In recent years the high plateaus and escarpments of the north-eastern area of the Parataiko Range, Northland, Aotearoa – New Zealand have been recognised by taxonomists as a biodiversity hotspot with several new plant species unique to the whenua (land) above the Waima Valley. The wet and cool climate limits the growth of kauri (Agathis australis) but has allowed for unique species (e.g. Coprosma waima, Olearia crebra) to adapt to the steep-sided slopes and damp soils of the plateaus. Northland is also recognised as a biodiversity hotspot for the ground beetle genus Mecodema, with 15 described species endemic to this region, almost double that of an equivalent North Island entomological region. We describe, M. haakuturi sp. nov., which is restricted to the north-eastern arm of the Parataiko Range and is one of only a few Mecodema species found above an altitude of 500 m in Northland. We provide an updated key of Mecodema species from the Northland region, including the northern Auckland/Northland boundary species M. rusticulus and the widespread coastal M. antarcticum.

To address the challenges of consistency and quality in taxonomic classifications, we have developed a Python program called TaxonGPT, that utilizes the natural language processing capabilities of generative artificial intelligence (gAI, specifically, ChatGPT-4o) to generate taxonomic descriptions and taxonomic keys. To counter the propensity for large language model gAIs to "hallucinate", we use knowledge graph semantic representation and an error-checking module to ensure that accurate taxonomic descriptions and keys are obtained. In this paper, we describe how TaxonGPT embeds ChatGPT-4o's responses as outputs. We also report on benchmark tests for accuracy, efficiency and reproducibility. These tests demonstrate that TaxonGPT excels in generating taxonomic keys and descriptions. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.

Distocupes varians (Lea, 1908) (Coleoptera: Cupedidae) is a species within the relictual suborder Archostemata. This suborder has a nearly worldwide distribution, which includes the Gondwanan regions and countries Australia, New Caledonia, southern South America, but not New Zealand. The larvae of Archostemata are woodborers, with several cupedid species known to feed on fungi-rich rotting wood, whereas the adults feed on pollen or sap. Until recently, these beetles were unknown from New Zealand, but in November 2021 two adult specimens were caught in SLAM traps in Laingholm, West Auckland. These specimens were collected two weeks apart, which suggests that there is an established population, rather than these being independent incidents of wind-assisted arrivals. This hypothesis is further corroborated by additional specimens of D. varians collected or photographed during November and December 2022, which were then recorded on iNaturalist (https://inaturalist.nz/), a citizen science platform to record, organise and identify biodiversity.

In recent years the high plateaus and escarpments of the northeastern area of the Parataiko Range, Northland, Aotearoa - New Zealand have been recognised by taxonomists as a biodiversity hotspot with several new plant species unique to the whenua (land) above the Waima Valley. The wet and cool climate limits the growth of kauri (Agathis australis) but has allowed for unique species (e.g. Coprosma waima, Olearia crebra) to adapt to the steep-sided slopes and damp soils of the plateaus. Northland is also recognised as a biodiversity hotspot for the ground beetle genus Mecodema, with 15 described species endemic to this region, almost double that of an equivalent North Island entomological region. We describe, M. haakuturi sp. nov., which is restricted to the north-eastern arm of the Parataiko Range and is one of only a few Mecodema species found above an altitude of 500 m in Northland. We provide an updated key of Mecodema species from the Northland region, including the northern Auckland/Northland boundary species M. rusticulus and the widespread coastal M. antarcticum. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CB67CF55-C486-4AFD-B0C1-5F7CAB86A419

The ground beetle tribe Broscini is distributed throughout the world, with most of its diversity occurring within the southern hemisphere subtribe Nothobroscina. Species of Nothobroscina are found in Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand and southern South America, with almost all genera endemic to the countries in which they are found. The only exception to date is the genus Percosoma , which is recorded from Tasmania and Victoria (mainland Australia), as well as New Caledonia. Confusion surrounding taxonomic placement of the New Caledonian broscine led to this investigation. In this study, we propose a new monotypic genus, Monteremita , gen. nov. to accommodate Percosoma asymetricum Fauvel, 1903, based upon characteristics that distinguish it from the other genera in the subtribe Nothobroscina.

