Mecyclothorax manina, Liebherr, James K., 2013

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 45

31. Mecyclothorax manina sp. n.

Diagnosis.

Like Mecyclothorax papau in the very shallow elytral striae and rufopiceous elytra with a metallic reflection, but with more narrowly ellipsoid elytra, and a more transverse and more basally constricted pronotum, MPW/PL = 1.31, MPW/BPW = 1.47 (Fig. 22B). The head and pronotum are concolorous, dark rufobrunneous, without fields of melanized cuticle as in Mecyclothorax papau . Setal formula 2222; standardized body length 6.0 mm. Head with sinuously canaliculated frontal grooves, the frons with a few indistinct wrinkles on the mesal slopes of the grooves; eyes moderately convex, ocular ratio 1.57, the ocular lobe protruded and margined behind by a distinct groove, ocular lobe ratio 0.88; antennae filiform, antennomere 8 length 2.25 × maximal breadth. Pronotum with rounded hind angles, the basal seta producing a jag in the margin that is 0.10 × the pronotal length anterad the basal margin; median base depressed relative to convex disc, 8-11 fine punctures each side, punctures smaller and more isolated medially, 5-8 elongate punctures along margin with disc; anterior transverse impression broad and shallow but complete medially, finely incised anteriorly only in lateral half of each side; lateral marginal depression of even breadth in anterior half of pronotum, not broader at front angle. Elytra narrowly rounded basally, the proximate humeri angled; striae 1-6 shallow and partially discontinuous on disc, punctures best developed on striae 1 and 2, stria 7 visible only as a discontinuous series of elongate depressions; eighth interval only slightly upraised laterad stria 7 from above subapical sinuation to apex; lateral elytral setae 7 + (5-6). Microsculpture of frons and vertex a shallow transverse mesh. Pronotal disc with an elongate transverse mesh visible outside areas of reflected light, the sculpticell breadth 4 × length, and discal elytral intervals with a distinct, regular transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 2 –3× length. Coloration of antennomere 1 flavous, antennomeres 2-7 or 8 rufobrunneous, and antennomeres 8 or 9-11 rufoflavous; ventral body sclerites rufobrunneous, contrasted to dorsally flavous elytral epipleuron and flavous femora; tibiae and tarsi rufobrunneous.

Female reproductive tract. The female holotype was not dissected, but the gonocoxae are exerted and therefore visible. Basal gonocoxite 1 with apical fringe of 2-3 setae laterally, and 4-5 smaller setae along medial margin including apex; apical gonocoxite 2 with two lateral ensiform setae, the apical lateral seta stouter but of the same length as the basal seta, and a single dorsal ensiform seta as broad as the apical seta; apical sensory furrow bearing two nematiform setae.

Holotype female (MNHN) labeled: French Polynesia: Tahiti Nui / Pito Hiti el. 2110 m 2-VI- / 2006 lot 04 pyrethrin fog / 17°36.860'S, 149°27.837'W / E. M. Claridge // HOLOTYPE / Mecyclothorax / manina / J.K. Liebherr 2013 (black-bordered red label).

Etymology.

The species epithet is the Tahitian word mānina, meaning smooth, polished, or unwrinkled, signifying the smooth polished elytra observed in the holotype.

Distribution and habitat.

This was the sole specimen collected on the actual summit of Pito Hiti, 2110 m elevation. It was found via pyrethrin fogging of moss-covered vegetation. Only 30 m lower in elevation, the same collecting technique resulted in specimens of Mecyclothorax papau , Mecyclothorax everardi , Mecyclothorax pitohitiensis , Mecyclothorax hoeahiti sp. n., and Mecyclothorax paraglobosus Perrault.