Mecodema curvidens

Mecodema curvidens Broun is a medium-bodied ground beetle that is geographically widespread throughout the central areas of the North Island, New Zealand, which includes the entomological regions^[1] of Auckland (AK), Waikato (WO), Coromandel (CL), Bay of Plenty (BP), Taupo (TO), Rangitikei (RI), Whanganui (WI), Hawkes Bay (HB) and Wellington (WN). Recently, the species M. occiputale Broun was synonymised under M. curvidens (Seldon & Buckley 2019). Mecodema curvidens is relatively common through its range except in the southern area of the Hunua Ranges (Auckland) and Wellington regions.^[2]

Mecodema curvidens
Conservation status
Not Threatened (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Adephaga
Family:	Carabidae
Genus:	Mecodema
Species:	M. curvidens
Binomial name
Mecodema curvidens Broun, 1915

Diagnosis

Distinguished from other North Island Mecodema species by having:

1. pronotal carina with 4–6 setae each side (curvidens species group);
2. a vertexal groove that is narrow and defined entire length;
3. distinctive form of the basal lobe and setal distribution along ventral edge of the left paramere.^[3]

Description

Length 18–26 mm, pronotal width 5.4–7.53 mm, elytral width 6.13–8.56 mm. Colour of entire body glossy to matte black, except coxae to tarsi reddish-brown to black.^[3]

Conservation status

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