Meracantha
{{Short description|Genus of beetles}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Meracantha contracta.jpg
| image_caption = Meracantha contracta
| taxon = Meracantha
| authority = Kirby, 1837
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}
Meracantha is a genus of darkling beetles found in North America. It contains one extant species, M. contracta, and also the extinct species M. lacustris.{{Cite web |title=Meracantha Kirby, 1837 |url=https://www.gbif.org/species/3261236 |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=www.gbif.org |language=en}}
Description
Meracantha contracta ranges from 11 to 14 mm in length.{{Cite web |title=Meracantha contracta (Beauvois) Tenebrioniformes Tenebrionidae |url=https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/teneb/m_contracta.htm |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=entnemdept.ufl.edu}} The fossil from which M. lacustris was originally described is 10.5 mm long, and also differs from M. contracta in having more slender femora which are more strongly and suddenly clavate towards the tip.{{Cite journal |last=Wickham |first=H. F. |date=1909-08-01 |title=New fossil Coleoptera from Florissant |url=http://www.ajsonline.org/cgi/doi/10.2475/ajs.s4-28.164.126 |journal=American Journal of Science |language=en |volume=s4-28 |issue=164 |pages=126–130 |doi=10.2475/ajs.s4-28.164.126 |issn=0002-9599|url-access=subscription }}
References
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