Mecyclothorax jarrigei Perrault, 1978b: 134; 1988: 238

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 31

14. Mecyclothorax jarrigei Perrault, 1978b: 134; 1988: 238

Identification.

Among species of the Mecyclothorax altiusculus group, this species stands out based on the narrowly ovate elytra with narrow lateral marginal depressions, and the very shallow elytral striae, the intervening intervals nearly flat (Fig. 16A). The vertex is covered with evident transverse-mesh microsculpture. The surface of the pronotal disc is glossier, though shallowly margined transverse sculpticells are visible outside areas of reflected light, and the discal elytral intervals bear transverse microsculpture, the sculpticells either isodiametric and arranged in transverse rows, or slightly transverse in dimension. Setal formula 2121 in most individuals; of 49 specimens examined, only 1 had paired basal pronotal setae, and a second unilaterally exhibited a seta at the left hind angle (Fig. 16A). The male aedeagal median lobe is evenly narrowed to the apical margin of the ostium, with the apex gently downturned with a rounded tip (Fig. 18A). This simple configuration is closest to the median lobe with more downturned apex observed in Mecyclothorax bryobius (Fig. 19E). Standardized body length 5.8-6.3 mm.

Distribution and habitat.

This species was previously known ( Perrault 1988) from 1750m and 2000 m elevations on Mont Aorai. More recently - 2-vi-2006 (EMEC) - a single teneral specimen was collected in a pyrethrin fog sample from moss-covered vegetation at 2000 m elevation on Pito Hiti.