Mecyclothorax spinosus Perrault, 1989: 65

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 111-112

96. Mecyclothorax spinosus Perrault, 1989: 65

Identification.

Among Mecyclothorax globosus group species with setal formula 2121, this species can be diagnosed by the little transverse pronotum with sharply acute hind angles (Fig. 48C); MPW/PL = 1.16-1.20 (n = 3). The upper surface has a bronzed metallic reflection on the dark rufopiceous surface, and the legs are rufobrunneous. The elytra are broadly ovate, with the margins extended laterally from the sharply angulate humeri. The elytral striae are deep, with minute elongate punctures at their depth, striae 2-7 deep and continuous to the elytral basal groove. The head is glossy, though indistinct transverse sculpticells occur in association with dense transverse wrinkles covering the frons and vertex. The pronotal disc is covered with a shallow, indistinct, and very elongate transverse mesh most visible outside the areas of reflected light. The discal elytral intervals bear a distinct, elongate transverse microsculpture intermixing elongate sculpticells, breadth 2 –4× length with transverse lines. The male aedeagal median lobe is very characteristic, with an immense dorsoapical spine (Fig. 47G) extended from a straight apical face. The aedeagal shaft is broad, robust, as observed in males of Mecyclothorax cupreus and Mecyclothorax cupreoides (Figs 47E, H), and the internal sacs also share a grossly spiculate ventral ostial microtrichial patch (Figs 47E, G, H). Standardized body length 3.8-4.5 mm.

Distribution and habitat.

This species is recorded from 900-1200 m elevation on the lower reaches of the western ridge leading to Pito Hiti; above Supermahina housing etates and near the summit of Mapura ( Perrault 1989). Individuals have been collected in ground-level litter.