Mecyclothorax pirihao Liebherr, 2012b: 88

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 111

95. Mecyclothorax pirihao Liebherr, 2012b: 88

Identification.

This Mecyclothorax globosus group species with setal formula 2121 can be diagnosed by the pronotal shape, with the very constricted base, obtuse-rounded hind angles, and lateral margins moderately divergent immediately before, and then more angularly divergent further anterad the hind angles (Fig. 48B). The discal elytral striae are smooth to minutely punctate at their depths in the basal half of the elytra. Striae 2-6 are absent from the elytral base, not continuous to the elytral basal groove. The elytra are narrow basally, the humeri angulate and proximate; MEW/HuW = 2.42-2.56 (n = 5). The frons and vertex are covered with an indistinct transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 2 –3× length, and the pronotal disc bears a more elongate mesh, sculpticell breadth 3 –4× length, the areas of mesh mixed with glossy portions. The discal elytral intervals are lined with an elongate transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 3 –5× length, intermixed with areas of transverse lines. The male aedeagal median lobe is slender, evenly curved from basal bulb to ostial apex (Fig. 47F), with the apex variably displaced apically along the dorsal margin and narrowly downturned ventrally to a tightly rounded tip (Figs 3G, 47F). The ostial canal is moderately elongate and parallels the dorsal margin. The male aedeagus is very similar to that observed in males of Mecyclothorax bryobius (Fig. 19E), that species a member of the Mecyclothorax altiusculus species group. Nevertheless the key pronotal characters of narrow sinuate lateral margins place Mecyclothorax pirihao here. Phylogenetic analysis incorporating information from all characters will assess this incongruence. Standardized body length 4.2-5.0 mm.

Distribution and habitat.

This species is recorded from 880-1110 m elevation on Mont Mauru. Most of the specimens have been collected in association with ferns, either by beating or through application of pyrethrin fog. Only 2 of the 22 known specimens were collected by beating flowering plants; a mixed beating sample of Melicope , Myrsine , and Weinmannia .