Mecyclothorax kavanaughi Liebherr, 2008

Liebherr, James K., 2017, Review of Mecyclothorax Sharp (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Moriomorphini) from Papua New Guinea, with Descriptions of Five New Species, The Coleopterists Bulletin 71 (4), pp. 679-703 : 685-686

1. Mecyclothorax kavanaughi Liebherr, 2008 ( Figs. 1 , 9–10 , 32 )

Mecyclothorax kavanaughi Liebherr 2008: 148 ; Baehr 2014: 126.

Diagnosis. This is the only Mecyclothorax species of Papua New Guinea to exhibit three to five dorsal elytral setae on the third interval, plus accessory elytral setae on the fifth interval (at least one unilaterally and up to three setae bilaterally were observed). The only other New Guinea species to exhibit setae on both the third and fifth elytral intervals is M. toxopei of Papua, Indonesia, but M. kavanaughi differs in the greatly reduced cuticular microsculpture with the discal elytral intervals glossy ( Fig. 1 ), not covered with distinctly raised isodiametric microsculpture as in M. toxopei . Among Papua New Guinea species, M. kavanaughi shares with M. sedlaceki and M. kubor a third antennomere that is distinctly setose in its apical half, the surface sparsely covered with short, fine setae in addition to the longer apical ring setae. However, M. sedlaceki individuals exhibit only two dorsal elytral setae in the third interval, and the discal elytral intervals are covered with an isodiametric mesh. Mecyclothorax kubor differs by exhibiting a glabrous fifth elytral interval and a very reduced anterior transverse pronotal impression, whereas that impression is continuous, deep, and distinctly punctate medially in M. kavanaughi ( Fig. 1 ). The slightly projecting pronotal hind angles are setose. The male aedeagal median lobe is robust, with the apex pointed ( Liebherr 2008, fig. 4). The right (ventral) paramere is moderately broad to the narrowly rounded apex, with numerous setae in the apical half of the ventral margin and two stouter apical setae ( Fig. 9 ); the left (dorsal) paramere is narrow basally with an elongate, narrow, and whiplike apex that bears two apical setae ( Fig. 10 ). Standardized body length is 4.0– 4.8 mm.

Distribution and Habitat. This species is precinctive to the Finisterre Range, Madang Province ( Fig. 32 ). The type series was collected by D. H. Kavanaugh from under small rocks and among gravel along a small stream at the bottom of a deep, northfacing valley. The surrounding alpine habitat was open, with the hillsides densely covered with bunchgrass ( Spinifex L.) and other grasses, low shrubs, and sparsely distributed tree ferns ( Liebherr 2008).

Figures

Figs. 1–4. Mecyclothorax species, dorsal habitus. 1) M. kavanaughi; 2) M. baehri; 3) M. medioconstrictus; 4) M. andersoni. Range of standardized body lengths (in mm) and setal formulae (see text) for number of supraorbital setae each side, number of pronotal setae each side, number of dorsal elytral setae each elytron, and number of setae at the apex of each elytron are indicated.

Figs. 9–16. Mecyclothorax species, parameres, anatomically dorsal margin upward, right parameres odd numbered, left parameres even numbered. 9–10) M. kavanaughi; 11–12) M. andersoni, short aedeagal form, male 02; 13–14) M. andersoni, long aedeagal form, male 06; 15–16) M. gressitti.

Fig. 32. Localities in Papua New Guinea from which Mecyclothorax spp. were collected and the particular species collected at each locality. 1 = Mt. Capella — M. baehri; 2 = Mt. Fugilil — M. brispex and M. medioconstrictus; 3 = Kubor Range — M. kubor; 4 = Mt. Wilhelm — M. sedlaceki; 5 = Finisterre Range — M. kavanaughi; 6 = Mt. Missim — M. gressitti; 7 = Mt. Kaindi, Edie Creek and Bulldog Road — M. andersoni, M. cuccodoroi, and M. loebli; 8 = Mt. Amungwiwa—M. amingwiwae.