Holotype: Male, JGZC-5096, Koghi Mts., humid forest, 22°11’S 166°30’E, 500–550 m, 21.i.2004, M. Wanat leg., Holotype Cazeresia australis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW). — Paratypes: 3 males and 2 females (one with: JGZC-5196), Koghi Mts., humid forest, 22°11’S 166°30’E, 500–550 m, 21.i.2004, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia australis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW)

MNHW: 1 female, Haute Rivière Bleue, La Tranchée-Sentier des Kaoris, humid forest, 22°05’S 166°38’E, 280–330 m, 26.i.2004, M. Wanat leg.; 2 females (one with: JGZC-5226), Haute Rivière Bleue, La Tranchée-Sentier des Kaoris, humid forest, 22°05’S 166°38’E, 280–330 m, 28.i.2004, M. Wanat leg.; 1 female, JGZC-5136, Hte. Rivière Bleue, La Tranchée-Sentier des Kaoris, 22°05’S 166°38’E, 190–330 m, 20.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 1 male, Bois du Sud, 22°10.5’S 166°45.8’E, 160 m, maquis, night coll. (lamp and beating), 23.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 2 males (JGZC-5130 and JGZC-5201), Forêt Cachée, -22.19085 166.78688, 250 m, sifting litter, 26.x.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 1 female, JGZC-5327, Col des Deux Tétons, -22.2059 166.6797, 220–250 m, humid forest, at light, 9.xii.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg.

Body elliptic, moderately convex. Mandibles, facial sutures, pronotum and scutellum blackish, with slight bronze metallic shine on pronotum; most of head, elytra and ventral surfaces very dark brown, with faint purple reddish metallic shine on head and very weak purple bluish shine on elytra; labrum, antennae and legs testaceous, with base of tibiae and femora infuscate; palpi and apex of antennomeres 11 ochre. Length: 5.1 mm; width: 3.0 mm (range of male specimens: 4.4–5.1 mm long, 2.6–3.0 mm wide).

Frons with few small punctures anteriorly and supraocular sulci prolonged medially to middle of dorsal edge of supraantennal calli; clypeus with few small punctures basally and anterior border moderately emarginate. Eyes separate on frons by 1.9× their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: 2.5-1.0-1.9-2.0-2.7-2.4-2.9-2.8-2.8-2.7-3.2. Prosternal process about 0.75× as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra slightly over 1.1× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind humeri; surface nearly smooth, shiny, with very shallow fine microreticulation and relatively large punctures, smaller than intervals, rather confused anteriorly on disc. Basitarsomeres enlarged, as wide as third tarsomere in pro- and metatarsi, shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in pro- and mesotarsi, and as long as these in metatarsi. Median apodeme of first abdominal ventrite about half as long as ventrite, narrow and acute, narrower than mesosternal process; ventrites 2–4 finely microreticulated, with sparse, relatively large punctures and long fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae. Penis (Fig. 7b) slender, regularly curved ventrally, with sides slightly concave in ventral view, as wide preapically as wide at base; apex elongate oval, arched distally with mucronate apex; gonopore elongate elliptical, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance about as long as maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subrectangular, longer than wide, covering about basal half of gonopore. — Females. Spermatheca (Fig. 1m) with cornu slightly shorter than nodulus, bent more or less at right angle relative to nodulus; nodulus bulbous basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct thin, inserted laterally near base of nodulus, oriented opposite to cornu and recurved parallel and about as long or slightly longer than nodulus before gradual enlargement with one complete, elongate coil.

Figure 7. 

Lateral and apical dorsal views of the penis of Cazeresia humboldtiana (Heller) (a), C. australis sp. nov. (b), C. globosa sp. nov. (c) and C. globosa altitudinalis ssp. nov. (d), C. tricolor sp. nov. (e), C. parentalis sp. nov. (f), C. impressicornis sp. nov. (g), C. spadicea sp. nov. (h) and C. spadicea bruna ssp. nov. (i), C. tibialis sp. nov. (j), C. gracilis sp. nov. (k), C. laevigata sp. nov. (l), and C. wanati sp. nov. (m).

This species is closely related to and it is almost indistinguishable from C. globosa sp. nov. and allies. Body L/W ratio < 1.8 assists separating it from other species in the genus, and the contrast between paler elytra and darker pronotum seems less apparent in this species compared to C. globosa. Male genitalia in these species show slight differences too, with the distal end of penis relatively longer in C. australis sp. nov., compared with C. globosa.

The name is the Latin adjective (f.) derived from the noun auster, meaning South, making reference to the distribution of the species in Southern parts of the island of Grande Terre.

This species is found in a number of relatively low elevation (250–550 m a.s.l.) humid forest localities east of Nouméa, in the south of Grande Terre (Fig. 8f).

Figure 8. 

Distribution maps of the species and subspecies of Cazeresia Jolivet, Verma & Mille in New Caledonia.

Holotype: Male, JGZC-5343, Mandjélia (subsummit), 20°23.9’S 164°32.0’E, 700–750 m, night beating, 11.i.2007, M. Wanat leg., Holotype Cazeresia clipeata sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW). — Paratypes: MNHW: 2 females (JGZC-5198 and JGZC-5459), Mandjélia (summit), 20°23.9’S 164°31.9’E, 750–780 m, night coll. (lamp and beating), 10.i.2007, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg., Paratype Cazeresia clipeata sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 2 males (JGZC-5340 and JGZC-5477) and 2 females (JGZC-5379 and JGZC-5450), Mandjélia (subsummit), 20°23.9’S 164°32.0’E, 700–750 m, night beating, 11.i.2007, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia clipeata sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label].

Body elongate oval, moderately convex. Mandibles, head, pronotum, scutellum, elytra, ventral thoracic surfaces and most of first abdominal ventrite dark reddish brown, with darker diffuse areas on dorsal surfaces and slight purplish metallic shine on pronotum and elytra; labrum, antennae, legs and posterior abdominal ventrites testaceous; palpi ochre. Length: 6.6 mm; width: 3.6 mm (range of males: 6.2–6.6 mm long, 3.4–3.6 mm wide).

Frons unpunctured with supraocular sulci prolonged medially to middle of dorsal edge of supraantennal calli; clypeus with few small punctures basally and anterior border with very deep arched emargination. Eyes large, separate on frons by 2.1× their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: 2.2-1.0-2.0-2.4-2.8-2.5-3.0-2.7-2.7-2.6-3.1. Posterior border of pronotum with tiny seamed punctures laterally on marginal furrow; narrow lateral gutter of pronotum slightly widened posteriorly; surface of pronotum apparently lacking micropunctures. Prosternal process as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.3× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind humeri; surface glossy, with relatively large punctures, nearly as wide as intervals, rather confused anteriorly on disc. Epipleura with sparse, minuscule setae near apex. Basitarsomeres enlarged, wider than third tarsomere in protarsi and narrower in meso- and metatarsi, shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in pro- and mesotarsi, and about as long as these in metatarsi. Median apodeme of first abdominal ventrite about half as long as ventrite, arched, narrower than mesosternal process; margins of abdominal ventrites 4 and 5 strongly serrate; all ventrites with fine microreticulation, sparse fine punctures and short fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae. Penis (Fig. 9f) slender, regularly curved ventrally, with sides slightly concave in ventral view, slightly widened preapically; apex elongate oval, arched distally with short projecting blunt tip; gonopore elongate elliptical, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance shorter than maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subrectangular, longer than wide, covering about basal half of gonopore. — Females. Spermatheca (Fig. 1e) with cornu shorter than nodulus, bent more or less at right angle relative to nodulus; nodulus bulbous basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct thick, inserted laterally near base of nodulus, oriented opposite to cornu and recurved parallel and slightly longer than nodulus, enlarged distally with one complete, elongate coil.

Figure 9. 

Lateral and apical dorsal views of the penis of Cazeresia robusta sp. nov. (a), C. montana Jolivet, Verma & Mille (b), C. imperiosa sp. nov. (c), C. laticollis sp. nov. (d), C. petitpierrei sp. nov. (e), C. clipeata sp. nov. (f), C. maquis sp. nov. (g), C. kanalensis (Perroud) (h), C. holosericea sp. nov. (i), C. thyiana (Jolivet, Verma & Mille) (j), and C. subgeminata sp. nov. (k).

Colour is apparently variable in both males and females of this species, ranging from reddish brown as in the type to dark brown, and with pronotum and elytra more or less concolor or with elytra paler.

This species belongs to the complex of C. thyiana (Jolivet, Verma & Mille), species larger than 6.0 mm with wide prosternal process, and it is almost indistinguishable from its relatives. In this case, the species has tiny setae apically on epipleura, a trait only shared with C. petitpierrei sp. nov. and C. maquis sp. nov. (and some females of C. holosericea sp. nov.), but it can be distinguished from these species by the clearly serrate margins of fourth and fifth abdominal ventrites in both males and females, while in the other species only the fifth is finely serrulate in females and the fourth also in males, but less strongly.

The species name is the participle (f.), clipeāta, of the verb clipeō, to protect with a shield, thus meaning shielded, but in this case just calling the attention to the clypeus of males with the peculiar deep anterior indentation of the species in this group (see Fig. 4c).

Species only known from relatively high elevations in the Mont Mandjélia, in the north of Grande Terre. It is the species of the genus with the northernmost range, isolated from the rest of species, mostly in the southern half of Grande Terre (Fig. 8c).

Holotype: Female, JGZC-5127, Pic d’Amoa (Povila), -20.95280 165.29135, 400 m, rainforest, sifting litter, 22.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg., Holotype Cazeresia corrugata sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW).

Body elongate elliptic, moderately convex. Dorsum, venter, coxae and mandibles very deep brown, with faint bronze reflections dorsally; labrum, antennae and legs testaceous, with base of tibiae and apical antennomeres except apex of eleventh antennomere infuscate; palpi ochre. Length: 4.1 mm; width: 2.2 mm.

Frons with sparse small punctures and supraocular sulci prolonged medially to half of dorsal edge of small supraantennal calli; clypeus with sparse small punctures except near anterior angles, sides parallel and anterior border moderately emarginate. Eyes large, separate on frons by 2.6× their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: 2.0-1.0-1.4-1. 7-2.0-1.8-2.2-2.1-2.1-2.0-2.7. Narrow explanate lateral margin of pronotum with tiny punctures on inner border; surface of pronotum coarsely microreticulate as on frons with relatively dense punctures, as large as intervals, interspersed with some micropunctures; sides of disc and lateral declivities wrinkled by shallow longitudinal or slightly oblique furrows connecting punctures. Prosternal process nearly as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.2× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind humeri; surface microreticulate, cells slightly larger than on pronotum, entirely glabrous except for very few short setae near sutural angles, with relatively large punctures, bigger than intervals on disc, tending to relatively regular geminate rows on first three rows; last two intervals convex in apical 2/3, other intervals weakly convex in apical third, and inner intervals in lateral declivities with transverse rugae. Epipleura notably enlarged preapically before apical constriction, with tiny setae in apical border. Basitarsomeres narrower than third tarsomere and shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in all tarsi. First abdominal ventrite longer at middle than four other ventrites combined, with median apodeme less than half as long as ventrite, arched, narrower than mesosternal process; all ventrites with fine microreticulation, relatively dense fine punctures and short fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae. Spermatheca (Fig. 1s) hook-shaped, with cornu shorter than nodulus, bent more or less at right angle relative to nodulus; nodulus bulbous basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct inserted laterally near base of nodulus, oriented opposite to cornu for short distance, recurved parallel and as long as nodulus, forming one complete, elongate coil. — Males. Unknown.

This species has punctures as big as intervals and tendency to gemination on disc of elytra, and epipleura strongly enlarged preapically with setose apex, traits only shared with C. striata (Jolivet, Verma & Mille) and C. subgeminata sp. nov. But they can be distinguished by the corrugation of pronotum and elytra of C. corrugata sp. nov., as well as the presence of extended punctation on frontoclypeus, nearly absent in C. subgeminata, and the apex of elytra with very few setae, compared with C. striata, showing abundant pubescence.

The name of the species refers to the wrinkled appearance of sides of pronotum and rugose sides of elytra, using the participle (f.), corrūgāta, of the verb corrūgō, to wrinkle.

At present, the species is known from a single female collected at moderate elevation (400 m a.s.l.) in Pic d’Amoa, being one of the species with a northernmost distribution in the island of Grande Terre (Fig. 8b).

Holotype: Male (Fig. 6a), JGZC-5101, Nyamié creek, at Comboui river, 21°45.9’S 166°25.5’E, 30–50 m, 31.xii.2006, night collecting, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg., Holotype Cazeresia globosa sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW). — Paratypes: MNHW: 10 males (two with: JGZC-5100 and JGZC-5224) and 6 females, Nyamié creek, at Comboui river, 21°45.9’S 166°25.5’E, 30–50 m, 31.xii.2006, night collecting, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg., Paratype Cazeresia globosa sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]. JGZC: 1 male (JGZC-5278) and 1 female (JGZC-5279), Nyamié creek, at Comboui river, 21°45.9’S 166°25.5’E, 30–50 m, 31.xii.2006, night collecting, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg., Paratype Cazeresia globosa sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label].

MNHW: 1 female, JGZC-5335, Haute Rivière Bleue, track to La Tranchée, 22°05’S 166°38’E, 180–330 m, 22–23.i.2004, M. Wanat leg.; 1 male, H^te Rivière Bleue, track La Tranchée-H^te Pourina, 22°04.0’S 166°37.4’E, 330–560 m, M. Wanat leg.; 1 female, JGZC-5137, Gue de la Rivière Bleue, Pourina, 22°05.8’S 166°40.2’E, 140 m, 22.xii.2006, night coll., lamp and beating, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 1 female, JGZC-5114, Chute de la Madeleine, 22°14’S 166°52’E, 270 m, maquis, ad lucem, 13.ii.2004, M. Wanat leg.; 1 female, Pic du Pin, base, 22°14.9’S 166°49.7’E, 280 m, forest and plantation, 26.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 1 female, JGZC-5326, Pic du Pin (base), -22.24843 166.82883, 280 m, plantation, 23.x.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 1 female, JGZC-5334, Pic du Grand Kaori, 22°16.8’S 166°53.5’E, 240 m, night coll. (lamb and beating), 26.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.

Body short elliptic, moderately convex. Dorsum, venter, coxae and mandibles very dark brown, almost black; labrum, antennae and legs testaceous, with base of tibiae and femora infuscate; palpi and apex of antennomeres 11 ochre. Length: 5.5 mm; width: 3.1 mm (range of male specimens: 4.6–5.5 mm long, 2.7–3.1 mm wide).

Frons with few small punctures anteriorly and supraocular sulci prolonged medially to middle of supraantennal calli; clypeus with few small punctures basally and anterior border moderately emarginate. Eyes large, separated by nearly 2.0× their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: 1.8-1.0-1.6-1.7-2.1-2.0-2.2-2.2-2.2-2.1-2.5. Prosternal process about 0.75× as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.1× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind humeri; surface finely alutaceous, shinier than pronotum, with relatively large punctures, smaller than intervals, ordered in rows in apical half of elytra and rather confused anteriorly on disc. Basitarsomeres enlarged, as wide as third tarsomere, shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in pro- and mesotarsi, and as long as these in metatarsi. Median apodeme of first abdominal ventrite about half as long as ventrite, arched, narrower than mesosternal process; fourth ventrite with undulate margin and fifth ventrite irregularly serrulate; all ventrites with fine microreticulation, sparse fine punctures and long fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae. Penis (Fig. 7c) slender, regularly curved ventrally, with sides slightly concave in ventral view, as wide preapically as wide at base; apex elongate oval, arched distally with short projecting blunt tip; gonopore elongate elliptical, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance shorter than maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subrectangular, longer than wide, covering about basal half of gonopore. — Females. Spermatheca (Fig. 1k) with cornu shorter than nodulus, bent more or less at right angle relative to nodulus; nodulus bulbous basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct thin, inserted laterally near base of nodulus, oriented opposite to cornu and recurved parallel and about as long or slightly longer than nodulus before gradual enlargement with one complete, elongate coil.

