General and Applied Entomology: The Journal of the Entomological Society of New South Wales, 2010
The South American chrysomelid 'Lema bilineata' Germar is recorded for the first time in ... more The South American chrysomelid 'Lema bilineata' Germar is recorded for the first time in Australia. Adults and larvae were found feeding on Prairie Ground Cherry ('Physalis viscosa' L.) in an open greenhouse in Wagga Wagga in southern New South Wales during November 2008. The greenhouse population was eradicated immediately after it was recognised as a potential biosecurity threat but further detections of 'L. bilineata' were subsequently made in the Cootamundra area. 'L. bilineata' feeds on a range of solanaceous plants including both crop species and weeds, and has potential negative and positive impacts on agriculture in south-eastern Australia.
Stromatium Audinet‐Serville 1834 is considered to be one of the most economically important gener... more Stromatium Audinet‐Serville 1834 is considered to be one of the most economically important genera of Cerambycidae. Three species of this genus, Stromatium barbatum (Fabricius ), Stromatium longicorne (Newman 1842) and Stromatium auratum (Böber 1793), are able to develop to maturity in seasoned timber and are distributed worldwide due to human commerce. We clarified here the status of wild populations of Stromatium in Australia. Stromatium darwinense Jin & Weir sp. nov. is described from the Northern Territory in Australia, based on evidence from morphological characters and mtDNA barcode sequences (421 bp fragment of COI). The new species is morphologically very similar to S. longicorne, which is native to Christmas Island but not to mainland Australia. We redescribe S. barbatum and S. longicorne, the introductions of which still remain high risks for Australian biosecurity.
This study attempts to answer Andrews' (1991) question, "do perceptions of advertising in general... more This study attempts to answer Andrews' (1991) question, "do perceptions of advertising in general vary cross-culturally?" Eighty-two undergraduate students from the former Soviet Union republic of Kazakstan were questioned about their beliefs about advertising. The analysis revealed predominantly negative feelings toward advertising in general. Findings indicate unfamiliarity or general distrust of advertising and uncertainty about the role and potential of advertising to improve the quality of life in the country. A discussion about advertising in Kazakstan's emerging capitalist economy is also included. (Contains 29 references and 2 tables of data.) (Author/RS) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.
Climate fluctuations and tectonic reconfigurations associated with environmental changes play lar... more Climate fluctuations and tectonic reconfigurations associated with environmental changes play large roles in determining patterns of adaptation and diversification, but studies documenting how such drivers have shaped the evolutionary history and diversification dynamics of limnic organisms during the Mesozoic are scarce. Members of the heteropteran infraorder Nepomorpha, or aquatic bugs, are ideal for testing the effects of these determinants on their diversification pulses because most species are confined to aquatic environments during their entire life. The group has a relatively mature taxonomy and is well represented in the fossil record. We investigated the evolution of Nepomorpha based on phylogenetic analyses of morphological and molecular characters sampled from 115 taxa representing all 13 families and approximately 40% of recognized genera. Our results were largely congruent with the phylogenetic relationships inferred from morphology. A divergence dating analysis indica...
We investigated the phylogenetic relationships among seven of the ten Halobatinae genera (Heterop... more We investigated the phylogenetic relationships among seven of the ten Halobatinae genera (Heteroptera: Gerridae) based on COI+II, 16S rRNA, and 28S rRNA genes. Our analyses recovered monophyly of Halobatinae, and suggested paraphyly of Metrocorini caused by the position of Ventidius and Esakia. Since our phylogenies did not infer monophyly of the subgenus Halobates (s.str.) within Halobatini, we synonymized Austrobates and Halobates (Hilliella) with Halobates. We confirmed that (1) the limnic lifestyle of Metrocorini was ancestral in Halobatinae, (2) the marine lifestyle evolved only once in the common ancestor of Asclepios + Halobates, (3) the limnic lifestyle of some members of Halobates was independently derived from marine ancestors, and that (4) the open ocean was colonized at least three times in Halobates. A catalogue of Halobatinae organized according to an updated classification is presented, including all known geographic distributions, bibliographical references, and addi...
The evolutionary success of beetles and numerous other terrestrial insects is generally attribute... more The evolutionary success of beetles and numerous other terrestrial insects is generally attributed to co-radiation with flowering plants but most studies have focused on herbivorous or pollinating insects. Non-herbivores represent a significant proportion of beetle diversity yet potential factors that influence their diversification have been largely unexamined. In the present study, we examine the factors driving diversification within the Scarabaeidae, a speciose beetle family with a range of both herbivorous and non-herbivorous ecologies. In particular, it has been long debated whether the key event in the evolution of dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) was an adaptation to feeding on dinosaur or mammalian dung. Here we present molecular evidence to show that the origin of dung beetles occurred in the middle of the Cretaceous, likely in association with dinosaur dung, but more surprisingly the timing is consistent with the rise of the angiosperms. We hypothesize that the s...
