Mesoceration maluti, Perkins, 2008

Perkins, Philip D., 2008, Facial affect recognition in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis, Zootaxa 1864, pp. 1-124 : 36-37

Mesoceration maluti new species

( Figs. 46 , 49 , 103 )

Type Material. Holotype (male): Lesotho: Drakensberg , Sani Pass Valley, water collection, 29° 36' S, 29° 20' E, 8 March 1976, Endrödy­Younga (#1053). Deposited in the TMSA . Paratypes (14): Lesotho: Same data as holotype (12 TMSA); Same data, except shore washing (2 TMSA) .

Differential Diagnosis. Individuals of M. maluti are recognized among rivulare group species by the large body size (ca. 1.80 mm), the small eyes, the comparatively large pronotum, the parallel­sided elytra, and the 5th and 6th elytral series with punctures becoming progressively larger posteriorly ( Fig. 46 ). The aedeagus shows some similarity to that of M. splendorum , a smaller species (ca. 1.60 mm) with larger eyes, differently shaped elytra with smaller serial punctures, and deeper pronotal foveae, among other external differences ( Figs. 48, 49 ).

Description. Size (length/width, mm) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 1.80/0.66; head 0.35/ 0.39; pronotum 0.40/0.51; elytra 1.05/0.66. Dorsum brown to dark brown, head darker, lateral areas of pronotum lighter, maxillary palpi and legs testaceous, venter dark brown. Body form quite flat. Eyes small, in dorsal aspect about 4 coarse facets in longest series.

Head dorsally very finely, very sparsely punctate, shining, except frons between ocelli and eyes with much larger and deeper punctures; eyes small, in dorsal aspect about five facets in longest series; anteocellar sulci deep. Ocelli distinct. Mentum and submentum shining, mentum moderately densely punctate in basal 1/ 2.

Pronotum cordate, widest before midlength; anterior angles rounded, posterior rectangular; sides finely margined, very weakly crenulate; anterior margin shallowly arcuate over median 3/4, without hyaline border; discal reliefs strongly shining, very finely, very sparsely punctate, interstices ca. 3–8xpd; anteriorly and posteriorly with few much larger and deeper punctures; with 10 foveae as follows: two median, an anterior elongate and round posterior, well separated; a small anterior and smaller posterior admedian; and a large anterior and large deep posterior adlateral on each side; foveae with few punctures, otherwise shining; each puncture with extremely fine, short, decumbent seta.

Elytra comparatively long, parallel­sided, apices truncate in male, angulate in female; sutural apices rectangular in male, distinctly more acute in female; sides smooth, well developed explanate margin continuing to posterior angles, posterior declivity very gradual. Serial punctures moderately large, ca. lxpd largest pronotal punctures, interstices 1–2xpd, series 1–4 progressively slightly finer apically, series 5–7 progressively slightly larger apically, series 1 very weakly if at all striate­impressed; seven series between suture and carina, except series 1–2 confluent over posterior 1/2, and series 5–6 confluent over anterior 1/3; serial punctures non­granulate. Intervals, except 8th, flat or nearly so, strongly shining, some with very sparse, nearly imperceptible, unilinear row of minute punctulae, non­granulate; 8th interval sharply carinate. All punctures bearing a short fine seta.

Thoracic ventrites and abdominal ventrites 1–4 densely clothed with short setae, except glabrous proventral midlongitudinal area, mesoventral plaques, and small glabrous strongly shining subtriangular area basomedially on metaventrite. Disc of metaventrite with shallow midlongitudinal groove in posterior 1/2. Abdominal ventrites as follow: 5th slightly longer than 4th, similarly clothed except apical semilunulate area glabrous and shining; 6th glabrous and shining, with transverse band of piliferous punctures.

Legs of male apparently with two spiniform setae on apical protarsomere. Femora and tibiae effacedly microreticulate.

Females with explanate margin of elytra wider than in males, apices more distinctly obliquely truncate; pronotal anterior angles distinctly more produced, slightly upturned.

Wings reduced, about 3/4 length of elytron.

Aedeagus length ca. 0.53 mm; main­piece almost straight in ventral view, apex forming arcuate, sharply pointed process; distal piece comparatively long, arcuate, tube­like; parameres extended well beyond apex of main­piece ( Fig. 49 ).

Etymology. Maluti is the Sesotho word for the mountains that are called the Drakensburgs in Afrikaans.

Distribution. Currently known only from the type locality in the Drakensberg Mountains, easternmost Lesotho ( Fig. 103 ).

Figures

FIGURE 46. Mesoceration maluti, dorsal and lateral habitus of holotype.

FIGURES 47–50. Mesoceration, aedeagi of holotypes. —47. M. periscopum. —48. M. splendorum. —49. M. maluti. —50. M. rapidensis.

FIGURES 103–104. Geographical distributions of Mesoceration species.