Mecyclothorax teatara Perrault, 1986: 448

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 52

37. Mecyclothorax teatara Perrault, 1986: 448

Identification.

This species is easily diagnosed by the broadly ellipsoid elytra and small, little transverse pronotum, MPW/PL = 1.25 (n = 2) (Fig. 23D). It shares pronotal proportions with the sympatric Mecyclothorax ramagei (Fig. 22E), but differs in the larger body size, standardized body length 5.3-5.6 mm, and by the presence of two supraorbital setae each side; setal formula 2221. Mecyclothorax teatara is characterized by elytral intervals covered by dense transverse lines, with only occasional cross-connections resulting in transverse sculpticells versus the transverse mesh characterizing Mecyclothorax ramagei . The male aedeagal median lobe is nearly symmetrically expanded apically, with a rounded ventral and a subangulate dorsal expansion, and the apex face is rounded (Fig. 24G). The ostial canal parallels the dorsal margin, and the right paramere is narrowly extended to a whiplike apex.

Distribution and habitat.

This species is known from 800-1100 m elevations on Mont Teatara, Tahiti Iti. One specimen was collected via pyrethrin fogging of mossy horizontal logs and mossy tree trunks.