A new species of Anomala Samouelle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) is described from the No... more A new species of Anomala Samouelle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) is described from the Northern Territory of Australia. The new species is diagnosed by the single tooth along the external margin of protibia, medially interrupted marginal bead on pronotal base and the clypeus weakly reflexed anteriorly. The illustrated diagnoses of the remaining Australian species and the key to their identification is also provided.
The phylogenetic relationships among selected species and genera of Mesoveliidae (Insecta: Hemipt... more The phylogenetic relationships among selected species and genera of Mesoveliidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) were investigated in a parsimony analysis of 2858 bp of DNA sequence data from the genes encoding COI + II, 16S rRNA and 28S rRNA. The resulting phylogeny showed that Mesoveloidea williamsiHungerford, 1929, from the subfamily Madeoveliinae, was sister group to Mniovelia Andersen & J.T. Polhemus, 1980, from the Mesoveliinae, thus making the latter subfamily paraphyletic. The genus MesoveliaMulsant & Rey, 1852 also showed to be paraphyletic, since an undescribed Laotian relative of M. indicaHorváth, 1915 and M. ujhelyiiLundblad, 1933 resulted as sister group to PhrynoveliaHorváth, 1915; and M. amoenaUhler, 1894 was sister species to Speovelia maritimaEsaki, 1929. Whereas these relationships were poorly or moderately supported, the remaining species of Mesovelia formed two distinct and well-supported clades, one comprising M. horvathiLundblad, 1933, M. hackeri...
Four new species of Helferella Cobos are described and figured: H. macalpinei and H. webbensis fr... more Four new species of Helferella Cobos are described and figured: H. macalpinei and H. webbensis from north Queensland; H. manningensis and H. miyal from New South Wales. Mastogenius frenchi Thery is transferred to Helferella. The genus is diagnosed and a key to all 5 species given. The relationships and generic composition of the Mastogeniinae are discussed.
The monotypic genus Oficanthon Paulian, 1985 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) is treated ... more The monotypic genus Oficanthon Paulian, 1985 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) is treated as a junior synonym of the genus Lepanus Balthasar, 1966, and L. mirabilis (Paulian, 1985), new combination is proposed for Oficanthon mirabilis Paulian, 1985. Both morphological and molecular evidence support this synonymy. Morphological evidence further supports its placement within the Lepanus ustulatus species group. Lepanus mirabilis is redescribed.
Julodimorpha saundersii Thomson 1879 is reinstated as a valid species, having been a junior synon... more Julodimorpha saundersii Thomson 1879 is reinstated as a valid species, having been a junior synonym of J. bakewellii (White 1859) since 1892. A lectotype is designated for J. saundersii and color photographs of the types, labels and additional character states of both species are given.
Abstract: Under extreme (>80%) levels of habitat loss and fragmentation, exponentially increasing... more Abstract: Under extreme (>80%) levels of habitat loss and fragmentation, exponentially increasing risks of extinction have been predicted; however, the proportion of species that will decline is uncertain. Factors influencing species declines include patch characteristics, such as size and condition, and species' ecological traits, such as dispersal ability. In central New South Wales, Australia, 90% of the mallee woodland has been cleared for agriculture. At each of three 100-km2 locations, we sampled beetles in 10 sites and asked: (1) How is the impact of habitat loss and fragmentation mediated by remnant condition and size? (2) What proportion of the beetle fauna is declining? (3) Are ecological traits based on body size, trophic group, flight, and position relative to the ground correlated with beetle responses to habitat loss and fragmentation? Seven of 34 beetle species (21%) occurred in fragmented and isolated populations in the agricultural landscape, implying that they may be at risk of local extinction. Most declining species depended on large remnants, but two species were confined to disturbed linear remnants, emphasizing the importance of diverse management regimes for invertebrate conservation. In contrast, approximately one-quarter of the beetle fauna survived in paddocks and so was not at risk of decline. Greatest species richness was observed in narrow linear remnants, not square reserves, because of the influx of species from the matrix and the presence of strip-specialist species. Flying ability and position explained most of the variation in species responses to fragmentation. Flightless species or species living underground were most vulnerable to decline in agricultural landscapes. Combinations of traits were also implicated in beetle responses, however, suggesting that causal mechanisms involve more than just the effects of flight or position. To identify species vulnerable to decline in fragmented landscapes, then, many traits need to be considered simultaneously.Resumen: Bajo niveles extremos (>80%) de pérdida y fragmentación de hábitat, se han previsto riesgos de extinción que incrementan exponencialmente; sin embargo, la proporción de especies que declinarán es incierta. Los factores que influyen en la declinación de especies incluyen características del parche, como tamaño y condición, y los atributos ecológicos de las especies, como habilidad dispersora. En el centro de New South Wales, Australia, 90% del bosque se ha desmontado para agricultura. En cada una de tres localidades de 10 km2, muestreamos escarabajos en 10 sitios y preguntamos (1) ¿¿Cómo intervienen el tamaño y condición del remanente en el impacto de la pérdida de hábitat y fragmentación? (2) ¿Qué proporción de la fauna de escarabajos esta declinando? (3) ¿Están correlacionados los atributos ecológicos basados en tamaño corporal, grupo trófico, suelo y posición en relación con el suelo con las respuestas de escarabajos