Mecodema jacinda is a large-bodied ground beetle endemic to Maungatautari Sanctuary, Waikato, New Zealand. It is the largest species of Mecodema found on Maungatautari, which also has the medium-sized M. curvidens inhabiting the forest. It is named after former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.[1]
| Mecodema jacinda | |
|---|---|
| |
| Dorsal view of specimen | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Carabidae |
| Genus: | Mecodema |
| Species: | M. jacinda
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mecodema jacinda Seldon & Buckley, 2019
| |
Diagnosis
editDiffering from all other North Island Mecodema species by:
- vertex smooth, vertexal groove defined by a few obsolescent punctures;
- the pronotal carina broad the entire length with 8–12 setae each side;
- interval 7 strongly convex in apical ⅓ (very distinctive);
- the shape of the apical portion of the penis lobe.[2]
Description
editLength 29–36 mm, pronotal width 7.9–10.2 mm, elytral width 9.1–11.6 mm. Colour of entire body matte to glossy black (especially pronotum).[2]
Natural history
editRelatively common and can be found under logs and rocks in native forest.
References
edit- ^ "Jacinda's lichen-ness". Newsroom. 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
- ^ a b Seldon, D.S.; Buckley, T.R. (2019). "The genus Mecodema Blanchard 1853 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Broscini) from the North Island, New Zealand". Zootaxa. 4598 (1): zootaxa.4598.1.1. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4598.1.1. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 31716064. S2CID 164710644.