[1] This species then became a junior synonym of Mecodema spiniferum after Everard B. Britton completed his revision of the New Zealand Broscini in 1949.

Like Broun, Britton based this synonymy on the only specimen available, the holotype, because of the confusion surrounding the type locality where M. scitulum was collected from.

Buckley (2019) reinstated the species M. scitulum based on the morphological comparisons of 30+ specimens with the holotype and molecular analyses.

Mecodema scitulum is distinguished from other North Island Mecodema by the vertexal groove at the back of the head being defined by obsolescent (just visible) punctures along its entire length; the convexity of the elytral intervals and the unique shape of the apical portion of the penis lobe.

Mecodema scitulum is a nocturnal predator on the forest floor and preys on a range of different invertebrates (e.g., worms, caterpillars, etc.