a la pérdida y fragmentación de hábitat? Siete de 34 especies (21%) ocurrieron en poblaciones fragmentadas y aisladas en el paisaje agrícola, implicando que pueden estar en riesgo de extinción local. La mayoría de las especies declinantes dependían de remanentes extensos, pero dos especies estaban confinadas a remanentes perturbados lineales, lo que enfatiza la importancia de diversos regímenes de manejo para la conservación de invertebrados. En contraste, aproximadamente la cuarta parte de la fauna de escarabajos sobrevivió en dehesas y no estuvieron en riesgo de declinar. Se observó la mayor riqueza de especies en remanentes lineales angostos y no en reservas cuadradas debido al influjo de especies de la matriz y a la presencia de especies especialistas de franjas. La habilidad de volar y la posición explicaron la mayor parte de la variación en las respuestas de especies a la fragmentación. Especies no voladoras o especies subterráneas fueron más vulnerables a la declinación en paisajes agrícolas. Sin embargo, combinaciones de atributos también estuvieron implicadas en respuestas de escarabajos, lo que sugiere que los mecanismos causales implican más que sólo los efectos de vuelo o posición. Por lo tanto, para identificar especies vulnerables a la declinación en paisajes fragmentados se deben considerar muchos atributos simultáneamente.Resumen: Bajo niveles extremos (>80%) de pérdida y fragmentación de hábitat, se han previsto riesgos de extinción que incrementan exponencialmente; sin embargo, la proporción de especies que declinarán es incierta. Los factores que influyen en la declinación de especies incluyen características del parche, como tamaño y condición, y los atributos ecológicos de las especies, como habilidad dispersora. En el centro de New South Wales, Australia, 90% del bosque se ha desmontado para agricultura. En cada una de tres localidades de 10 km2, muestreamos escarabajos en 10 sitios y preguntamos (1) ¿¿Cómo intervienen el tamaño y condición del remanente en el impacto de la pérdida de hábitat y fragmentación? (2) ¿Qué proporción de la fauna de escarabajos esta declinando? (3) ¿Están correlacionados los atributos ecológicos basados en tamaño corporal, grupo trófico, suelo y posición en relación con el suelo con las respuestas de escarabajos a la pérdida y fragmentación de hábitat? Siete de 34 especies (21%) ocurrieron en poblaciones fragmentadas y aisladas en el paisaje agrícola, implicando que pueden estar en riesgo de extinción local. La mayoría de las especies declinantes dependían de remanentes extensos, pero dos especies estaban confinadas a remanentes perturbados lineales, lo que enfatiza la importancia de diversos regímenes de manejo para la conservación de invertebrados. En contraste, aproximadamente la cuarta parte de la fauna de escarabajos sobrevivió en dehesas y no estuvieron en riesgo de declinar. Se observó la mayor riqueza de especies en remanentes lineales angostos y no en reservas cuadradas debido al influjo de especies de la matriz y a la presencia de especies especialistas de franjas. La habilidad de volar y la posición explicaron la mayor parte de la variación en las respuestas de especies a la fragmentación. Especies no voladoras o especies subterráneas fueron más vulnerables a la declinación en paisajes agrícolas. Sin embargo, combinaciones de atributos también estuvieron implicadas en respuestas de escarabajos, lo que sugiere que los mecanismos causales implican más que sólo los efectos de vuelo o posición. Por lo tanto, para identificar especies vulnerables a la declinación en paisajes fragmentados se deben considerar muchos atributos simultáneamente.
Abstract Australia has a rich diversity of Scarabaeoidea; however, little is known about the maj... more Abstract Australia has a rich diversity of Scarabaeoidea; however, little is known about the majority of them. Because adults of Anoplognathus, Automolius, Heteronychus, Heteronyx and Liparetrus in particular are reliant upon eucalypts, a number of bluegum plantation companies supported the commencement of research into the biology and ecology of scarabs of economic significance to them. Consequently, it was decided that the occurrences of species endemic to this area would be studied and it was assumed that information on the nocturnal species in the aforementioned genera would be obtained. From late November 2003 until late February 2004, the abundances of Scarabaeoidea caught in two light traps that partition insects caught on a given night into seven time periods each of 1.75 h duration were recorded. A total of 48 263 scarabs representing 21 genera were caught. Within the 14 species caught most often, six types of summer activity pattern were apparent: late spring to early summer (Australobolbus gayndahensis), early to mid-summer (Scitala sericans), mid-summer only (Sericesthis ignota), mid- to late summer (Acrossidius tasmaniae, Aphodius lividus, Heteronyx chlorotica, Het. praecox and Antitrogus morbillosus), late summer only (Ataenius picinus) and all summer (Anoplognathus pallidicollis, Phyllotocus macleayi, Sericesthis geminata, Ser. micans and Ser. nigrolineata). Abundances of nine species peaked between 21:30 and 23:15 h (Aph. lividus, Phy. macleayi, Het. chlorotica, Sci. sericans, Ser. geminata, Ser. micans, Ser. nigrolineata and possibly also Ant. morbillosus), three were most abundant between 19:45 and 21:30 h (Ano. pallidicollis, Ser. ignota and possibly also Ata. picinus), another two were most abundant from 19:45 to 23:15 h (Acr. tasmaniae and Het. praecox) and Aus. gayndahensis was most abundant between 23:15 and 01:00 h. Of course, it is not just a knowledge of the identity of the species and the timing of their occurrence that are important when making insect management decisions, but also the size of population needed to inflict economically significant loss. It is now beholden upon bluegum plantation companies to support further research to determine the relationships between light trap catches of eucalypt-feeding scarabs, tree age and/or size and level of defoliation in order to improve their confidence in this method of monitoring over ground surveys.
