Mecodema kokoromatua Seldon, Leschen & Liebherr, 2012 .

Figure 35.

Diagnosis: Differs from other North Island Mecodema species due to having: 1, less than or equal to six setae along the pronotal carina ( curvidens species group); 2, mesocoxa and metacoxa with setose punctures absent; 3, the shape of the left paramere basal lobe is a small and very narrowly rectangular with a short slope to arm, terminal lobe with tuft of medium length setae (Fig. 35 PL).

Description: Length 22–25 mm, pronotal width 4–4.5 mm, elytral width 5–5.5 mm. Colour of entire body matte to glossy black, coxae may be dark reddish-brown.

Head: Narrow and flat (Fig. 14C). Vertex smooth; vertexal groove narrow and well-defined, posteriorly curved medially; large supraorbital puncture (Fig. 9) bearing 2–3 setae; 2 defined supraorbital grooves; frons with a small and shallow depression either side of midline; frontoclypeal suture straight, very narrow and well defined between small tentorial pits; anterior clypeal microsculpture indistinct, 1 large setose puncture each side bearing 2 setae. Labrum (Fig. 9) rectangular, anterior edge outwardly curved with 2 proximate central setae, 2 each side evenly spaced. Mentum lobes squared (Fig. 12G), median process long and narrow, slightly angled upward (15°), indentation notched (Fig. 12D); mentum setae variably present or absent. Submentum sclerite constriction narrow bearing 6–8 evenly spaced setae. Stipes with 2 basal setae. Gula pits broad and deep, gula suture well-defined, gula flat and smooth. Gena with fine wrinkles forming an isodiametric pattern across entire area.

Prothorax: Prothoracic carina very narrow the entire length, crenulations absent with 4–6 setae each side (Fig. 35), extended to anterior angle; posterior lateral sinuation evidently carinate, angled slightly inward; pronotum narrow, medially flattened but deflected laterally, overall shape squared (Fig. 35); midline well-defined without medial impressions, disc with fine, transverse lines from midline to laterally, pronotal foveae narrow and shallow; anterior edge slightly curved to straight, posterior edge curved medially. Prosternum weakly convex with very fine transverse lines present; proepisternum dorso-ventrally wrinkled. Procoxal setae absent; protibia distally expanded and shovel-like (Fig. 10B).

Elytra: Narrow and flat to moderately deflected laterally; humeral angle evenly convex (Fig. 6B); basal margin slightly curved and bevelled to base, interval 1 extended to scutellum; lateral carina narrow the entire length, extended beyond humeral angle; humerus with 3 proximate setose punctures along angle, 1 double-spaced posterad; suture impressed but no more so than striae; striae with regularly spaced asetose punctures that increased in size laterally; intervals 1–6 flat or weakly convex, intervals 7–9 weakly convex; interval microsculpture absent; 7 th strial setal pattern with 1 setose puncture in anterior ½, 3–4 setose punctures in posterior ½ (Fig. 35), setose punctures small.

Ventral surface: Mesepisternum (Fig. 2) wrinkled; metepisternum without microsculpture; setose punctures absent on mesocoxae and metacoxae. Abdominal ventrites 1 and 2 without microsculpture and punctures; ventrites 3 and 4 setose punctures absent, ventrite 5 with 1 setose puncture each side of midline; ventrite 6 (Fig. 2) setae present: ♂ with 3 setae each side, apical edge obtusely rounded, ♀ with 2 setae each side of midline, apical edge a flattened curve; ventrites 3–5 foveate laterally (very shallow, almost indistinct). Anterior metaventrite process a bluntly rounded triangle with a well-defined and broad carina the entire length.

Male genitalia: Apical portion of penis lobe symmetrically rounded (Fig. 35 PL) with a distinct deflection to right of vertical axis (VV) (Fig. 15A); apex with dorsal curve slightly pushed forward of vertical axis (Fig. 3); shaft of penis lobe straight (VV), greatly broadened toward base; 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 pointed; dorsal form of the apex of the central spicule narrow and short; setal (scales) coverage of the apical plate extensive (76–100%); size of left setose flange small; size of right setose flange large. Left paramere basal lobe small and very narrowly rectangular with a short slope to arm (Fig. 35 LP); arm long (nearly equal to basal lobe); terminal lobe indistinct from arm, apical tuft of medium-lengthed setae, with very short, sparse setae extended along apical ½ of ventral edge (Fig. 35 LP). Right paramere similar in size and shape to left with a double-row of medium length setae extended along apical ¾ of ventral edge (Fig. 35 RP).

Female genitalia: Basal gonocoxite 1 narrow at base, width doubled apically, internal dorso-lateral carina with 2 apical setae, ventral surface entirely covered with grooves. Gonocoxite 2 (Fig. 5) paddle-like, ventral surface convex with sensillar pits. Ramus long and narrow, broadened apically.

Comments: Mecodema kokoromatua is restricted to coastal sand dune forest at the base of the Ahipara Escarpment. Distribution: New Zealand, North Island, Northland, Herekino, North Head, Waiatua Stream. Holotype: NZAC male labelled. NEW ZEALAND, ND, Herekino, North Head, Waiatua Stream, 8–23 Dec 2010. D.S. Seldon, 35°16’11.052S, 173°09’35.314E / HOLOTYPE Mecodema kokoromatua sp.n. design. Seldon, Leschen & Liebherr 2011 [red label]. Paratypes: (see Seldon et al. 2012).