genus in many respects, the most obvious being the bicolored elytra, with the outer intervals flavous versus median intervals dark brunneous to piceous (Fig. 9A). Individuals are also much smaller than those of other species, with standardized body length 3.8-4.2 mm. Other characters that confirm the diagnosis include: 1, pronotum with complete basal marginal bead; 2, elytra with 2 dorsal setae in third interval; 3, both apical and subapical elytral setae present (Fig. 11A); 4, mesepisternum with approximately 8 large punctures on dorsal portion of surface, versus 12-25 punctures in the other species; 5, metepisternum separated from metepimeron by distinct suture, visible externally as a complete, depressed line; 6, male aedeagus with elongate right paramere (Fig. 1D, 1E); and 7, internal sac of male aedeagus with sinuous, flagellum and flagellar sheath apically on left side (Fig. 1E).

Male Genitalia.

(n = 1). Aedeagal median lobe broad, robust, with broadly expanded sagittal crest and broadly rounded and downturned apex (Fig. 1D), the apex turned rightward in ventral view (Fig. 1E); internal sac elongate, membranous except for apical flagellar complex; flagellum defined by position ventrad gonopore (Fig. 1D), and consisting of shorter flagellar sheath and longer flagellum associated with left side of apex; apex of sac to right of flagellar complex covered with crescent-shaped roll of membrane that is covered with short, stout, spikelike microtrichia (brush sclerite; Lindroth 1976); right (ventral in repose position) paramere elongate, length 0.8 × distance from parameral articulation point on median lobe to outer surface of median lob e apex, 6 setae on parameral ventral edge, 3 setae at tip, and 3 setae on the dorsal margin; left paramere broadest medially, with attenuate apex, length subequal to distance from parameral articulation to lobe apex, a single longer seta at the very narrow parameral tip, a shorter seta on ventral margin of paramere near tip.

Female Reproductive Tract.

(n = 2) Bursa copulatrix columnar, distance from gonocoxal bases to apex 1.5 × bursal breadth; spermathecal duct joining bursa ventrally at juncture with common oviduct, the spermathecal duct directed rightward from common oviduct-bursal juncture (Fig. 12A); spermathecal duct length subequal to length of spermathecal reservoir, reservoir a curved tube of diameter similar to spermathecal duct; spermathecal gland duct base at juncture between spermathecal reservoir and spermathecal duct; basal gonocoxite 1 with lateroapical series of 2(3) setae, and medioapical series of 2-6 setae extended from mesal portion of apex basad along apical half of mesal surface (Fig. 12B); apical gonocoxite 2 with 2 long, narrow lateral ensiform setae, and 1 dorsal ensiform seta on dorsomedial surface; apical sensory furrow bearing 2 nematiform seta at 0.88 × coxite length.

Holotype.

Male (NZAC): NEW ZEALAND ND / Omahuta For., Kauri / Sanct., Pukekohe Stm / tk 300m 30.I.1995 / Larivière /Larochelle // Taraire-kauri for. / Wet muddy / streambank / Under dead leaves. // NZ Arthropod / Collection, NZAC / Private Bag 92170 / AUCKLAND / New Zealand (yellow label) // HOLOTYPE ♂ / Meonochilus / bellorum/ det. J.K. Liebherr 2011 (black-bordered red label) // ♂ habitus photo / J.K. Liebherr 2011.

Paratypes.

ND: Matarua For., Waioku Coach Rd. Tk., Wekaweka entry, wet roadside/wet Caldcluvia for./litter, 35°33.91'S, 173°36.22'E, 400 m el., 09-ii-1995, Larivière /Larochelle (NZAC, 1); Omahuta For., Kauri Sanctuary, Pukekohe Str., Taraire-kauri for., wet muddy streambank, under dead leaves, 35°14.46'S, 173°37.74'E, 300 m el., 30-i-1995, Larivière /Larochelle (NZAC, 2); under Elastostema /veg. debris, streambank, 35°14.46'S, 173°37.74'E, 300 m el., 31-i-1995, Larivière /Larochelle (NZAC, 2), Trounson Kauri Pk., Kaihu litter, 35°43.29'S, 173°38.94'E, 19-i-1972, Ramsay (NZAC, 1), kauri-podocarp hdwd., wet leaves/flood debris/forest stream, 250 m el., 03-07-xii-1984, Newton/Thayer (FMNH, 1); Warra Warra St. For., [Warawara St. For], ex leaves from stream in bush, 35°22.40'S, 173°17.65'E, 10-x-1974, Dugdale (NZAC, 2).

Etymology.

The species epithet bellorum is a genitive plural commemoration of Ross and Joyce Bell’s ground-breaking, indeed log-breaking research into the biology of “rhysodid” beetles. The species for commemoration was chosen based on: 1, collection of most of the specimens by André Larochelle and Marie-Claude Larivière, former denizens of the climax maple forest biome; and 2, the disparate mosaic of plesiomorphic and apomorphic characters displayed by beetles comprising Meonochilus bellorum .

Distribution and Habitat.

This species is known to occupy only a limited distributional range in western Northland, with collecting localities centered on Hokianga Harbor (Fig. 13). Most beetles of Meonochilus bellorum have been collected from very wet microhabitats, including in flood debris and among leaves from a stream, under vegetal litter and debris on a streambank, and in litter along a wet roadside. All collecting records are in October, or from December to February.