Mecodema atuanui

Mecodema atuanui was described from a single male specimen collected in pitfall traps on Mt Auckland (Atuanui), Kaipara Region. It is a medium-length ground beetle that is related to Mecodema spiniferum,[1] which is the only large-lengthed ground beetle species found in the Waitākere Ranges, Auckland, rather than the more geographically close species (M. dunnorum) to the east in Puhoi.

Mecodema atuanui
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Carabidae
Genus: Mecodema
Species:
M. atuanui
Binomial name
Mecodema atuanui
Seldon & Buckley 2019

Diagnosis

Distinguished from other North Island Mecodema species by having:

  1. a lobate labrum;
  2. vertexal groove defined by punctures along the entire length;
  3. elytral intervals 3 and 5 significantly broadened than otherintervals;
  4. the distinctively narrow width of the apical portion of the penis lobe.[1]

Description

Length 24.9 mm, pronotal width 6.7 mm, elytral width 7.9 mm. Colour of entire body matte black, except coxae and legs dark reddish-brown.[1]

Natural History

gollark: I expect chances to be *slightly* better this month at least.
gollark: Stupid slightly annoying CB requiring goals...
gollark: I should really work on that...
gollark: Er, three.
gollark: Well, I have two, so it's not surprising.

References

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