Mecodema dux
| Mecodema dux | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Carabidae |
| Genus: | Mecodema |
| Species: | M. dux
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| Binomial name | |
| Mecodema dux Britton, 1949
| |
Mecodema dux is a medium-bodied New Zealand endemic ground beetle that is found in the Ruahine Ranges, Taupo, Rangitikei and southwestern Hawke's Bay entomological regions.[1][2]
Diagnosis
[edit]Distinguished from other North Island Mecodema species by:
- the overall pronotal shape being ovate;
- numerous punctures between pronotal foveae;
- elytral striae 1–4 with obsolescent punctures, striae 5–8 with punctures more impressed;
- the distinctive shape of the apical portion of the penis lobe.[3]
Description
[edit]Length 19–24 mm, pronotal width 5–6 mm, elytral width 6–7.1 mm. Colour of entire body dark reddish-brown to matte black, coxae and legs reddish-brown.[3]
Natural History
[edit]A flightless and nocturnal predator of a variety of invertebrates on the forest floor.
Further research is required.
References
[edit]- ^ Britton, E.B. (1949). "The Carabidae (Coleoptera) of New Zealand Part III - A revision of the tribe Broscini". Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 77 (4): 533–581.
- ^ Crosby, T.K.; Dugdale, J.S.; Watt, J.C. (1976). "Recording specimen localities in New Zealand: An arbitrary system of areas and codes defined". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 3 (1): 69. doi:10.1080/03014223.1976.9517903. ISSN 0301-4223.
- ^ a b Seldon, D.S.; Buckley, T.R. (2019). "The genus Mecodema Blanchard 1853 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Broscini) from the North Island, New Zealand". Zootaxa. 4598 (1): 1–148. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4598.1.1. ISSN 1175-5334.