Mecodema manaia is a medium-sized ground beetle species found in the native forests of Bream Head and Mt Manaia, Northland, New Zealand.[1] This species shares the forests of Bream Head with a large-bodied species, Mecodema tewhara, with both inhabiting slightly different forest type.[2]

Mecodema manaia
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. manaia
Binomial name
Mecodema manaia
Seldon & Leschen, 2011

Diagnosis

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Distinguished from other North Island Mecodema species by having:

  1. the pronotal carina with 3–4 setae along each side (curvidens species group);
  2. pronotum overall shape squared, midline poorly defined, medial impressions and microsculpture absent;
  3. elytral interval 7 curved inwardly to parallel humeral angle;
  4. ventrites 3 and 4 without setose punctures, ventrite 5 with 1 setose puncture each side of midline.[2]

Description

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Length 24.5–28.7 mm (0.96–1.13 in), pronotal width 6.5–7.7 mm (0.26–0.30 in), elytral width 7.8–9.2 mm (0.31–0.36 in). Colour of entire body matte to glossy black.[2]

Natural history

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Mecodema manaia is found in the native broadleaf forest, especially areas with deep leaf litter.

References

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  1. ^ Seldon, David S.; Leschen, Richard A.B. (2011). "A revision of the Mecodema curvidens group (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Broscini)". Zootaxa. 2829: 1–45. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2829.1.1. hdl:2292/8777.
  2. ^ 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.