Mecodema haunoho

Mecodema haunoho is the only ground beetle (Carabidae) species that is endemic to Little Barrier Island (Hauturu).^[1][2][3] It is sister species of the Great Barrier Island (Aotea) species M. aoteanoho and both are closely related to M. manaia, a species found in Bream Head, Northland, New Zealand.^[1]

Mecodema haunoho
Dorsal view of Mecodema haunoho from Little Barrier Island, New Zealand
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Adephaga
Family:	Carabidae
Genus:	Mecodema
Species:	M. haunoho
Binomial name
Mecodema haunoho Seldon & Leschen, 2011
Distribution (in green) of Mecodema haunoho

Diagnosis

Distinguished from other North Island Mecodema species by having:

1. the prothoracic carina narrow the entire length, moderately crenulated with 3 setae along each side (curvidens species group);
2. the distinctive shape of the penis lobe.^[2]

Description

Length 20.5–24.1 mm, pronotal width 5.1–5.9 mm, elytral width 6.3–6.8 mm. Colour of the entire body is matte to glossy black.^[1][2]

Natural history

Found throughout the island, but more commonly encountered in the broadleaf forests of the southern and southwestern areas of Hauturu.