Maechidius owenstanleyi sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: FDB53221-457B-409D-A7AC-D3584820DFC2

Figs 66, 154–155, 239, 330, 403, 499–500, 682–684

Etymology

Toponymic. The species is named after the Owen Stanley Range where this species was first collected.

Type material

Holotype

PAPUA NEW GUINEA • ♂; “ PAPUA:Kokoda. 1,200 ft. vii.1933. L.E.Cheesman. B.M.1934-321. [p] //? M. pauxillus Hell. [h]// pauxillus Hell. [h] det. G Frey. 1967/68 [p]”; left mesotibia and tarsus missing; BMNH.

Paratypes (2 specimens) PAPUA NEW GUINEA • 1 ♀; “ PAPUA:Kokoda. 1,200ft. ix.1933. L.E.Cheesman. B.M.1934- 321. // M. pauxillus Hell. [h] det G.Frey,1967/68 [p] // Paramaechidius pauxillus Hell. [h] det. G.Frey,1967/68 [p]”; BMNH • 1 ♂; “ PAPUA: Kokoda. 1,200ft. x.1933. L.E.Cheesman. B.M.1934- 321. // Paramaechidius pauxillus Hell . [h] det. G.Frey,1967/68 [p]”; BMNH .

Description

MEASUREMENTS. Male holotype, total body length 6.80 mm. Head 1.30 mm long, across eyes 1.60 mm wide. Pronotum 1.50 mm long, maximum width 2.15 mm. Elytral length 4.00 mm, maximum combined width 3.00 mm. Female paratype, total body length 8.30 mm. Head 1.55 mm long, across eyes 1.80 mm wide. Pronotum 1.75 mm long, maximum width 2.70 mm. Elytral length 5.00 mm, maximum combined width 3.40 mm.

With general features as in M. bintang sp. nov., M. crypticus sp. nov., M. dendrolagus sp. nov., M. lapsus sp. nov., M. merdeka sp. nov. and M. weigeli sp. nov. (see descriptions above and below) and M. pauxillus Heller, 1910 comb. rest. Dorsum covered with microscopical velvety pubescence. Frons strongly humped in lateral view. Male and female labroclypeus (Figs 154–155) broadly emarginate on anterior margin. Anterolateral angles of labroclypeus strongly protruding anteriad, acute in male, obtuse and weaker protruding in female. Lateral margins of labroclypeus in male slightly, in female stronger sinuous in both dorsal and lateral views. Head dorsal punctures ovoid, deep and dense. Antennae 9-segmented, club 3-lamellate. Head and pronotum covered with sparse, rather short suberect scale-like setae which are rounded apically. Pronotum narrowing laterally postmedially towards base in dorsal view (Fig. 239). No or very obtuse median angulation on lateral margins of pronotum in dorsal view. Hypomeron flange-like protruding, emarginate opposite compound eye. Antennal pocket deep. Pronotal punctures irregularly ovoid, intervening spaces generally larger than punctures. Scales larger on sides of pronotal disc. With vague track of one longitudinal carina on each elytron; carina with multiple interruptions. Sutural carinae also partly present, with interruptions. Punctures of elytra of irregular elongate shape, clustered in groups (Fig. 330). Intervening spaces within clusters smaller, between clusters larger than punctures. Setae scale-like, minute; seta rises from anterior margin of each puncture, not surpassing its midlength. Larger scale-like suberect setae arranged in irregular longitudinal rows. Male and female pygidium covered with microscopical velvety pubescence, deep ovoid punctured, with minute scales not surpassing length of punctures and large scale-like clavate setae pointing obliquely to middle (Figs 499–500). Female pygidium shallowly longitudinally impressed. Male and female protibia with two distal teeth (Fig. 403), female distal tooth much stronger than in male. Male and female metatibial terminal spurs distinctly shorter than length of basal metatarsomere. Aedeagus as in Figs 682–684.

Sexual dimorphism

Female is generally larger, with short, straight and pointed protibial terminal spur, weaker protruding and obtuse anterolateral angles of labroclypeus. Female pygidium longitudinally impressed and lamellae of antennal clubs shorter.

Ecology

Occurs in lowland rainforests at about 365 m altitude.

Distribution

Hitherto only known from Owen Stanley Range, Papuan Peninsula of New Guinea.