Mecyclothorax negrei Perrault, 1986: 451

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 56

45. Mecyclothorax negrei Perrault, 1986: 451

Identification.

Among the Mecyclothorax dannieae group species with setal formula 2222, this species can be diagnosed by a pronotum with distinct, obtuse hind angles and straight lateral margins anterad the angles (Fig. 26D). The basal pronotal setae are situated directly inside the obtuse angles on an expanded portion of the upraised margin. The pronotal basal margin is indistinctly trisinuate, with slight concavities posterad the deepest portions of each laterobasal depression. The elytra are broad basally, with rounded humeri. The male aedeagal median lobe is even curved with a dorsoventrally expanded apex with a straight apical face (Fig. 27F). The right paramere has an expanded apex with subparallel margins; a configuration observed in males of Mecyclothorax brittoni (Fig. 24C). The head is uniformly covered with distinct isodiametric and slightly transverse sculpticells in transverse rows. The pronotal disc is covered with a transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 1 –3× breadth, and the discal elytral intervals are lined with an elongate transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 3 –4× length. Over portions of the elytra, the cross-connections of the mesh are reduced producing transverse-line microsculpture. Standardized body length 5.6-6.4 mm.

Distribution and habitat.

The four known specimens of Mecyclothorax negrei have been collected on Mont Aorai from 1000 to 1900 m elevation.