Mecodema godzilla, Seldon & Buckley, 2019
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4598.1.1 |
publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6BA5F086-1014-46B5-B6D5-77FE0CD07AEC |
DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5678382 |
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/2FC6F353-1365-4F0B-898A-A943EEB96523 |
taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:2FC6F353-1365-4F0B-898A-A943EEB96523 |
treatment provided by |
Plazi |
scientific name |
Mecodema godzilla |
status |
sp. nov. |
Mecodema godzilla View in CoL sp. n.
Figure 29 View FIGURE 29 .
Diagnosis: Can be distinguished from other North Island Mecodema species by: 1, its size (34–36 mm long and 11.5–13 mm wide); 2, elytra truncated by steep apical slope; 3, lateral carina broad and reflexed upward the entire length.
Description: Length 34.3–36.4 mm, pronotal width 10.1–11.2 mm, elytral width 11.7–12.9 mm. Colour of head and pronotum black to glossy black, elytra matte reddish-brown to matte black, ventrally (including legs) brown to matte black.
Head: Very broad, slightly deflected laterally. Vertex smooth, except for very fine lines forming an isodiametric pattern laterally; vertexal groove defined by shallow depressions and punctures laterally ( Fig. 29 View FIGURE 29 ); small supraorbital puncture bearing 4–5 setae; supraorbital grooves absent; frons ( Fig. 9 View FIGURE 9 ) medially convex with a large and shallow depression each side of midline, grooves may be present; frontoclypeal suture and tentorial pits indistinct; anterior area of clypeus with 3 shallow and broad grooves, 1 large setose puncture each side and 1 medial puncture all bearing 2 setae. Labrum rectangular, anterior edge outwardly curved with 2 proximate central setae, 2 setae each side evenly spaced. Mentum lobes rounded ( Fig. 12F View FIGURE 12 ), median process short and very broad, upward angle absent, very strongly indentate ( Fig. 12A View FIGURE 12 ); mentum setae absent. Submentum sclerite constriction broad with 4–6 setae evenly spaced. Stipes with 2 basal setae. Gula pits small, suture indistinctly impressed, gula flat with fine transverse lines. Gena ( Fig. 8 View FIGURE 8 ) with fine wrinkles forming an isodiametric pattern across entire area.
Prothorax: Prothoracic carina ( Fig. 11 View FIGURE 11 ) broad the entire length (very broad and flattened at shoulder), slightly crenulated with 8–10 setae each side, extended beyond anterior angle; posterior lateral sinuation evidently carinate, angled outward ( Fig. 29 View FIGURE 29 ); pronotum broad and flat but deflected laterally, overall shape broadly cordate; midline slightly impressed, anterior medial triangular impression and posterior medial diamond-shaped impression present, disc with closely-spaced transverse wrinkles laterally, anterior with a rolled-edge and fine-line microsculpture; pronotal foveae broad and deep (causing pronotum to appear pinched, especially at midline); anterior and posterior edges curved. Prosternum ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ) concave with fine transverse lines laterally; proepisternum without microsculpture. Procoxal setae absent; protibia distally expanded and shovel-like ( Fig. 10B View FIGURE 10 ).
Elytra: Broad and moderately deflected (widest at midpoint), shortened with steep slope to apex, overall shape ovate; humeral angle evenly convex ( Fig. 6B View FIGURE 6 ); basal margin slightly curved and gently sloped to base, interval 1 extended to base; lateral carina broad and reflexed upward the entire length, extended to humeral angle; humerus with 2–3 setose punctures within angle ( Fig. 29 View FIGURE 29 ); suture slightly impressed; striae 1–4 with very small, regularly spaced asetose punctures, slightly increased in size laterally; intervals 1–4 flat, intervals 5–9 moderately convex; intervals with strong transverse lines, especially laterally; 7 th strial setal pattern with 3–4 setose punctures in anterior ½, 4 setose punctures in posterior ½, setose punctures small.
Ventral surface: Mesepisternum and metepisternum with wrinkles and sparse punctures; setose punctures present on mesocoxa (2) and metacoxa (3). All abdominal ventrites ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ) finely lineate, ventrites 1–3 with obsolescent punctures; ventrites 3–5 with 1 setose puncture each side of midline; ventrite 6 setae present: ♂ with setose punctures absent and a straight apical edge; ♀ with 3–4 setose punctures each side, 2 proximate medially, 2 close to junction of blunt-rounded apical edge and curve anterad; lateral foveae absent. Anterior metaventrite process a long pointed triangle with a well-defined and narrow carina the entire length.
Male genitalia: Apical portion of penis lobe asymmetrically hooked with a deflection to right of vertical axis only pronounced (moderately) in dorsal process (VV); ventral process a short and bluntly rounded point (perpendicular to shaft), apex curved flatly upward to form the dorsal process that is a short and broad hook with a brief and bluntly recurve to shaft ( Fig. 29 View FIGURE 29 PL); penis lobe shaft is narrow the entire length, ventral edge moderately curved to right especially apically (VV); overall length of penis lobe slightly curved ventrally (LV) ( Fig. 16A View FIGURE 16 ). Structures of the endophallus ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ): lateral form of the apex of the central spicule rounded; dorsal form of the apex of the central spicule greatly expanded with projection; setal (scales) coverage of the apical plate extensive (76–100%); size of left setose flange small; size of right setose flange absent. Left paramere basal lobe ovate and relatively small with very steep slope (90°) to arm; arm short and broad, narrowed towards terminal lobe ( Fig. 29 View FIGURE 29 LP); terminal lobe short and narrow, only a few very short setae at apex; medium length comb of setae at midarm, sparse short setae extend along apical ⅓ of ventral edge; ventral edge curved. Right paramere a relatively broad triangle, gradually narrowed to apex, a double row of long setae extended along apical ¾ of ventral edge ( Fig. 29 View FIGURE 29 RP).
Female genitalia: Basal gonocoxite 1 short and broad, apically flattened, a few deep broad grooves present on ventral surface, internal dorso-lateral carina with 2 setae. Gonocoxite 2 ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 ) short and broad, squared triangular, exterior edge straight (90°), apically curved upward. Ramus long and narrow.
Comments: The left and right parameres of M. godzilla and M. validum (Mt Ruapehu type locality) are very similar, but the apical portion of the aedeagus is significantly different.
Distribution: New Zealand, North Island, Mt Ruapehu, Lake Surprise.
Holotype: AMNZ male labelled. Ruapehu 7000–8000ft 18.IV.1964 D. Faram [hw] / M.B. Paterson Collection / HOLOTYPE Mecodema godzilla n. sp. design. DS Seldon, TR Buckley 2018 [red label] / AMNZ 40839 View Materials [green label] .
Paratype: LUNZ female labelled. NEW ZEALAND , TO, Mt Ruapehu, L. Surprise 1370m 15.xii.85 / R.M. Emberson P. Syrett under log Nothofagus solandri / LUNZ00002704 View Materials .
Etymology: Named for the giant mythical monster of Japan. Godzilla is a non-latinised word so spelling remains invariant.
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
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