From most other species of Cazeresia with subparallel, completely glabrous elytra, and prosternal process narrower than procoxae, this species can be recognized by its shorter body proportions (L/W < 1.80), a trait only shared with C. australis sp. nov. (Table S2). C. australis, however, seems to be characterized by rather uniform dorsal colour, compared to slightly paler elytra as seen in C. globosa, and their male genitalia are slightly different, with the apical median tooth relatively shorter in C. globosa. C. tibialis sp. nov. has similarly short body shape, but the prosternum is as wide or wider than procoxae. The subspecies C. globosa altitudinalis ssp. nov. is morphologically identical to the nominotypical form, except for the margins of fourth and fifth abdominal ventrites of both sexes serrate in this subspecies, and they also differ in their distribution and ecological preference, occupying high elevations and lowlands, respectively.

The chosen name is a Latin adjective (f.) meaning spherical, referring to the relatively short, convex shape of the body of this species.

This species has been found in a group of low elevation (30–330 m a.s.l.) localities in the southern part of Grande Terre, north and east of the Massif du Sud (Fig. 8d).

Holotype: Male, JGZC-5094, Humboldt (S track), Col du Vulcain (refuge), -21.90319 166.38305, 980 m, night beating, 9.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg., Holotype Cazeresia globosa altitudinalis n. ssp. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW). — Paratypes: 1 male (JGZC-5220: mounted with female left hind leg in place of its missing left middle leg) and 4 females (JGZC-5095, JGZC-5221 to JGZC-5223), Humboldt (S track), Col du Vulcain (refuge), -21.90319 166.38305, 980 m, night beating, 9.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia globosa altitudinalis ssp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW).

Body short elliptic, moderately convex. Dorsum, venter, coxae and mandibles very dark brown, almost black; labrum, antennae and legs testaceous, with base of tibiae and femora infuscate; palpi and apex of antennomeres 11 ochre. Length: 5.4 mm; width: 3.0 mm (male paratype: 5.1 mm long, 3.0 mm wide; female paratypes: 4.9–5.4 mm long, 2.9–3.3 mm wide).

These specimens are in principle indistinguishable morphologically from the nominal taxon, C. globosa sp. nov., and the same description given for the previous species applies, both to males and females, except in the case of the male genitalia. But they are given subspecific rank based on their genetic differentiation and phylogenetic species delimitation (Fig. 3), allopatric distribution, and supposed ecological divergence based on their distributions, with this subspecies being putatively adapted to high elevations in the southwestern part of the Massif du Sud and the nominal subspecies to lowlands northeast and east of this Massif.

The same diagnosis as for the nominal subspecies also applies in this case, with this subspecies presenting serrate margins of fourth and fifth abdominal ventrites in both sexes, while the nominal subspecies has the fifth ventrite irregularly serrulate. The penis of C. globosa altitudinalis ssp. nov. diverges from the nominotypical species in the distance between apex of gonopore and distal end of penis being longer than the width of gonopore (Fig. 7d), and it is more similar to that of C. australis sp. nov., although this species lacks serrate lateral margins of distal abdominal ventrites. The spermatheca of this subspecies (Fig. 1l) is similar to the spermathecae of C. australis and C. globosa, with long, thin duct gradually curved basally.

The name of the subspecies refers to the high elevation where it was found, by adjectivizing the noun (f.) altĭtūdo, elevation.

At present, C. globosa altitudinalis ssp. nov. is only known from high elevations (980 m a.s.l.) in the southwestern slopes of the Massif du Sud (Fig. 8d).

Holotype: Male (Fig. 10d), JGZC-5213, Bois du Sud, -22.17200 166.76111, 220 m, night, 18.x.2008, M. Wanat leg., Holotype Cazeresia gracilis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW). — Paratypes: JGZC: 1 male, JGZC-5104, Bois du Sud, -22.17200 166.76111, 220 m, night, 18.x.2008, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia gracilis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]. MNHW: 1 female, Bois du Sud, -22.17200 166.76111, 220 m, at light, 17.x.2008, M. Wanat leg., Cazeresia gracilis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 male and 4 females (three with: JGZC-5105, JGZC-5214 and JGZC-5215), Bois du Sud, -22.17200 166.76111, 220 m, night, 18.x.2008, M. Wanat leg., Cazeresia gracilis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 male and 1 female, Bois du Sud, -22.17200 166.76111, 220 m, at light, 26.x.2008, M. Wanat leg., Cazeresia gracilis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label].

MNHW: 1 male, JGZC-5452, Pic du Pin, base, 22°14.9’S 166°49.7’E, 280 m, forest and plantation, 25.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.

Body elongate elliptic, moderately convex. Mandibles, head, pronotum, hypomera and prosternum very dark brown, with slight bronze reflection; elytra, scutellum and ventral surfaces chestnut brown; labrum, antennae and legs testaceous, with apical antennomeres infuscate; palpi ochre. Length: 4.8 mm; width: 2.4 mm (range of male specimens: 4.1–4.8 mm long, 2.2–2.4 mm wide).

Frons with few small punctures anteriorly and supraocular sulci shortly prolonged medially to outer quarter of dorsal edge of supraantennal calli; clypeus with few small punctures basally and anterior border of clypeus moderately emarginate. Eyes large, separate on frons by less than 1.7× their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: 1.8-1.0-1.5-1.8-2. 3-2.2-2.5-2.2-2.2-2.2-2.6. Surface of pronotum with scattered small punctures on disc and lateral declivities, more abundant in posterior half, without apparent micropunctures. Prosternal process about 0.75× as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.3× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind humeri; surface finely alutaceous, slightly shinier than pronotum, with relatively large punctures, smaller than intervals, rather confused anteriorly on disc. Basitarsomeres enlarged, as wide as third tarsomere in all tarsi, shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in pro- and mesotarsi, and as long as these in metatarsi. Median apodeme of first abdominal ventrite about half as long as ventrite, arched, narrower than mesosternal process; all ventrites with fine microreticulation, sparse fine punctures and long fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae on first ventrite, shorter elsewhere. Penis (Fig. 7k) slender, regularly curved ventrally, with sides slightly concave in ventral view, as wide preapically as wide at base; apex elongate elliptic, with long arched tip; gonopore short oval, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance much longer than maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subtrapezoidal, as long as wide at apex, covering more than basal half of gonopore. — Females. Spermatheca (Fig. 1u) J-shaped, with cornu shorter than nodulus, bent at acute angle relative to nodulus; nodulus subcylindrical, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct thin, poorly sclerotized, inserted sublaterally at base of nodulus, oriented opposite to cornu in wide open arch, long, slightly enlarged distally from spermatheca with nearly four elongate coils.

This species is externally identical to the widespread C. parentalis sp. nov., with similar size and colouration, and they coexist in at least Bois do Sud. They have slight differences in pronotal microreticulation, with C. parentalis presenting finer microreticulation, with individual cells barely visible at 40× magnification, thus appearing slightly duller than in C. gracilis. However, the only safe way to distinguish these species is by examination of their male and female genitalia, since the apical end of penis in C. gracilis sp. nov. is not markedly mucronate (compare Figs 7f and 7k), and the spermatheca of this species is unlike any other of this group, J-shaped, with cylindrical nodulus and long, fine spermathecal duct with at least four coils (Fig. 1u), while that of C. parentalis is more typical of the group, with a very characteristic short duct and enlarged single, incomplete coil (Fig. 1b). Other almost indistinguishable species with arched apex of penis are C. laevigata sp. nov. and C. wanati sp. nov. The spermatheca assists in separating these species, but secondary micropunctation of pronotum in C. gracilis is more apparent, denser and more uniform than in the other species, and basal seam of punctures of pronotum are only shared with C. laevigata.

The species name, gracilis, is the Latin adjective (f.) meaning slender, in reference to the comparatively svelte profile of these beetles.

The species is only known from low elevations (160–250 m a.s.l.) in the small forest reserve of Bois du Sud, south from Lac de Yaté and the base of the nearby Pic du Pin, in the south of Grande Terre (Fig. 8c).

Holotype: Male (Fig. 10c), JGZC-5478, Poro Plateau, -21.3483 165.6932, 620 m, forest, 28.xi.2010, R. Ruta and M. Wanat leg., Holotype Cazeresia holosericea sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW). — Paratypes: MNHW: 1 male (JGZC-5558), Poro Plateau, -21.34832 165.69322, 620 m, forest, night, 27.xi.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg., Paratype Cazeresia holosericea sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 male (JGZC-5360) and 1 female (JGZC-5479), Poro Plateau, -21.3483 165.6932, 620 m, forest, 28.xi.2010, R. Ruta and M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia holosericea sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 female, JGZC-5445, Poro Plateau, -21.3486 165.6938, 620 m, forest, sifting, 28.xi.2010, Paratype Cazeresia holosericea sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label].

Figure 10. 

Holotypes of Cazeresia laticollis sp. nov., with detail of female pronotum (a), C. parentalis sp. nov. (b), C. holosericea sp. nov. (c) and C. gracilis sp. nov. (d). Scale bar = 2.0 mm.

Body elongate oval, moderately convex. Body dark reddish brown with pronotum, scutellum and most of elytra blackened depending on light incidence; palpi ochre. Length: 6.6 mm; width: 3.5 mm (range of male specimens: 6.1–6.6 mm long, 3.3–3.5 mm wide).

Frons with few small punctures anteriorly and supraocular sulci prolonged medially to middle of dorsal edge of supraantennal calli, continued as shallow furrow along inner half of dorsal edge; clypeus with few small punctures basally and anterior border deeply emarginate medially (Fig. 4c). Eyes large and separate by 2.1× their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: 2.2-1.0-1.7-2.0-2.3-2.1-2.5-2.1-2.2-2.0-2.4. Posterior border of pronotum furrowed with seam of small punctures mostly at sides. Prosternal process as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.3× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind humeri; surface finely alutaceous, shinier than pronotum, with relatively large punctures, smaller than intervals, rather confused anteriorly on disc. Basitarsomeres enlarged, as wide as third tarsomere, shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in pro- and mesotarsi, and as long as these in metatarsi. Median apodeme of first abdominal ventrite about half as long as ventrite, acute, narrower than mesosternal process; all ventrites with fine microreticulation, sparse fine punctures and long fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae. Penis (Fig. 9i) slender, regularly curved ventrally, with sides slightly concave in ventral view, as wide preapically as wide at base; apex elongate elliptic, round distally with short transverse, weakly bilobate blunt tip; gonopore oval, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance longer than maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subrectangular, longer than wide, covering about basal half of gonopore. — Females. Spermatheca (Fig. 1j) with cornu shorter than nodulus, bent more or less at right angle relative to nodulus; nodulus bulbous basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct fully sclerotized, thin, inserted laterally near base of nodulus, oriented opposite to cornu and recurved oriented at acute angle with nodulus, shorter than nodulus before gradual enlargement with one complete, elongate coil.

This species belongs to the group of C. thyiana (Jolivet, Verma & Mille), characterized by relatively large size (length > 6.0 mm), wide prosternal process, as wide or wider than procoxae, clypeus deeply incised in males and elytra subparallel. Males have normal tibiae, unlike the sympatric C. tibialis sp. nov., and both males and generally females lack pubescence apically on elytra, which allow separating it from C. clipeata sp. nov., C. maquis sp. nov. and C. petitpierrei sp. nov. In principle, it is larger than C. ovata sp. nov., the only species in the group under 6.0 mm, and they are only easy to confuse with C. thyiana, although they show tiny differences in their genitalia, with sides of penis less convex around gonopore and spermatheca less bulbous basally, with relatively longer and more slender duct in C. holosericea.

One characteristic of the genus Cazeresia is the alutaceous texture of most teguments, particularly head, pronotum and ventral surfaces. In the case of C. holosericea sp. nov., this texture is particularly evident, and the name reflects this trait, by using the Latinization of the Greek prefix hólos-, derived from the adjective ὅλος, meaning complete, and the Latin adjective (f.), -sēricea, as suffix, meaning silky.

C. holosericea sp. nov. is a rather isolated species currently known from mid elevations of the Poro Plateau, near the northern coast of Grande Terre (Fig. 8f).

(designated by: Gómez-Zurita 2011). Male (Fig. 11b), Mt. Humboldt, 1100 m, 17.ix.1911, F. Sarasin and J. Roux leg., humboldtiana Typus [red label], Staatl. Museum für Tierkunde, Dresden, Dematochroma humboldtianus Heller (MfT). —

Figure 11. 

Dorsal views of the holotypes of Cazeresia thyiana (Jolivet, Verma & Mille) (a), C. humboldtiana (Heller) (b), C. kanalensis (Perroud) (c), and C. striata (Jolivet, Verma & Mille) (d).

Male, Cotypus [red label], Mt. Humboldt, 1100 m, 17.ix.1911, F. Sarasin and J. Roux leg. (NMB); male, Cotypus [red label], Mt. Humboldt, Gipfel 1600 m, 18.ix.1911, F. Sarasin and J. Roux leg., Thasycles humboldtianus m. Det. K. M. Heller 1915 (MfT).

JGZC: 1 male, JGZC-NC118, Mt. Kouakoué, -21.95758 166.53830, 1315 m, 17.iii.2008, J.A. Jurado-Rivera leg., Cazeresia humboldtiana (Heller, 1916) J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2012; 1 male (JGZC-5367) and 1 female (JGZC-5395), Dzumac Mts., Mt. Ouin road junction, 22°01.9’S 166°28.0’E, 900 m, night collecting, 28.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg., Cazeresia humboldtiana (Heller, 1916) J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2023; 1 female, JGZC-5471, Dzumac Mts., Mt. Ouin road jct., -22.03188 166.46738, 900 m, night beating, 29.x.2008, M. Wanat leg., Cazeresia humboldtiana (Heller, 1916) J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2023. MNHW: 4 males and 4 females, Dzumac Mts., Mt. Ouin road junction, 22°01.9’S 166°28.0’E, 900 m, night collecting, 28.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg., Cazeresia humboldtiana (Heller, 1916) J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2023; 12 males (one with: JGZC-5098) and 12 females (three with: JGZC-5099, JGZC-5192 and JGZC-5443), Dzumac Mts., Mt. Ouin road junction, -22.03188 166.46738, 910 m, night, 28.x.2008, M. Wanat leg., Cazeresia humboldtiana (Heller, 1916) J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2023; 4 males (one with: JGZC-5193) and 2 females, Dzumac Mts., Mt. Ouin road jct., -22.03188 166.46738, 900 m, night beating, 29.x.2008, M. Wanat leg., Cazeresia humboldtiana (Heller, 1916) J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2023; 2 females (one with: JGZC-5442), Dzumac Mts., road from jct to old mine, km. 0–1, -22.02051 166.46606, 850–910 m, 29.x.2008, M. Wanat leg., Cazeresia humboldtiana (Heller, 1916) J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2023; 3 males and 1 female, Dzumac road, forest, -22.08783 166.44643, 670 m, night beating roadside, 31.x.2008, M. Wanat leg., Cazeresia humboldtiana (Heller, 1916) J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2023; 2 males (one with: JGZC-5383), Mt. Ouin Rd, 0–0.5 km N of Dzumac jct, -22.0318 166.4674, 900 m, night beating, 4.xii.2010, R. Ruta and M. Wanat leg., Cazeresia humboldtiana (Heller, 1916) J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2023; 2 females (one with: JGZC-5110), Mt. Ouin Rd, 0–0.5 km N of Dzumac jct, -22.0318 166.4674, 900 m, night beating, 5.xii.2010, R. Ruta and M. Wanat leg., Cazeresia humboldtiana (Heller, 1916) J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2023; 4 females (two with: JGZC-5109 and JGZC-5382), Mt. Ouin Rd, 0.4–1.0 km N of Dzumac jct, -22.0244 166.4706, 900 m, night beating, 6.xii.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg., Cazeresia humboldtiana (Heller, 1916) J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2023.