We examined the potential of forest plantations to support communities of forest-using insects wh... more We examined the potential of forest plantations to support communities of forest-using insects when planted into an area with greatly reduced native forest cover. We surveyed the insect fauna of Eucalyptus globulus (Myrtaceae) plantations and native Eucalyptus marginata dominated remnant woodland in south-western Australia, comparing edge to interior habitats, and plantations surrounded by a pastoral matrix to plantations adjacent to native remnants. We also surveyed insects in open pasture. Analyses focused on three major insect orders: Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. Plantations were found to support many forest-using insect species, but the fauna had an overall composition that was distinct from the remnant forest. The pasture fauna had more in common with plantations than forest remnants. Insect communities of plantations were different from native forest both because fewer insect species were present, and because they had a few more abundant insect species. Some of the dominant species in plantations were known forestry pests. One pest species ( Gonipterus scutellatus ) was also very abundant in remnant forest, although it was only recently first recorded in Western Australia. It may be that plantation forestry provided an ecological bridge that facilitated invasion of the native forest by this nonendemic pest species. Plantation communities had more leaf-feeding moths and beetles than remnant forests. Plantations also had fewer ants, bees, evanioid wasps and predatory canopy beetles than remnants, but predatory beetles were more common in the understory of plantations than remnants. Use of broad spectrum insecticides in plantations might limit the ability of these natural enemies to regulate herbivore populations. There were only weak indications of differences in composition of the fauna at habitat edges and no consistent differences between the fauna of plantations adjacent to remnant vegetation and those surrounded by agriculture, suggesting that there is little scope for managing biodiversity outcomes by choosing different edge to interior ratios or by locating plantations near or far from remnants.
We examined the potential of forest plantations to support communities of forest-using insects wh... more We examined the potential of forest plantations to support communities of forest-using insects when planted into an area with greatly reduced native forest cover. We surveyed the insect fauna of Eucalyptus globulus (Myrtaceae) plantations and native Eucalyptus marginata dominated remnant woodland in south-western Australia, comparing edge to interior habitats, and plantations surrounded by a pastoral matrix to plantations adjacent to native remnants. We also surveyed insects in open pasture. Analyses focused on three major insect orders: Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. Plantations were found to support many forest-using insect species, but the fauna had an overall composition that was distinct from the remnant forest. The pasture fauna had more in common with plantations than forest remnants. Insect communities of plantations were different from native forest both because fewer insect species were present, and because they had a few more abundant insect species. Some of the dominant species in plantations were known forestry pests. One pest species ( Gonipterus scutellatus ) was also very abundant in remnant forest, although it was only recently first recorded in Western Australia. It may be that plantation forestry provided an ecological bridge that facilitated invasion of the native forest by this nonendemic pest species. Plantation communities had more leaf-feeding moths and beetles than remnant forests. Plantations also had fewer ants, bees, evanioid wasps and predatory canopy beetles than remnants, but predatory beetles were more common in the understory of plantations than remnants. Use of broad spectrum insecticides in plantations might limit the ability of these natural enemies to regulate herbivore populations. There were only weak indications of differences in composition of the fauna at habitat edges and no consistent differences between the fauna of plantations adjacent to remnant vegetation and those surrounded by agriculture, suggesting that there is little scope for managing biodiversity outcomes by choosing different edge to interior ratios or by locating plantations near or far from remnants.
... Page 2. Australian water striders of the subfamilies Trepobatinae and Rhagadotarsinae (Hemipt... more ... Page 2. Australian water striders of the subfamilies Trepobatinae and Rhagadotarsinae (Hemiptera : Gerridae) Nils Møller AndersenA and Tom A. WeirB AZoological Museum, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. ...
