Mesoceration piceum, Perkins, 2008

Perkins, Philip D., 2008, Facial affect recognition in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis, Zootaxa 1864, pp. 1-124 : 53-54

Mesoceration piceum new species

( Figs. 75 , 81 , 103 )

Type Material. Holotype (male): South Africa: Western Cape Province, Cederberg, Eikenboom , river stones, elev. 900 m, 32° 27' S, 19° 10' E, 29 October 1981, Endrödy­Younga (#1906). Deposited in the TMSA . Paratypes: Same data as holotype (3 TMSA) .

Differential Diagnosis. Among endroedyi group species, M. piceum individuals are similar to those of

M. endroedyi and M. littlekarroo in rough dorsal sculpture ( Figs. 75 , 77 ). Individuals of M. piceum are distinguished from those of M. endroedyi by the smaller size (ca. 1.53 vs. 1.72 mm), the less granulate dorsum, the less convex elytra, and the large, deep metaventral depression; distinguished from individuals of M. littlekarroo by the comparatively smaller prothorax, the less markedly acuminate elytra with less sharply pointed apices, and the different metaventral depression. The aedeagus of M. piceum ( Fig. 81 ) differs distinctively from the compared species.

Description. Size (length/width, mm) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 1.53/0.58; head 0.28/ 0.36; pronotum 0.33/0.41; elytra 0.89/0.58. Dorsum and venter black or piceous, maxillary palpi and legs dark brown.

Head dull, labrum, clypeus, and lateral areas of frons microreticulate; frons disc effacedly microreticulate, punctures slightly larger than eye facet, interstices 1xpd or less. Frons transversely quite convex on disc, anteocellar depressions deep, wide. Ocelli distinct. Labrum apicomedially angulately emarginate to about 1/ 3 of labrum length. Submentum and mentum dull, microreticulate.

Pronotum rugose, dull, subcordate, widest slightly before midlength, anterior angles obtuse, posterior angles rectangulate; anterior margin shallowly arcuate over median 2/3, without hyaline border; sides very finely crenulate; 10 dorsal foveae as follow: elongate anterior obsoletely joined with round posterior median; oval anterior and oval posterior admedian; and large anterior and posterior adlateral on each side; punctures on discal reliefs about 1xpd frons punctures.

Elytra weakly humped and weakly transversely peaked at summit of posterior declivity; widest at about midlength, widening abruptly from humerus to about 1/10 of length, then gradually widened to midlength, behind midlength gradually roundly attenuate to posterior angles; apices subtruncate in males, more gradually, conjointly rounded in females; sides moderately explanate. Cuticle weakly shining, but reflections very irregular due to uneven surface. Serial punctures small on disc, about 1xpd largest pronotal punctures, gradually decreasing in size posteriorly, becoming obsolete at summit of posterior declivity; serial punctures on disc each with minute granule at anterior margin. Series 2–5 angled toward suture, series 1 weakly striateimpressed on disc; series 5–6 confluent in basal 1/3. Discal intervals each with unilinear row of widely spaced, round granules, largest granules only slightly smaller than eye­facet. Interval 8 strongly costate from shoulder, ended slightly before posterior margin of elytron.

Metaventral disc with large, deep, midlongitudinal depression occupying posterior 3/4, depression length twice width, lateral margins abrupt. Thoracic ventrites and abdominal ventrites 1–4 clothed with dense setae except glabrous midlongitudinal prosternal ridge, glabrous dull mesoventral plaques, metaventral depression and areas immediately lateral and posterior to depression, and small median area on ventrites 1–4 with apparently reduced setae. Ventrite 1 with sublateral and submedial basal carina on each side. Males 5th ventrite similarly clothed except for semilunulate distal glabrous shining area, 6th shining, laterally sparsely pubescent. Females 5th ventrite with large rectangular glabrous area, posteriorly angled downward, and thickened on each side; 6th ventrite large, not concealed beneath 5th, posterior margin weakly setose.

Legs of male apparently with two spiniform setae on apical protarsomere. Femora and tibiae dull, distinctly alutaceous.

Wings fully developed on holotype.

Aedeagus length ca. 0.32 mm; main­piece straight in ventral view, with acute apical process on left side, angled toward right side; distal process comparatively large, tubular, widest at midlength, arcuate in ventral view, gonopore large; parameres extended beyond apex of main­piece ( Fig. 81 ).

Etymology. Named in reference to the dorsal coloration.

Distribution. Currently known only from the type locality in the Cederberg Mountains, Western Cape Province ( Fig. 103 ).

Figures

FIGURE 75. Mesoceration piceum, dorsal and lateral habitus of holotype.

FIGURE 77. Mesoceration littlekarroo, dorsal and lateral habitus of holotype.

FIGURES 78–81. Mesoceration, aedeagi of holotypes. —78. M. concessum. —79. M. tabulare. —80. M. littlekarroo. —81. M. piceum.

FIGURES 103–104. Geographical distributions of Mesoceration species.