This species was only known from males collected at elevations above 1100 m in Mt. Humboldt (Heller 1916) and since its description the only additional record of the species was yet another male collected near the summit of Mt. Kouakoué, also in the Massif du Sud, not far from Mt. Humboldt (Gómez-Zurita 2011). This specimen provided DNA sequences for phylogenetic analyses, which demonstrated the evolutionary proximity of this species to C. montana (Papadopoulou et al. 2013; Platania et al. 2024). Here, we report a large number of specimens from several localities in southern parts of the Massif du Sud. This series includes females for the first time, which revealed, as expected, a typical spermatheca of Cazeresia, thus supporting the phylogenetic conclusions and the new combination, Cazeresia humboldtiana (Heller, 1916) comb. nov. Spermatheca (Fig. 1x) with cornu shorter than nodulus, bent more or less at right angle relative to nodulus; nodulus bulbous basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct thin, inserted laterally near base of nodulus, oriented opposite to cornu, about as long or slightly longer than nodulus, forming characteristic bow before gradual enlargement with one complete, elongate coil. The penis of C. humboldtiana (Fig. 7a) was described by Gómez-­Zurita (2011).

The species can be considered at present distributed in several areas of relatively high elevation (from 670 m to 1100 m a.s.l.) in the central part of the Massif du Sud (Fig. 8d).

Male, JGZC-5356, Humboldt (S track), Col du Vulcain (refuge), -21.90319 166.38305, 980 m, night beating, 9.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg., Holotype Cazeresia imperiosa sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita and Cardoso [red label] (MNHW). — Paratypes: JGZC: 1 male (JGZC-5456) and 1 female (JGZC-5391), Humboldt (S track), Col du Vulcain (refuge), -21.90319 166.38305, 980 m, night beating, 9.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia imperiosa sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]. MNHN: 2 specimens, Mt. Humboldt, 11.ii.2005, P. Jolivet leg.; 1 specimen, Mt. Humboldt, 12.ii.2005, P. Jolivet leg. MNHW: 13 males and 23 females (four with: JGZC-5454, JGZC-5455, JGZC-5481 and JGZC-5482), Humboldt (S track), Col du Vulcain (refuge), -21.90319 166.38305, 980 m, night beating, 9.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia imperiosa sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label].

MNHW: 2 males (one with: JGZC-5362), Mt. Do, -21.75585 166.00099, 900–1025 m, maquis and forest edge, 6.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg., Cazeresia imperiosa Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso; 1 male, Mt. Do, -21.76674 166.00540, 820–920 m, roadside, night beating, 6.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg., Cazeresia imperiosa Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso; 1 female, Mt. Do, -21.7606 165.9996, 850 m, subsummit forest, at light, 2.xi.2010, M Wanat and R. Ruta leg., Cazeresia ­imperiosa Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso; 1 male and 1 female, Mt. Do, -21.7574 166.0015, 850–950 m, night beating, 2.xi.2010, R. Ruta and M. Wanat leg., Cazeresia imperiosa Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso; 1 female, Mt. Do, -21.7574 166.0015, 850–950 m, day beating, 3.xi.2010, R. Ruta and M. Wanat leg., Cazeresia imperiosa Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso.

Body elongate elliptic, moderately convex. Mandibles, head, pronotum, hypomera and prosternum very dark matt brown, almost black; scutellum, elytra and ventral surfaces very dark glossier reddish brown; labrum, antennae and legs, including coxae, dark reddish brown; apex of last antennomere and palpi ochre. Length: 6.7 mm; width: 3.6 mm (range of male specimens: 6.6–7.8 mm long, 3.5–4.1 mm wide).

Frons with few small punctures medially and supraocular sulci prolonged medially to outer third of dorsal edge of supraantennal calli; clypeus with few small punctures basally and anterior border moderately emarginate. Eyes separate on frons by more than 2.4× their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: 2.0-1.0-1.8-2.1-2.6-2. 5-2.9-2.7-2.7-2.6-2.8. Microreticulation of pronotum only slightly finer and more superficial than on frons, with scattered fine punctures also behind eyes, interspersed with very subtle micropunctures. Prosternal process about 0.7× as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.3× as long as ensemble width at base, slightly enlarged behind humeri, with sides weakly curved, widest at middle and gradually tapering in apical half to slightly dorsally compressed round apex; surface finely alutaceous, shinier than pronotum, with relatively large punctures, smaller than intervals, rather confused anteriorly on disc; last interval weakly convex. Basitarsomeres slightly narrower than third tarsomere, shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in all tarsi. Median apodeme of first abdominal ventrite slightly less than half as long as ventrite, arched, narrower than mesosternal process; all ventrites with fine microreticulation, sparse fine punctures and long fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae, rather uniform on first ventrite. Penis (Fig. 9c) slender, curved ventrally at base and nearly straight, flattened dorsoventrally at apex, perpendicular to base, with sides slightly concave in ventral view, slightly wider preapically than at base; apex elongate oval, arched distally with acute median point blunt at apex; gonopore elongate elliptical, with distal end acute and separated from apex of penis by distance about as long as maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subtrapezoidal, longer than wide, covering about basal half of gonopore. — Females. Spermatheca (Fig. 1p) shaped as question mark, with cornu shorter than nodulus, blunt at apex and bent more or less at right angle relative to nodulus; nodulus sinuous, bulbous and enlarged basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct thin, inserted laterally near base of nodulus, oriented perpendicularly to plane of spermatheca, and slightly curved, thinner and sclerotized near body of spermatheca and slightly enlarged and less sclerotized distally from spermatheca, with incomplete elongate coil.

In this species, the sides of elytra are weakly curved and they are widest around middle, a trait only shared with C. montana Jolivet, Verma & Mille and C. robusta sp. nov. However, C. imperiosa sp. nov. can be easily separated from the other two despite their similar size, colour and potential distribution because this species has strong humeral calli, making the overall shape of elytra very different from the other species.

See notes on C. montana. The type series of the generic type species includes some specimens of this species.

The name for this species is the Latin adjective (f.), imperiōsa, meaning powerful, mighty, since it is amongst the largest species of the genus.

The species is found in high elevations (above 850 m a.s.l.) of two separate peaks in the south of Grande Terre: Mt. Humboldt and Mt. Do (Fig. 8c).

Holotype: Male, JGZC-NC693, Poya, Station de Beupré, -21.42392 165.14715, 26 m, 1.iv.2008, J. Gómez-Zurita and A. Cardoso leg., Holotype Cazeresia impressicornis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (JGZC). — Paratypes: JGZC: 5 males (JGZC-NC694–JGZC-NC698), Poya, Station de Beupré, -21.42392 165.14715, 26 m, 1.iv.2008, J. Gómez-Zurita and A. Cardoso leg., Paratype Cazeresia impressicornis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 male, JGZC-NC284, Sarramea, -21.67005 165.80852, 37 m, 13.iii.2008, J. Gómez-Zurita, J.A. Jurado-Rivera and A. Cardoso leg., Paratype Cazeresia impressicornis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label].

Body elongate elliptic, moderately convex. Mandibles, head, pronotum, hypomera and prosternum blackish; scutellum, elytra and most ventral surfaces including coxae dark brown; labrum, antennae and legs testaceous, with base of tibiae infuscate; palpi and apex of antennomeres 11 ochre. Length: 4.9 mm; width: 2.4 mm (range of male specimens: 4.2–4.9 mm long, 2.2–2.4 mm wide).

Frons with sparse shallow micropunctures and few small but deep punctures medially and supraocular sulci prolonged medially to middle of dorsal edge of supraantennal calli, nearly contiguous medially; clypeus with small, deep punctures in basal half, and anterior border with relatively deep semicircular emargination. Eyes moderate, separate on frons by 2.3× their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: 2.5-1.0-2.0-1.8-2.3-2.1- 2.4-2.2-2.2-2.2-3.0; antennomeres 3–8 compressed longitudinally at middle from base to apical enlargement, more apparent in antennomeres 4–7. Posterior border of pronotum with impressed furrow with regular series of small punctures; narrow explanate lateral margin of pronotum with regular series of impressed punctures along compressed border; anterior border of pronotum 0.8× as wide as posterior border; surface microsculptured, with relatively dense tiny punctures and sparser larger punctures on disc and lateral declivities. Prosternal process about half as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.3× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind weakly callous humeri; relatively smooth, shinier than pronotum, entirely glabrous except for few small setae around sutural angle, and with relatively large punctures, smaller than intervals, rather confused anteriorly on disc. Epipleura with fringe of short setae apically. Mesotibiae with rather sharp dorsal keels; basitarsomeres enlarged, wider than third tarsomere in protarsi, and as wide as third tarsomere in meso- and metatarsi; shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in protarsi, and as long as these in meso- and metatarsi; third bilobed tarsomeres relatively small. Median apodeme of first abdominal ventrite about half as long as ventrite, arched, narrower than mesosternal process; all ventrites with fine microreticulation, abundant fine punctures with long fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae. Penis (Fig. 7g) slender, regularly curved ventrally, with sides slightly concave in ventral view, as wide preapically as wide at base; apex elongate elliptical, arched distally with relatively prominent blunt median projection; gonopore short oval, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance longer than maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subtrapezoidal, longer than wide, covering slightly more than half of gonopore. — Females. Unknown.

This species belongs to the group of small (L < 6.0 mm), relatively elongate species (ratio L/W > 1.8), elytra parallel in basal half and bearing tiny setae apically, and males with moderately incised anterior border of clypeus, which also includes C. corrugata sp. nov., C. subgeminata sp. nov. and C. spadicea sp. nov. The male of C. impressicornis sp. nov. can be distinguished from C. subgeminata by the sparser and confused punctures anteriorly on disc of elytra and from C. corrugata by the relatively even surface of pronotum. This species shares with C. spadicea the laterally compressed antennomeres and they are almost indistinguishable, but they can be tentatively recognized by the rather uniform brown colour of body and appendages of C. spadicea, compared with the typical colour contrasts in C. impressicornis, with paler elytra and testaceous appendages.

The name for this species is a compound adjective derived from the Latin participle impressus of the verb imprimō, meaning to impress, to press, and the noun cornus, meaning horns, or in this case antennae.

Cazeresia impressicornis sp. nov. has been found in two inner low-elevation localities in central Grande Terre separated some 75 km away in the southern slopes of the central mountainous chain. It is the only known species of Cazeresia distributed in the dry littoral lowlands of the central region of Grande Terre (Fig. 8a).

Lectotype (present designation). Male (Fig. 11c), Colaspis kanalensis Perroud, Kanala, Type, ex coll. B.-P. Perroud, Muséum Paris 1958 coll. M. Pic, Syntype, Syntype Colaspis kanalensis Perroud, 1864, MNHN, Paris EC17237 (MNHN). — Paralectotype. Female, ex coll. B.-P. Perroud, Muséum Paris 1958 coll. M. Pic, Syntype, Syntype Colaspis kanalensis Perroud, 1864, MNHN, Paris EC17238 (MNHN).

MNHW: male, JGZC-5332, road Bonde-Mandjélia Mt., 20°28.6’S 164°15.6’E, 250 m, niaouli forest, 9.i.2007, at light, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.

In his comprehensive systematic catalogue of Eumolpinae, Lefèvre (1885) removed Colaspis kanalensis Perroud, 1864 from Colaspis Fabricius, 1801, a genus that he recognized as exclusive of the New World, but at the same time, this sound decision was accompanied by the synonymisation of the species with Dematochroma laboulbenei (Montrouzier, 1861), a radically different species. Neither Clavareau (1914) nor Heller (1916) questioned this decision, and it was nearly one century later that Jolivet et al. (2007b) rejected this synonymy, an opinion that was endorsed by Gómez-Zurita and Pàmies-Harder (2022). However, these authors did not propose an alternative systematic placement of the species, and their proposition would come a few years later, when the species was assigned to the genus Colaspoides Laporte, 1833, with the suggestion that it may be the only valid species of this genus in New Caledonia (Jolivet et al. 2013). The examination of the type specimens of Colaspis kanalensis for this work leads to a very different conclusion.

Perroud (1864) described Colaspis kanalensis without any indication of the number of specimens he used for the description, but providing an interesting character that already identifies the specimen as a male, namely the arched emargination of the anterior border of clypeus, a trait characteristic of the males of some species of Cazeresia. The MNHN collection preserves Perroud’s types, including two specimens identified and recognized unambiguously here as syntypes of C. kanalensis, clearly fitting the species description. One of the syntypes is a male, and proposed here as the species lectotype, and the other one is a female and proposed as paralectotype. These type specimens undoubtedly belong to the species complex of Cazeresia thyiana (Jolivet, Verma & Mille), very uniform morphologically. In particular, they share more similarities with the pair C. thyiana and C. holosericea sp. nov., for example the lack of tiny stiff setae apically on epipleura. Therefore, we propose that the correct generic assignment of Perroud’s species is the genus Cazeresia, as Cazeresia kanalensis (Perroud, 1864) comb. nov.

The town of Canala, the type locality of C. kanalensis, is not far (slightly over 30 km apart) from the type locality of the very similar C. holosericea, but we are positive about these species being different based on the conspicuous dorsal purple metallic tinge of the types of C. kanalensis, lacking in all the other species of the group, including C. holosericea, but also the different conformation of the anterior incision of male clypeus, which in the male lectotype of C. kanalensis is shallower and more angulate than the deep subtrapezoidal and flanged apical incision of clypeus in male C. holosericea. The MNHW collection includes one male specimen from a very distant (~200 km), low elevation locality, in an ultramafic inland island not far from the southern shores of the northern tip of Grande Terre, which shares all the attributes of C. kanalensis, including the unique coloration, shape of clypeal emargination and facial structure in general, a shared marked tendency to regular arrangements of elytral punctation, as well as its size (5.7 mm long, 3.1 mm wide), only slightly below the 6.0 mm mark that characterizes most species in this group (except for C. ovata sp. nov.). This specimen, based on these rather distinctive attributes is tentatively considered to belong to C. kanalensis and used to illustrate the penis, which is quite different compared with the male genitalia in this group (Fig. 9h).

Holotype: Male, JGZC-5111, Mt. Ouin Rd, 0–0.5 km N of Dzumac jct, -22.0318 166.4674, 900 m, night beating, 4.xii.2010, R. Ruta and M. Wanat leg., Holotype Cazeresia laevigata sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW). — Paratypes: MNHW: 3 males (one with: JGZC-5561) and 2 females (one with: JGZC-5112), Mt. Ouin Rd, 0–0.5 km N of Dzumac jct, -22.0318 166.4674, 900 m, night beating, 4.xii.2010, R. Ruta and M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia laevigata sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 3 females (one with: JGZC-5447), Mt. Ouin Rd, 0.4–1.0 km N of Dzumac jct, -22.0244 166.4706, 900 m, night coll., 6.xii.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg., Paratype Cazeresia laevigata sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 male, JGZC-5457, Dzumac Mts., Mt. Ouin road junction, -22.03188 166.46738, 910 m, night, 28.x.2008, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia laevigata sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 male, JGZC-5190, Dzumac Mts., Mt. Ouin road jct., -22.03188 166.46738, 900 m, night beating, 29.x.2008, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia laevigata sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 female, JGZC-5472, Mt. Dzumac (base), km 1.5–3.0 E of Ouin rd jct., -22.0371 166.4957, 800 m, rainforest, 6.xii.2010, R. Ruta and M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia laevigata sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label].

