Mimopeus elongatus is a species of darkling beetle in the subfamily Tenebrioninae, first described by Ferdinando Arborio Gattinara di Breme in 1842, who considered it a type of Cilibe.[1]

Mimopeus elongatus
Mimopeus elongatus illustration by Des Helmore.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Tenebrionidae
Genus: Mimopeus
Species:
M. elongatus
Binomial name
Mimopeus elongatus
(Breme, 1842)
Synonyms
  • Cilibe elongata Breme, 1842[1]
  • Mimopeus phosphugoides White, 1846[2]
  • Mimopeus amaroides Pascoe, 1866[2]
  • Mimopeus granulipennis Bates, 1873[2]
  • Mimopeus huttoni Sharp, 1878[2]
  • Mimopeus marginalis Broun, 1893[2]
  • Mimopeus meridionalis Sharp, 1903[2]

The species is found on the coast of the North Island of New Zealand in sand dunes, amongst Muehlenbeckia complexa and boulders on beaches, or around boulders in the Auckland volcanic field.[3] The beetles are a reddish brown or black colour, with a shiny underside, with adults measuring approximately 11–15 mm in length and 5.3–7.3 mm in width.[3] The species is predated upon by the polynesian rat and brown rats.[4][5]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Watt, J. C. (1988). "A Revision of the Genus Mimopeus (Tenebrionidae)". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 25: 95–146. ISSN 0067-0464. JSTOR 42906388. Wikidata Q58677355.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Watt, J. C. (1992). "Tenebrionidae (Insecta: Coleoptera): catalogue of types and keys to taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 26. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Watt, J. C. (1989). "A Revision of the Genus Mimopeus (Tenebrionidae) Part II". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 26: 39–81. ISSN 0067-0464. JSTOR 42906396. Wikidata Q58677378.
  4. ^ Watt, J. C. (1983). Beetles (Coleoptera) of Auckland. Tane, 29, 31-50.
  5. ^ Parrish, G. R., & Anderson, P. J. (1999). Lizard transfers from Matapia Island to Motuopao Island, Northland and observations on other fauna. Tane [Auckland], 37, 1-14.