Mecodema regulus Britton, 1964
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4598.1.1 |
publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6BA5F086-1014-46B5-B6D5-77FE0CD07AEC |
DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5678428 |
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BBD026-0267-B76A-90FB-B6CBEF02F9AF |
treatment provided by |
Plazi |
scientific name |
Mecodema regulus Britton, 1964 |
status |
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Mecodema regulus Britton, 1964 View in CoL .
Figures 15A View FIGURE 15 and 50 View FIGURE 50 .
Diagnosis: Differs from other North Island Mecodema species by: 1, 4-6 setae along pronotal carina ( curvidens species group); 2, vertexal groove narrow and well-defined with a distinctive V-shape medially; 3, metacoxa without setose punctures; 4, distinctive shape of the left paramere ( Fig. 50 View FIGURE 50 LP).
Description: Length 22–28.1 mm, pronotal width 6.6–8.5 mm, elytral width 8–10 mm. Colour of entire body matte to glossy black.
Head: Broad and flat ( Fig. 14A View FIGURE 14 ). Vertex smooth; vertexal groove narrow, well-defined the entire length with a V-shape medially ( Fig. 50 View FIGURE 50 ); large supraorbital puncture bearing 2–3 setae; 1 well-defined supraorbital groove; frons very flat and smooth; frontoclypeal suture well-defined between small tentorial pits; anterior area of clypeus flat and smooth, microsculpture indistinct; clypeus with 1 setose puncture on each side bearing 1–2 setae ( Fig. 50 View FIGURE 50 ). Labrum rounded laterally, anterior edge outwardly curved, slightly emarginated medially with 2 proximate central setae, 2 setae each side evenly spaced. Mentum lobes rounded ( Fig. 12F View FIGURE 12 ), median process broad to narrow (apically) and short, slightly angled upward (15°), notched indentation ( Fig. 12D View FIGURE 12 ); mentum setae present. Submentum sclerite constriction narrow with 4–6 setae clustered laterally. Stipes with 2 basal setae. Gula pits small in deep depression, suture defined, gula ( Fig. 8 View FIGURE 8 ) flat with very fine transverse wrinkles. Gena with very fine wrinkles forming an isodiametric pattern across entire area.
Prothorax: Prothoracic carina broad the entire length, crenulation may be present with 4–5 setae each side ( Fig. 50 View FIGURE 50 ), extended beyond anterior angle ( Fig. 11 View FIGURE 11 ); posterior lateral sinuation evidently carinate, inwardly angled; pronotum broad and flattened, overall shape cordate ( Fig. 50 View FIGURE 50 ); midline well-defined, disc with very fine and sparsely distributed transverse wrinkles laterally; pronotal foveae deep and broad; anterior edge slightly inwardly curved, posterior edge straight. Prosternum flat with fine transverse wrinkles, small depressions laterally; proepisternum without microsculpture. Procoxal setae absent; protibia distally expanded and shovel-like ( Fig. 10B View FIGURE 10 ).
Elytra: Broad and flattened; humeral angle anteriorly convergent ( Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ); basal margin slightly curved and bevelled to base, all intervals and striae truncated at margin; lateral carina narrow the entire length, extended to humeral angle; humerus with 1–2 setose punctures ( Fig. 50 View FIGURE 50 ), indistinct raised carina around punctures in line with the basal end of stria 7; suture well-defined, but no more so than striae; striae with small, regularly distributed, asetose punctures, slightly increased in size and depth laterally ( Fig. 50 View FIGURE 50 ); all intervals with weak convexity the entire length; intervals without microsculpture; 7 th strial setal pattern with 1 setose puncture in anterior ½, 3–4 well spaced long setae in posterior ½ only ( Fig. 50 View FIGURE 50 ), setose punctures small.
Ventral surface: Mesepisternum ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ) and metepisternum without microsculpture; setose punctures of mesocoxae ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ) absent and present on metacoxae (1). Abdominal ventrites 1–5 without setose punctures and microsculpture; all ventrites without lateral foveae; ventrite 6 setae present: ♂ with 2 proximate setose punctures each side positioned laterally ventrite angled edge; ♀ with 2 setose punctures each side, distantly spaced and located anterad ventrite angled edge. Anterior metaventrite process an apically broad triangle with a poorly defined carina.
Male genitalia: Apical portion of penis lobe symmetrically rounded ( Fig. 50 View FIGURE 50 PL), apical curve flat, distinct deflection to right of vertical axis (VV) ( Fig. 15A View FIGURE 15 ); shaft of penis lobe narrow and equal width the entire length, ventral edge of shaft with weak curve to left (due to distinct apical deflection) (VV); overall length of penis lobe moderately curved ventrally (LV) ( Fig. 16B View FIGURE 16 ). Structures of the endophallus ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ): lateral form of the apex of the central spicule pointed; dorsal form of the apex of the central spicule short and narrow; setal (scales) coverage of the apical plate sparse (1–25%); size of left setose flange small; size of right setose flange large. Left paramere basal lobe ovate with a short slope to arm ( Fig. 50 View FIGURE 50 LP); arm short and broad, narrowed to terminus; terminal lobe indistinct from arm, apical tuft of long setae, medium-lengthed setae extended along apical ½ of ventral edge; ventral edge straight ( Fig. 50 View FIGURE 50 LP). Right paramere long and narrowly rectangular, setae extended along apical ¾ of ventral edge ( Fig. 50 View FIGURE 50 RP).
Female genitalia: Basal gonocoxite 1 short and broad, apically broadened, ventral surface entirely covered with rugose wrinkles, internal dorso-lateral carina ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 ) with 5 setae. Gonocoxite 2 short, bluntly rounded and triangular. Ramus short and narrow.
Comments: Mecodema regulus is found on all of the large islands in the Three Kings group, and is more closely related to M. ponaiti (Poor Knights Is.) , than to the geographically more proximate mainland species ( M. tenaki ) that ranges from Cape Reinga to North Cape ( Seldon & Leschen 2011).
Distribution: New Zealand, North Island, Three Kings Islands (only).
Holotype: NZAC male labelled [card mounted]. Type [round label with red border glued to card] / Great Island Three Kings 1– 3.1.63 E.S. Gourlay [hw] / under large stones in forest Ca. 200’ [hw] / HOLOTYPE ♂ Mecodema regulus mihi [hw] / E.B. Britton det. 1964 [date hw] / NZAC 04011202 About NZAC .
Paratypes: (see Seldon & Leschen 2011).
Material examined: 1♂, NEW ZEALAND TH Great Is. Tasman Valley Tasman Tk 7 Nov 2008 under rocks T Buckley R Leschen TH 020 34°09.763, 172°08.348 ( NZAC) 1, NEW ZEALAND TH Great is. Bayliss Tk along Bayliss Strm 8 Nov 2008 under rocks T Buckley R Leschen TH 023 34°09.732/172°08.612 ( NZAC) ; 1♀, NEW ZEALAND TH Great is. Bayliss Tk along Bayliss Strm 8 Nov 2008 under rocks T Buckley, R Leschen TH023 34°09.732, 172°08.612 ( NZAC) .
NZAC |
New Zealand Arthropod Collection |
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
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