Mesoceration periscopum, Perkins, 2008

Perkins, Philip D., 2008, Facial affect recognition in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis, Zootaxa 1864, pp. 1-124 : 35-36

Mesoceration periscopum new species

( Figs. 45 , 47 , 103 )

Type Material. Holotype (male): South Africa: Western Cape Province, Cape, Cederberg, Eikenboom , river stones, elev. 900 m, 32° 27' S, 19° 10' E, 29 October 1981, Endrödy­Younga (#1906). Deposited in the TMSA . Paratypes: Same data as holotype (3 TMSA) .

Differential Diagnosis. Individuals of M. periscopum are differentiated from individuals of other rivulare group species by the distinctly dehiscent elytral apices, which conjointly form an inverted V­shaped notch ( Fig. 45 ). The aedeagus of M. periscopum ( Fig. 47 ) bears some resemblance to that of M. jucundum ; the latter is a smaller species (ca. 1.48 vs. 1.77 mm) with a more finely punctate, shinier dorsum, and with shorter, less acuminate elytra.

Description. Size (length/width, mm) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 1.77/0.63; head 0.32/ 0.40; pronotum 0.36/0.48; elytra 1.09/0.63. Head and pronotal disc black or piceous, remainder of dorsum, maxillary palpi, venter, and legs dark brown.

Head with labrum, clypeus, and frons laterally microreticulate, dull. Frons disc shining, finely punctate, punctures about 1xef, interstices 1–3xpd; anteocellar sulci shallow. Ocelli distinct. Mentum and submentum microreticulate.

Pronotum cordate, widest in front of middle; anterior angles rounded, posterior rectangular; sides finely margined, feebly crenulate; anterior margin shallowly arcuate over median 3/4, without hyaline border; discal reliefs shining, finely sparsely punctate, punctures about 1xpd of frons punctures, interstices 3–6xpd; anteriorly and posteriorly very coarsely, densely punctate; with 10 distinct foveae as follows: two median, an anterior elongate and round posterior, foveae distinctly separated from one another, not shallowly confluent; a small round anterior and larger oval posterior admedian; and a large anterior and slightly smaller posterior adlateral on each side; foveae effacedly microreticulate, weakly shining; each puncture with a fine short seta.

Elytra shining, widest slightly past midlength, sides gradually arcuate from about midlength to apices; apices distinctly dehiscent, conjointly forming inverted V­shaped notch, slightly more markedly so in males than in females; sides smooth, weakly explanate. Serial punctures small, on disc slightly smaller than largest pronotal punctures, progressively finer apically, punctures separated by about 1xpd throughout length. Seven series between suture and carina, except 5th and 6th series confluent basally; series 1 on disc weakly striateimpressed; series 2 becoming confluent with series 1 slightly beyond summit of gradual posterior declivity. Series and intervals without granules. Intervals, except 8th, flat, width about 2xpd; 8th distinctly carinate. All punctures bearing a short fine seta.

Thoracic ventrites and abdominal ventrites 1–4 densely clothed with short setae, except glabrous proventral midlongitudinal ridge, mesoventral plaques, and small glabrous strongly shining triangular area basomedially on metaventrite. Metaventral disc longitudinally concave. Abdominal ventrites as follow: 1st with sublateral basal carina on each side; 5th similarly clothed basally and laterally, leaving a semicircular posterior area glabrous and shining; males with 6th glabrous and obsoletely microreticulate, with posterior band of piliferous punctures; females with 6th apicomedially produced in lobe, with basal band of slender setae on each side of lobe, short, spine­like setae at posterolateral angles.

Legs of male with two spiniform setae on apical protarsomere. Femora and tibiae effacedly microreticulate.

Wings fully developed on holotype.

Aedeagus length ca. 0.44 mm; main­piece almost straight in ventral view, without angular process at dis­ tal end, in lateral view main­piece slightly widened slightly beyond midlength; distal piece a continuation of main­piece, markedly angulate in lateral view, gonopore wide ( Fig. 47 ).

Etymology. Named in reference to aedeagal shape.

Distribution. Currently known only from the type locality in the Cederberg Mountains, Western Cape Province ( Fig. 103 ).

Figures

FIGURE 45. Mesoceration periscopum, dorsal and lateral habitus of holotype.

FIGURES 47–50. Mesoceration, aedeagi of holotypes. —47. M. periscopum. —48. M. splendorum. —49. M. maluti. —50. M. rapidensis.

FIGURES 103–104. Geographical distributions of Mesoceration species.