Mecyclothorax cupripennis Perrault, 1989: 69

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 91

72. Mecyclothorax cupripennis Perrault, 1989: 69

Identification.

Among the eight Mecyclothorax globosus group species from Tahiti characterized by a single supraorbital seta (Figs 37D, 38, 39), this species stands out based on: 1, the narrow head with small eyes, ocular ratio 1.42 (Fig. 38A); 2, the presence of a single (anterior) dorsal elytral seta: and 3, greatly reduced elytral microsculpture consisting of a very shallow transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 2 –3× length, that is visible only outside areas of reflected light due to the glossy nature of the elytral cuticle. The breadth of the head can be quantified by comparison with the maximum elytral width; MEW/MHW = 2.32. The frons and vertex are glossy, the former crossed by fine radiating wrinkles emanating from the hind portion of the frontal grooves, and the pronotal disc is glossy with small patches of indistinct transverse mesh outside the areas of reflected light. The male aedeagal median lobe is exceedingly diagnostic, with the lobe shaft narrow, and the apex beyond the ostium expanded ventrally as a rounded expansion, and dorsally as a hooklike projection (Fig. 40C), the hooked configuration looking very much like a can-opener. Setal formula 1111; standardized body length 3.6-3.9 mm.

Distribution and habitat.

This species is known from Mont Teatara, Tahiti Iti, from 900-1100 m elevation. One specimen was obtained through the application of pyrethrin fog to a horizontal mossy log