MNHW: 1 female (JGZC-5097), Koghi Mts., humid forest, 22°11’S 166°30’E, 500–550 m, 21.i.2004, M. Wanat leg.

Body elongate elliptic, moderately convex. Apex of mandibles, facial sutures, pronotum and most of hypomera dark brown; base of mandibles, antennomeres 7–10 and base of 11, scutellum, elytra, ventral surfaces, including coxae and trochanters, base of tibiae and femora brown; labrum, palpi, basal six antennomeres, apex of antennomere 11, and most of legs pale testaceous to ochre. Length: 4.8 mm; width: 2.6 mm (range of male specimens: 4.4–5.3 mm long, 2.4–2.8 mm wide).

Frons with few small puntures anteriorly and supraocular sulci prolonged medially to middle of dorsal edge of supraantennal calli; clypeus with several small punctures basally and anterior border moderately emarginate. Eyes separate on frons by 1.8× their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: 1.7-1.0-1.4-1.6-2.1-1.9-2.3-2.0-2.0-2.0-2.5. Pronotum rather shiny with abundant shallow micropunctures. Prosternal process about 2/3 as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.2× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind humeri; surface nearly smooth, shiny, with relatively large punctures, smaller than intervals, rather confused on disc. Basitarsomeres enlarged, as wide as third tarsomere, except on mesotarsi, shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in mesotarsi, and as long as these in pro- and metatarsi. Median apodeme of first abdominal ventrite about half as long as ventrite, arched, narrower than mesosternal process; ventrites finely microreticulated, with sparse fine punctures and long fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae. Penis (Fig. 7l) slender, regularly curved ventrally, with weakly concave sides in ventral view; apex markedly elongate, arched, with large triangular blunt tip at middle; gonopore relatively elongate elliptical, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance longer than maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subtrapezoidal, longer than wide, covering slightly less than half of gonopore. — Females. In this species, apart from typical sexually dimorphic traits, females also have most of the anterior half of lateral declivity of elytra with uneven surface. Spermatheca (Fig. 1o) with cornu shorter than nodulus, bent more or less at right angle relative to nodulus; nodulus bulbous basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct thin, inserted laterally near base of nodulus, oriented opposite to cornu and recurved at acute angle with nodulus, and about as long or slightly longer than nodulus before gradual enlargement with one complete, elongate coil.

From other species smaller than 6.0 mm, with body proportions > 1.8, dark pronotum, glabrous brown elytra and pale testaceous legs, C. laevigata sp. nov. is recognizable based on the rather unique shape of penis, with elongate apex and large triangular blunt tip, not evidently mucronate (Fig. 7l). The only other similar species of Cazeresia without mucronate penis are C. gracilis sp. nov. and C. wanati sp. nov., and in these species the distance between distal border of gonopore and apex of penis is also much longer than width of gonopore. The basal margin of pronotum of C. laevigata is punctured throughout, a feature shared with C. gracilis, but not so apparent in C. wanati, which could assist identifying these species. Moreover, apart from this trait, the females of C. laevigata should be more easily confused with those of C. wanati (the spermatheca of C. gracilis is highly distinctive), and perhaps another way to try to distinguish them is based on the slight undulate lateral declivities of elytra in C. laevigata.

This species has the sculpture of pronotum smoother than most other species in the group, appearing almost glossy. This trait is highlighted in the name of the species, with the participle (f.) of the Latin verb lēvigō (= to polish), used as adjective, thus meaning polished or smoothed.

The species is known from a couple of mid to high elevation localities between Nouméa and the Massif du Sud (Fig. 8b).

Holotype: Male (Fig. 10a), JGZC-NC193, Aoupinié, refuge, -21.14780 165.32447, 413 m, 4.iv.2008, J. Gómez-Zurita, J.A. Jurado-Rivera and A. Cardoso leg., Holotype Cazeresia laticollis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (JGZC). — Paratypes: MNHW: 4 males (one with: JGZC-5354) and 2 females, Aoupinié, road to sawmill, 21°09’S 165°19’E, 420–530 m, 7.ii.2004, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia laticollis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 female, Aoupinié, refuge, 21°08.9’S 165°19.4’E, 420 m, at light, 18.i.2007, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg., Paratype Cazeresia laticollis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 male, Aoupinié, refuge, -21.14890 165.32348, 400 m, at light, 25.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia laticollis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 3 males and 3 females, Aoupinié, refuge, -21.14890 165.32348, 400 m, beating rainforest, 27.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia laticollis n. sp. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 male and 1 female (JGZC-5054), Aoupinié, refuge, -21.14890 165.32348, 400 m, beating rainforest, 29.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia laticollis n. sp. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label].

JGZC: 1 female, JGZC-NC015, Sarrameá, Col d’Amieu, 2–28.xii.2005, Cazères, Mille and Kataoui leg.; 1 male, JGZC-NC203, Col d’Amieu, 21°34.922’S 165°46.324’E, 630 m, 24.viii–20.ix.2007, Malaise trap, S. r. f. Pocquereux staff leg.; 3 males (JGZC-NC207, JGZC-NC208, JGZC-NC212), Col d’Amieu, 21°34.922’S 165°46.324’E, 630 m, 23.xi.2007–11.i.2008, Malaise trap, S. r. f. Pocquereux staff leg.; 1 female, JGZC-NC027, Farino, M. Barbou L., -21.61431 165.70066, 408 m, 16.xi.2004, on Scheffleria gabriellae, S. Cazères leg.; 1 female, JGZC-NC191, Farino, sawing mill, -21.61288 165.70209, 384 m, 11.iv.2008, J. Gómez-Zurita, J.A. Jurado-Rivera and A. Cardoso leg. MNHW: 1 male, Col d’Amieu, 3 km from gate, loc. 2, 21°35.1’S 165°47.8’E, 500 m, 6.i.2007, M. Wanat leg.; 1 male, JGZC-5346, Col d’Amieu, 6.5–7.0 km to gate, -21.5868 165.7738, 450 m, 15.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 2 males (one with: JGZC-5333) and 1 female (JGZC-5377), Farino, refuge and circuit track, 21°39.0’S 165°46.9’E, 220–300 m, 3.i.2007, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 1 male, JGZC-5352, Col des Roussettes, rainforest nr. refuge, -21.4074 165.5250, 530 m, 2.xii.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg.

Body elongate oval, moderately convex. Mandibles, head, pronotum, hypomera, prosternum, scutellum and elytra black, with slight bronze lustre on head and pronotum; labrum, antennae and legs dark testaceous, with 3–4 basal antennomeres and tarsi paler; palpi ochre. Length: 6.7 mm; width: 3.4 mm (range of male specimens: 5.6–7.8 mm long, 2.8–3.9 mm wide).

Frons alutaceous, unpunctured, finely microsculptured, with supraocular sulci reaching beyond middle of dorsal edge of supraantennal calli; clypeus similarly microsculptured with few tiny punctures on disc, and anterior border with nearly semicircular small emargination. Eyes large, separate on frons by 2.1× their transverse diameter. Antennomeres 3–9 weakly impressed longitudinally and slightly compressed along ventral part; relative proportions of antennomeres: 2.2-1.0-1.6-1.8-2.1-2.0-2.3-2.2-2.2-2.1-2.6. Surface of pronotum finely alutaceous, with very dense tiny shallow micropunctures and sparse large punctures on disc and lateral declivities, glossier than frons. Prosternal process half as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.3× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind humeri, gradually tapering to slightly acuminate apex in apical half; surface finely alutaceous, smoother and shinier than pronotum, with relatively large punctures, smaller than intervals, rather confused on disc; last interval relatively flat. Basitarsomeres enlarged, wider than third tarsomere and nearly as long as second and third tarsomeres combined in protarsi, and as wide as third tarsomere and slightly shorter than second and third combined in meso- and metatarsi. Median apodeme of first abdominal ventrite about half as long as ventrite, arched, narrower than mesosternal process; all ventrites finely alutaceous, with sparse fine punctures and long fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae. Penis (Fig. 9d) thin and slender, regularly curved ventrally, with sides slightly concave in ventral view, slightly widened preapically; apex elongate, arched and slightly sinuous distally towards long blunt tip; gonopore short oval, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance much longer than maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subrectangular, shorter than wide, covering less than basal half of gonopore. — Females. In this species, elytra are also proportionally longer in females, the pronotum is not enlarged laterally and the marginal gutter is narrower (inset in Fig. 10a). Spermatheca (Fig. 1t) shaped like question mark, with cornu shorter and more bulbous than nodulus; nodulus sigmoidal slightly thicker basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct uniformly thin, longer than nodulus, inserted laterally near base of nodulus, oriented opposite to cornu, bent in wide curve towards cornu, often crossing body of spermatheca to curve in opposite direction, without coils.

This species is among the largest of the genus, most typically surpassing 6.0 mm in length, and it is rather characteristic, with males showing traits that are not shared with any other species in the group. They have elytra widest at level of humeri and a rather acuminate profile towards apex, together with a particularly enlarged pronotum, as wide or wider than elytra, with relatively wide gutter-like margin; females have subparallel elytra like several other species in the group and their pronotum is not particularly wide, but their size, only comparable to the species in the C. thyiana group, together with narrow prosternal process (always wider than coxae in females of the C. thyiana group) and lustrous dorsal appearance help recognizing them. This is the only known species of Cazeresia without coils in the spermathecal duct.

The species name is a Latin adjective (f.) resulting from combining the adjective latus, meaning wide, with the noun collum, meaning neck, thus describing the characteristic large pronotum of the males of the species.

The species has a relatively large range in moderate elevations (220–630 m a.s.l.) of the mountain ranges of the central part of Grande Terre (Fig. 8c).

Holotype: Male, JGZC-5350, Chute de la Madeleine, 22°14.2’S 166°51.7’E, 240 m, maquis, night coll. (lamp and beating), 24.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg., Holotype Cazeresia maquis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW). — Paratypes: MNHW: 2 females (JGZC-5388 and JGZC-5446), Chute de la Madeleine, 22°14.2’S 166°51.7’E, 240 m, maquis, night coll. (lamp and beating), 24.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg., Paratype Cazeresia maquis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label].

MNHW: 1 male, JGZC-5374, Rivière Bleue Parc, refuge, 22°05.9’S 166°38.3’E, 190 m, 20.xii.2006, night coll. (lamp and beating), M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.

Body elongate oval, moderately convex. Mandibles, anterior part of head, pronotum, scutellum, elytra, ventral surfaces and most of legs dark reddish brown, with pronotum darker and faint blue metallic shine on pronotum and elytra; labrum, antennae, frons and tarsi testaceous, with slight bronze metallic reflection on frons; palpi ochre. Length: 6.8 mm; width: 3.6 mm.

Frons unpunctured, with supraocular sulci prolonged medially over most of weakly raised supraantennal calli; clypeus subtriangular, with few small punctures basally and with anterior border with very deep arched emargination. Eyes large, separate on frons by 1.85× their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: 2.5-1.0-1.8-2.3-2.8-2. 6-3.0-2.7-2.7-2.6-3.0. Surface of pronotum very finely and minutely microreticulate, relatively glossy and lacking micropunctures. Prosternal process as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.3× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind humeri; surface glossy, entirely glabrous except for tiny setae near sutural angle, with relatively large punctures, as wide as intervals, rather confused anteriorly on disc. Basitarsomeres enlarged, wider than third tarsomere and shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in protarsi, and slightly narrower than third tarsomere and as long as second and third tarsomeres combined in meso- and metatarsi. Median apodeme of first abdominal ventrite about half as long as ventrite, arched, narrower than mesosternal process; all ventrites with fine microreticulation, sparse fine punctures and short fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae. Penis (Fig. 9g) slender, regularly curved ventrally, with sides slightly concave in ventral view, slightly widened preapically; distal part elongate oval, round at apex, with weak transverse distal expansion; gonopore elongate elliptical, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance shorter than maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subrectangular, longer than wide, covering about basal half of gonopore. — Females. Females show stronger punctation on clypeus and punctation more orderly aligned on disc of elytra. In C. maquis sp. nov., the frontoclypeus of females is not that different to that of males, unlike other species, where females have a wider transition between frons and clypeus. Spermatheca (Fig. 1f) with cornu shorter than nodulus, bent more or less at right angle relative to nodulus; nodulus bulbous basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct thick, inserted laterally near base of nodulus, oriented opposite to cornu and oblique relative to nodulus, shorter than nodulus, enlarged distally and weakly sclerotized at level with elongate coil.

In this species of the C. thyiana group (size > 6.0 mm, subparallel elytra, prosternal process as wide or wider than procoxae), the apical intervals of elytra are not convex and the apical curvature is more or less continuous with apical margin, which is somewhat expanded and has tiny setae along margin in sutural area. In other species of this group, interval convexity and a relatively thick, glabrous margin delimit the apex of elytra. Among the species of this group with setae apically on epipleura, it can be distinguished from C. clipeata sp. nov. because it lacks conspicuously serrate margins of fourth and fifth abdominal ventrites, and from C. petitpierrei sp. nov. because it is larger, and the shape of clypeus in females, similar to the clypeus in males in C. maquis sp. nov., may be useful to recognise this species too.

This species name is the noun maquis in apposition, derived from the name applied to a typical shrubland biome of the drier areas with ultramafic soils in New Caledonia, the maquis minier or mining maquis, where the species is found.

The species is known at present from three specimens collected within the Special Botanical Reserve of the Chutes de la Madeleine, and one in a nearby locality, all found at low elevation (Fig. 8c).

Holotype: male, Museum Paris Don. No. 1151 8 Juin 2005, Mt. Humboldt, 11.ii.2005, P. Jolivet leg. (but C. Mille and S. Cazères, in original description) (MNHN). — Paratypes: Reported 22 paratypes in original description, of which two in JGZC collection (personal gift from P. Jolivet) and only six found in MNHN: JGZC: 1 male, JGZC-NC007, Mt. Humboldt, 12.ii.2005, P. Jolivet leg., Paratype Cazeresia montana sp. nov. Jolivet, Verma & Mille; 1 female, JGZC-NC012, Mt. Humboldt, 11.ii.2005, P. Jolivet leg., Paratype Cazeresia montana sp. nov. Jolivet, Verma & Mille. MNHN: 4 specimens, Mt. Humboldt, 11.ii.2005, P. Jolivet leg., Paratype [orange label]; 2 specimens, Mt. Humboldt, 12.ii.2005, P. Jolivet leg., Paratype [orange label].

MNHW: 1 male, JGZC-5357, Mt. Humboldt, montane maquis, -21.8812 166.4177, 1400–1500 m, 13.xi.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg., Cazeresia montana Jolivet, Verma & Mille, 2005 J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2023.

The type series of C. montana Jolivet, Verma & Mille in the MNHN collection includes representatives of two species, most of them belonging to this distinctive taxon, but also some representatives of the species that we recognize in this work as C. imperiosa sp. nov. Both species, among the largest in the genus and among New Caledonian Eumolpinae (Table S2), are easily recognizable by a suite of characters, of which most notable would be the presence of effaced humeri in C. montana (Fig. 5a), prominent in C. imperiosa, and a very short metaventrite in C. montana (Fig. 5c) compared to C. imperiosa. Distinguishing the species is not problematic, but at the time of the genus and species descriptions their differences were overlooked and mixed in a hybrid description highlighting characters of one or the other species, which is not useful to recognize any. For example, in the genus characterization, the description of thoracic ventrites corresponds to C. imperiosa, while that of elytra or the actual spermatheca fit C. montana, and the description of hind wings would represent the former, because the latter is most likely brachypterous.

