Mecyclothorax ata Perrault, 1978b: 148; 1986: 454

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 73

61. Mecyclothorax ata Perrault, 1978b: 148; 1986: 454

Identification.

Among the Mecyclothorax viridis group, this species comprises narrow-bodied beetles with subquadrate elytra and a cordate pronotum, the pronotal hind angles right and the basal margins preceding them angularly convergent (Fig. 32D). The elytral striae are deep though finely inscribed, with rounded punctures that expand the strial breadth. As opposed to the preceding two species (Figs 32B, C), this species is characterized by a very well-developed transverse mesh on the discal elytral intervals, the sculpticells raised and varying from isodiametric to transverse with breadth 2 × length. The frons is glossy in part with larger transverse wrinkles, an intermittent transverse mesh near the frontoclypeal suture and a more regular transverse mesh on the neck. The pronotal disc is covered by a shallow transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 3 –4× length, with the mesh obscured by reflected light. The male aedeagal median lobe is very characteristic, with a narrowly elongate apex and oblique chisel-like tip defined by the oblique apical face (Fig. 30H). Setal formula 2221; standardized body length 4.4-4.9 mm.

Distribution and habitat.

This species is known from the higher reaches of Mont Aorai, with the male holotype and female allotype collected near Fare Ata, 1900 m elevation.