The semiaquatic bugs (Hemiptera:Heteroptera, infraorder Gerromorpha), comprising water striders a... more The semiaquatic bugs (Hemiptera:Heteroptera, infraorder Gerromorpha), comprising water striders and their allies, are familiar inhabitants of water surfaces in all continents. Currently, the world fauna has more than 1900 described species classified in eight families and 165 genera. A phylogenetic analysis using maximum parsimony was performed on a dataset comprising 56 morphological characters scored for 24 exemplar genera covering all families and subfamilies of Gerromorpha. The phylogenetic relationships found concur with those presented by except that the relationships between some subfamilies of Veliidae and Gerridae are unresolved. The Australian fauna of Gerromorpha comprises six families, 30 genera, and 123 species. One-third of the genera and more than 80% of the species are endemic to Australia. Previously, we have covered all Australian species of the families Gerridae, Hermatobatidae and Veliidae. The present paper deals with the families Hebridae, Hydrometridae, and Mesoveliidae. We offer redescriptions or descriptive notes on all previously described species, describe Mesovelia ebbenielseni , sp. nov. (Mesoveliidae), Austrohebrus apterus , gen. et sp. nov., and Hebrus pilosus , sp. nov. (Hebridae), and synonymise Hebrus woodwardi Lansbury, syn. nov. (Hebridae) and Hydrometra halei Hungerford and Evans, syn. nov. (Hydrometridae). We present keys for the identification of genera and species, and map the distribution of all species. We also give a key for the identification of the families of Gerromorpha known from Australia.
General and Applied Entomology: The Journal of the Entomological Society of New South Wales, 2010
The South American chrysomelid 'Lema bilineata' Germar is recorded for the first time in ... more The South American chrysomelid 'Lema bilineata' Germar is recorded for the first time in Australia. Adults and larvae were found feeding on Prairie Ground Cherry ('Physalis viscosa' L.) in an open greenhouse in Wagga Wagga in southern New South Wales during November 2008. The greenhouse population was eradicated immediately after it was recognised as a potential biosecurity threat but further detections of 'L. bilineata' were subsequently made in the Cootamundra area. 'L. bilineata' feeds on a range of solanaceous plants including both crop species and weeds, and has potential negative and positive impacts on agriculture in south-eastern Australia.
Stromatium Audinet‐Serville 1834 is considered to be one of the most economically important gener... more Stromatium Audinet‐Serville 1834 is considered to be one of the most economically important genera of Cerambycidae. Three species of this genus, Stromatium barbatum (Fabricius ), Stromatium longicorne (Newman 1842) and Stromatium auratum (Böber 1793), are able to develop to maturity in seasoned timber and are distributed worldwide due to human commerce. We clarified here the status of wild populations of Stromatium in Australia. Stromatium darwinense Jin & Weir sp. nov. is described from the Northern Territory in Australia, based on evidence from morphological characters and mtDNA barcode sequences (421 bp fragment of COI). The new species is morphologically very similar to S. longicorne, which is native to Christmas Island but not to mainland Australia. We redescribe S. barbatum and S. longicorne, the introductions of which still remain high risks for Australian biosecurity.
This study attempts to answer Andrews' (1991) question, "do perceptions of advertising in general... more This study attempts to answer Andrews' (1991) question, "do perceptions of advertising in general vary cross-culturally?" Eighty-two undergraduate students from the former Soviet Union republic of Kazakstan were questioned about their beliefs about advertising. The analysis revealed predominantly negative feelings toward advertising in general. Findings indicate unfamiliarity or general distrust of advertising and uncertainty about the role and potential of advertising to improve the quality of life in the country. A discussion about advertising in Kazakstan's emerging capitalist economy is also included. (Contains 29 references and 2 tables of data.) (Author/RS) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.
Climate fluctuations and tectonic reconfigurations associated with environmental changes play lar... more Climate fluctuations and tectonic reconfigurations associated with environmental changes play large roles in determining patterns of adaptation and diversification, but studies documenting how such drivers have shaped the evolutionary history and diversification dynamics of limnic organisms during the Mesozoic are scarce. Members of the heteropteran infraorder Nepomorpha, or aquatic bugs, are ideal for testing the effects of these determinants on their diversification pulses because most species are confined to aquatic environments during their entire life. The group has a relatively mature taxonomy and is well represented in the fossil record. We investigated the evolution of Nepomorpha based on phylogenetic analyses of morphological and molecular characters sampled from 115 taxa representing all 13 families and approximately 40% of recognized genera. Our results were largely congruent with the phylogenetic relationships inferred from morphology. A divergence dating analysis indica...
