Mesoceration compressum, Perkins, 2008

Perkins, Philip D., 2008, Facial affect recognition in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis, Zootaxa 1864, pp. 1-124 : 41-42

Mesoceration compressum new species

( Figs. 54 , 58 , 101 )

Type Material. Holotype (male): South Africa: Eastern Cape Province, Transkei, S. coast, Dwesa forest reserve, shore washing, forest, 32° 17' S, 28° 50' E, 3 March 1985, Endrödy­Younga (#2181). Deposited in the TMSA . Paratypes: Same data as holotype (5 TMSA)

Differential Diagnosis. M. compressum individuals are immediately differentiated from all other members of the genus by the very unusually modified tibiae, which are markedly flattened and widened in the basal 1/3, and each femur is apically expanded to accommodate the widened tibial apex ( Fig. 54 ). The aedeagus shows some similarity to that of P. barriotum ( Figs. 55, 58 ).

Description. Size (length/width, mm) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 1.47/0.57; head 0.27/ 0.36; pronotum 0.36/0.46; elytra 0.85/0.57. Color rufescent, head darker than pronotum and elytra, maxillary palpi lighter.

Head with labrum obsoletely microreticulate, feebly shining. Clypeus microreticulate at lateral extremes, otherwise shining and finely, sparsely punctulate. Frons shining, microreticulate only at sides, sparsely finely punctulate on disc, punctures separated by about 2–4xpd; anteocellar sulci deep. Ocelli distinct. Mentum microreticulate.

Pronotum cordate, widest in front of middle; anterior angles rounded, posterior rectangular; sides finely margined, feebly crenulate; anterior margin shallowly arcuate over median 3/4, without hyaline border; moderately convex, finely sparsely punctate on shining discal reliefs, anteriorly and posteriorly very coarsely and distinctly, rugosely, punctate; with 10 distinct foveae: two median, an anterior elongate and round posterior that are very shallowly confluent, a small round deep anterior and oval deep, oblique posterior admedian and a large anterior and smaller round deep posterior adlateral on each side, foveae microreticulate; each puncture with a very fine very short hair.

Elytra almost parallel­sided, apices widely rounded; sutural apices rectangular; sides very weakly and sparsely denticulate, weakly explanate. Serial punctures large, largest at base, progressively slightly smaller apically, basal punctures separated by narrow walls to 1xpd. Series 1 and 2 becoming confluent at about midlength of elytron, at which point interval becomes twice as wide as other intervals. Series 5 and 6 separate, 6 and 7 contiguous or interdigitating behind humerus. Interval between 7th and 8th series very weakly raised over posterior 2/3, not carinate. Other intervals very weakly rounded, width on disc about 1xpd; some on disc with very indistinct minute unilinear row of granules. All punctures bearing a short fine seta.

Thoracic ventrites and abdominal ventrites 1–4 densely clothed with short setae, except glabrous midlongitudinal ridge on proventrite, mesoventrite plaques, and small glabrous strongly shining area at base of midlongitudinal groove on posterior 1/2 of metaventrite. Abdominal ventrites as follow: 1st with sublateral basal carina on each side; 5th similarly clothed basally and laterally, leaving a semicircular posterior area glabrous and shining; 6th glabrous and obsoletely microreticulate, with posterior band of piliferous punctures.

Legs in both sexes with tibiae markedly flattened and widened in basal 1/3; each femur apically expanded to accommodate widened apex of tibia.

Females with elytral explanate margin slightly wider, elytral apices more distinctly transversely truncate; pronotal anterior angles not more produced than in males.

Wings fully developed on holotype and all dissected males.

Aedeagus length ca. 0.26 mm; main­piece straight in ventral view, arcuate in proximal 1/ 2 in lateral view, apex produced in short process, basal ring large; distal piece short, upturned in lateral view ( Fig. 58 ).

Etymology. Named in reference to the flattened tibiae.

Distribution. Currently known only from the type locality in the Dwesa forest, which is very near the coast in East Cape Province ( Fig. 101 ).

Figures

FIGURE 54. Mesoceration compressum, dorsal and lateral habitus of holotype.

FIGURES 55–58. Mesoceration, aedeagi of holotypes. —55. M. barriotum. —56. M. incarinum. —57. M. semicarinulum. —58. M. compressum.

FIGURES 101–102. Geographical distributions of Mesoceration species.