Mecodema parataiko, Seldon, David S. & Leschen, Richard A. B., 2011

Seldon, David S. & Leschen, Richard A. B., 2011, Revision of the Mecodema curvidens species group (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Broscini), Zootaxa 2829, pp. 1-45 : 34-35

Mecodema parataiko , sp. n.

Figures: 5, 6d, 7a, 13b, 18b, 25a.

Diagnosis. Head and body broad, slightly convex. Clypeus with a single setose puncture on each side bearing 1 seta. Prothoracic carina broad, crenulated and extended to anterior angle. Pronotum fovea deep and broad. Elytral striae with large asetose punctures in a confused distribution. Setose punctures absent on 3rd, 4th and 5th ventrites. Apical portion of aedeagus symmetrically rounded with strong twist to right of vertical axis. Dorso-apical portion of central spicule, not greatly expanded. Basal lobe of left paramere rectangular, arm and apical lobe relatively large, and with setation along apical ¾ of ventral edge.

Description. Length 20–22 mm. Colour black. Head broad and body slightly convex. Microsculpture of frons and vertex absent. Vertexal groove shallow laterally, narrow and defined middle. Form of microsculpture on anterior area of clypeus, poorly defined, clypeus with a single setose puncture bearing 1 seta. Form of lobes of the mentum, square. Submentum constriction broad, with 6 setae. Prothoracic carina broad, crenulated and extended to anterior angle. Pronotum broad and flat, posterior lateral sinuation angle parallel. Pronotal fovea deep and broad. Rugose microsculpture present on pronotal disc. Elytra narrow and highly convex, striae with large asetose punctures in a confused distribution. Setose punctures of mesocoxa and metacoxa absent. Setose punctures of 3rd, 4th and 5th ventrites absent. Apical portion of aedeagus symmetrically rounded with strong twist to right of vertical axis. Dorso-apical portion of central spicule, not greatly expanded. Left paramere basal lobe rectangular, arm and apical lobe relatively large, and with setation along apical ¾ of ventral edge.

Comments. Mecodema parataiko and M. pluto are sister species, both are distinguishable from the other curvidens species by the strongly convex shape of the elytra and the confused distribution pattern of the asetose punctures along the elytra striae. The difference between the two species is that M. parataiko has larger and more strongly impressed asetose punctures distributed in a confused pattern along the elytral striae. These two species form a monophyletic group nested in the Northland basal elements of the group. M. parataiko is the most widespread of the species found in Northland.

Distribution. New Zealand, North Island, Northland (ND), Parataiko Range, Warawara Forest, Tangihua Range, Omahuta F.P., Mangamuka S.R., Herekino Forest and Ahipara Plateau.

Holotype: Male labelled ( NZAC) NEW ZEALAND ND Mangamuka Gorge Wkwy 350m 351140S/1732725E 17.IX.–16.X.1999 Larivière. Larochelle / wet broadleaf forest pittraps / HOLOTYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 [red label].

Paratype material examined: 3, NEW ZEALAND ND Mangataniwha Rd 400m 8–14 Dec 1976 B.M. May / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 ( NZAC); 1, NEW ZEALAND ND Tangihua R Tangihua Lodge 6 Apr 1993, G. Hall / under stone / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 ( NZAC); 2, NEW ZEALAND ND Omahuta For., Pukekohe Stm 27.XII.1992 A. Larochelle / Tree fern Mellcytus for. pit traps in daytime. / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 ( NZAC); 1, NEW ZEALAND ND Omahuta For., Pukekohe Stm 27.XII.1992 A. Larochelle / Tree fern for. daily activ. rain / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 ( NZAC); 1, NEW ZEALAND ND Mangamuka Walkway 500m 22.IX.1997 Larochelle. Larivière / wet broadleaf forest in burrows under stones. / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 ( NZAC); 3, NEW ZEALAND ND Mangamuka Gorge Wkwy 350m 351140S/1732725E 17.IX.–16.X.1999 Larivière. Larochelle / wet broadleaf forest pittraps / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 ( NZAC); 1, NEW ZEALAND ND Mangamuka Gorge Wlkwy 550m 351215S/1732652E 29.VI.–27.VII.1999 Larivière. Larochelle / wet broadleaf forest pittraps / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 ( NZAC);1, NEW ZEALAND ND Mangamuka Gorge Wlkwy 350m 351140S/1732725E 27.V.– 29.VI.1999 Larivière. Larochelle / wet broadleaf forest pittraps / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 ( NZAC); 1, NEW ZEALAND ND Mangamuka Gorge Wlkwy 625m 351228S/ 1732640E 27.VII.–14.VIII.1999 Larivière. Larochelle / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 ( NZAC); 2, NEW ZEALAND ND Mangamuka Gorge Wlkwy 625m 351228S/1732640E 14.VIII.–17.IX.1999 Larivière. Larochelle / wet broadleaf forest pittraps / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 ( NZAC); 1, Mangamuka Gorge R.A. Cumber Coll. 23/3/1959 / J.I. Townsend Collection / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 ( NZAC); 2, Coll. E. Fairburn 26-3-1932 / Waimatenui Kaikohe N. Auckland. / A.E. Brookes Collection / J.I. Townsend Collection / PARA- TYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 ( NZAC); 1, NEW ZAELAND ND Mangataniwha Ra 400m 8–14 Dec 1976 B.M. May / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010; 1, N. of Donnelly’s Crossing N. Auck. 12-10-1936 C.E. Clarke / C. E. Clarke Collection / Mecodema sp.n. nr. atrox Brit. pro. ratio 1/1.26/1.29/1.68 width/length 1.08 Det. J.C. Watt 1959 / AMNZ 40842 Auckland Museum New Zealand / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010; 1, Waimatenui 5-4-42 C.E. Clarke / C. E. Clarke Collection / AMNZ 26565 Auckland Museum New Zealand / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010; 1, NEW ZEALAND ND. Waipoua FOREST, Yakas Tk S. end (approx. 35 39’ S 17333’E), under log. 26 Mar 2002 S.E. Thorpe / AMNZ 49742 Auckland Museum New Zealand / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010; 1, Scrub on plateau N. side Hunahuna Stm Vy Ahipara Plateau 25.IV. 1984 K.A.J. Wise / AMNZ 40843 Auckland Museum New Zealand / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010; 16, NEW ZEALAND ND Herekino Forest Herekino Saddle Tk 2010 D.S. Seldon & T. Buckley / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 ( NZAC); 2, NEW ZEALAND ND Mangamuka Forest Mangamuka Ridge Tk 2010 D.S. Seldon & T. Buckley / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 ( NZAC); 7, NEW ZEALAND ND Warawara Forest Hauturu Stm 2009 D.S. Seldon / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 ( NZAC); 3, NEW ZEALAND, ND Trounson Kauri Park 21 viii 1996 G.L.F. Carlin pitfall traps in kauri forest / PARATYPE Mecodema parataiko n. sp. design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 ( LUNZ).

Etymology. This species is named after the area ( Parataiko Range) from which specimens were first collected.