We investigated the phylogenetic relationships among seven of the ten Halobatinae genera (Heterop... more We investigated the phylogenetic relationships among seven of the ten Halobatinae genera (Heteroptera: Gerridae) based on COI+II, 16S rRNA, and 28S rRNA genes. Our analyses recovered monophyly of Halobatinae, and suggested paraphyly of Metrocorini caused by the position of Ventidius and Esakia. Since our phylogenies did not infer monophyly of the subgenus Halobates (s.str.) within Halobatini, we synonymized Austrobates and Halobates (Hilliella) with Halobates. We confirmed that (1) the limnic lifestyle of Metrocorini was ancestral in Halobatinae, (2) the marine lifestyle evolved only once in the common ancestor of Asclepios + Halobates, (3) the limnic lifestyle of some members of Halobates was independently derived from marine ancestors, and that (4) the open ocean was colonized at least three times in Halobates. A catalogue of Halobatinae organized according to an updated classification is presented, including all known geographic distributions, bibliographical references, and addi...
The evolutionary success of beetles and numerous other terrestrial insects is generally attribute... more The evolutionary success of beetles and numerous other terrestrial insects is generally attributed to co-radiation with flowering plants but most studies have focused on herbivorous or pollinating insects. Non-herbivores represent a significant proportion of beetle diversity yet potential factors that influence their diversification have been largely unexamined. In the present study, we examine the factors driving diversification within the Scarabaeidae, a speciose beetle family with a range of both herbivorous and non-herbivorous ecologies. In particular, it has been long debated whether the key event in the evolution of dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) was an adaptation to feeding on dinosaur or mammalian dung. Here we present molecular evidence to show that the origin of dung beetles occurred in the middle of the Cretaceous, likely in association with dinosaur dung, but more surprisingly the timing is consistent with the rise of the angiosperms. We hypothesize that the s...
A new species of Anomala Samouelle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) is described from the No... more A new species of Anomala Samouelle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) is described from the Northern Territory of Australia. The new species is diagnosed by the single tooth along the external margin of protibia, medially interrupted marginal bead on pronotal base and the clypeus weakly reflexed anteriorly. The illustrated diagnoses of the remaining Australian species and the key to their identification is also provided.
The phylogenetic relationships among selected species and genera of Mesoveliidae (Insecta: Hemipt... more The phylogenetic relationships among selected species and genera of Mesoveliidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) were investigated in a parsimony analysis of 2858 bp of DNA sequence data from the genes encoding COI + II, 16S rRNA and 28S rRNA. The resulting phylogeny showed that Mesoveloidea williamsiHungerford, 1929, from the subfamily Madeoveliinae, was sister group to Mniovelia Andersen & J.T. Polhemus, 1980, from the Mesoveliinae, thus making the latter subfamily paraphyletic. The genus MesoveliaMulsant & Rey, 1852 also showed to be paraphyletic, since an undescribed Laotian relative of M. indicaHorváth, 1915 and M. ujhelyiiLundblad, 1933 resulted as sister group to PhrynoveliaHorváth, 1915; and M. amoenaUhler, 1894 was sister species to Speovelia maritimaEsaki, 1929. Whereas these relationships were poorly or moderately supported, the remaining species of Mesovelia formed two distinct and well-supported clades, one comprising M. horvathiLundblad, 1933, M. hackeri...
Four new species of Helferella Cobos are described and figured: H. macalpinei and H. webbensis fr... more Four new species of Helferella Cobos are described and figured: H. macalpinei and H. webbensis from north Queensland; H. manningensis and H. miyal from New South Wales. Mastogenius frenchi Thery is transferred to Helferella. The genus is diagnosed and a key to all 5 species given. The relationships and generic composition of the Mastogeniinae are discussed.
The monotypic genus Oficanthon Paulian, 1985 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) is treated ... more The monotypic genus Oficanthon Paulian, 1985 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) is treated as a junior synonym of the genus Lepanus Balthasar, 1966, and L. mirabilis (Paulian, 1985), new combination is proposed for Oficanthon mirabilis Paulian, 1985. Both morphological and molecular evidence support this synonymy. Morphological evidence further supports its placement within the Lepanus ustulatus species group. Lepanus mirabilis is redescribed.
Julodimorpha saundersii Thomson 1879 is reinstated as a valid species, having been a junior synon... more Julodimorpha saundersii Thomson 1879 is reinstated as a valid species, having been a junior synonym of J. bakewellii (White 1859) since 1892. A lectotype is designated for J. saundersii and color photographs of the types, labels and additional character states of both species are given.
