Fauna of New Zealand 69 - Landcare Research

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well in front of middle and touching lateral bead; basal
constriction long; posterolateral angles slightly acute
and projecting laterally; base subtruncate, subdepressed,
about as wide as apex, slightly narrower than elytral base.
Prosternum coarsely punctate, unwrinkled. Proepisterna
coarsely punctate, unwrinkled. Metepisterna coarsely
punctate. Elytra. Strongly convex, oblong, widest about
middle. Basal margin reaching level of stria 4. Shoulders
denticulate. Sides strongly rounded. Scutellar setiferous
pore present. Striae complete, deep, coarsely punctate.
Intervals moderately convex. Abdomen. Sterna coarsely
punctate, unwrinkled. Aedeagus. Lateral view (Fig. 63):
moderately arcuate; dorsobasal blade present, narrow; apex
narrow, rounded, moderately projecting ventrally. Dorsal
view: apex subtruncate.
Material examined. 16 specimens (AMNZ, JNNZ,
NZAC).
Geographic distribution (Map p. 178). North Island:
HB–Kaweka Forest Park (Kaweka Flats Track, Ngahere
Loop Track, Ngahere Basin). TK–Mount Messenger Forest
(Mokau Road, White Cliffs). TO–Erua. WO–Whareorino
State Forest (Leitchs Clearing). Maungatautari Scenic
Reserve, Hicks Road Track).
Ecology. Lowland, Montane. Wet forests (broadleaf,
beech). Shaded ground; sheltering during the day under
logs and fallen branches. The species is xylophilous (associated
with wood). Observed running on moss at night.
Biology. Seasonality: December–April. Predacious (based
on mouthpart morphology).
Dispersal power. Elytra fused along the suture. Subapterous.
Moderate runner. Vagility limited by flight incapacity.
Remarks. This species is named after Phil O’Malley
(Takapuna, Auckland), a special acquaintance and highly
skilled financial adviser. Selenochilus omalleyi is morphologically
close to S. hutchisonae. In addition to diagnostic
characters of the male genitalia S. omalleyi has the following
distinguishing features: size relatively larger than in
other species (6.7–7.6 mm); femora and tibiae infuscate
reddish; pronotum moderately transverse, with sides
strongly rounded and posterolateral angles slightly acute,
projecting laterally; elytra strongly convex, with strongly
rounded sides and without microsculpture in basal half.
Larochelle & Larivière (2013): Carabidae (Insecta: Coleoptera)
Subtribe MORIOMORPHINA
Reference. Liebherr, 2011b: 299–300 (higher classification).
Genus Molopsida White, 1846 E
Figures 66–71, 110–115, 205–210; Maps p. 176
Molopsida White, 1846: 6. Type species. Molopsida polita
White, 1846, by monotypy.
Description. Body: length 5.0–7.0 mm; not pedunculate.
Colour dark or pale. Dorsal surface mostly glabrous. Microsculpture
present or absent. Iridescence absent on head
and pronotum, absent or present on elytra. Metallic lustre
absent. Head. Mandibles moderately or very long. Labrum
truncate to slightly emarginate anteriorly; anterior marginal
setae equidistant. Antennae usually submoniliform, rarely
subfiliform; segments 1–3 glabrous (excluding apical setae).
Eyes usually normally developed, sometimes reduced,
usually convex (depressed in M. lindrothi); usually two
supraorbital setiferous punctures on inner side of each
eye, rarely a single puncture (anterior one missing in M.
polita and M. seriatoporus). Interocular fovea present or
absent. Tempora inflated. Mentum feebly depressed, not
excavated laterally; median tooth usually acute apically
(rarely rounded), usually moderately shorter than lateral
lobes (rarely slightly shorter); outer side of lateral lobes
slightly rounded. Ligula truncate and narrow apically.
Paraglossae glabrous. Palpi: terminal segment fusiform,
not elliptical, glabrous; penultimate maxillary segment
usually glabrous, rarely setulose. Thorax. Pronotum
(Fig. 110–115) slightly to moderately transverse, usually
subquadrate, sometimes cordate; anterior bead complete
or incomplete (narrowly or broadly interrupted medially);
usually two setiferous punctures on each side (punctures
absent in M. seriatoporus); posterolateral angles subrectangular,
rarely acute and projecting laterally; laterobasal
foveae usually present, shallow or deep, not sulcate;
posterior bead absent; base usually much wider than apex,
rarely slightly wider. Scutellum partly visible, broad, inserted
entirely between elytral bases. Metepisterna short,
subquadrate. Legs. Tarsi glabrous dorsally, pubescent
ventrally (segment 5 of metatarsi with one or two pairs of
ventral setae); segment 4 of pro- and mesotarsi emarginate
apically (cleft for less than half their length). Elytra. Usually
strongly convex and ovate (depressed and subovate
in M. lindrothi). Basal margin complete, reaching level of
stria 1. Shoulders normally developed, obtuse or rounded.
Scutellar setiferous pore present, inserted at base of stria 1.
Scutellar striole usually present, short, bi- or tripunctate.
Striae usually present, complete or incomplete, punctate
(absent, replaced by rows of punctures in M. seriatoporus).
Striae 3 and 5 without setiferous punctures. Interval