Mesoceration bispinum, Perkins, 2008

Perkins, Philip D., 2008, Facial affect recognition in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis, Zootaxa 1864, pp. 1-124 : 47-48

Mesoceration bispinum new species

( Figs. 67 , 71 , 101 )

Type Material. Holotype (male): South Africa: KwaZulu­Natal Province, Weza, Impetyene Forest , lower forest, shore washing, large and rapid forest river with stony banks, 30° 37' S, 29° 42' E, 19 February 1989, Endrödy­Younga (#2697). Deposited in the TMSA . Paratype: Same data as holotype (1 TMSA) .

Differential Diagnosis. The habitus of M. bispinum is similar to that of M. bicurvum ( Figs. 62 , 67 ); refer to the diagnosis of that species.

Description. Size (length/width, mm) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 1.57/0.59; head 0.29/ 0.38; pronotum 0.36/0.45; elytra 0.97/0.59. Dorsum brown to dark brown, head darker, maxillary palpi and legs testaceous, venter dark brown.

Head with labrum and laterally on clypeus and frons effacedly microreticulate, dull. Disc of clypeus and frons shining, finely sparsely punctate, punctures much smaller than 1xef, separated by about 3–5xpd, each puncture with short, fine, decumbent seta; anteocellar sulci moderately deep. Ocelli distinct. Mentum and submentum microreticulate, dull.

Pronotum cordate, widest before midlength; anterior angles rounded, posterior rectangular; sides finely margined, weakly crenulate; anterior margin shallowly arcuate over median 3/4, without hyaline border; discal reliefs shining, very finely, very sparsely punctulate, interstices ca. 4–7xpd; anteriorly and posteriorly with very coarse punctures, each ca. 2xef, separated by narrow walls; with 10 distinct foveae as follows: two median, an anterior elongate and oval posterior, well separated; a small round anterior and longer, oblique, oval posterior admedian; and a large anterior and large deep posterior adlateral on each side; foveae effacedly microreticulate, dull; each puncture with a fine short seta.

Elytra comparatively long, sides weakly arcuate, apices conjointly rounded; sutural apices rectangular; sides weakly explanate, posterior declivity gradual. Serial punctures rather small, slightly larger than largest pronotal punctures, interstices ca. 1xpd, progressively slightly finer apically, series 1 very weakly striateimpressed; on disc seven series between suture and carina, 5th and 6th series confluent in area behind humerus; serial punctures on disc each with minute granule on anterior margin. Intervals, except 8th, flat or nearly so, width on disc about 1xpd, very finely unilinearly punctulate, some punctures with minute granule at anterior margin; 8th interval 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. Metaventrite with impression in middle of posterior 1/2. Abdominal ventrites as follow: 1st and 2nd each with median, sharp tubercle; 5th similarly clothed except apical area glabrous and shining; 6th glabrous and effacedly microreticulate, with transverse subapical band of piliferous punctures.

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

Wings each reduced to small lobe.

Aedeagus length ca. 0.35 mm; main­piece markedly sinuate in ventral view, narrowest near basal 1/3, in lateral view markedly bent, basal ring large; distal piece moderately long, markedly arcuate in lateral view, widened at gonopore; parameres shorter than main­piece, in lateral view curvature similar to that of mainpiece ( Fig. 71 ).

Etymology. Named in reference to the sharp tubercles on abdominal ventrites one and two.

Distribution. Currently known only from the type locality in the Impetyene Forest, southernmost Kwa­ Zulu­Natal Province ( Fig. 101 ).

Figures

FIGURE 62. Mesoceration bicurvum, dorsal and lateral habitus of holotype.

FIGURE 67. Mesoceration bispinum, dorsal and lateral habitus of holotype.

FIGURES 71–74. Mesoceration, aedeagi of holotypes. —71. M. bispinum. —72. M. curvosum. —73. M. longipennis. —74. M. natalensis.

FIGURES 101–102. Geographical distributions of Mesoceration species.