Mesoceration incarinum Perkins 2008, new species

Mesoceration incarinum new species

(Figs. 52, 56, 90)

Type Material. Holotype (male): Lesotho: Drakensberg, Sani Pass Valley, shore washing, 29° 36' S, 29° 20' E, 10 March 1976, Endrödy­Younga (#1062). Deposited in the TMSA. Paratypes (4): Lesotho: Same data as holotype (2 TMSA); Drakensberg, Organ Pipes Pass, elev. 914 m, 29° 0' S, 29° 11' E, 29 December 1979, S. & J. Peck (2 MCZ).

Differential Diagnosis. Among barriotum group members, M. incarinum individuals are distinguished from those of M. drakensbergensis by the smaller size (ca. 1.70 vs. 1.89 mm), and the less shining head and pronotum (Figs. 51, 60). M. incarinum individuals are similar in body size and pronotal punctation to those of M. semicarinulum; differentiated therefrom by the proportionally wider pronotum, the less sharply defined margins of the elytra series, and the more weakly rounded 8th elytral interval (Fig. 53). The aedeagi of M. incarinum and M. semicarinulum also show a relationship (Figs. 56, 57).

Description. Size (length/width, mm) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 1.70/0.64; head 0.34/ 0.41; pronotum 0.39/0.53; elytra 0.98/0.64. Dorsum of head, pronotal disc, and venter dark brown to piceous; pronotal lateral areas and elytra brown, maxillary palpi and legs light brown.

Head with labrum and lateral areas of clypeus and frons microreticulate, dull. Disc of clypeus and frons shining, finely, sparsely punctate, interstices ca. 2–6xpd; anteocellar sulci deep. Ocelli distinct. Mentum and submentum microreticulate.

Pronotum cordate, widest in front of middle; anterior angles rounded, posterior rectangular; sides finely margined, feebly crenulate; anterior margin shallowly arcuate over median 3/4, without hyaline border; discal reliefs shining, very finely, very sparsely punctate, size less than 1xef, interstices 3–6xpd; with 10 distinct foveae: two median, an anterior elongate and round posterior, very shallowly confluent; a round anterior and slightly larger oval posterior admedian; and a large anterior and smaller posterior adlateral on each side; each puncture with a fine short seta.

Elytra slightly depressed in area behind humerous, sides weakly arcuate, apices subtruncate; sutural apices rectangular; sides smooth, weakly explanate. Serial punctures small at base, slightly smaller than largest pronotal punctures, progressively finer apically, discal punctures separated by ca. 1–2xpd; series 1 very weakly, if at all, striate­impressed at base; anterior rim of socket of each punctural seta with minute granule; seven series between suture and very weakly raised 8th interval, 5th and 6th series not confluent. Intervals, except 8th, flat, weakly shining, very finely unilinearly punctulate, some punctures with minute granule at anterior rim of socket; width on disc about 2xpd; 8th interval exceedingly weakly raised for about 1/4 of elytral length, beginning at about midlength. All punctures bearing a short fine seta.

Thoracic ventrites and abdominal ventrites 1–4 densely clothed with short setae, except glabrous proventral midlongitudinal ridge, mesoventral plaques, and small glabrous strongly shining triangular area basomedially on metaventrite. Metaventral disc flat, with shallow midlongitudinal groove in posterior 3/4. Abdominal ventrites as follow: 5th similarly clothed except with large semilunulate posterior area, glabrous and shining; 6th glabrous and shining, with posterior band of piliferous punctures.

Legs of male with two spiniform setae on apical protarsomere. Femora and tibiae alutaceous.

Females with explanate margin of elytra distinctly wider than in males, apices distinctly more transversely truncate.

Wings reduced, about 3/4 length of elytra.

Aedeagus length ca. 0.29 mm; main­piece straight in ventral view, arcuate in lateral view, apex produced and sharp in lateral view, basal ring large; distal piece sinuate, apical 1/2 wider in lateral view than in ventral view (Fig. 56).

Etymology. Named in reference to the non­carinate elytra.

Distribution. Currently known from two localities in the Drakensberg Mountains, northeasternmost Lesotho (Fig. 90).