Mecodema atuanui explained

Mecodema atuanui was described from a single male specimen collected in pitfall traps on Mount Auckland (Atuanui), Kaipara Region. It is a medium-length ground beetle that is related to Mecodema spiniferum,^[1] which is the only large-lengthed ground beetle species found in the Waitākere Ranges, Auckland, rather than the more geographically close species (M. dunnorum) to the east in Puhoi.

Diagnosis

Distinguished from other North Island Mecodema species by having:

1. a lobate labrum;
2. vertexal groove defined by punctures along the entire length;
3. elytral intervals 3 and 5 significantly broadened than otherintervals;
4. the distinctively narrow width of the apical portion of the penis lobe.

Description

Length 24.9 mm, pronotal width 6.7 mm, elytral width 7.9 mm. Colour of entire body matte black, except coxae and legs dark reddish-brown.

Notes and References

1. Seldon. D.S.. Buckley. T.R.. 2019. The genus Mecodema Blanchard 1853 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Broscini) from the North Island, New Zealand. Zootaxa. en. 4598. 1. zootaxa.4598.1.1. 10.11646/zootaxa.4598.1.1. 31716064. 164710644 . 1175-5334.