Mecyclothorax fleutiauxi (Jeannel)

Liebherr, James K., 2018, Cladistic classification of Mecyclothorax Sharp (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) and taxonomic revision of the New Caledonian subgenus Phacothorax Jeannel, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 65 (1), pp. 1-63 : 21-23

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/dez.65.21000
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:73DEE0F3-2BB0-4A21-B445-5E168FE50F54
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3C6570DC-71B0-0406-8D76-FA59F028A3D8
treatment provided by	Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift by Pensoft
scientific name	Mecyclothorax fleutiauxi (Jeannel)
status

Treatment

4. Mecyclothorax fleutiauxi (Jeannel) Figures 1B View Figure 1 , 1I View Figure 1 , 2C View Figure 2 , 2G View Figure 2 , 3B View Figure 3 , 9D View Figure 9 , 10I-M View Figure 10 , 11C View Figure 11 , 12D View Figure 12 , 13D View Figure 13 , 15 View Figure 15

Phacothorax fleutiauxi Jeannel 1944: 85.

Mecyclothorax fleutiauxi , Liebherr & Marris 2009: 10.

Diagnosis.

Though markedly different from all other New Caledonian species, this and the following M. jeanneli (Fig. 9D-E View Figure 9 ) are indistinguishable externally. Both species are characterized by presence of only the single posterior supraorbital seta (Fig. 1B View Figure 1 ), and by the orbicular pronotum with a broadly margined base, and evenly ellipsoid elytra. The elytral striae are very shallow, though traceable to the fifth stria. That this and the following species are distinct is supported by characters of the male and female genitalia. In the males, the aedeagal median lobe has the apex elongate, variably extended beyond the apical margin of the ostium (Fig. 10I-M View Figure 10 ). The female reproductive tract in this species is characterized by presence of a short dorsal lobe of the bursa copulatrix, with the spermathecal duct joined to the lobe’s apex (Fig. 12D View Figure 12 ). Standardized body length 4.2-5.0 mm. Chaetotaxy -/+//+/-//+/1-2/+-/+.

Description

(n = 10). The description for M. jeanneli (below) serves to describe the external anatomy of this species, with the following exceptions: 18-20 ommatidia along horizontal diameter of eye; ocular ratio 1.43-1.52, ocular lobe ratio 0.89-0.94, EyL/EyD = 3.09-3.33; MPW/PL = 1.24-1.30; MEW/EL = 0.68-0.73; either one or two dorsal elytral setae associated with third interval; if one, the posterior seta is absent (in 2 of 10 specimens scored).

Male genitalia (n = 17). Antecostal margin of abdominal mediotergite IX robust distally, broadly angulate and truncate (Fig. 10J View Figure 10 ); right paramere very elongate, apical half narrowed to a whiplike extension (Fig. 11C View Figure 11 ), six setae along ventral margin well separated from apical pair of setae, dorsal surface glabrous; left paramere broad basally, distinctly narrowed to a whiplike extension; aedeagal median lobe moderately gracile, apical half evenly narrowed to extended tip that protrudes at least twice its dorsoventral dimension beyond the apex of the ostial opening (Fig. 10I-M View Figure 10 ); aedeagal internal sac bilobed, the dorsal lobe much larger than apical lobe (Fig. 10L View Figure 10 ), a small crescent-shaped structure with lightly sclerotized outer margin-interpreted as a reduced flagellar sheath-dorsad gonopore on apical lobe. Although there is variation in the amount of apical extension and apical curvature of the median lobe among males assigned to this species (Fig. 15 View Figure 15 ), that variation occurs both within and between populational samples indicating that the variation is infraspecific.

Female reproductive tract (n = 5). Bursa copulatrix bilobate, an elongate ventral lobe with length more than twice circumference, and a short dorsal lobe that is about as long as broad and which bears the spermathecal duct at its apex (Fig. 12D View Figure 12 ); bursal walls moderately thick, wrinkled, semitranslucent; spermathecal duct that enters apex of bursal dorsal lobe about half the diameter of spermathecal reservoir, and about twice length of reservoir, spermathecal gland duct entering onto apex of spermathecal reservoir; well-developed ligular apophysis present on common oviduct as far distant from base of common oviduct as apex of ventral bursal lobe; basal gonocoxite 1 with apical fringe of two setae, a few microsetae near apicomedial margin of gonocoxite complementing very few medial setae (Fig. 13D View Figure 13 ); apical gonocoxite 2 falciform with an elongate laterobasal extension, basal width more than 0.75 × length; two lateral ensiform setae elongate.

Type - Holotype male (MNHN): La Foa à Canala / fev. 1907 La Foa // TYPE (red label) // Phacothorax / Fleutiauxi / Jeannel (male dissected with genitalia separately mounted on card with label " Phacothorax / Phacothorax fleutiauxi ? Jeann."). So that the separated genitalia can remain unambiguously associated with the male holotype body, a black-bordered red holotype label has been added to that pin.

Additional taxonomic material (145 specimens; EMEC, MNHW, QMB): see Suppl. material 2.

Distribution and habitat.

This species is recorded from middle latitudes of Grand Terre, from Aoupinié on the north to Ningua Reserve on the south (Fig. 15 View Figure 15 ), its range a northerly parapatric disjunct to the range of its adelphotaxon, M. jeanneli . Species records indicate a broad altitudinal range among populations, from 485-1400 m elevation. Of 135 specimens with detailed ecological data, 127 have been collected via application of pyrethrin spray to tree trunks or downed logs, whereas none have been recovered from sieved litter. Thus this species is associated with epiphytic growth, bark, or loose bark on plants. That these beetles climb is shown by a record of one taken in an axil of a Freycinetia ( Pandanaceae) plant (QMB).