Mecyclothorax manducus, Liebherr, James K., 2015

Liebherr, James K., 2015, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Haleakala-, Maui: Keystone of a hyperdiverse Hawaiian radiation, ZooKeys 544, pp. 1-407 : 32-35

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Carabidae

(008) Mecyclothorax manducus sp. n. Figs 16 I–J, 17C, 18C, 20A, 21

Diagnosis.

Among the pale-margined species of this group, the slightly sinuate pronotal lateral margins associated with the obtuse pronotal hind angles of this species (Fig. 20A) are intermediate to the non-sinuate lateral margins of Mecyclothorax mordax (Fig. 15C) and the distinctly sinuate lateral margins of Mecyclothorax mordicus (Fig. 15D). This species is also characterized by less convex eyes-ocular ratio = 1.40-1.43-versus the more convex eyes of the other two species. Setal formula 2 1 2(3) 1[sae]; a third unilaterally present dorsal elytral seta was observed in one individual. Standardized body length 3.6-4.1 mm.

Description

(n = 5). Head capsule with frontal grooves broad near clypeus, a lateral carina present to anterior supraorbital seta; dorsal impression of neck flat to slightly concave; ocular lobe projected posteriorly, eye small, ocular lobe ratio = 0.71-0.74; labral anterior margin broadly, shallowly emarginate, antennomere 2 sparsely setose, antennomere with well-developed pelage of short setae; antennae filiform; mentum tooth with sides acute, apex tightly rounded. Pronotum with lateral seta present, basal seta absent; median base moderately depressed relative to disc, minutely punctate, minute wrinkles present on disc; basal margin straight medially, expanded posteriorly mesad laterobasal depressions; median longitudinal impression narrow, shallowly incised, continuous to basal margin; anterior transverse impression deep, narrow, surface behind with granulate isodiametric microsculpture, crossed by fine longitudinal wrinkles; anterior callosity slightly convex, glossy except for longitudinal wrinkles; front angles slightly projected, tightly rounded; APW/BPW= 1.00-1.04; lateral marginal depression narrow, edge upturned anteriorly, slightly broader, reflexed near base; laterobasal depression smooth, transversely wrinkled onto disc, continuous with lateral depression. Proepisternum with smooth hind marginal groove; prosternal process medially depressed, sides broadly upraised. Elytra subquadrate, disc moderately convex, sides more so; basal groove gently recurved to rounded humeral angle; MEW/HuW = 1.98-2.03; parascutellar seta present; parascutellar striole with three deep punctures, continuous between punctures; sutural interval more convex than lateral intervals, sutural juncture elevated; sutural and 2nd striae of subequal depth from base to apex; striae 2-8 of similar depth, associated intervals convex; striae 1-3 with small punctures that expand stria, striae 4-5 with slight irregularities; 7th and 8th interval similarly convex mesad subapical sinuation; 2 dorsal elytral setae at 0.27 × and 0.63 × elytral length (unilateral third seta at 0.48 × length), setal impressions spanning 2/3 of interval 3; subapical seta present, apical seta absent; lateral elytral setae arranged in anterior series of 7 setae, posterior series of 6 setae; elytral marginal depression narrow at humerus, expanded laterally along sides, narrowly beaded at subapical sinuation; subapical sinuation shallow, more abruptly incurved anteriorly. Mesepisternum with ~5 very shallow punctures; metepisternal width to length ratio = 0.76; metepisternum/metepimeron suture distinct. Abdomen with irregular lateral wrinkles on ventrites 1-5; suture between ventrites 2 and 3 reduced, effaced laterally; apical male ventrite with 2 marginal setae, female ventrite with 4 equally spaced marginal setae plus a median trapezoid of 4 smaller setae. Legs-metatarsomere 1/metatibial length ratio = 0.18; metatarsomere 4 length along outer lobe 1.25 × medial tarsomere length, apical and subapical setae present; metatarsal dorsolateral sulci narrow, lateral, median area broad. Microsculpture of vertex a well-developed isodiametric mesh in transverse rows; pronotal disc with well-developed transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 2 –3× length; pronotal median base with well-developed, upraised transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 2 × length; elytral disc with transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 2 –3× length; elytral apex with mixture of transverse mesh and transverse lines; metasternum with distinct transverse mesh; laterobasal abdominal ventrites with swirling isodiametric and transverse microsculpture. Coloration of vertex rufobrunneous; antennomere 1 flavous, antennomeres 2-3 rufoflavous, 4-11 rufobrunneous; pronotal disc rufopiceous, pronotal margins broadly rufobrunneous, median base rufoflavous; proepipleuron rufoflavous, proepisternum rufobrunneous; elytral intervals 2-6 piceous from base to juncture of striae 3 and 4, outer intervals and apex flavous; sutural interval rufobrunneous basally, flavous in apical 1/3; elytral epipleuron rufoflavous, metepisternum rufobrunneous with piceous cast; abdomen with ventrites 1-5 rufopiceous medially, rufoflavous laterally; basal half of apical ventrite 6 rufopiceous, apical half flavous; metafemur flavous; metatibia flavous with brunneous cast.

Male genitalia (n = 2). Aedeagal median lobe moderately elongate, distance from parameral articulation to tip 3.7 × depth at midlength (Fig. 16I); apical extension parallel sided, the tip subangulate at its ventral margin; median lobe apex curved to the right just before blunt tip in ventral view (Fig. 16J); internal sac unornamented, elongate flagellar plate visible inside dorsal margin of median lobe in lateral view.

Female reproductive tract (n = 1). Bursa copulatrix columnar, 0.57 mm long, 0.15 mm broad (Fig. 17C); bursal walls translucent, thinly wrinkled; gonocoxite 1 with 2-5 apical fringe setae, 8-9 small setae on medial surface (Fig. 18C); gonocoxite 2 subtriangular, apex acuminate; base evenly extended from lateral margin and basally curved at apex; 2 gracile lateral ensiform setae, apical nematiform setae on medial surface at 0.70 × gonocoxite length.

Holotype.

Female (CUIC) labeled: HI:Maui Haleakala N.P. / Kipahulu Vy. Central / Pali Tr. 910 m el. / 30-IV-1991 sifting / moss and leaf litter // J.K. Liebherr / A.C. Medeiros, / Jr. collectors // Mecyclothorax / manducus / ♀ photo / Det. J.K. Liebherr 2014 // HOLOTYPE / Mecyclothorax / manducus / Liebherr / det. J.K. Liebherr 2015 (black-margined red label).

Paratypes.

HI: Maui: Haleakala N.P., Kipahulu Vy., sift litter, 1800 m el., 08-v-1991 lot 04, Jessel/Medeiros (CUIC, 1), above Bravo Camp above, sift litter, 600 m el., 01-v-1991 lot 03, Liebherr/Medeiros (CUIC, 1), Central Pali Tr., sift leaf/moss litter, 915 m el., 30-iv-1991 lot 03, Liebherr/Medeiros (CUIC, 16), under boards/logs/tarps, 915 m el., 30-iv-1991 lot 02, Liebherr/Medeiros (CUIC, 1).

Etymology.

This last of the species epithets related to biting, the Latin noun manducus means glutton ( Brown 1956).

Distribution and habitat.

Mecyclothorax manducus is known only from Kīpahulu Valley (Fig. 21), though it occupies habitats from 600-1800 m elevation there. Records are all from ground-level microhabitats. These predominantly include 17 specimens in four Winkler sifter samples of leaf and moss litter (2-3 l each) taken from near large koa and 'ōlapa trees, but also one beetle from under boards, tarps and logs at an abandoned fence-building camp.