Abstract: Under extreme (>80%) levels of habitat loss and fragmentation, exponentially increasing... more Abstract: Under extreme (>80%) levels of habitat loss and fragmentation, exponentially increasing risks of extinction have been predicted; however, the proportion of species that will decline is uncertain. Factors influencing species declines include patch characteristics, such as size and condition, and species' ecological traits, such as dispersal ability. In central New South Wales, Australia, 90% of the mallee woodland has been cleared for agriculture. At each of three 100-km2 locations, we sampled beetles in 10 sites and asked: (1) How is the impact of habitat loss and fragmentation mediated by remnant condition and size? (2) What proportion of the beetle fauna is declining? (3) Are ecological traits based on body size, trophic group, flight, and position relative to the ground correlated with beetle responses to habitat loss and fragmentation? Seven of 34 beetle species (21%) occurred in fragmented and isolated populations in the agricultural landscape, implying that they may be at risk of local extinction. Most declining species depended on large remnants, but two species were confined to disturbed linear remnants, emphasizing the importance of diverse management regimes for invertebrate conservation. In contrast, approximately one-quarter of the beetle fauna survived in paddocks and so was not at risk of decline. Greatest species richness was observed in narrow linear remnants, not square reserves, because of the influx of species from the matrix and the presence of strip-specialist species. Flying ability and position explained most of the variation in species responses to fragmentation. Flightless species or species living underground were most vulnerable to decline in agricultural landscapes. Combinations of traits were also implicated in beetle responses, however, suggesting that causal mechanisms involve more than just the effects of flight or position. To identify species vulnerable to decline in fragmented landscapes, then, many traits need to be considered simultaneously.Resumen: Bajo niveles extremos (>80%) de pérdida y fragmentación de hábitat, se han previsto riesgos de extinción que incrementan exponencialmente; sin embargo, la proporción de especies que declinarán es incierta. Los factores que influyen en la declinación de especies incluyen características del parche, como tamaño y condición, y los atributos ecológicos de las especies, como habilidad dispersora. En el centro de New South Wales, Australia, 90% del bosque se ha desmontado para agricultura. En cada una de tres localidades de 10 km2, muestreamos escarabajos en 10 sitios y preguntamos (1) ¿¿Cómo intervienen el tamaño y condición del remanente en el impacto de la pérdida de hábitat y fragmentación? (2) ¿Qué proporción de la fauna de escarabajos esta declinando? (3) ¿Están correlacionados los atributos ecológicos basados en tamaño corporal, grupo trófico, suelo y posición en relación con el suelo con las respuestas de escarabajos a la pérdida y fragmentación de hábitat? Siete de 34 especies (21%) ocurrieron en poblaciones fragmentadas y aisladas en el paisaje agrícola, implicando que pueden estar en riesgo de extinción local. La mayoría de las especies declinantes dependían de remanentes extensos, pero dos especies estaban confinadas a remanentes perturbados lineales, lo que enfatiza la importancia de diversos regímenes de manejo para la conservación de invertebrados. En contraste, aproximadamente la cuarta parte de la fauna de escarabajos sobrevivió en dehesas y no estuvieron en riesgo de declinar. Se observó la mayor riqueza de especies en remanentes lineales angostos y no en reservas cuadradas debido al influjo de especies de la matriz y a la presencia de especies especialistas de franjas. La habilidad de volar y la posición explicaron la mayor parte de la variación en las respuestas de especies a la fragmentación. Especies no voladoras o especies subterráneas fueron más vulnerables a la declinación en paisajes agrícolas. Sin embargo, combinaciones de atributos también estuvieron implicadas en respuestas de escarabajos, lo que sugiere que los mecanismos causales implican más que sólo los efectos de vuelo o posición. Por lo tanto, para identificar especies vulnerables a la declinación en paisajes fragmentados se deben considerar muchos atributos simultáneamente.Resumen: Bajo niveles extremos (>80%) de pérdida y fragmentación de hábitat, se han previsto riesgos de extinción que incrementan exponencialmente; sin embargo, la proporción de especies que declinarán es incierta. Los factores que influyen en la declinación de especies incluyen características del parche, como tamaño y condición, y los atributos ecológicos de las especies, como habilidad dispersora. En el centro de New South Wales, Australia, 90% del bosque se ha desmontado para agricultura. En cada una de tres localidades de 10 km2, muestreamos escarabajos en 10 sitios y preguntamos (1) ¿¿Cómo intervienen el tamaño y condición del remanente en el impacto de la pérdida de hábitat y fragmentación? (2) ¿Qué proporción de la fauna de escarabajos esta declinando? (3) ¿Están correlacionados los atributos ecológicos basados en tamaño corporal, grupo trófico, suelo y posición en relación con el suelo con las respuestas de escarabajos a la pérdida y fragmentación de hábitat? Siete de 34 especies (21%) ocurrieron en poblaciones fragmentadas y aisladas en el paisaje agrícola, implicando que pueden estar en riesgo de extinción local. La mayoría de las especies declinantes dependían de remanentes extensos, pero dos especies estaban confinadas a remanentes perturbados lineales, lo que enfatiza la importancia de diversos regímenes de manejo para la conservación de invertebrados. En contraste, aproximadamente la cuarta parte de la fauna de escarabajos sobrevivió en dehesas y no estuvieron en riesgo de declinar. Se observó la mayor riqueza de especies en remanentes lineales angostos y no en reservas cuadradas debido al influjo de especies de la matriz y a la presencia de especies especialistas de franjas. La habilidad de volar y la posición explicaron la mayor parte de la variación en las respuestas de especies a la fragmentación. Especies no voladoras o especies subterráneas fueron más vulnerables a la declinación en paisajes agrícolas. Sin embargo, combinaciones de atributos también estuvieron implicadas en respuestas de escarabajos, lo que sugiere que los mecanismos causales implican más que sólo los efectos de vuelo o posición. Por lo tanto, para identificar especies vulnerables a la declinación en paisajes fragmentados se deben considerar muchos atributos simultáneamente.
