Mecodema godzilla sp. n.

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); small supraorbital puncture bearing 4–5 setae; supraorbital grooves absent; frons (Fig. 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), median process short and very broad, upward angle absent, very strongly indentate (Fig. 12A); 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) with fine wrinkles forming an isodiametric pattern across entire area.

Prothorax: Prothoracic carina (Fig. 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); 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) concave with fine transverse lines laterally; proepisternum without microsculpture. Procoxal setae absent; protibia distally expanded and shovel-like (Fig. 10B).

Elytra: Broad and moderately deflected (widest at midpoint), shortened with steep slope to apex, overall shape ovate; humeral angle evenly convex (Fig. 6B); 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); 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) 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 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). Structures of the endophallus (Fig. 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 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 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) 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 [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 .

Etymology: Named for the giant mythical monster of Japan. Godzilla is a non-latinised word so spelling remains invariant.