Mecodema dux explained

Mecodema dux is a medium-bodied New Zealand endemic ground beetle that is found in the Ruahine Ranges, Taupo, Rangitikei and southwestern Hawke's Bay entomological regions.^{[1] [2]}

Diagnosis

Distinguished from other North Island Mecodema species by:

1. the overall pronotal shape being ovate;
2. numerous punctures between pronotal foveae;
3. elytral striae 1–4 with obsolescent punctures, striae 5–8 with punctures more impressed;
4. the distinctive shape of the apical portion of the penis lobe.^[3]

Description

Length 19–24 mm, pronotal width 5–6 mm, elytral width 6–7.1 mm. Colour of entire body dark reddish-brown to matte black, coxae and legs reddish-brown.

Natural History

A flightless and nocturnal predator of a variety of invertebrates on the forest floor.

Further research is required.

Notes and References

1. Britton. E.B.. 1949. The Carabidae (Coleoptera) of New Zealand Part III - A revision of the tribe Broscini. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 77. 4. 533–581.
2. Crosby. T.K.. Dugdale. J.S.. Watt. J.C.. 1976. Recording specimen localities in New Zealand: An arbitrary system of areas and codes defined. New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 3. 1. 69. 10.1080/03014223.1976.9517903. 0301-4223. free.
3. 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. 1–148. 10.11646/zootaxa.4598.1.1. 1175-5334.