Mecyclothorax cupreus Perrault, 1978b: 155; 1989: 68

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 110

93. Mecyclothorax cupreus Perrault, 1978b: 155; 1989: 68

Identification.

Instantly recognizable among Mecyclothorax globosus group species, indeed all Tahitian Mecyclothorax , by the metallic copper reflection of the dorsal body surface (Fig. 46D) in company with well-developed microsculpture: 1, head with upraised, nearly granulate transverse mesh; 2, pronotal disc with a distinct transverse mesh, sculpticells isodiametric to 3 × broad as long; and 3, discal elytral intervals lined with a regular transverse mesh, the lines of sculpticels arcing over the intervals with sculpticells slightly transverse to 3 × broad as long. The discal elytral striae are punctate in their basal half, the punctures elongate and restricted to the deeper portions of the striae. The male aedeagal median lobe is robust, with a broad shaft, and apex little extended past ostium, pointed, with an oblique apical face. The internal sac is well armored, with densely spiculate dorsal and ventral ostial microtrichial patches (Fig. 47E). The flagellar plate is very long, length 0.8 × distance from parameral articulations to apical face. Setal formula 2121; standardized body length 4.1-5.0 mm.

Distribution and habitat.

This species is distributed from 1200-1900 m elevation on Mont Aorai. Most of the specimens have been collected in pitfall traps indicating activity in the litter or near the soil surface.