The body plan of C. montana and its sister, C. robusta sp. nov., is rather different compared to most other Cazeresia, and the differences may be related to their adaptation to high elevation. They have typical features of apterous, lapidicolous species, including the absence of humeri and a very short metaventrite, a trait usually associated to brachyptery in Coleoptera (e.g., Smith 1964; Beutel 1992). In any case, their sclerotized reproductive organs have all the features typical of the genus. Here we illustrate for comparison the penis (Fig. 9b) and spermatheca (Fig. 1q) of C. montana. The first may be of assistance to distinguish this species from C. robusta, owing to the shorter apical blunt tooth in C. montana, apart from the generally finer dorsal punctation of this species.

The species was reported above 1450 m in the original description, in the rocky ascend to the summit of Mont Humboldt (Jolivet et al. 2005). The additional record reported here is also from the type locality (Fig. 8f).

Holotype: Female, JGZC-5199, Aoupinié, 21°10.8’S 165°18.1’E, 650 m, 18.i.2007, night beating, M. Wanat leg., Holotype Cazeresia ovata sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW).

Body elongate elliptic, moderately convex. Mandibles, head, pronotum, scutellum, elytra and ventral surfaces dark chocolate brown, with pronotum darker, almost black; labrum, femora and tibiae dark testaceous, and antennae and tarsi testaceous; palpi ochre. Length: 4.5 mm; width: 2.6 mm.

Frons unpunctured with supraocular sulci prolonged medially beyond middle of dorsal edge of supraantennal calli; clypeus with few small punctures basally and anterior border moderately emarginate. Eyes large, separate on frons by 2.2× their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: 2.2-1.0-1.5-1.8-2.1-1.9-2.4-2.3-2.3-2.2-2.6. Posterior border of pronotum with seam of few tiny punctures laterally on furrow. Prosternal process as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.3× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind humeri; surface finely alutaceous, slightly shinier than pronotum, with relatively large punctures, as big as intervals, rather confused elsewhere on disc. Basitarsomeres shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in pro- and mesotarsi, and as long as these in metatarsi. First abdominal ventrite slightly longer at middle than ventrites 2–4 combined with median apodeme nearly half as long as ventrite, subtrapezoidal, much narrower than mesosternal process; all ventrites with fine microreticulation, sparse fine punctures and long fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae. Spermatheca (Fig. 1g) with cornu shorter than nodulus, bent more or less at right angle relative to nodulus; nodulus bulbous basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct relatively thick, inserted laterally near, but not at base of nodulus, oriented opposite to cornu and recurved oblique at acute angle relative to nodulus and longer than nodulus before enlarged elongate coil. — Males. Unknown.

This species belongs to the C. thyiana group, recognizable, among others, by the broad prosternal process, as wide or wider than transverse diameter of procoxae in females, and specifically to the subgroup lacking tiny setae apically on epipleura that, apart from C. ovata sp. nov., it includes the much larger C. holosericea sp. nov. and C. thyiana (Jolivet, Verma & Mille).

Name derived from the Latin adjective (f.), ōvāta, derived from ōvum (= egg), meaning egg-shaped, ovate.

The only specimen available for study of this species was collected at moderate elevation (650 m a.s.l.) in Aoupinié (Fig. 8d).

Holotype: Male (Fig. 10b), JGZC-NC046, Monts Kwa Ne Mwa, on road btw Noumeá and Yaté, 2 km E Pic Mouirange, 22°12.356’S 166°40.798’E, 220 m, 19.i–17.ii.2007, Christine Pöllabauer leg., Holotype Cazeresia parentalis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (JGZC). — Paratypes: JGZC: 5 females (JGZC-NC044, JGZC-NC045, JGZC-NC154, JGZC-NC834, and JGZC-NC835), Monts Kwa Ne Mwa, on road btw Noumeá and Yaté, 2 km E Pic Mouirange, 22°12.356’S 166°40.798’E, 220 m, 19.i–17.ii.2007, Christine Pöllabauer leg., Paratype Cazeresia parentalis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 female, JGZC-NC039, Monts Kwa Ne Mwa, on road btw Noumeá and Yaté, 2 km E Pic Mouirange, 22°12.356’S 166°40.798’E, 220 m, 17.ii–16.iii.2007, R. Pöllabauer leg., Paratype Cazeresia parentalis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 2 females (JGZC-NC049, JGZC-NC050), Monts Kwa Ne Mwa, on road btw Noumeá and Yaté, 2 km E Pic Mouirange, 22°12.356’S 166°40.798’E, 220 m, 16.iii–15.iv.2007, R. Pöllabauer leg., Paratype Cazeresia parentalis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label].

JGZC: 1 male, JGZC-5138, Haute Rivière Bleue, track to La Tranchée, 22°05’S 166°38’E, 180–330 m, 22–23.i.2004, M. Wanat leg.; 1 female, JGZC-5444, Rivière Bleue Park, forest near Grand Kaori, 22°06’S 166°41’E, 160 m, 26.i.2004, M. Wanat leg.; 1 male, JGZC-5231, Rivière Bleue Parc, Kaori géant, 22°05.9’S 166°40.7’E, 160 m, 22.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 1 female, JGZC-5135, Rivière Bleue, Pont Germain to Kaori géant, 22°06.0’S 166°39.3’E, 160–180 m, 22.i.2007, M. Wanat leg. MNHW: 1 female, JGZC-5254, Port Boisé (Gite Kanua), 22°21’S 166°58’E, 0–40 m, forest at sea shore, 14.ii.2004, M. Wanat leg.; 1 female, JGZC-5453, Pic du Pin, base, 22°14.9’S 166°49.7’E, 280 m, 25.xii.2006, forest and plantation, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 3 males (two with: JGZC-5474 and JGZC-5475), Pic du Pin (base), -22.24843 166.82883, 280 m, 22.x.2008, plantation, M. Wanat leg.; 1 male, JGZC-5473, Pic du Pin (base), -22.24843 166.82883, 280 m, 23.x.2008, forest, M. Wanat leg.; 1 female, JGZC-5476, Pic du Grand Kaori, 22°16.8’S 166°53.5’E, 240 m, night coll. (lamp and beating), 26.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 2 males (one with: JGZC-5208) and 2 females (one with: JGZC-5207), Pic du Grand Kaori, -22.2843 166.8954, 220 m, 1.xi.2010, R. Ruta and M. Wanat leg.; 2 females (JGZC-5129, JGZC-5200), Forêt Cachée, -22.19085 166.78688, 250 m, sifting litter, 26.x.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 1 female, JGZC-5122, forest patch 1 km E of Col de Mouirange, -22.2135 166.6655, 240 m, 9.xii.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg.; 2 males (JGZC-5125 and JGZC-5126) and 1 female, Col des Deux Tétons, -22.2059 166.6797, 220–250 m, humid forest, 9.xii.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg.; 1 female, JGZC-5121, Col des Deux Tétons, -22.2059 166.6797, 220–250 m, humid forest, 10.xii.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg.; 4 males (three with: JGZC-5216, JGZC-5219 and JGZC-5448) and 2 females (JGZC-5106 and JGZC-5217), Bois du Sud, 22°10.5’S 166°45.8’E, 160 m, maquis, night coll. (lamp and beating), 23.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 1 male, Bois du Sud, -22.17200 166.76111, 220 m, at light, 17.x.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 1 males and 5 females (one with: JGZC-5218), Bois du Sud, -22.17200 166.76111, 220 m, night, 18.x.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 2 females, Bois du Sud, -22.17200 166.76111, 220 m, maquis night beating, 20.x.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 2 females, Bois du Sud, -22.17288 166.76330, 220–250 m, beating along track entering forest reserve, 20.x.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 2 females, Bois du Sud, ‘Araucaria’ hut, -22.1740 166.7627, 220 m, at light, 8.xii.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg.; 2 males (JGZC-5107 and JGZC-5212) and 1 female (JGZC-5108), Bois du Sud, -22.1759 166.7625, 220 m, 10.xii.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg.; 1 male, JGZC-5115, Chute de la Madeleine, 22°14’S 166°52’E, 270 m, 13.ii.2004, maquis, ad lucem, M. Wanat leg.; 1 male (JGZC-5204) and 5 females (JGZC-5116, JGZC-5117, JGZC-5202, JGZC-5203 and JGZC-5205), Chute de la Madeleine, 22°14.2’S 166°51.7’E, 240 m, 24.xii.2006, maquis, night coll. (lamp and beating), M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 2 males and 1 female, Haute Rivière Bleue, track to La Tranchée, 22°05’S 166°38’E, 180–330 m, 22–23.i.2004, M. Wanat leg.; 2 males, Haute Rivière Bleue, La Tranchée-Sentier des Kaoris, 22°05’S 166°38’E, 280–330 m, 24.i.2004, humid forest, M. Wanat leg.; 5 males, Rivière Bleue Park, Grand Kaori, 22°06’S 166°41’E, 190 m, 25.i.2004, humid forest, M. Wanat leg.; 3 males and 1 female, Rivière Bleue Park, forest near Grand Kaori, 22°06’S 166°41’E, 160 m, 26.i.2004, M. Wanat leg.; 1 male, Haute Rivière Bleue, La Tranchee-Sentier des Kaoris, 22°05’S 166°38’E, 280–330 m, 26.i.2004, humid forest, M. Wanat leg.; 2 males, Haute Rivière Bleue, La Tranchee-Sentier des Kaoris, 22°05’S 166°38’E, 280–330 m, 28.i.2004, humid forest, M. Wanat leg.; 2 males, H^te Rivière Bleue, La Tranchee-Sent. des Kaoris, 22°05’S 166°38’E, 190–330 m, 20.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 8 males and 1 female, Rivière Bleue Parc, Kaori géant, 22°05.9’S 166°40.7’E, 160 m, 22.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 4 males, Rivière Bleue, Pont Germain to Kaori géant, 22°06.0’S 166°39.3’E, 160–180 m, 22.i.2007, M. Wanat leg.

Body elongate elliptic, moderately convex. Mandibles, head, pronotum, hypomera and prosternum very dark brown, with slight bronze reflection; elytra and scutellum matt brown; ventral surfaces brown; labrum, antennae and legs testaceous, with apical antennomeres and base of tibiae infuscate; palpi ochre. Length: 4.4 mm; width: 2.3 mm (range of male specimens: 4.0–5.0 mm long, 2.0–2.5 mm wide).

Frons with few small punctures anteriorly and supraocular sulci shortly prolonged medially to outer third of dorsal edge of supraantennal calli; clypeus with few small punctures basally and anterior border moderately emarginate (Fig. 4a). Eyes large, separate by 1.4× their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: 2.2-1.0-1.5-1.6-2.4-2.1-2.6-2.3-2.3-2.2-2.9. Fine anterior margin of pronotum obsolete at middle; surface of pronotum matt, similar to frons, with scattered small punctures on disc and lateral declivities, without micropunctures. Prosternal process about 0.7× as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.2× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind humeri; surface finely alutaceous, slightly shinier than pronotum, with relatively large punctures, smaller than intervals, rather confused anteriorly on disc. Basitarsomeres enlarged, wider than third tarsomere in protarsi, shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in protarsi and as long as these in meso- and metatarsi. Median apodeme of first abdominal ventrite about half as long as ventrite, subtrapezoidal, narrower than mesosternal process; all ventrites with fine microreticulation, sparse fine punctures and long fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae. Penis (Fig. 7f) slender, regularly curved ventrally, with sides slightly concave in ventral view, as wide preapically as wide at base; apex elongate oval, arched distally with short blunt tooth; gonopore elongate oval, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance slightly longer than maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subrectangular, longer than wide, covering about basal half of gonopore. — Females. Externally identical to males, with typical secondary sexual differences, also in facial structure, with clypeus broader basally and lacking apical emargination (Fig. 4b). Spermatheca (Fig. 1b) shaped as question mark, with cornu shorter than nodulus, bent more or less at right angle relative to nodulus; nodulus bulbous basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct thin and weakly sclerotized near insertion, inserted laterally near base of nodulus, oriented obliquely opposite to cornu for short distance, markedly enlarged and sclerotized with less than one complete, elongate coil distally.

This species belongs to the group of small (length < 6.0 mm), relatively slender species (ratio length:width > 1.8) with prosternum narrower than transverse diameter of procoxae in males (nearly as wide in females) and completely glabrous elytra, and females provide a reliable character for its identification, namely the spermatheca with short, narrow duct, translucent, poorly sclerotized at base with strongly widened, sclerotized coil. The only other species with identical spermathecal duct is C. tricolor sp. nov., very similar in size, shape and proportions, but recognizable by the slight metallic green tinge on pronotum. The penis of this species is mucronate, which also helps distinguishing this species from others very similar in size and shape, particularly the parapatric C. gracilis sp. nov., where males have the apex of penis arched.

This species is dedicated with love to our parents, Catalina Frau Oliver and Esteban Gómez-Zurita Rodríguez, parents of J. Gómez-Zurita, and Maurília Grazina Piedade and Manuel de Oliveira Cardoso, parents of A. Cardoso, for their lifetime support, which allowed us to pursue our careers and contribute today to discover and describe the amazing biodiversity of this World. The specific epithet is a Latin adjective (f.) parentālis, derived from parēns (n.), meaning of or belonging to the parents.

This species has an ample distribution in maquis and humid forest of dry lowland areas (< 330 m a.s.l.) in the southern part of Grand Terre (Fig. 8b).

Holotype: Male, Mt Do, -21.76527 166.00228, 800–850 m, forest, night beating, 5.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg., Holotype Cazeresia petitpierrei sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW). — Paratypes: JGZC: 1 female, JGZC-NC206, Mt. Do, 21°45.684’S 166°00.054’E, 795 m, Malaise trap, 9.viii–8.xi.2007, S. r. f. Pocquereux staff leg., Paratype Cazeresia petitpierrei sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 male, JGZC-5556, Mt Do, -21.76527 166.00228, 800–850 m, forest, night beating, 5.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia petitpierrei sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]. MNHW: 1 female, Mt Do, -21.76527 166.00228, 800–850 m, forest, night beating, 5.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia petitpierrei sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 male, Mt Do, -21.7574 166.0015, 850–950 m, night beating, 2.xi.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg., Paratype Cazeresia petitpierrei sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 3 males and 2 females (one with: JGZC-5557), Mt Do, -21.7636 166.0020, 800–850 m, night beating, 3.xi.2010, M Wanat and R. Ruta leg., Paratype Cazeresia petitpierrei sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label].

Body elongate oval, moderately convex. Mandibles, head, pronotum, hypomera, scutellum, elytra and anterior femora and tibiae dark brown with extensive black areas; labrum, antennae, mid and hind legs and most of ventral surfaces dark reddish brown; palpi ochre. Length: 6.4 mm; width: 3.5 mm (range of male paratypes: 5.8–6.6 mm long, 3.1–3.5 mm wide).

Frons unpunctured, with supraocular sulci prolonged slightly beyond middle of dorsal edge of supraantennal calli; clypeus subtriangular, with anterior border deeply incised and few small punctures basally. Eyes large, separate on frons by twice their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: 2.5-1.0-2.2-2.4-3.1-2.6-3.1-2.7-2.8-2.6-3.3. Surface of pronotum without apparent micropunctuation. Prosternal process as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.25× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind humeri; surface relatively smooth, shinier than pronotum, with relatively large punctures, about as wide as intervals, with tendency to double in rows of apical declivity and rather confused elsewhere. Epipleura with sparse tiny setae near apex. Profemora and protibiae coarsely punctured at apex; mesotibiae with sharp anterior convex ventral keel at middle; basitarsomeres enlarged, as wide apically as third tarsomere and shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in pro- and mesotarsi, and as long as these in metatarsi. Median apodeme of first abdominal ventrite more than half as long as ventrite, arched, narrower than mesosternal process; ventrites 4 and 5 with inconspicuously serrate margins; all ventrites with fine microreticulation, sparse fine punctures and long fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae. Penis (Fig. 9e) slender, regularly curved ventrally, with sides slightly concave in ventral view, as wide preapically as wide at base; apex elongate oval, broadly arched distally with short and wide, slightly bilobate distal projection; gonopore elongate oval, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance shorter than maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subtrapezoidal, longer than wide, covering about basal half of gonopore. — Females. Clypeus with weak apical emargination. Spermatheca (Fig. 1h) with cornu shorter than nodulus, hooked and bent more or less at right angle relative to nodulus; nodulus bulbous basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct thin, inserted laterally near base of nodulus, oriented opposite to cornu, diagonally and parallel to distal part of nodulus, shorter than nodulus before gradual enlargement with one nearly complete, elongate coil.

