Mecodema dux

Mecodema dux
Conservation status
Not Threatened (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Adephaga
Family:	Carabidae
Genus:	Mecodema
Species:	M. dux
Binomial name
Mecodema dux Britton, 1949

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. ^[3]

Natural history

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

Further research is required.

Conservation status

Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as "Not Threatened". ^[4]

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. doi: 10.1080/03014223.1976.9517903 . ISSN   0301-4223.
3. 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.
4. Leschen, R. A.B.; Marris, J. W.M.; Emberson, R. M.; Nunn, J.; Hitchmough, R. A.; Stringer, I. A.N. (2012-07-01). "The conservation status of New Zealand Coleoptera" . New Zealand Entomologist. 35 (2): 91–98. Bibcode:2012NZEnt..35...91L. doi:10.1080/00779962.2012.686311. ISSN   0077-9962.