Mecyclothorax externestriatus Perrault, 1989: 66

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 110

94. Mecyclothorax externestriatus Perrault, 1989: 66

Identification.

Among Mecyclothorax globosus group species with narrow pronotal lateral margins, two supraorbital setae each side and two dorsal elytral setae, setal formula 2121, this species can be diagnosed by the following combination: 1, head glossy, frons and vertex without visible microsculpture, neck with indistinct transverse mesh near pronotal margin; 2 pronotal disc glossy, shallowly defined transverse sculpticells visible over part of surface, mostly in association with irregular transverse wrinkles; 3, discal elytral intervals lined with an elongate transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 2 –4× length; and 4, elytral striae 1-7 deep, distinctly punctate in basal half though shallow to obsolete near elytral basal groove. The pronotum is moderately transverse (Fig. 48A), MPW/PL = 1.16-1.23 (n = 2), and constricted basally, MPW/BPW = 1.51-1.63. The pronotal lateral margins are slightly convergent anterad the sharply obtuse hind angles. The pronotal median base is sparsely punctate, ~17 punctures each side isolated by glossy cuticle. This species is currently known from three female specimens. Standardized body length 3.9-4.3 mm.

Distribution and habitat.

This species is recorded from 900-1380 m elevation on Mont Marau. It has been collected using pyrethrin fog in association with ferns growing along the slopes of a small gulch.