The genus Mecodema Blanchard 1853 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Broscini) from the North Island, New Zealand
Author
Seldon, David S.
Author
Buckley, Thomas R.
text
Zootaxa
2019
2019-05-06
4598
1
1
148
journal article
26919
10.11646/zootaxa.4598.1.1
475fd53e-c5c6-4a99-bb2e-cc2382f0171f
1175-5326
2668063
6BA5F086-1014-46B5-B6D5-77FE0CD07AEC
Mecodema kokoroiho
sp. n.
Figure 34
.
Diagnosis:
Distinguished from other North Island
Mecodema
species by:
1
, vertexal groove broad and shallow with a few scattered, obsolescent punctures and rugose wrinkles laterally;
2
, the pronotal foveae deep and narrow (distinctly formed by posterior sinuation);
3
, intervals 1 and 7 continued to base;
4
, distinctive shape of the apical portion of the penis lobe (
Fig. 34
PL).
Description:
Length
27–34 mm
, pronotal width
6.5–9 mm
, elytral width
8–11 mm
. Colour of body matte to glossy black, coxae and femur dark reddish-brown, tibiae black.
Head:
Broad and flat (
Fig. 14A
). Vertex with very fine wrinkles forming an isodiametric pattern; vertexal groove well-defined, broad and shallow laterally with a few scattered obsolescent punctures and rugose wrinkles laterally; small supraorbital puncture (
Fig. 9
) bearing 3–4 setae; 4–5 well-defined supraorbital grooves extended onto frons; frons with shallow grooves laterally, medially convex, a broad and shallow depression each side (extended to frontoclypeal area) of midline; frontoclypeal suture (
Fig. 9
) indistinct with indistinct to small tentorial pits within a larger depression; anterior area of clypeus medially convex posterad with 3 shallow grooves; 1 clypeal puncture each side bearing 1–2 setae. Labrum lobate, anterior edge strongly emarginated with 2 proximate central setae, 2 setae each side evenly spaced. Mentum lobes rounded (
Fig. 12F
), median process short and broad, moderately angled upward (30°), strongly indentate (
Fig. 12A
); mentum setae absent. Submentum sclerite constriction broad with 6 evenly spaced setae. Stipes with 2 basal setae. Gula pits small, suture defined, gula flat and smooth. Gena with a finely wrinkled isodiametric pattern across entire area.
Prothorax:
Prothoracic carina (
Fig. 11
) narrow the entire length, crenulations absent with 8–12 setae each side, extended beyond anterior angle; posterior sinuation indistinctly carinate, angled slightly inward; pronotum broad and flat, deflected laterally, overall shape cordate (
Fig. 34
); disc with very fine transverse wrinkles laterally; midline well-defined, anterior medial triangular impression and posterior medial diamond-shaped impression present; pronotal foveae deep and narrow (distinctly formed by posterior sinuation); anterior edge inwardly curved, posterior edge straight (
Fig. 34
). Prosternum concave with very fine transverse lines; proepisternum without microsculpture. Procoxal setae absent; protibia distally expanded and shovel-like (
Fig. 10B
).
Elytra
: Broad and flat, slightly deflected laterally; humeral angle evenly convex (
Fig. 6B
); basal margin slightly curved and gently sloped to base, intervals 1 and 7 continued to base; lateral carina narrow the entire length (
Fig. 34
), extended beyond humeral angle; humerus with 3 proximate setose punctures and 1 double-spaced posterad; suture indistinctly impressed; striae with small, regularly spaced asetose punctures, indistinct near suture to more visible laterally; intervals 1–6 weakly convex, intervals 7–9 moderately convex, interval 9 truncated anterad prior to humerus; interval microsculpture present in form of fine transverse lines; 7
th
strial setal pattern with 3 setose punctures in anterior ½, 5 setose punctures in posterior ½ (
Fig. 34
), setose punctures small.