Mecodema (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Broscini) is a hyperdiverse endemic New Zealand genus of ground beetles with only a few geographically widespread species found throughout the two main islands, as well as many offshore islands. Using specimens from a number of private and institutional collections, in addition new specimens were acquired by extensive pitfall trapping, we describe or redescribe all of the known North Island Mecodema species. Additionally, we redescribe three South Island species from the former genus Metaglymma, as morphological evidence shows that these species are nested within Mecodema. Species descriptions are formed by using 128 morphological characters, which include external characters, as well as both male and female internal structures. There are four new combinations: Mecodema antarctica comb. n., M. aberrans comb. n., M. moniliferum comb. n. and M. tibiale comb. n. We synonymise M. occiputale under Mecodema curvidens, and M. sulcatum under Mecodema oblongum, and reinstate M. scitulum Broun (northwest Hunua Range, Auckland). Twenty four new species are described: Mecodema argentum sp. n., M. atuanui sp. n., M. dunnorum sp. n., M. genesispotini sp. n., M. godzilla sp. n., M. jacinda sp. n., M. kipjac sp. n., M. kokoroiho sp. n., M. mohi sp. n., M. ngaiatonga sp. n., M. ngaitahuhu sp. n., M. papake sp. n., M. perexiguus sp. n., M. rusticulus sp. n., M. temata sp. n., M. teparawhau sp. n., M. teroroa sp. n., M. tewhara sp. n., M. tuhoe sp. n., M. undecimus sp. n., M. wharekahika sp. n., M. xylanthrax sp. n., M. yconomus sp. n., M. zonula sp. n. North Island regional species endemism is very high in Northland (15/16 endemic species), with species becoming more widespread in the southern regions, e.g. Wellington only has two endemic species from a total of eight species. This research increases the total number of described Mecodema species to 102, and will allow a modern taxonomic framework for completion of the revision of the South Island species.

Spiders are a diverse and ecologically important order of invertebrates, and despite a relatively extensive understanding of spider taxonomy in New Zealand, we know comparatively little about the ecology of our native spider fauna. Here, we characterise the ground-dwelling spider community within several native forest fragments in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Spiders were examined from invertebrate pitfall traps collected annually between 1998 and 2015 as part of the restoration of Boundary Stream Mainland Island. We found a level of spider diversity comparable to other native New Zealand ecosystems, though the extensive sampling regimen was estimated to have captured only 77% of the true diversity at the sites. The spider community exhibited marked annual variation in abundance and diversity, which differed between species. A number of interesting elements of the spider fauna in this region was revealed, highlighting the benefits of carrying out routine ecological surveys of invertebrate communities.

Mecodema chaiup sp. nov. (Carabidae: Broscini) is described from a single male specimen collected from Mohi Bush Scenic Reserve, Maraetotara Plateau, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. The species is unique among Mecodema in that its elytra are narrower than the pronotum at the widest point. Based on body size and elytral configuration this species could represent the first member of the 'costellum species group' found in the North Island. Alternatively, aedeagal and head configuration support a close phylogenetic relationship with the widespread M. oconnori. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:ACFCBAC9-9013-4F1B-9FCE-09F2CE79DC70

Mecodema kokoromatua sp.n. (Carabidae: Broscini) is described from specimens collected from a small stretch of coastal forest adjacent to the Ahipara escarpment, Northland. We include a revised key and phylogeny for the 'curvidens group', and raise the number of endemic broscine species in Northland to eight. The ventral bursal keel is a newly identified structure from the female reproductive tract, which is attached ventrally to the helminthoid sclerite. The ventral bursal keel is Y-shaped in the 'curvidens group'.

The flightless carabid genus Mecodema Blanchard 1843 is restricted to New Zealand and presently contains 64 species. In this study, we examine species in the newly constituted curvidens group (sulcatum and curvidens are synonymised), reducing the Mecodema species groups to seven. They share two synapomorphies (rounded apical lobe of the aedeagus and lack of microsculpture on the vertex of the head) and are distributed in Northland, south along the east coast of the North Island and the northeast portion of the South Island. Adult specimens of the curvidens and sulcatum groups, along with exemplars of the other Mecodema groups (alternans, costellum, ducale, infimate, laterale and spiniferum), and an outgroup Oregus Putzeys 1868 were examined for cladistic analysis using a data matrix composed of a 63 characters and 21 terminal taxa. The analysis resulted in 18 most parsimonious trees. The following new species in the curvidens group are described: M. aoteanoho sp. n., M. haunoho sp. n., M. manaia sp. n., M. parataiko sp. n., M. ponaiti sp. n., and M. tenaki sp. n. Mecodema exitiosus was wrongly sysnonymised under M. occiputale and we propose a new synonymy M. curvidens (=M. exitiosus). We consider the parts of the male genitalia in detail with special attention to the structures of apical plate once everted from the endophallus.

