Mimopeus neglectus

Mimopeus neglectus
Mimopeus neglectus collected from Wellington, New Zealand
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Tenebrionidae
Genus: Mimopeus
Species:
M. neglectus
Binomial name
Mimopeus neglectus
Watt, 1988

Mimopeus neglectus is a species of darkling beetle in the subfamily Tenebrioninae, first described by J. C. Watt in 1988. It occurs around the Cook Strait area of New Zealand, on both the North and South Islands.

The beetles are a reddish brown or black colour, with a shiny underside. The species is similar morphologically to the North Island Mimopeus elongatus, however has a consistently different tapered structure of aedeagus. Unlike Mimopeus elongatus which consistently prefers living around Muehlenbeckia complexa plants, Mimopeus neglectus does not show a preference for exclusively preferring Muehlenbeckia complexa, and can be found around a variety of coastal grasses.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Watt, John Charles (1988). "A Revision of the Genus Mimopeus (Tenebrionidae)". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 25: 95–146. JSTOR 42906388. Wikidata Q58677355.
  2. 1 2 Watt, John Charles (1989). "A Revision of the Genus Mimopeus (Tenebrionidae) Part II". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 26: 39–81. JSTOR 42906396. Wikidata Q58677378.