Ventral surface:
Mesepisternum with obsolescent punctures and a few lines, metepisternum without microsculpture; setose punctures present on mesocoxae (2) and metacoxae (2). All abdominal ventrites (
Fig. 2
) finely lineate; ventrites 3–5 with 1–2 setose punctures each side of midline; ventrite 6 setae present:
♂
with a pair of closely spaced setae at the junction of squared apical edge and curve anterad,
♀
with 3 setae each side, 1 proximate medially, 2 clustered together distantly from midline, apical edge obtuse rounded; ventrites foveate laterally (very shallow depressions). Anterior metaventrite process (
Fig. 2
) a short triangle with a well-defined narrow carina the entire length.
Male genitalia:
Apical portion of penis lobe asymmetrically hooked and width broad with a moderate deflection to right of vertical axis (VV) (
Fig. 15B
); ventral process a very short point at centre, apex symmetrically curved upward to form a distinctly recurved, rounded dorsal process (looks like a dolphin fin) with a brief and sharp returned curve to shaft (
Fig. 34
PL); penis lobe shaft narrow but broadened at apex and towards base; penis lobe ventral edge with a moderate curve to right (VV); overall length of penis lobe moderately curved ventrally (LV) (
Fig. 16B
). 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 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 very long. Left paramere basal lobe articulated at right angle, broad and short with moderate dorsal hump forming steep slope (60°) to truncated arm (
Fig. 34
LP); arm narrow and short; terminal lobe distinctly short and broad; apical tuft of sparse medium-lengthed setae, very short setae continued to medium-lengthed setae form a comb at junction of arm and basal lobe (
Fig. 34
LP); setae extended along along ½ of ventral edge; ventral edge straight. Right paramere a narrow, humped triangle with a double row of long setae along apical ¾ of ventral edge (
Fig. 34
RP).
Female genitalia:
Basal gonocoxite 1 short and broad, broadened apically, branched grooves on ventral surface; internal dorso-lateral carina (
Fig. 5
) without setae. Gonocoxite 2 ovate in shape. Ramus short and relatively broad, rounded apically.
Comments.
The description of
Mecodema kokoroiho
is based on
46 specimens
caught during three trapping events (2007, 2008, 2009), from several locations within Warawara Forest Park, northwest
Northland
. This species has been found along forest edge near clearings and within
50 m
of streams in cut-over broadleaf forest, but no specimens have been caught in areas of Warawara Forest where kauri (
Agathis australis
) trees are dominant.
Distribution.
New Zealand
, North Island, Northland, Warawara Forest.
Holotype
:
NZAC
male labelled.
NEW ZEALAND
ND
Warawara Forest
Hauturu Stream
7–21 Nov 2009
pitfall traps
D.S. Seldon
/
HOLOTYPE
Mecodema kokoroiho
n. sp.
design. DS Seldon, TR Buckley 2018 [red label].
Paratypes
:
3,
NEW ZEALAND
ND
Warawara Forest
Hauturu Stream
16-18 Dec 2007
pitfall traps
D.S. Seldon
&
T.R. Buckley
(
NZAC
)
; 13,
1♀
,
NEW ZEALAND
ND
Warawara Forest
Hauturu Stream
8–13 Dec 2008
pitfall traps
D.S. Seldon
,
T.R. Buckley
&
R.A.B. Leschen
(
NZAC
)
; 15,
NEW ZEALAND
ND
Warawara Forest
Hauturu Stream
7–21 Nov 2009
pitfall traps
D.S. Seldon
35°22.131 173°17.081 (
NZAC
)
; 10,
NEW ZEALAND
ND
Warawara Forest
clay bank edge
7–21 Nov 2009
pitfall traps
D.S. Seldon
35°22.309 173°17.139 (
AMNZ
)
; 3,
NEW ZEALAND
ND
Warawara Forest
Kauri Plateau camp
7–21 Nov 2009
pitfall traps
D.S. Seldon
(
MONZ
)
.
Etymology:
The species name, kokoroiho, means ‘a beetle found with the fern root’, was provided by Te Rarawa kaumātua Joseph Cooper, Waipuna Marae, Panguru,
Northland
. Being Te Reo Māori, the name is to be treated as a noun.