Mecyclothorax moorei Baehr

Liebherr, James K., 2018, Taxonomic review of Australian Mecyclothorax Sharp (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) with special emphasis on the M. lophoides (Chaudoir) species complex, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 65 (2), pp. 177-224 : 177

Mecyclothorax moorei Baehr Figures 2A, 3A, 7 A–B, 8A, 9A, 10A, 11A

Mecyclothorax moorei Baehr, 2009: 90.

Diagnosis

(n = 2). This species is diagnosed by the broadly punctate pronotal disc (Fig. 2A), punctate head with a transverse line of about 5 large punctures between the posterior supraorbital setae, and convex, smooth elytra with only striae 1-4 in evidence, striae 2-4 only a series of small isolated punctures. The prosternum and proepisternum are also broadly punctate, the punctures large and separated from each other by a distances equal to the punctural diameters ( Liebherr 2018, fig. 2F). The punctate pronotal disc, head, and prosternum + proepisternum are shared with M. punctatus , but the pronotal punctures are more numerous and less separated in M. punctatus (Fig. 2 A–B), with about 30 punctures each side in M. moorei , and about 60 each side in M. punctatus . In addition, the elytral striae are more distinct in M. punctatus , with striae 1-5 present in the basal half of the elytra, though the punctures of stria 5 are smaller and shallower. The elytra of M. moorei are more ovoid, with the lateral margins more narrowly rounded behind the subangulate humeri (Fig. 3 A–B). Whereas the parascutellar seta is present or absent in M. punctatus , and if present appearing short and narrow, this seta is well developed in M. moorei , with the setal articulatory socket set within a depression coincident with the base of the parascutellar striole, the seta as long as the breadth of 2-3 elytral intervals. The eyes of M. moorei are convex but they cover only the anterior 4/5 of the ocular lobe: EyL/OLL = 0.83-0.86. Finally, males of this species, M. punctatus , and M. curtus all exhibit 2 setae each side of the apical abdominal ventrite, an unusual character state within Mecyclothorax , and evidence of their monophyletic relationship within subgenus Eucyclothorax (Fig. 1B, character 83). Standardized body length 3.2-3.3 mm. Setal formula ++/++/+2++.

Male genitalia (n = 2). Aedeagal median lobe apex narrowly rounded and only slightly projected beyond apical ostial margin (Fig. 7A); aedeagal internal sac elongate, membranous, with apical dorsal plate, flagellum, and flagellar sheath (Fig. 7B); right paramere narrow, elongate, with 6 setae along the ventral margin, 1-2 apical setae, and the dorsal margin glabrous except for a small apical seta (Fig. 8A); left paramere broadly quadrate basally, the apical 1/3 of length very narrow in contrast to broad base.

Female reproductive tract (n = 1). Bursa copulatrix elongate, columnar (Fig. 9A); helminthoid sclerite elongate; spermathecal duct basally expanded and sclerotized, the more apical portion of duct membranous and of lesser diameter; basal gonocoxite with 2 larger setae laterally along apical margin (Fig. 10A), a very small seta medially near margin; apical gonocoxite broad basally, breadth more than half length; lateral ensiform setae elongate, ~ 0.60 × length of apical gonocoxite; apical nematiform setae in subbasal sensory furrow.

Type information.

Holotype male (AMS): site 32AR NSW Banda Rd about 4.5 km E Hastings Forest Hwy 31°09'S 152°25'E Mount Boss State Forest 17 1100m (NPWS Survey) 4 Feb– 9 Apr 1993 M. Gray, G. Cassis (AMS K241125) ( Baehr 2009).

Distribution and habitat.

M. moorei is restricted to northeastern New South Wales (Fig. 11A), with populations allopatrically distributed relative to eastern populations of the more southerly distributed M. punctatus . Recorded elevations of collecting localities range from 110 m near Ramornie and 1100 m in Mt. Boss State Forest ( Baehr 2009). Philip Darlington collected this species in Bellangry Forest NW of Wauchope (MCZ). All specimens are vestigially winged.