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 Edit this 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

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Distinguished from other Mecodema species by having:

  1. ventrites 4–5 bearing numerous setose punctures;
  2. elytral striae defined anteriorly and laterally by large, irregularly spaced asetose punctures;
  3. shape of basal lobe and setal distribution along ventral edge of left paramere.[2]

Description

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Length 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

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One of the three Mecodema species that is adapted to inhabiting the braided-river systems of Canterbury and Otago, South Island.

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  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. PMID 31716064.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.