Mecodema jacinda
{{Short description|Species of beetle}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Mecodema jacinda.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Dorsal view of specimen
| genus = Mecodema
| species = jacinda
| authority = Seldon & Buckley, 2019
}}
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.{{Cite web|date=2019-12-20|title=Jacinda's lichen-ness|url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/12/20/956607?slug=jacindas-lichen-ness|access-date=2020-07-07|website=Newsroom|language=en-AU}}
Diagnosis
Differing 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.{{Cite journal|last1=Seldon|first1=D.S.|last2=Buckley|first2=T.R.|date=2019|title=The genus Mecodema Blanchard 1853 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Broscini) from the North Island, New Zealand|url=https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.4598.1.1|journal=Zootaxa|language=en|volume=4598|issue=1|pages=zootaxa.4598.1.1|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4598.1.1|pmid=31716064|s2cid=164710644 |issn=1175-5334}}
Description
Natural history
Relatively common and can be found under logs and rocks in native forest.
References
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Category:Beetles described in 2019