This species belongs to the group of C. thyiana (Jolivet, Verma & Mille), thus showing characteristic deep incision of clypeus of males, paler tarsi (most typically in females) and other traits, including size typically over 6.0 mm and broad intercoxal process, about as wide as or wider than procoxae. Within this group, all species are very similar and C. petitpierrei sp. nov. could be recognized by presenting tiny apical setae in epipleura, a trait only shared with C. clipeata sp. nov. and C. maquis sp. nov., but they can be distinguished by inconspicuously serrate margins of fourth and fifth abdominal ventrites (clearly serrate in C. clipeata) and its smaller size compared to C. maquis, which is generally longer than 7.0 mm.

This species is dedicated with fondness and gratitude to Prof. Dr. Eduard Petitpierre Vall, Full Professor of Genetics in the University of the Balearic Islands (1981–2010), and Professor Emeritus in the ­Biology Department of this institution since his retirement, internationally reputed specialist on the diversity and cytotaxonomy of Chrysomelidae, PhD supervisor and mentor for many years of the first author of this study, who inherited from Eduard his passion for Chrysomelidae.

This species is known from the subsummit of Mont Do only, an isolated ultramafic island north of the Massif du Sud (Fig. 8b).

Holotype: Male (Fig. 6b), JGZC-NC180, Mont Kouakoué, open area near summit, -21.957585 166.53830, 1315 m, 17.iii.2008, J.A. Jurado-Rivera leg., Holotype Cazeresia robusta sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (JGZC). — Paratypes: JGZC: 1 female, JGZC-NC650, Mt. Kouakoué, -21.95758 166.53830, 1315 m, 17.iii.2008, P. Jolivet leg., Paratype Cazeresia robusta sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 2 males (JGZC-NC178 and JGZC-NC179 and) and 1 female (JGZC-NC177), Mont Kouakoué, open area near summit, -21.957585 166.53830, 1315 m, 17.iii.2008, J.A. Jurado-Rivera leg., Paratype Cazeresia robusta sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label].

Body elongate oval, moderately convex. Dorsum, venter, coxae and mandibles black with faint greenish metallic tinge on clypeus and pronotum, and purple reddish on frons and elytra; most of antennae and legs very dark reddish brown; labrum, scape and pedicel dark testaceous; palpi and apex of antennomeres 11 pale testaceous. Length: 7.3 mm; width: 4.2 mm (range of male paratypes: 7.8–8.0 mm long, 4.3–4.8 mm wide).

Frons with few small punctures anteriorly and supraocular sulci prolonged medially to almost middle of dorsal edge of well-defined supraantennal calli; clypeus slightly shorter than wide at apex, with punctures basally, more abundant and larger than on frons, and uniformly distributed micropunctures on whole surface; anterior border weakly emarginate. Eyes relatively small and about as wide as long, separate on frons by 2.9× their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: 2.0-1.0-1.9-2.0-2.5-2.2-2.7-2.4-2.4-2.3-2.8. Pronotum 1.5× wider than long at middle, weakly sigmoid at base, widest in front of middle; surface punctured mostly on lateral declivities and lacking micropunctures. Prosternal process as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae and strongly punctured anteriorly, with dense long, dishevelled fine dark yellowish setae, denser in anterior half. Mesoventrite strongly punctured, with dense long, fine setae. Metaventrite very short, shorter than prosternum, strongly microsculptured, with relatively dense large punctures and dense long, fine adpressed dark yellow setae. Elytra less than 1.2× as long as ensemble width at widest point; sides weakly curved in basal half, widest at middle and gradually tapering to regular, slightly produced round apex in apical half; humeri obsolete; surface finely microreticulate, silky as pronotum, with relatively large punctures, smaller than intervals, arranged in eight rows with additional short scutellar and subhumeral rows, slightly confused anteriorly on disc; marginal interval weakly convex at middle. Legs slender, robust, with femora fusiform, enlarged medially, posteriorly at angle in metafemora; protibiae abruptly widened ventrally in apical 1/5 and metatibiae very gradually widening towards apex; mesotibiae as long as mesofemora; basitarsomeres enlarged, as wide as third tarsomere, shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in all tarsi. First abdominal ventrite shorter at middle than four other ventrites combined, with median apodeme less than half as long as ventrite, subtrapezoidal, about as wide as mesosternal process; ventrites with fine microreticulation, fine punctures and abundant long fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae, except first ventrite, with strong, dense punctation at middle. Penis (Fig. 9a) slender, regularly curved ventrally, with sides slightly concave in ventral view, as wide preapically as wide at base; apex elongate oval, arched distally with long median tooth, longer than wide at base; gonopore elongate elliptical, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance as long as maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subtrapezoidal, longer than wide, covering less than basal half of gonopore. — Females. In this species, females lack the abrupt apical enlargement of protibiae characteristic of males. Spermatheca (Fig. 1r) with cornu shorter than nodulus, weakly curved, bent more or less at right angle relative to nodulus; nodulus bulbous basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct thin basally, inserted laterally near base of nodulus, oriented opposite to cornu and recurved parallel and slightly longer than nodulus, enlarged and unsclerotized close to base with slightly over half coil distally.

This species is almost identical to its sister C. montana Jolivet, Verma & Mille, and they are the only species currently in the genus with maximum width of elytra at middle and weak humeri. However, there are several differences between these species, including the stronger punctation on frons and clypeus of C. robusta sp. nov., the stronger and more abundant punctures on pronotum, the stronger and more confused elytral punctation, the stronger, denser punctation of the first abdominal ventrite, and the considerably longer apical tooth of the penis of C. robusta.

The name of the species is the Latin adjective (f.) rōbusta, meaning literally robust, hard, making reference to the solid build of this species.

The species was collected near the summit (1315 m) of Mont Kouakoué, a high peak in the northern part of the Massif du Sud, some 13 km southeast from Mont Humboldt (Fig. 8f).

Holotype: Male, JGZC-5229, Haute Rivière Bleue, track to La Tranchée, 22°05’S 166°38’E, 180–330 m, 22–23.i.2004, M. Wanat leg., Holotype Cazeresia spadicea sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW). — Paratypes: JGZC: 2 males, H^te Rivière Bleue, La Tranchée-Sent. des Kaoris, 22°05’S 166°38’E, 190–330 m, 20.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg., Paratype Cazeresia spadicea sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]. MNHW: 1 female (JGZC-5139), Haute Rivière Bleue, track to La Tranchée, 22°05’S 166°38’E, 180–330 m, 22–23.i.2004, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia spadicea sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 male, Haute Rivière Bleue, La Tranchée-Sentier des Kaoris, humid forest, 22°05’S 166°38’E, 280–330 m, 24.i.2004, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia spadicea sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 2 males and 1 female, Rivière Bleue Park, Grand Kaori, humid forest, 22°06’S 166°41’E, 160 m, 25.i.2004, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia spadicea sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 3 males, Rivière Bleue Park (N), Grand Kaori, 22°06’S 166°41’E, 160 m, 26.i.2004, humid forest, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia spadicea sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 2 males, Haute Rivière Bleue, La Tranchée-Sentier des Kaoris, humid forest, 22°05’S 166°38’E, 280–330 m, 28.i.2004, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia spadicea sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 13 males (one with: JGZC-5133) and 2 females (JGZC-5230, JGZC-5232), H^te Rivière Bleue, La Tranchée-Sent. des Kaoris, 22°05’S 166°38’E, 190–330 m, 20.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg., Paratype Cazeresia spadicea sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 5 males, H^te Rivière Bleue, track La Tranchée-H^te Pourina, 22°04.0’S 166°37.4’E, 330–560 m, 21.xii.2006, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia spadicea n. sp. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 male, Rivière Bleue, Gue de la Pourina, 22°05.8’S 166°40.2’E, 140 m, night coll. (lamp and beating), 22.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg., Paratype Cazeresia spadicea sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 female, Rivière Bleue Parc, Kaori géant, 22°05.9’S 166°40.7’E, 160 m, rainforest, 22.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg., Paratype Cazeresia spadicea sp. nov. Gómez-­Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 6 males and 1 female (JGZC-5134), Rivière Bleue, Pont Germain to Kaori géant (left river side), 22°06.0’S 166°39.3’E, 160–180 m, 22.i.2007, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia spadicea sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label].

Body elongate elliptic, moderately convex. Mandibles, head, pronotum, scutellum, elytra, ventral surfaces including coxae, femora and tibiae dark reddish brown; labrum, most of frons, antennomeres 6–10 and basal half of 11 brown; basal antennomeres, apex of antennomere 11, palpi and tarsi pale brown. Length: 4.5 mm; width: 2.3 mm (range of male specimens: 4.3–5.4 mm long, 2.2–2.6 mm wide).

Frons with very few small punctures anteriorly in median depressed area and supraocular sulci prolonged medially to middle of dorsal edge of narrowly separated supraantennal calli; clypeus with few small punctures basally, and anterior border with deep semicircular median emargination. Eyes large, separate on frons by 1.9× longer diameter of eye. Antennomeres 3–10 slightly enlarged apically, longitudinally compressed on antero-ventral side basally before thickened apex; relative proportions of antennomeres: 2.5-1.0-1.7-2.0-2.6- 2.4-2.7-2.2-2.3-2.1-2.9. Pronotum with relatively broad lateral explanate margin with large impressed punctures along inner border; anterior border of pronotum 0.8× as wide as posterior border; surface alutaceous, with relatively dense double punctation, few shallow scattered small punctures on disc, more abundant, larger and deeper on lateral declivities, on more homogeneous background of tiny, shallow micropunctures. Prosternal process about half as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.4× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind humeri; surface smooth, glossy, with relatively large punctures, smaller than intervals, rather confused anteriorly on disc. Epipleura with tiny setae along apical margin and sutural angle. Basitarsomeres enlarged, wider than third tarsomere in protarsi and as wide in mid and hind tarsi, shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in protarsi and about as long in meso- and metatarsi; third bilobed tarsomere relatively small, particularly in protarsi. Median apodeme of first abdominal ventrite about half as long as ventrite, arched, narrower than mesosternal process; all ventrites with fine microreticulation, sparse fine punctures and long fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae. Penis (Fig. 7h) slender, regularly curved ventrally, with sides slightly concave in ventral view, as wide preapically as wide at base; apex elongate oval, arched distally with relatively large median blunt tooth; gonopore oval, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance longer than maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subtrapezoidal, longer than wide, covering more than half of gonopore. — Females. Females lack compressed antennomeres and have smaller and widely separated supraantennal calli, perhaps denser punctation on pronotum, and a trend to geminate punctures on elytra. Spermatheca (Fig. 1v) with cornu slightly shorter than nodulus, bent more or less at right angle relative to nodulus; nodulus slightly sigmoidal, bulbous basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct inserted laterally near base of nodulus, oriented opposite to cornu, relatively short, completely sclerotized and gradually thickening distally from spermatheca, shorter than nodulus and with half elongate coil.

Species sharing important diagnostic traits with C. corrugata sp. nov., C. impressicornis sp. nov. and C. subgeminata sp. nov., in particular the presence of tiny setae apically on elytra and relatively deep anterior emargination of male clypeus. This species can be however recognized by its relatively uniform brown colour with pale tarsi, which is the main difference with C. impressicornis, apart from the evenly convex pronotum and sides of elytra compared with C. corrugata, and confused and sparser punctation anteriorly on disc of elytra compared with C. subgeminata. In some individuals of C. spadicea sp. nov., legs can be testaceous, paler than dorsal surfaces, but the species can be recognized, apart from the apical fringe of setae on elytra in both sexes, by the broad gutter-like margins of pronotum, with large impressed punctures along inner border and the deep anterior incision of male clypeus.

The species name is the Latin adjective (f.), spādicea, meaning chestnut- or date-coloured.

This species has been found in a small low-elevation area of dense humid forest in the valley of the Rivière Bleue (Fig. 8e).

Holotype: Male, JGZC-5324, Pic du Pin (base), -22.24843 166.82883, 280 m, 2.xii.2008, beating, forest edge, M. Wanat leg., Holotype Cazeresia spadicea bruna ssp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW). — Paratypes: JGZC: 1 male, Pic du Pin (base), 22°14.9’S 166°49.7’E, 280 m, forest and plantation, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 1 female, Pic du Pin (base), -22.2484 166.8288, 280 m, R. Ruta and M. Wanat leg. MNHW: 2 females (JGZC-5210 and JGZC-5211), Pic du Pin (base), -22.24843 166.82883, 280 m, forest 22.x.2008, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia spadicea bruna ssp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 female, Pic du Pin (base), -22.24843 166.82883, 280 m, 22.x.2008, at light, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia spadicea bruna ssp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 male, JGZC-5209, Pic du Pin (base), -22.24843 166.82883, 280 m, forest, 23.x.2008, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia spadicea bruna ssp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 4 males, Pic du Pin (base), -22.2482 166.8285, 280 m, forest, 31.x.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg., Paratype Cazeresia spadicea bruna ssp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label].

MNHW: 1 male and 2 females, Pic du Grand Kaori, -22.2843 166.8954, 220 m, night, 1.xi.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg.

Body elongate elliptic, moderately convex. Mandibles, head, pronotum, scutellum, elytra, ventral surfaces including coxae, femora and tibiae dark reddish brown; labrum, most of frons, antennomeres 6–10 and basal half of 11, and distal end of femora brown; basal antennomeres, apex of antennomere 11, palpi and tarsi pale brown. Length: 4.1 mm; width: 2.1 mm (male paratype: 4.5 mm long, 2.3 mm wide; female paratypes: 4.1–4.8 mm long, 2.2–2.6 mm wide).

Objective coalescent-based species delimitation separated as different species the sequences obtained from individuals of C. spadicea sp. nov. from Pic du Pin and from the Haute Rivière Bleue. The specimens from both localities are morphologically very similar, including the atypical homogeneous brown colour of dorsal surfaces and also the overall shape and attributes of penis (Fig. 7i) and spermatheca (Fig. 1w). However, the difference in size and also their occurrence in apparently different biomes, drier in the case of the former and humid forests in the case of the latter, together with the results of objective species delimitation, compelled us to establish a taxonomic differentiation between these populations as different subspecies.

The individuals of this subspecies are fundamentally identical to the nominotypical species, but smaller in size. The studied series are small, but it appears as if in this subspecies the sides of the fifth abdominal ventrite had more defined serrate margins compared to the nominotypical subspecies.

The subspecies name is a Later Latin adjective (f.), bruna, meaning brown, to insist on the uncommon brown colouration of the specimens.

This species is at present only known from two nearby low elevation localities in the southeastern part of the Réserve naturelle du Pic du Pin and in Pic du Grand Kaori, in the south of Grande Terre (Fig. 8e).

Holotype: Male (Fig. 11d), Farino, -21.61454 165.70097 [label erroneously with 161.70097], 393 m, on Ficus sp., 4.xi.2004, S. Cazères leg. (MNHN). — Paratypes: 4 males, Sarramea, 3 m, on Syzygium jambos, 22–27.x.2006, J. Brinon and S. Cazères leg. (MNHN).

