Meracantha contracta is a species of darkling beetle found in North America.

They are notable for the shape of the ninth abdominal segment, which is obliquely truncate (ending abruptly).

[5] Like other beetles, M. contracta goes through the four stages of egg, larva, pupa and adult.

[7] This beetle occurs under bark and on dead stumps of trees, typically those that have lichens and moss.

[9] In captivity, larvae of this species have been reared on a diet of chick feed with a small amount of leaf litter.