Brullea

Brullea antarctica is large (25 mm), glabrous reddish brown to black with a distinct "waist" or narrowing between thorax and abdomen, like the related genus Mecodema.[2] Indeed, recent DNA analysis places it within that genus, a sister group to Mecodema curvidens; its distinctive differences in body shape may be adaptations to burrowing in sand.[3]

Brullea's legs are well-adapted for digging in sand with greatly expanded coxa, femur and tibia: all tibia are greatly expanded at their distal ends, and the middle and hind pairs are also strongly curved.[4] Brullea has short antennae, large curved mandibles, and a rather boxy shape in contrast to the longer more elegant Mecodema. Its larval form was unknown for some time, and was first described in 1978.[5][6]

Brullea antarctica from Castlecliff Beach, Whanganui

Brullea is found in the supralittoral or splash zone of sandy beaches around the New Zealand coast, underneath logs or stones, hiding in the sand during the day and emerging at night to feed.[7][8] It was described by George Hudson as "usually rare",[7] but is a secretive burrowing beetle, and occasionally is discovered in reasonable numbers.[9] It was rediscovered by schoolchildren on the Whanganui coast in 2006 after not being recorded for many years.[10]

Brullea antarctica has been recorded being heavily preyed on by katipō spiders,[9] and it may be threatened by the introduced South African spider Steatoda capensis, either as a predator or competitor.[11]