Holotype: Col d’Amieu, Sarramea, -21.34694 165.46278, 489 m, 2.xii.2006, R. M’Bouen leg. (MNHN). — Allotype: Col d’Amieu, Sarramea, 2–25.xi.2005, S. Cazères, C. Mille and J.P. Kataoui leg. (MNHN). — Paratypes: 4 females, Col d’Amieu, Sarramea, -21.34694 165.46278, 489 m, 2.xii.2006, R. M’Bouen leg.; 1 female, Col d’Amieu, Sarramea, 6.xi.2004, C. Mille leg.; 1 female, Col d’Amieu, Sarramea, 17.x.2005, C. Mille and J. Brinon leg.; 9 males and 1 female, Col d’Amieu, Sarramea, 2–25.xi.2005, S. Cazères, C. Mille and J.P. Kataoui leg.; 1 female, Col d’Amieu, Sarramea, 10.v.2006, J. Brinon leg.; 1 male and 1 female, Col d’Amieu, Malaise trap, 21°34.903’S 165°48.376’E, 611 m, 8.ii–3.iii.2006, ICA personnel leg.; 2 males and 1 female, Reserve du Col d’Amieu, 21°35’33.97”S 165°48’14.39”E, 362 m, 23.xi.2007, S. Cazères leg.; 1 female, Station des recherches fruitières de Pocquereux, La Foa, -21.73393 165.89605, 23 m, 16.xi.204, on Syzygium cumini, Jamelonier and Cazères leg.; 1 male and 1 female, Station des recherches fruitières de Pocquereux, “Perrouquet”, -21.73393 165.89605, 23 m, 4.xii.2004, on Semecarpus atra, S. Cazères leg.; 1 female, Farino, -21.61198 165.70272, 362 m, 29.xi.2005, J. Brinon leg.; 1 female, Kanala, Dumbea cancellata Fvl., coll. et det. A. Fauvel (RBINS); 6 males, Sarramea, -21.66941 165.8172, 3 m, 22.x.2004, on Syzygium jambos, J. Brinon and J.P. Kataoui leg.; 1 male, Sarramea, -21.63411 165.89527, 465 m, 20.ii.2006, C. Mille and J.P. Katoui leg.; 1 male, Sarramea, -21.34694 165.46278, 489 m, 2.xii.2006, R. M’Bouen leg.

JGZC: 2 females (JGZC-NC847 and JGZC-NC848), Col d’Amieu, 21°34.922’S 165°46.324’E, 630 m, Malaise trap, 8.viii–18.x.2006, SRFP staff leg.; 4 males (JGZC-NC741 to JGZC-NC744), Col d’Amieu, 21°34.922’S 165°46.324’E, 630 m, Malaise trap, 24.viii–20.ix.2007, SRFP staff leg.; 2 males (JGZC-NC753 and JGZC-NC754), Col d’Amieu, 21°34.922’S 165°46.324’E, 630 m, Malaise trap, 23.xi.2007–11.i.2008, SRFP staff leg.; 1 male (JGZC-NC260), Col d’Amieu, -21.61172 165.80805, 489 m, 7–8.iii.2008, J. Gómez-Zurita and A. Cardoso leg.; 1 female (JGZC-NC509), La Foa, Station des Recherches fruitières de Pocquereux, -21.73331 165.85868, 18 m, 10.iii.2008, J. Gómez-Zurita, J.A. Jurado and A. Cardoso leg.; 1 male (JGZC-NC268) and 4 females (JGZC-NC269-JGZC-NC272), Farino, refuge, -21.64877 165.78077, 261 m, 27–28.iii.2008, J. Gómez-Zurita and A. Cardoso leg. MNHW: 25 males and 20 females, Farino, Parc des Grandes Fougères, Camp de la Houe, -21.61176 165.75406, 400 m, 13.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 5 males, Col des Roussettes, refuge, -21.4079 165.5249, 520 m, 1.xii.2010, at light, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg.; 1 female and 5 males, Col des Roussettes, rainforest E of river, -21.4080 165.5302, 520 m, 2.xii.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg.; 18 males and 5 females, Rivière Bleue Park, Grand Kaori, humid forest, 22°06’S 166°41’E, 160 m, 26.i.2004, M. Wanat leg.; 1 male, Rivière Bleue Park, Grand Kaori, humid forest, 22°06’S 166°41’S, 160 m, 26.i.2004, sifted litter, M. Wanat leg.; 2 males, Col d’Amieu, top of hill, 21°37’S 165°49’E, 450 m, 9.ii.2004, ad lucem, M. Wanat leg.; 6 males and 4 females, Farino, Parc des Grandes Fougères, Aire des Araucarias, -21.61859 165.75570, 400 m, 14.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 1 female, Koghi Mts., -22.17809 166.50569, 480 m, 24.x.2008, fogged log, M. Wanat leg.; 1 male, Canala, 4 km S of Mia, road end, river valley forest, -21.5779 165.9719, 380 m, 30.xi.2010, at light, R. Ruta and M. Wanat leg.; 39 males and 29 females, Farino, refuge and circuit track, 21°39.0’S 165°46.9’E, 220–300 m, 3.i.2007, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 5 males and 6 females, Col d’Amieu, 1 km from gate, 21°35.1’S 165°47.7’E, 440 m, 6.i.2007, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 1 male and 1 female, Col d’Amieu, 3 km from gate, 21°35.1’S 165°47.8’E, 500 m, 6.i.2007, M. Wanat leg.; 5 males and 3 females, Col d’Amieu, 3.5 km from gate, 21°35.1’S 165°47.8’E, 490 m, 6.i.2007, M. Wanat leg.; 6 males and 2 females, Col d’Amieu, 6.5–7.0 km from gate, 21°35.2’S 165°46.4’E, 450–470 m, 6.i.2007, night coll., M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 5 males and 5 females, Col d’Amieu, 6.5–7.0 km from gate, 21°35.2’S 165°46.4’E, 450–470 m, 6–7.i.2007, day and night, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 2 males, Col d’Amieu, 1 km from gate, 21°35.1’S 165°47.7’E, 440 m, 7.i.2007, at light, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 5 males and 2 females, Col d’Amieu, 2.5–5.0 km from gate, -21.58536 165.79319, 400–550 m, 15.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 5 males and 3 females, Col d’Amieu, 7.6 km from gate, -21.57993 165.77128, 600 m, 15.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 1 female, Col d’Amieu, 6.5–7.0 km from gate, 21°35.2’S 165°46.4’E, 450–470 m, 5.i.2007, night, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 1 male, Col d’Amieu, 3 km from gate, -21.58536 165.79319, 500 m, 14.xi.2008, at light, M. Wanat leg.; 4 males and 5 females, 1 km W of Col d’Amieu, 21°37’S 165°49’E, 400 m, 10.ii.2004, M. Wanat leg.; 1 male, Farino, Parc des Grandes Fougères, gate, -21.62803 165.76202, 450 m, at light, 30.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 1 male, Col des Roussettes, rainforest nr. refuge, -21.4074 165.5250, 530 m, sifting litter, 2.xii.2010, R. Ruta and M. Wanat leg.; 4 males and 2 females, Rivière Bleue Park, Grand Kaori, humid forest, 22°06’S 166°41’E, 160 m, 25.i.2004, M. Wanat leg.; 2 males and 1 female, Rivière Bleue Park, Kaori géant, rainforest, 22°05.9’S 166°40.7’E, 160 m, 22.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.; 1 female, Rivière Bleue Park, Kaori géant, rainforest, 22°05.9’S 166°40.7’E, 160 m, 22.i.2007, M. Wanat leg.; 2 males, Sarramea, rd to cascade, -21.6367 165.8649, 120–160 m, 8.xi.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg.; 1 female, Sarramea, trail to Dogny, -21.6274 165.8647, 150–350 m, 8.xi.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg.; 3 females, Koghi Mts., roadside, -22.17631 166.50138, 340 m, 25.x.2008, M. Wanat leg. HNHM: 3 males, Col d’Amieu, 19.i.1977, J. Balogh leg.

Over its short existence, this taxon had a very unstable position, in part because of the remarkable sexual dimorphism that was not recognized in the initial description, a typical issue in the taxonomy of New Caledonian Eumolpinae (e.g., Gómez-Zurita 2017). The species was originally described in a newly proposed genus Dumbea Jolivet, Verma & Mille, 2007, based on male specimens from two close localities in the central part of Grande Terre (Jolivet et al. 2007a). Some years later, Samuelson (2010) described Taophila cancellata Samuelson, paying particular attention to females, but recognizing the marked sexual dimorphism of the species, and reporting the species from nearby localities in the Central Massif. This species would be removed from Taophila by Gómez-Zurita and Cardoso (2014) based on molecular phylogenetic evidence and tentatively placed in the genus Dematochroma Baly given its phylogenetic proximity to De. thyiana Jolivet, Verma & Mille, 2008. Interestingly, Gómez-Zurita and Cardoso (2014) hinted the correct association of T. cancellata with Cazeresia mentioning the similarity of the spermathecae of T. cancellata with that of C. montana, apart from recovering the close association of this species with De. thyiana, one of the species formerly in Dematochroma and transferred to Cazeresia in this work. Platania and Gómez-Zurita (2023a), upon examination of the type specimens of Du. striata and T. cancellata confirmed that they were conspecific, and the taxonomic journey of these taxa temporarily settled, but only briefly, until its final transfer to Cazeresia, as proposed here.

Cazeresia striata (Jolivet, Verma & Mille, 2007) comb. nov. has been found particularly abundant in the Central Massif of Grande Terre, from Col des Roussettes to in and around the Reserve Speciale de Faune du Col d’Amieu, but we report some findings further south, from Les Koghis and the Parc Provincial de la Rivière Bleue (Fig. 8e), for which we have no genetic data and should be reassessed genetically to validate their conspecificity. Jolivet et al. (2013) reported the species from two localities in the Massif du Panié (La Guen and Dawenia), in the northern part of the island, which would also be interesting to assess genetically. The elevation range of the species seems to cover from sea level to 630 m in Col d’Amieu, thus among the largest recorded for the genus. Among available records, there is information about potential host-plants of this species, including captures on Syzygium jambos, S. cumini [Myrtaceae] and Semecarpus atra [Anacardiaceae] (Jolivet et al. 2007a; Samuelson 2010) and molecular inferences consistent with numerous angiosperm families (Gómez-Zurita and Cardoso 2014).

Holotype: Male (Fig. 6d), JGZC-5113, Farino, Parc des Grandes Fougères, Aire des Araucarias, -21.61859 165.75570, 400 m, 14.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg., Holotype Cazeresia subgeminata sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW). — Paratypes: MNHW: 1 male, Col d’Amieu, 6.5–7.0 km from gate, 21°35.2’S 165°46.4’E, 450–470 m, 6.i.2007, night coll., M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg., Paratype Cazeresia subgeminata sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 male, JGZC-5272, Farino, Parc des Grandes Fougères, Aire des Araucarias, -21.61859 165.75570, 400 m, 14.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia subgeminata sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 male, Farino, refuge, -21.6488 165.7812, 260 m, 4.xi.2010, at light, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg., Paratype Cazeresia subgeminata sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 female, JGZC-5607, Sarramea, nr. cascade, -21.6372 165.8659, 160 m, 10.xi.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg., Paratype Cazeresia subgeminata sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label].

Body elongate elliptic, moderately convex. Dorsum, venter, coxae and mandibles very deep brown, with faint bronze reflections mostly on head and pronotum; labrum, antennae and legs testaceous, with base of tibiae and apical antennomeres except apex of eleventh antennomere infuscate; palpi ochre. Length: 4.5 mm; width: 2.3 mm (dimensions of paratypes: 4.5–4.7 mm long, 2.3–2.4 mm wide).

Frons with few tiny punctures basally and supraocular sulci prolonged medially to outer third of dorsal edge of supraantennal calli; clypeus with few tiny punctures basally and anterior border of clypeus with subtrapezoidal median emargination. Eyes large, separate on frons by 1.9× their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: ­2.2-1.0-1.9-2.1-2.4- 2.3-2.7-2.2-2.3-2.2-3.0. Pronotum with tiny punctures at sides of basal marginal furrow; anterior border of pronotum 0.8× as wide as posterior border; surface slightly less microgranulate than frons, with abundant, slightly aciculate punctures, as large as intervals at sides of median line and lateral declivities, interspersed with some micropunctures. Prosternal process about half as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.2× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind humeri; surface finely microreticulate, shinier than pronotum, entirely glabrous except for very few short setae near slightly projecting sutural angles; with relatively large punctures, as big as intervals and tending to relatively regular geminate rows on disc; last two intervals convex in apical 2/3, and other intervals weakly convex in apical third. Epipleura notably enlarged before narrowing apically, with tiny setae in apical border. Tarsi slender, with basitarsomeres enlarged, wider than third tarsomere and shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in protarsi, nearly as wide as third tarsomere apically and about as long as second and third combined in meso- and metatarsi. Median apodeme of first abdominal ventrite about half as long as ventrite, arched, narrower than mesosternal process; all ventrites with fine microreticulation, sparse fine punctures and long fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae. Penis (Fig. 9k) slender, regularly curved ventrally, with sides slightly concave in ventral view, as wide preapically as wide at base; apex elongate elliptic, arched distally with wide, short, subtrapezoidal apex; gonopore short oval, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance much longer than maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subtrapezoidal, longer than wide, covering more than basal half of gonopore. — Females. The female of C. subgeminata sp. nov. shows typical differences with the males in the group, including differences in facial structure, with broader clypeus at base and lack of deep incision on anterior border of clypeus, shorter and thinner antennae and shorter and thinner basitarsomeres of all tarsi, and in this case, more apparent subgemination of elytral punctures, with outer intervals convex. Spermatheca (Fig. 1a) hook-shaped, with cornu about as long as nodulus, more or less regularly curved; nodulus strongly bulbous at base, with short interstitial ramus opposite to cornu, before basal enlargement of nodulus; spermathecal duct thin, inserted laterally at base of nodulus, oriented opposite to cornu and bowed, relatively short before distal gradual enlargement with poorly sclerotized complete, elongate coil.

The group of species with testaceous legs and antennae usually have elytral punctures smaller than intervals. In this species, punctures on disc of elytra are not bigger than in other species, but they are much more abundant, owing to subgemination, thus they are about as large as intervals. The other species with dense, subgeminate punctation on elytra is its sister, C. corrugata sp. nov., but they can be distinguished by the reduced punctation, almost absent in the frontoclypeus of C. subgeminata sp. nov., compared with sparse but extended punctation in C. corrugata, apart from the sparser punctation on a smoother, unwrinkled pronotum in C. subgeminata, compared with C. corrugata.

The species name reflects the tight punctation on the elytra of the type, tending to regular series of geminate punctures, thus using as suffix the participle (f.) of geminō (= to double), -gemināta, together with the prefix sub- derived from the same preposition, sub (= under), to qualify the adjective as an approximation, a trend.

At present, this species is only known from a group of nearby localities, in moderate elevation (160–470 m a.s.l.), deep in the forest of the Parc provincial des Grandes Fougères (Fig. 8a).

Holotype: Female (Fig. 11a), Forêt de Thy, near Saint-Louis [22°12’36”S 166°32’38”E], 20.i.1978, J. Faimka leg. (MNHN).

JGZC: 2 females, JGZC-NC041 and JGZC-NC042, Monts Kwa Ne Mwa, on road btw Nouméa and Yaté, 2 km E Pic Mouirange, 22°12.356’S 166°40.798’E, 220 m, 19.i–17.ii.2007, R. Pöllabauer leg. MNHW: 1 male, JGZC-5349, Bois du Sud, -22.17200 166.76111, 220 m, 18.x.2008, day beating, M. Wanat leg.; 1 female, Bois du Sud, -22.17288 166.76330, 220–250 m, beating along track entering forest reserve, 20.x.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 3 males (two with: JGZC-5123 and JGZC-5124), Bois du Sud, ‘Araucaria’ hut, -22.1740 166.7627, 220 m, at light, 8.xii.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg.; 2 males (one with: JGZC-5376) and 1 female (JGZC-5449), Pic du Grand Kaori, 22°16.8’S 166°53.5’E, 240 m, night coll. (lamp and beating), 26.xii.2006, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg.

