Meatopida dorsale Kiałka & Ruta 2018, new combination

Meatopida dorsale (Broun, 1893), new combination

(Figs 1A–B, 3D, 4B, 7B – 10)

Atopida dorsale Broun 1893: 1140

Type material. Lectotype (present designation), male (NHM): “ Atopida \ dorsale ”, “ New Zealand \ Broun Coll. \ Brit. Mus. \ 1922–482.”, “Egmont”, “2023.”, “ LECTOTYPE \ Atopida dorsale \ Broun, 1893 \ des. Kiałka & Ruta ‘17” [red label, printed]. Paralectotype, male (NHM): “ Atopida \ dorsale ”, “ New Zealand \ Broun Coll. \ Brit. Mus. \ 1922–482.”, “Egmont”, “2023.”, “ PARALECTOTYPE \ Atopida dorsale \ Broun, 1893 \ des. Kiałka & Ruta ‘17” [red label, printed].

Other material examined. Female (NHM): Waikato, Broun Coll, 1922–482; female (NHM): Pirongia, Broun Coll., 1922–482 [with note: “shoulders serrate”]; male (NHM): Pokako, 22.2.17, Broun Coll., 1922–482; 4 males, 2 females (CMNC): TK, Waitaanga Plateau, 14 – 15.12.1983, L. Masner; 1 ex. (NZAC): Mt. Egmont, 3.000 feet, A. E. Brooks Coll.; 4 exx. (NZAC): Raurimu, T. Broun Coll., ex A. E. Brooks Coll.; 1 ex. (NZAC): Raurimu, Main TRUNK., T. Broun, Dup. Coll.; 1 ex. (AMNZ): Raurimu, 16.02.1942, C. E. Clarke Coll.; 1 ex. (NZAC): Erua, January 1911, T. Broun Coll., ex A. E. Brooks Coll.; 1 ex. (NZAC): Aroha, T. Broun Coll., A. E. Brooks Coll.; 3 exx. (NZAC): Waikato, T. Broun Coll., ex A. E. Brooks Coll; 1 ex. (NZAC): RI, Ruahine Ra, Armstrong Sdle, 1250m, ex pond in alpine vegetation, 6.02.1980, C. F. Butcher; 1 ex. (NZAC): TO, Chateau, Mt Ruapehu, 1280m, swept at night, 16.01.1975, J. C. Watt; 1 ex. (NZAC): TO, Chateau, Mt Ruapehu, 914m, 16.01.1975, J. C. Watt; 1 ex. (AMNZ): North Island, Taumaranui Co., Erua, 4.01.1941, C. E. Clark Coll.; 2 males (AMNZ): CL, Great Barrier I., Mt Hobson, 460m, Malaise trap. 19.11.2002 – 21.12.2002, K. Parsons, L11900”; 1 male (AMNZ): CL, Great Barrier I., Windy Canyon, 250m – 600m, in forest, swept, 19.11.2002, J. W. Early, R. F. Gillbert, L11820.

Diagnosis. Body TL 2.8–3.1 mm, covered with erect setae, elytra distinctly darkened along suture. Apical portion of female elytra with oval excitators (Fig. 4B). Trigonium of penis distinctly shorter than parameroids. Prehensor without Y-shaped light coloured area.

Redescription. Male. Body (Fig. 1A) elongated, relatively small, moderately convex. Body yellowish brown, elytral suture darkened, dark brown, legs slightly lighter. Punctation on head and pronotum granulated, strong and dense, distance between punctures 0.5 diameter at most, more sparse in middle of pronotum, punctation on elytra simple, distance between punctures 0.7–1.0 diameter. Body covered with medium long, yellowish, protruding, ruffled setae. Penis (Fig. 8A): trigonium widely bifurcate, very short, much shorter than parameroids; pala oval, base weakly semicircularly emarginated, slightly longer than parameroids; parameroids bent outwards, narrow, covered with sparse punctation, apices acute (L 0.63 mm, W 0.40 mm). Tegmen (Fig. 8B) oval with narrow, pointed parameres, dentate triangular projections midway (see “Variation” below) and cuticular ring attached below them (L 0.65 mm, W 0.45 mm). Tergite VIII (Fig. 8C) subequilateral, subtly wider than long, with rather distinct apodemes, numerous short setae in apical part (L 0.43 mm, W 0.46 mm); tergite IX (Fig. 8D) rectangular with membranous apical part, almost devoid of setae, with long apodemes (L 0.46 mm, W 0.40 mm). Sternite VIII (Fig. 8E) transversely rectangular, U-shaped with very few setae and punctures concentrated on apical margin, distinctly wider than longer (L 0.43 mm, W 0.27 mm); sternite IX (Fig. 8F) oval, barely sclerotized, apical part covered with few medium length setae and delicate punctation, apodemes not visible (L 0.40 mm, W 0.28 mm).

Female (Fig. 1B). Eyes small, tempora much longer than diameter of eye. Each elytron with oval, shallow depression (diameter 0.2 mm) in apical portion (excitator, Fig. 4B). Close to each depression, in adsutural portion, tuft of longer setae present. Hind wings fully developed. Tergite VIII long (L 1.05 mm), with paired apodemes, a few setae and punctures in apical part; sternite VIII shorter (L 0.68 mm), with paired apodemes which are connected at base, setae and a few punctures in apical part, basal part weakly emarginated; ovipositor (Fig. 10A) long (L 1.45 mm); prehensor (Fig. 10C) dorsoventrally flattened, oval (L 1.05 mm, W 0.60 mm), massive, strongly sclerotized, covered densely with numerous setae, with two triangular sclerotizations in posterior portion, enclosed with much longer and heavier spine-like setae.

Variation. Morphology of parameres variable: the triangular projections may bear two or three denticles which are most visible in lateral view. In the case of specimens from Great Barrier Island the projections are missing and instead spines are present on parameres (Fig. 9).

Measurements and ratios. Males (n = 6) TL 2.77–3.10 mm (2.90 mm), PL 0.50–0.60 mm (0.52 mm), PW 0.95–1.03 mm (0.94 mm), EL 2.25–2.57 mm (2.34 mm), EW 1.30–1.50 mm (1.38 mm), TL/EW 1.93–2.13 (2.05), PW/PL 1.69–1.90 (1.77), EL/EW 1.57–1.75 (1.68), EL/PL 4.06–4.69 (4.35). Females (n = 3) TL 2.77–2.90 mm (2.83 mm), PL 0.53 mm, PW 0.90–0.96 mm (0.92 mm), EL 2.26–2.33 mm (2.30 mm), EW 1.23–1.30 mm (1.28 mm), TL/EW 2.13–2.30 (2.22), PW/PL 1.69–1.81 (1.73), EL/EW 1.74–1.89 (1.80), EL/PL 4.25–4.38 (4.31).

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. New Zealand, North Island: Taranaki (Egmont), Manawatu-Wanganui (Waitaanga Plateau), Waikato, Pokaka, Pirongia, Great Barrier Island (Fig. 15).

Remarks. The substantial variation in the shape of the parameres within the species requires further research. It is plausible that individuals from Great Barrier Island deserve the status of subspecies but more specimens of both sexes should be examined in order to verify this hypothesis.