Mecodema moniliferum is a medium-sized ground beetle endemic to the South island, New Zealand.[1] This species is part of the monophyletic curvidens group and is found on the braided-river systems of the South Island.[2]
| Mecodema moniliferum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Dorsal view of specimen | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Carabidae |
| Genus: | Mecodema |
| Species: | M. moniliferum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mecodema moniliferum (Bates, 1867)
| |
Diagnosis
editDistinguished from other Mecodema species by having:
- ventrites 4–5 bearing numerous setose punctures;
- elytral striae defined anteriorly and laterally by large, irregularly spaced asetose punctures;
- shape of basal lobe and setal distribution along ventral edge of left paramere.[2]
Description
editLength 14.6–19.5 mm, pronotal width 4.2–6.2 mm, elytral width 5.1–7.1 mm. Colour of entire body matte reddish-brown to matte black.[2]
Natural history
editOne of the three Mecodema species that is adapted to inhabiting the braided-river systems of Canterbury and Otago, South Island.
References
edit- ^ Britton, E.B. (1949). "The Carabidae (Coleoptera) of New Zealand part 3: A revision of the tribe Broscini". Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 77: 533–581.
- ^ a b c 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. PMID 31716064.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.