This species was described based on a single female specimen collected in the forest along the river Thi in the commune of Saint-Louis, not far from the capital of New Caledonia, Nouméa. The description included an illustration of the spermatheca that is the typical of this group (Jolivet et al. 2007c), therefore the adscription of the species to Cazeresia is granted (see Fig. 1i), and we propose the new combination Cazeresia thyiana (Jolivet, Verma & Mille, 2008) comb. nov. Interestingly, Jolivet et al. (2007c) also stressed the marked similarity of their new species with De. humboldtiana Heller, which is also transferred to Cazeresia in this work. The challenge for us was establishing if any of our unidentified samples of Cazeresia belonged to this species, because there were not many diagnostic characters available in the description and the type was not in the best conditions for sound comparisons (Fig. 11a). Gómez-Zurita and Cardoso (2014) erroneously mentioned this taxon in their molecular phylogeny using one specimen (JGZC-NC193) collected in Aoupinié and recognized here as a representative of C. laticollis sp. nov. This mistake was corrected in Platania et al. (2024), who alternatively identified as De. thyiana one specimen (JGZC-NC206) collected in Mont Do. While this identification proved significantly closer to the true C. thyiana according to their indistinguishable morphology and close phylogenetic proximity as established here (Fig. 3), the output of phylogenetic species delimitation approaches, the geographic gap between Mont Do and the area where C. thyiana occurs, as well as the strong elevation difference between localities, compelled us to consider the specimens from Mont Do a different species. Here we recognized two males from Bois du Sud and two females from Kwa Ne Mwa, localities 14 and 23 km away, respectively, eastwards from the type locality of C. thyiana, as conspecific. Thus, C. thyiana should be considered at present a low elevation (up to 240 m a.s.l.) species with a medium range in the forests east of Nouméa (Fig. 8a). The availability of males putatively belonging to this species allows recognizing the differences with females, mainly a subtrapezoidal clypeus with deep broad anterior emargination apart from typical sexually dimorphic traits, and description for the first time of the male genitalia. Penis (Fig. 9j) slender, regularly curved ventrally, with sides slightly concave in ventral view, slightly widened preapically; apex elongate elliptical, arched distally with short bilobed broad distal projection; gonopore short oval, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance slightly longer than maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subtrapezoidal, longer than wide, covering about half of gonopore.

Holotype: Male (Fig. 6c), JGZC-5359, Poro Plateau, -21.3483 165.6932, 620 m, forest, night, 28.xi.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg., Holotype Cazeresia tibialis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW). — Paratypes: JGZC: 1 male, JGZC-5605, Poro Plateau, -21.34832 165.69322, 620 m, forest, night, 27.xi.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg., Paratype Cazeresia tibialis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]. MNHW: 3 males and 1 female, Poro Plateau, -21.34832 165.69322, 620 m, forest, night, 27.xi.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg., Paratype Cazeresia tibialis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 2 males (one with: JGZC-5480) and 3 females (JGZC-5118, JGZC-5393 and JGZC-5451), Poro Plateau, -21.3483 165.6932, 620 m, forest, night, 28.xi.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg., Paratype Cazeresia tibialis sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label].

Body short elliptic, moderately convex. Mandibles, head, scutellum, elytra and ventral surfaces, including coxae dark chocolate brown; pronotum, antennal calli and median line on frons blackish; labrum, legs and antennae testaceous, with infuscate base of tibiae and apical antennomeres, except apex of eleventh antennomere; palpi ochre. Length: 5.5 mm; width: 3.1 mm (range of male specimens: 4.8–5.5 mm long, 2.9–3.1 mm wide).

Frons with few tiny punctures near middle impression and supraocular sulci prolonged medially to slightly over middle of dorsal edge of supraantennal calli; clypeus with few tiny punctures basally and anterior border moderately emarginate. Eyes moderately big, separate on frons by 2.1× their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: ­1.8-1.0-1.6-1.9-2.4-2.1-2.4-2.2-2.2-2.2-2.7. Surface of pronotum with scattered small, slightly aciculate punctures on disc and lateral declivities. Prosternal process nearly as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.2× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind weakly callous humeri; surface finely alutaceous, shinier than pronotum, with moderate punctures, smaller than intervals, rather confused anteriorly on disc. Protibiae (inset in Fig. 6c) as long as profemur, weakly curved and gradually widened before strongly enlarged ventral apical quarter, with sharp external keels, ventral keel with wide preapical weak emargination, rows of recumbent setae dorsally and relatively dense recumbent setae ventrally; mesotibiae slightly shorter than mesofemora, slightly bent ventrally and gradually widening before strong bent and enlargement at apical quarter, with rather sharp anterior ventral keel; metatibiae as long as metafemora, straight and gradually widened towards apex, more markedly in apical quarter; pro- and mesobasitarsomeres enlarged, wider than and as wide as third tarsomere in pro- and mesotarsi, respectively, and narrower in metatarsi, shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in all tarsi. Median apodeme of first abdominal ventrite about half as long as ventrite, subtrapezoidal, narrower than mesosternal process; all ventrites with fine microreticulation, sparse fine punctures and long fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae. Penis (Fig. 7j) slender, regularly curved ventrally, with sides slightly concave in ventral view, nearly as wide preapically as wide at base; apex elongate oval, round distally with short projecting blunt tip; gonopore elongate elliptical, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance shorter than maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subrectangular, longer than wide, covering about basal half of gonopore. — Females. Females also have punctured frons and clypeus. Spermatheca (Fig. 1n) with cornu shorter than nodulus, bent more or less at right angle relative to nodulus; nodulus bulbous basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct thin, inserted laterally near base of nodulus, oriented opposite to cornu and recurved parallel and slightly longer than nodulus before gradual enlargement with one complete, elongate coil.

Among species with dark bicolour dorsum and testaceous appendages and wide prosternal process, as wide or wider than procoxae, C. tibialis sp. nov. has the shortest proportions, looking quite compact, and males show a very special conformation of front and middle tibiae allowing to recognize it from any other species of Cazeresia at once. Size (< 6.0 mm), shorter proportions (< 1.75) and male tibiae are particularly useful traits to distinguish it from sympatric C. holosericea sp. nov.

The species name focuses the attention on the peculiar shape of anterior and middle tibiae of males by using the Latin adjective (f.), tībiālis, applied to something of or pertaining to the tibia.

The specimens available for this species come from a single locality at moderate elevation (620 m a.s.l.) close to the northeastern coast of Grande Terre, north of the Central Massif (Fig. 8e).

Holotype: Male, JGZC-5470, Dzumac Mts., Mt. Ouin road junction, -22.03188 166.46738, 910 m, night, 28.x.2008, M. Wanat leg., Holotype Cazeresia tricolor sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (MNHW). — Paratypes: MNHW: 2 males and 4 females (two with, JGZC-5191 and JGZC-5225), Dzumac Mts., Mt. Ouin road junction, -22.03188 166.46738, 910 m, night, 28.x.2008, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia tricolor sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label]; 1 male (JGZC-5458) and 1 female, Dzumac road, -22.08783 166.44643, 670 m, forest, night beating roadside, 31.x.2008, M. Wanat leg., Paratype Cazeresia tricolor sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label].

MNHW: 1 female (JGZC-5694), Humboldt (S track), -21.90491 166.35391, 580 m, 9.xi.2008, sifting litter, rainforest, M. Wanat leg., Cazeresia tricolor sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso, J. Gómez-­Zurita det. 2024.

Body elongate elliptic, moderately convex. Mandibles and head black with faint bronze metallic reflection; pronotum and hypomera black with faint dark green metallic reflection; elytra and scutellum dark brown with faint blue metallic reflection; ventral surfaces dark brown; labrum, antennae and legs testaceous, with apical antennomeres except apex of antennomere 11 infuscate; palpi ocher. Length: 4.05 mm; width: 2.05 mm (range of male specimens: 4.0–5.3 mm long, 2.0–2.9 mm wide).

Frons with few small punctures anteriorly and supraocular sulci shortly prolonged medially to outer third of dorsal edge of supraantennal calli; clypeus with few small punctures basally and anterior border moderately emarginate. Eyes large, separate on frons by 1.6× their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: 1.8-1.0-1.4-1.6-2.0-1.9-2.2-2.0-2.0-2.0-2.6. Very fine anterior margin of pronotum obsolete at middle; surface of pronotum similar to frons, without micropunctures. Prosternal process about 0.7× as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.3× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind humeri; surface rather smooth, shinier than pronotum, with relatively large punctures, smaller than intervals, rather confused anteriorly on disc. Basitarsomeres enlarged, as wide as third tarsomere in protarsi, narrower in meso- and metatarsi, shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in protarsi, about as long in mesotarsi, and longer in metatarsi. Median apodeme of first abdominal ventrite about half as long as ventrite, subtrapezoidal, narrower than mesosternal process; all ventrites with fine microreticulation, sparse fine punctures and long fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae. Penis (Fig. 7e) slender, regularly curved ventrally, with sides slightly concave in ventral view, as wide preapically as wide at base; apex elongate oval, arched distally with short blunt tooth; gonopore oval, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance slightly longer than maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subtrapezoidal, longer than wide, covering about basal half of gonopore. — Females. Spermatheca (Fig. 1c) shaped as question mark, with cornu shorter than nodulus, bent more or less at right angle relative to nodulus; nodulus bulbous basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct thin and weakly sclerotized near insertion, inserted laterally near base of nodulus, oriented obliquely opposite to cornu for short distance, markedly enlarged and sclerotized with less than one complete, elongate coil distally.

Among the brown species with testaceous appendages, the very peculiar shape of the spermatheca of this species is only found in C. parentalis sp. nov., with which it shares many similarities and they are probably sister (unfortunately it was not possible to obtain DNA sequences of this species to prove it). However, they can be distinguished by the very weak metallic tinge and lustrous appearance of dorsal surfaces in this species compared to the dull, brownish tones of C. parentalis.

The three different faint metallic tonalities of the type and other specimens in the type series is reflected in the chosen name, the Latin adjective (f.), tricolor, meaning three-coloured.

This species has been recorded from relatively high elevations (670–910 m a.s.l.) in the southern part of the Massif du Sud (Fig. 8a).

Holotype: Male, JGZC-NC813, Mt. Do, 21°45.684’S 166°00.054’E, 795 m, 9.viii–8.ix.2007, Malaise trap, S. r. f. Pocquereux staff leg., Holotype Cazeresia wanati sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso [red label] (JGZC). — Paratypes [all with red label: Paratype Cazeresia wanati sp. nov. Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso]. JGZC: 2 females (JGZC-NC123 and JGZC-NC552), Mt. Do, -21.76132 166.00007, 809 m, 6.iii.2008, J. Gómez-Zurita leg.; 1 male, JGZC-NC150, Mt. Do, -21.75758 166.00157, 990–1000 m, 6.iii.2008, J. Gómez-Zurita and J.A. Jurado leg. MNHW: 8 males (one with: JGZC-5091) and 8 females, Mt. Do, -21.76527 166.00228, 800–850 m, forest, night beating, 5.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 9 males and 5 females (one with: JGZC-5560), Mt. Do, subsummit forest, -21.76674 166.00540, ca. 850 m, night, 5.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 6 males and 2 females, Mt. Do, -21.76674 166.00540, 820–920 m, roadside, night beating, 6.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 8 males (one with: JGZC-5559) and 5 females (one with: JGZC-5092), Mt. Do, -21.75706 165.99894, 900–1000 m, roadside, night beating, 6.xi.2008, M. Wanat leg.; 10 males (one with: JGZC-5093) and 6 females, Mt. Do, -21.7574 166.0015, 850–950 m, night beating, 2.xi.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg.; 1 female, Mt. Do, -21.7636 166.0020, 800–850 m, night beating, 3.xi.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg.; 1 female, Mt. Do, subsummit forest, -21.7606 165.9996, 850 m, at light, 2.xi.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg.; 1 female, Mt. Do, subsummit forest, -21.7606 165.9996, 850 m, at light, 3.xi.2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg.; 2 males and 3 females, Mt. Do, -21.7574 166.0015, 850–950 m, 3.xi.2010, day beating, R. Ruta and M. Wanat leg.; 1 female, Mt. Do, summit maquis, -21.7544 165.9995, 1025 m, 4.xi.2010, R. Ruta and M. Wanat leg.

Body elliptic, moderately convex. Antennal calli, temples, median depression on vertex, mandibles, pronotum and hypomera very dark brown, almost black with slight bronze shine; elytra, scutellum and most of ventral surface brown, with faint dark blue metallic shine on elytra and scutellum; most of frons and clypeus brown with slight bronze metallic shine; labrum, antennae and legs testaceous, with base of tibiae and femora infuscate; palpi and apex of eleventh antennomere ochre. Length: 5.2 mm; width: 2.7 mm (range of male specimens: 4.5–5.4 mm long, 2.4–2.9 mm wide).

Frons with few small punctures anteriorly and supraocular sulci prolonged medially to middle of dorsal edge of supraantennal calli; clypeus with few small punctures basally and anterior border moderately emarginate medially. Eyes large, widely separate on frons by 1.8× their transverse diameter. Relative proportions of antennomeres: 2.2-1.0-1.9-2.1-2.6- 2.3-2.7-2.4-2.4-2.3-2.9. Prosternal process about 0.75× as wide as transverse diameter of procoxae. Elytra about 1.25× as long as ensemble width at base, widest behind humeri; surface finely alutaceous, shinier than pronotum, with relatively large punctures, smaller than intervals, rather confused anteriorly on disc. Basitarsomeres enlarged, as wide as third tarsomere, shorter than second and third tarsomeres combined in pro- and mesotarsi, and as long as these in metatarsi. Median apodeme of first abdominal ventrite about half as long as ventrite, arched, narrower than mesosternal process; all ventrites with fine microreticulation, sparse fine punctures and long fine, posteriorly adpressed pale yellow setae. Penis (Fig. 7m) slender, regularly curved ventrally, with sides nearly parallel in ventral view; apex elongate, arched, projecting short blunt tip at middle; gonopore relatively small, elongate elliptical, with distal end separated from apex of penis by distance longer than maximum width of gonopore; dorsal flap subrectangular, longer than wide, covering slightly more than half of gonopore. — Females. Spermatheca (Fig. 1d) with cornu shorter than nodulus, bent more or less at right angle relative to no­dulus; nodulus bulbous basally, with short protruding insertion of spermathecal gland submedially, opposite to cornu; spermathecal duct thin, inserted laterally near base of nodulus, oriented opposite to cornu and recurved parallel and about as long or slightly longer than nodulus before gradual enlargement with one complete, elongate coil.

This species can be distinguished from other species with body proportion > 1.8, subparallel and completely glabrous brown elytra, testaceous legs and antennae and prosternum narrower than procoxae, by punctures on disc of elytra generally smaller than intervals and by the relatively even surface of anterior lateral declivity of elytra in females, compared to the females of C. laevigata sp. nov., which have slight rugosities. The penises of these two species show marked differences too.

This species is dedicated with affection to Prof. Marek Wanat (Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Wrocław, Poland) for confiding us his excellent collection of New Caledonian Eumolpinae for study. This resource has been the key to most recent advances in the systematics of this group.

All the specimens of this species were collected near the summit of Mont Do, a high peak (1003 m a.s.l.) in an isolated ultramafic island northwest of the Massif du Sud (Fig. 8e).