Fauna of New Zealand 69 - Landcare Research

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developed, moderately large and convex. Tempora oblique,
short (about one-third as long as eyes). Mentum: medial
tooth acute apically, moderately shorter than lateral lobes.
Ligula wide apically. Paraglossae membranous, prominent,
much longer than ligula. Palpi: terminal segment fusiform,
elliptical, sparsely setulose; penultimate maxillary segment
apically setulose. Thorax. Pronotum (Fig. 124) moderately
convex, coarsely punctate across base, feebly wrinkled
across base and along median longitudinal impression,
strongly transverse, moderately cordate; apex strongly arcuate;
anterolateral angles moderately developed, obtusely
rounded; sides moderately rounded anteriorly, moderately
sinuate posteriorly; lateral beads strongly widening from
apex to base; lateral depressions absent; a single setiferous
puncture on each side (anteriorly) about middle and
touching lateral bead; posterolateral angles subrectangular,
not denticulate; laterobasal foveae ill-defined, coarsely and
densely punctate, shallow, wide, oblong; posterior bead
complete; base emarginate medially, slightly oblique laterally,
moderately narrower than apex, slightly narrower than
elytral base. Prosternum punctate, wrinkled. Proepisterna
punctate, wrinkled. Metepisterna punctate. Elytra. Moderately
convex, ovate, widest about middle. Basal margin
complete. Shoulders rounded, denticulate. Sides strongly
rounded. Scutellar setiferous pore inserted at base of stria
1. Scutellar striole impunctate. Striae complete, very deep,
coarsely punctate; stria 3 with four setiferous punctures.
Intervals strongly convex. Sutural apices angular-rounded.
Abdomen. Sterna coarsely punctate, wrinkled. Last visible
sternum (sternum VII): male unknown; female with six
apical and four medial ambulatory setae. Aedeagus and
Parameres. Male unknown.
Material examined. A single specimen (NZAC).
Geographic distribution (Map p. 182). South Island:
BR–Tiropahi River Valley (Tiropahi Track).
Ecology. Lowland. Flat beech forest, along a riverbank (J.
Nunn, personal communication). Probably living in shaded
ground and hiding during the day under cover. This species
is probably epigean (living on the surface of the ground).
Biology. Seasonality: February. Predacious (based on
mouthpart morphology).
Dispersal power. Elytra fused basally along suture.
Subapterous. Moderate runner. Vagility limited by flight
incapacity.
Remarks. The name of this species is derived from the
Latin adjective nitidus, shining (Brown, 1985).
Trichopsida nitida is morphologically close to T. robusta
and T. maudensis. This species has the following
distinguishing features: dorsal surface shiny and without
microsculpture; terminal segment of palpi elliptical;
Larochelle & Larivière (2013): Carabidae (Insecta: Coleoptera)
pronotum moderately cordate; elytra with striae coarsely
punctate and intervals strongly convex; abdominal sterna
punctate and wrinkled. The male is unknown.
Trichopsida robusta (Broun, 1921) E new combination
Figures 79, 125, 220; Map p. 183
Tarastethus robustus Broun, 1921: 600. Holotype: male
(BMNH) labelled “Type (circular red-bordered label;
typed) / 4163. [male symbol] (hand-written) / Mt. Roberts.
28.12.1915. (hand-written) / New Zealand. Broun Coll.
Brit. Mus. 1922-482. (white label with red horizontal line;
typed) / Tarastethus robustus. [male symbol] (hand-written).”
Condition: Excellent.
Molopsida robusta: Britton, 1940: 477.
Description. Body: length 6.4–7.6 mm. Head, pronotum,
elytra, and abdomen reddish-black or brown; lateral margins
and apex of elytra yellowish red; antennae, palpi,
and legs entirely pale red. Microsculpture strong and
isodiametric. Iridescence absent. Dull (as in T. maudensis).
Head. Impunctate dorsally, wrinkled on frons, slightly
narrower across eyes than pronotal apex. Mandibles
short. Labrum moderately transverse, slightly emarginate
anteriorly. Antennae: segment 1 (scape) moderately long,
about 2× longer than its maximum width; segments1–3
glabrous (excluding apical setae). Frontal furrows wide,
shallow. Eyes normally developed, moderately large
and convex. Tempora convex, short (about one-third as
long as eyes). Mentum: medial tooth rounded apically,
slightly shorter than lateral lobes. Ligula wide apically.
Paraglossae membranous, prominent, much longer than
ligula. Palpi: terminal segment fusiform, not elliptical,
sparsely setulose; penultimate maxillary segment apically
setulose. Thorax. Pronotum (Fig. 125) moderately convex,
coarsely punctate across base, feebly wrinkled across base,
strongly transverse, strongly cordate; apex strongly arcuate;
anterolateral angles moderately developed, obtuse;
sides strongly rounded anteriorly, strongly sinuate posteriorly;
lateral beads narrow; lateral depressions absent; a
single setiferous puncture on each side (anteriorly) about
middle and touching lateral bead; posterolateral angles
subrectangular or acute and projecting laterally, not denticulate;
laterobasal foveae ill-defined, coarsely punctate,
shallow, rather wide, elongate anteriorly; posterior bead
complete; base emarginate medially, slightly oblique laterally,
about as wide as apex, much narrower than elytral
base. Prosternum impunctate, unwrinkled. Proepisterna
impunctate, unwrinkled. Metepisterna impunctate. Elytra.
Moderately convex, ovate, widest about middle. Basal
margin complete. Shoulders rounded, denticulate. Sides
strongly rounded. Scutellar setiferous pore inserted at base
of stria 1. Scutellar striole impunctate. Striae complete,
moderately deep, impunctate; stria 3 with four setiferous