Mecyclothorax kipahulu, Liebherr, James K., 2015

Liebherr, James K., 2015, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Haleakala-, Maui: Keystone of a hyperdiverse Hawaiian radiation, ZooKeys 544, pp. 1-407 : 230-233

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Carabidae

(094) Mecyclothorax kipahulu sp. n. Figs 117D, 118D, 121, 122A, 123 A–E, 124

Diagnosis.

Individual of this species can be diagnosed from those of Mecyclothorax kaumakani and Mecyclothorax kuiki by the less developed elytral microsculpture. The elytral intervals are glossy, with only indistinct transverse lines, at most, visible over portions of the glossy cuticle. The male aedeagal median lobe has a short apex that is narrowed from the ostial opening to a rounded tip (Fig. 123 A–E). The median lobe internal sac is divided into a shorter, broader basal lobe and a longer, thinner apical lobe (Fig. 123C). Setal formula 2 0 1 0. Standardized body length 4.1-5.2 mm.

Description

(n = 5). [The above description of Mecyclothorax kipwilli can serve to describe this species with the following substitutions.] Eyes more convex than in Mecyclothorax kipwilli ; ocular ratio = 1.55-1.59, ocular lobe ratio = 0.79-0.85. Pronotum slightly transverse, MPW/PL = 1.16-1.19, variably constricted basally, MPW/BPW = 1.56-1.69; median base bearing 13-16 large, isolated punctures each side. Elytra narrowly ellipsoid, lateral margins somewhat projected laterad humeri, MEW/HuW = 2.17-2.36 (a conformation that coincides with the elytral shape of Mecyclothorax kaumakani , MEW/HuW = 2.10-2.27, and is broader basally, though not diagnostically so, than the elytra of Mecyclothorax kipwilli , MEW/HuW = 2.32-2.44, and Mecyclothorax kuiki , MEW/HuW = 2.30-2.39). Mesepisternum with ~8-10 punctures in 2 rows; metathoracic flight wing a narrow strap 1.9 × long as broad, remnant M vein present; strap not reaching hind margin of metanotum. Coloration of vertex rufous with piceous cast; pronotal disc rufopiceous, margins narrowly paler, rufous; elytral disc glossy rufopiceous, sutural interval rufous basally and apically, concolorous on disc.

Male genitalia (n = 14). Aedeagal median lobe moderately robust, shaft curved, dorsal margin convex near apex of ostial opening, distance from parameral articulation to tip 3.0 –3.4× depth at midlength (Fig. 123A, C–E); apical extension parallel sided, the tip evenly rounded; median lobe nearly straight in ventral view, the tip curved rightward, dorsal margin visible behind and to the left of curved tip (Fig. 123B), internal sac with large broad basal lobe, and narrower, more elongate apical lobe bearing the flagellar plate (Figs 123C, 124), sac surface covered with variously pigmented microspicules, but without distinct microtrichial patches; flagellar plate small, length 0.29 × parameral articulation-tip distance.

Based on aedeagal conformation, Mecyclothorax kipwilli (Fig. 120), Mecyclothorax kipahulu (Fig. 123 A–E), and Mecyclothorax kaumakani (Fig. 123 F–L) comprise a triplet of closely related species. All have males with median lobes that are robust in breadth, distinctly curved, and have dorsoventrally broad, truncate apices. Males of all three species possess aedeagal internal sacs with both apical and basal lobes (Figs 120G, 123C, G), however in Mecyclothorax kipahulu and Mecyclothorax kaumakani males, the basal lobe approaches or exceeds the size of the plesiomorphically present apical lobe that bears the flagellar plate, supporting adelphotaxon status for these species.

Female reproductive tract (n = 1). Bursa copulatrix columnar with rounded apex, length 0.84 mm, apical breadth 0.34 mm, maximum breadth 0.43 mm (Fig. 117D); bursal walls thickly wrinkled at midlength, more finely wrinkled apically; gonocoxite 1 with 2-4 apical fringe setae, a curved seta at medioapical angle and 5-6 smaller setae along medial surface (Fig. 118D); gonocoxite 2 falcate, apex subacuminate, base broadly extended laterally with curved terminus, 2 elongate lateral ensiform setae, apical nematiform setae on medioventral surface at 0.69 × gonocoxite length.

Holotype.

Male (BPBM) dissected and labeled: HAWAII: Maui I (E): / Haleakala Nat. Park / Kipahulu Valley / 1525 m, 25-XI-1980 // Sweeping // Rain forest understory // W.C. Gagné, Coll. / BISHOP Museum / Acc. #1980.545 // Mecyclothorax / kipahulu / ♂ #61 / det. J.K. Liebherr 2014 // HOLOTYPE / Mecyclothorax / kipahulu / Liebherr / det. J.K. Liebherr 2015 (black-margined red label).

Paratypes.

138 specimens (see Appendix).

Etymology.

This species is given the epithet kipahulu in reference to Kīpahulu Valley, home to Laka, a god of canoe makers ( Pukui et al. 1974), and within whose boundaries this species lives (Fig. 121).

Distribution and habitat.

Mecyclothorax kipahulu is distributed within Kīpahulu Valley from 1300-2045 m elevation (Fig. 121), with its distribution parapatrically adjacent to those of Mecyclothorax kaumakani , Mecyclothorax kipwilli , and Mecyclothorax kuiki . The upper portion of the species distribution comprises older Kula volcanics (150-750 Ka), whereas the lower elevation portion of the distribution lies on Hāna Volcanic flow Qhn2, dated 11,000 years ago ( Sherrod et al. 2007). Occurring at higher elevations in Kīpahulu, the host substrate records all involve ‘ōhi‘a, with other means of collecting including sifting leaf and moss litter, and beating vegetation at night.