Mecodema jacinda is a large-bodied ground beetle endemic to Maungatautari Sanctuary, Waikato, New Zealand. It is the largest species of Mecodema found on Maungatautari, which also has the medium-sized M. curvidens inhabiting the forest. It is named after former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.[1]

Mecodema jacinda
Dorsal view of specimen
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Carabidae
Genus: Mecodema
Species:
M. jacinda
Binomial name
Mecodema jacinda
Seldon & Buckley, 2019

Diagnosis

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Differing from all other North Island Mecodema species by:

  1. vertex smooth, vertexal groove defined by a few obsolescent punctures;
  2. the pronotal carina broad the entire length with 8–12 setae each side;
  3. interval 7 strongly convex in apical ⅓ (very distinctive);
  4. the shape of the apical portion of the penis lobe.[2]

Description

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Length 29–36 mm, pronotal width 7.9–10.2 mm, elytral width 9.1–11.6 mm. Colour of entire body matte to glossy black (especially pronotum).[2]

Natural history

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Relatively common and can be found under logs and rocks in native forest.

References

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  1. ^ "Jacinda's lichen-ness". Newsroom. 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  2. ^ 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): zootaxa.4598.1.1. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4598.1.1. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 31716064. S2CID 164710644.