Megadromus speciosus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Megadromus speciosus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Megadromus speciosus found in Marlborough, New Zealand | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Adephaga |
| Family: | Carabidae |
| Genus: | Megadromus |
| Species: | M. speciosus |
| Binomial name | |
| Megadromus speciosus Johns, 2007 | |
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| Observations of Megadromus speciosus from iNaturalist (as of August, 2024). | |
Megadromus speciosus is a species of ground beetle (family Carabidae), endemic to New Zealand and of high conservation interest.[1]
Megadromus speciosus (Picton ground beetle) is found in just a few forest remnants, in northern South Island New Zealand.[1][2] The species is typically found under stones and logs, and in areas with deep leaf litter.[2] The habitat is heavily influenced by the presence of wild pigs, which have caused extensive damage to the soil surface and understorey vegetation, particularly at Port Underwood.[2] The species also shows a preference for undisturbed native vegetation.[2]
The species is confined to isolated populations in the Marlborough Sounds, northern South Island, New Zealand.[2] Specifically, it is found at Port Underwood Saddle and Arapawa Island.[2] The Arapawa Island population appears to be more secure, while the Port Underwood population is under threat from habitat degradation.[2] A historical report suggested the presence of the species on Blumine Island, but this was not confirmed in recent surveys.[2] Niche modelling used to study the distribution of this genus found that 50% of the predicted range of Megadromus speciosus is within the New Zealand protected areas network.[3]
Morphology
Megadromus speciosus is described as a large, stout-bodied beetle with a length of 23-26 mm.[2] The dorsal surface of the head and pronotum is greenish, while the elytra have a coppery-purple sheen.[2] Male genitalia are distinct, with an enlarged mesotibia and a forked left paramere.[2] The morphological conservatism within the genus makes species identification challenging without examining genitalia.[2]