Mecyclothorax poouli, 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 : 45-47

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Carabidae

(014) Mecyclothorax poouli sp. n. Figs 23D, 24C, 25, 26 B–D, 27B

Diagnosis.

Distinguished from Mecyclothorax waikamoi , above, by the less punctate elytral striae (Fig. 24B, C) and the slightly larger, more convex eyes; ocular ratio = 1.43-1.48, ocular lobe ratio = 0.79-0.86. Distinguishable from Mecyclothorax ahulili by the subparallel pronotal lateral margins anterad the obtuse to nearly right hind angles (Fig. 24C), versus the divergent lateral margins and obtuse rounded hind angles of Mecyclothorax ahulili (Fig. 24D). The male aedeagal median lobe apex of this species (Fig. 26 B–D) differs distinctively from the very short and broad apex characterizing Mecyclothorax ahulili (Fig. 26E), and the flagellar plate is larger than observed in Mecyclothorax waikamoi (Fig. 26A). Setal formula 2 1 2 0. Standardized body length 3.2-3.4 mm.

Description

(n = 5). [The description of Mecyclothorax waikamoi serves equally well for this species with the following substitutions.] Eyes moderately developed, ocular ratio = 1.43-1.48, ocular lobe ratio 0.79-0.86; pronotum variably broad, MPW/PL = 1.30-1.37; pronotal hind angles obtuse to nearly right, margin rounded behind; pronotal lateral margins subparallel for short distance anterad hind angles, MPW/BPW = 1.49-1.53; elytra may be narrower across the humeri in some individuals, MEW/HuW = 1.97-2.08; elytral sutural stria with minute irregularities in basal half but without distinct punctures, smooth and deep apically; parascutellar striole with 3 punctures, striole continuous between punctures; lateral elytral setal series arranged as 6-7 setae in anterior series, 5(4) in posterior series; only 4 setae observed in the median trapezoidal setal patch of the female apical abdominal ventrite; metafemora with brunneous cloud on basal anterior surface.

Male genitalia (n = 4). Aedeagal median lobe distinctly curved dorsally, robust, distance from parameral articulation to tip 2.7 –3.0× maximum breadth dorsad ostial opening (Figs 26 B–D); dorsal surface evenly curved at midpoint of ostial opening, apex downturned with apical face convex to briefly flattened, the flat surface shorter than in Mecyclothorax waikamoi (Fig. 26A); internal sac unornamented, lightly spiculated, flagellar plate large (Fig. 26D), length of sclerotized ventral face 0.55 × distance from parameral articulation to apex.

Female reproductive tract (n = 1). Bursa copulatrix a triangular tentlike pouch, length 0.32 mm, basal breadth at vagina 0.33 mm (Fig. 23D); bursal walls thin, transparent; gonocoxite 1 with 2 apical fringe setae, 5-6 small setae on medial surface (Fig. 27B); gonocoxite 2 subtriangular, apex rounded, 2 lateral ensiform setae with apical seta broader and longer, apical nematiform setae on medial surface at 0.72 × gonocoxite length.

Holotype.

Male (CUIC) labeled: HI:Maui Haleakala / Hanawi N.A.R. Poouli / Cabin 5-V-1998 lot02 / 1590m el. pyr. fog ohia / + Cibotium J.K. Liebherr // Mecyclothorax / poouli / ♂ photo / det. J.K. Liebherr 2014 // HOLOTYPE / Mecyclothorax / poouli / Liebherr / det. J.K. Liebherr 2015 (black-margined red label).

Paratypes.

HI: Maui: Haleakala N.P., Kipahulu Vy., Central Pali Tr., sifting leaf/moss litter, 915 m el., 30-iv-1991 lot 03, Liebherr/Medeiros (CUIC, 2), 1200 m el., 29-iv-1991 lot 03, Liebherr/Medeiros (CUIC, 2); Hana For. Res., Heleleikeoha Str. State Fence Camp, pyrethrin fog Metrosideros /moss, 1615 m el., 11-v-1998 lot 06, Polhemus (NMNH, 1), 12-v-1998 lot 04, Liebherr (CUIC, 1), 1795 m el., 12-v-1998 lot 11, Polhemus (NMNH, 2); Koolau For. Res., Hanawi N.A.R., Kuhiwa Vy. E rim, pyrethrin fog Cibotium , 915 m el., 10-vi-1999 lot 04, Polhemus (NMNH, 2), pyrethrin fog Metrosideros , 880 m el., 09-vi-1999 lot 09, Polhemus (NMNH, 1), Kuhiwa Vy., Poouli Cabin, pyrethrin fog Metrosideros / Cibotium , 1590 m el., 05-v-1998 lot 02, Liebherr (CUIC, 7), pyrethrin fog Metrosideros /moss, 1590 m el., 05-v-1998 lot 01, Liebherr (CUIC, 2), lot 03, Polhemus (NMNH, 4).

Etymology.

The po‘o uli ( Melamprosops phaeosoma Casey and Jacoby 1974) was a member of the Hawaiian drepanid finches first discovered in 1973 in the Hanawī rainforest. By 2004 it was extinct ( Powell 2008). The Hawaiian species epithet is meant as a memorial to the birds that may have fed on the ancestors of the type series of Mecyclothorax poouli .

Distribution and habitat.

Mecyclothorax poouli occupies ‘Ōhi‘a-Hāpu‘u ( Metrosideros - Cibotium ) Wet Forest in the Hāna Bogs, and Kuhiwa and Kīpahulu Valleys (Fig. 25). Known localities span 900-1800 m elevation. The beetles have been discovered in moss and leaf litter at ground level, and in mossy epiphytic growths on ‘ōhi‘a trunks and downed nurse logs.