Mecodema oregoides Broun 1894

Mecodema oregoides (Broun, 1894) (redescription)

Figures: 5, 14a, 20d, 21c, 25.

Metaglymma oregoide Broun, 1894: 305.

Mecodema oregoides (Broun, 1894). Combination by Britton, 1949: 577.

Diagnosis. Head, body highly convex. Clypeus with a single setose puncture on each side bearing 1 seta. Prothoracic carina narrow, crenulated and extended to anterior angle, pronotum fovea poorly defined. Elytral striae with regularly distributed, small asetose punctures. Setose punctures present on 3rd, 4th and 5th ventrites. Apical portion of aedeagus symmetrically rounded with a twist to right of vertical axis, absent. Dorso-apical portion of central spicule, not greatly expanded. Basal lobe of left paramere rectangular, arm and apical lobe relatively small, and with setation along ventral edge of apical lobe only.

Description. Length 12–16 mm. Colour black. Head, body narrow and highly convex. Microsculpture of frons and vertex absent. Vertexal groove narrow, well defined middle, shallow laterally. Form of microsculpture on anterior area of clypeus, absent. Clypeus with a single setose puncture on each side bearing 1 seta. Form of lobes of the mentum, square. Submentum constriction broad with 6 setae. Prothoracic carina is narrow, crenulated and extended to anterior angle. Pronotum narrow and highly convex, posterior lateral sinuation highly angled inward, pronotal fovea poorly defined, rugose microsculpture absent laterally on pronotal disc. Elytra narrow and highly convex, striae with regularly distributed, small asetose punctures, intervals flat. Two setose punctures present on mesocoxa, 3 setose punctures on metacoxa. Setose punctures present on 3rd, 4th and 5th ventrites. Apical portion of aedeagus symmetrically rounded with twist to right of vertical axis, absent. Dorso-apical portion of central spicule, not greatly expanded. Left paramere basal lobe rectangular, arm and apical lobe relatively small, with setation along ventral edge of apical lobe only.

Comments. Broun (1894) did not list the number of specimens examined, so we designated a Lectotype. This species was described by Broun (1894) as Metaglymma oregoide and the name was based on one specimen found by Mr. Suter in his garden, Christchurch. The present combination was provided by Britton (1949) and the spelling of the species name was fixed by Larochelle and Larivière (2001). This species is one of the three species (including M. sulcatum and M. oblongum) that were previously within the sulcatum group. M. oregoides is the southern most species of the curvidens group and is found only on Banks Peninsula, South Island.

Distribution. South Island: Mid Canterbury (MC), Banks Penninsula (only).

Lectotype: (BMNH) Type (round label with red border) / 2608-6 [hw] / New Zeal. (red line underneath) Broun. Coll. Brit. Mus. 1922-482. / Canterbury [printed] / Metaglymma oregoide. [hw] / LECTOTYPE Metaglymma oregoide Broun design. by Seldon & Leschen 2010 [red label].

Other material examined: MC: 11, Cooper’s Knob 1983 J.I. Townsend (NZAC); 1, Katana Vly 1984 J.I. Townsend (NZAC); 5, Ahuriri S.R. 1986 J.I. Townsend (NZAC); 2, Summit Rd 1962 J.I. Townsend (NZAC); 1, Muriwai Res. 1996 G. Hall (NZAC); 1, no label data (NZAC); 4, Ahuriri Res. 2008 M.H. Bowie (NZAC); 1, Cooper’s Knob Banks Pen. 1986 P. Syratt (NZAC); 1, Christchurch Hilltop 1939 R. Allan (BMNH); 3, Akaroa 1902 J.J. Walker (BMNH); 1, Akaroa 1913 H. Swale (BMNH); 2, Purple Peak Akaroa 1945 C. E. Clarke (BMNH); 1, ‘Hilltops’ Port Hills Banks Pen. Akaroa 1942 C. E. Clarke (BMNH); 1, Mt Herbert Banks Pen. 1976 R.M. Emberson (LUNZ); 3, Mt Herbert Res. Banks Pen. 2003. C.J. Vink (LUNZ); 64, Coopers Knob Res. Banks Pen. 1977 M.R. Butcher & R.M. Emberson (LUNZ); 7, Coopers Knob Res. Banks Pen. 1978 M.R. Butcher & R.M. Emberson (LUNZ); 1, Coopers Knob Res. Banks Pen. 1973 R.M. Emberson (LUNZ); 3, Coopers Knob Res. Banks Pen. 1974 R.M. Emberson (LUNZ); 2, Coopers Knob Res. Banks Pen. 1969 P.M. Johns (LUNZ); 1, Coopers Knob Res. Banks Pen. 1977 R.M. Emberson (LUNZ); 9, Coopers Knob Res. Banks Pen. 1977 M.R. Butcher (LUNZ); 1, Coopers Knob Res. Banks Pen. 1978 M.R. Butcher (LUNZ); 1, Coopers Knob Res. Banks Pen. 1971 M.R. Butcher (LUNZ); 1, Coopers Knob Res. Banks Pen. 1990 Y. Hanboonsong (LUNZ); 3, Kaituna Valley 1976 R.M. Emberson (LUNZ); 3, Longbay 1974 R.M. Emberson (LUNZ); 2, Longbay 1974 J.W. Dunbar (LUNZ); 1, Otepatotu Bay 1992 M.H. Bowie (LUNZ); 1, Summit Rd Cass Peak Rd 1974 R.M. Emberson (LUNZ); 1, Hoon Hay S.R. Christchurch 1995 C.J. Vink (LUNZ); 2, Hinewai S.R. 1996 C.J. Vink (LUNZ); 1, Mt Herbert 1976 R.M. Emberson (LUNZ).