Mecodema occiputale Broun, 1923

Seldon, David S. & Leschen, Richard A. B., 2011, Revision of the Mecodema curvidens species group (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Broscini), Zootaxa 2829, pp. 1-45 : 32-33

Mecodema occiputale Broun, 1923 (redescription)

Figures: 5, 25.

Mecodema occiputale Broun, 1923: 670 .

Diagnosis. Head, body broad and flattened. Clypeus with 2 setose punctures on each side bearing 2 setae each. Prothoracic carina broad, crenulated and extended to beyond anterior angle, pronotum fovea deep and broad or narrow. Elytral striae with regularly distributed, small asetose punctures. Setose punctures on 3rd ventrite absent, present 4th and 5th ventrites. Apical portion of aedeagus symmetrically rounded with a strong twist to right of vertical axis. Dorso-apical portion of central spicule, greatly expanded. Left paramere basal lobe rectangular, arm and apical lobe relatively large, and with setation along apical ½ of ventral edge.

Description. Length 19–26 mm. Colour black. Head, body broad and flattened. Microsculpture of frons and vertex absent. Vertexal groove narrow, well defined for entire length. Form of microsculpture on anterior area of clypeus, sulcate. Clypeus with 2 setose punctures on each side bearing 2 setae each. Form of lobes of the mentum, square. Submentum constriction, narrow with greater than or equal to 6 setae. Prothoracic carina is broad, crenulated and extended to beyond anterior angle. Pronotum broad and flattened, posterior lateral sinuation parallel or slightly angled outward, pronotal fovea deep and may be broad or narrow, rugose microsculpture may be present laterally on pronotal disc. Elytra broad and flat, striae with regularly distributed, small asetose punctures, intervals slightly convex. One or two setose punctures present on mesocoxa, setose punctures of metacoxa absent. Setose punctures of 3rd ventrite absent, present on 4th and 5th ventrites. Apical portion of aedeagus symmetrically rounded with a strong twist to right of vertical axis. Dorso-apical portion of central spicule, greatly expanded. Left paramere basal lobe rectangular, arm and apical lobe relatively large, and with setation along apical ½ of ventral edge.

Comments. This species was described by Broun (1923) as species no. 4256. The name was based on two specimens, one damaged, from Tokaanu. Mecodema exitiosus was incorrectly synonymised by Britton (1949) under M. occiputale (see above). The northeastern most geographical range (Kaimai Ranges / Bay of Plenty) of Mecodema occiputale overlaps with the ranges of M. curvidens and M. atrox ; these three species have very similar external morphology but are widely separated phylogenetically.

Distribution. North Island: Bay of Plenty (BP), Hawke’s Bay (HB), Taupo (TO), Waikato (WO), Wanganui (WI).

Lectotype: (BMNH) Para-type (round label with yellow border) / 4256 [hw] / New Zeal. (red line underneath) Broun. Coll. Brit. Mus. 1922-482. / Tokaanau. 6.4.1918. [hw] / Mecodema , occiputale . [hw] / LECTOTYPE Mecodema occiputale Broun design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 [red label].

Paralectotype: (BMNH) Type (round label with red border) / 4256 [hw] / New Zeal. (red line underneath) Broun. Coll. Brit. Mus. 1922-482. / Tokaanau. 6.4.1918. [hw] / Mecodema occiputale . [hw] / PARALECTOTYPE Mecodema occiputale Broun design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 [red label].

Other material examined: BP: 2, Fitzgerald Glade 1995 Larivière Larochelle ( NZAC); 12, L. Okataina 1995 Larivière Larochelle ( NZAC); 1, L. Rotorua Sc. Res. 1995 Larivière Larochelle ( NZAC); 1, Mamaku 1931 E. Fairburn ( AMNZ); 1, Hongi’s Tk L. Rotoiti 1932 C.E. Clarke ( AMNZ); 1, Oio 1950 C.E. Clarke ( AMNZ); 1, L. Rotoma 1968 M.B. Patterson ( AMNZ); 4, L. Rotoma 1995 Larivière Larochelle ( NZAC); 1, Hongi’s Tk L. Rotoiti 1995 Larivière Larochelle ( NZAC); 1, Pongakawa Valley 1995 Larivière Larochelle ( NZAC); TO: 1, Kaimanawa F.P. 1995 Larivière Larochelle ( NZAC); 1, Lake Taupo (west side) 1973 R.M. Emberson ( LUNZ); WO: 1, Cambridge 1974 J.A. McLennan ( LUNZ).