Pitfall trapping is commonly used to sample epigaeic invertebrates throughout the world. However, this technique can be ineffective for capturing some species, whilst capturing high numbers of nontarget invertebrates. This study aims to improve the efficacy of pitfall trapping for sampling Mecodema spp. (Coleoptera: Carabidae), but also examines the potential of live pitfall traps to reduce the by-catch of other invertebrates. Four types of pitfall traps were used in two separate sampling regimes: baited kill trap versus nonbaited kill trap, and chambered live trap versus non-chambered live trap, in regenerating kauri/broadleaf mixed forest (Waitakere Ranges, Auckland, New Zealand). Results show all four types of traps sampled different components of the invertebrate community. Baited kill traps caught extremely high numbers of some groups, particularly Diptera and Coleoptera, whereas non-baited kill traps caught far fewer individuals of these groups. Both types of live capture traps caught few individuals. Three genera of large-bodied Carabidae (Ctenognathus, Holcaspis and Mecodema) were caught in similarly low numbers in both baited and non-baited traps indicating that baiting with squid is ineffective as an attractant to increase catch rates of the genus Mecodema. Although baiting did not increase carabid catches it appears that live traps worked as well as kill traps, but live traps caught fewer invertebrates and therefore significantly reduce the bycatch. A negative aspect of live pitfall trapping is the potential of captured invertebrates to prey upon each other. However, no predation was observed within the traps during this study.

A synthetic sex pheromone trapping survey of the leaf skeletonizer Uraba lugens Walker (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) demonstrated the unexpectedly widespread distribution of the insect across > 40,000 ha of urban Auckland, New Zealand. A survey of eucalyptus trees planted in parks and other public areas showed a significant spatial correlation between trap catch and breeding populations, validating the trap survey results. Traps in trees showing damage had four-fold higher catches than traps placed in undamaged or nonbost trees, and < 1% of damaged trees with traps failed to catch adult moths. Damage by larval feeding was correlated with male trap catch in the previous generation, offering good prospects for a pest management decision support system, provided that an economic threshold is developed. Catches increased by 3.4-fold in the same georeferenced trapping grid between November and December 2003 and between March and April 2004 across two generations, over the summer. A vertical transect showed that catches increased with height up to the top trap at 13 in (60% of mean tree height). Options for managing the insect will need to overcome the high rate of increase, the rate of spread, and the vertical distribution of the insect on tall eucalyptus trees.

This study examined divergence in the foraging distribution, at-sea behaviour and provisioning strategies of a small procellarid, the Cook's petrel Pterodroma cookii, during chick-rearing at 2 islands off New Zealand, separated latitudinally by similar to 1000 km. There was little overlap in foraging distribution between adults from Little Barrier Island (LBI), which ranged to the west into the Northern Tasman Sea and east into the Pacific Ocean, and conspecifics from Codfish Island (CDF), which foraged west of the South Island in the south Tasman Sea in association with the subtropical convergence zone. Although birds from CDF ranged further than those from LBI, there was no difference in mean foraging trip duration. Cook's petrels from CDF foraged over deeper, cooler water, with higher primary productivity, than conspecifics from LBI. At-sea behaviour also differed: adults from LBI spent less time in flight, and showed less variation in total flight time per day. Overall, Cook's petrels spend much more time in flight than albatrosses, and approximately the same amounts of time on the water during the night as during the day, suggesting a high portion of nocturnal foraging. Dive depths did not differ between colonies but were greater than expected for a gadfly petrel. Stable isotope signatures of blood indicated population-specific diets, and suggested that birds from LBI primarily consume cephalopods and fish, whereas those from CDF eat more crustaceans. Chicks at CDF received more food. These results suggest a broad divergence in foraging strategies between geographically well-separated colonies in response to regional differences in oceanography.

Guava moth was first observed in New Zealand in 1997 Little is known of this species in its native Australia where it is not considered a pest In New Zealand guava moths laid their eggs at the stem and style end and in cracks and crevices on fruit and the resulting larvae fed internally on fruits Pupation occurred in loose soil and debris in the orchard and in sawdust beneath fruits in the laboratory In July 2003 guava moth distribution as determined by pheromone trap catches was limited to Northland where adult males were found north of and including Whangarei Heads No moths were trapped in Auckland Waikato or Bay of Plenty Larvae were collected from a range of introduced fruits in Northland during all months of the year However no larvae were found in samples of nearly ripe native berries Control options for guava moth are discussed