Abstract Australia has a rich diversity of Scarabaeoidea; however, little is known about the maj... more Abstract Australia has a rich diversity of Scarabaeoidea; however, little is known about the majority of them. Because adults of Anoplognathus, Automolius, Heteronychus, Heteronyx and Liparetrus in particular are reliant upon eucalypts, a number of bluegum plantation companies supported the commencement of research into the biology and ecology of scarabs of economic significance to them. Consequently, it was decided that the occurrences of species endemic to this area would be studied and it was assumed that information on the nocturnal species in the aforementioned genera would be obtained. From late November 2003 until late February 2004, the abundances of Scarabaeoidea caught in two light traps that partition insects caught on a given night into seven time periods each of 1.75 h duration were recorded. A total of 48 263 scarabs representing 21 genera were caught. Within the 14 species caught most often, six types of summer activity pattern were apparent: late spring to early summer (Australobolbus gayndahensis), early to mid-summer (Scitala sericans), mid-summer only (Sericesthis ignota), mid- to late summer (Acrossidius tasmaniae, Aphodius lividus, Heteronyx chlorotica, Het. praecox and Antitrogus morbillosus), late summer only (Ataenius picinus) and all summer (Anoplognathus pallidicollis, Phyllotocus macleayi, Sericesthis geminata, Ser. micans and Ser. nigrolineata). Abundances of nine species peaked between 21:30 and 23:15 h (Aph. lividus, Phy. macleayi, Het. chlorotica, Sci. sericans, Ser. geminata, Ser. micans, Ser. nigrolineata and possibly also Ant. morbillosus), three were most abundant between 19:45 and 21:30 h (Ano. pallidicollis, Ser. ignota and possibly also Ata. picinus), another two were most abundant from 19:45 to 23:15 h (Acr. tasmaniae and Het. praecox) and Aus. gayndahensis was most abundant between 23:15 and 01:00 h. Of course, it is not just a knowledge of the identity of the species and the timing of their occurrence that are important when making insect management decisions, but also the size of population needed to inflict economically significant loss. It is now beholden upon bluegum plantation companies to support further research to determine the relationships between light trap catches of eucalypt-feeding scarabs, tree age and/or size and level of defoliation in order to improve their confidence in this method of monitoring over ground surveys.
We examined the potential of forest plantations to support communities of forest-using insects wh... more We examined the potential of forest plantations to support communities of forest-using insects when planted into an area with greatly reduced native forest cover. We surveyed the insect fauna of Eucalyptus globulus (Myrtaceae) plantations and native Eucalyptus marginata dominated remnant woodland in south-western Australia, comparing edge to interior habitats, and plantations surrounded by a pastoral matrix to plantations adjacent to native remnants. We also surveyed insects in open pasture. Analyses focused on three major insect orders: Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. Plantations were found to support many forest-using insect species, but the fauna had an overall composition that was distinct from the remnant forest. The pasture fauna had more in common with plantations than forest remnants. Insect communities of plantations were different from native forest both because fewer insect species were present, and because they had a few more abundant insect species. Some of the dominant species in plantations were known forestry pests. One pest species ( Gonipterus scutellatus ) was also very abundant in remnant forest, although it was only recently first recorded in Western Australia. It may be that plantation forestry provided an ecological bridge that facilitated invasion of the native forest by this nonendemic pest species. Plantation communities had more leaf-feeding moths and beetles than remnant forests. Plantations also had fewer ants, bees, evanioid wasps and predatory canopy beetles than remnants, but predatory beetles were more common in the understory of plantations than remnants. Use of broad spectrum insecticides in plantations might limit the ability of these natural enemies to regulate herbivore populations. There were only weak indications of differences in composition of the fauna at habitat edges and no consistent differences between the fauna of plantations adjacent to remnant vegetation and those surrounded by agriculture, suggesting that there is little scope for managing biodiversity outcomes by choosing different edge to interior ratios or by locating plantations near or far from remnants.
We examined the potential of forest plantations to support communities of forest-using insects wh... more We examined the potential of forest plantations to support communities of forest-using insects when planted into an area with greatly reduced native forest cover. We surveyed the insect fauna of Eucalyptus globulus (Myrtaceae) plantations and native Eucalyptus marginata dominated remnant woodland in south-western Australia, comparing edge to interior habitats, and plantations surrounded by a pastoral matrix to plantations adjacent to native remnants. We also surveyed insects in open pasture. Analyses focused on three major insect orders: Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. Plantations were found to support many forest-using insect species, but the fauna had an overall composition that was distinct from the remnant forest. The pasture fauna had more in common with plantations than forest remnants. Insect communities of plantations were different from native forest both because fewer insect species were present, and because they had a few more abundant insect species. Some of the dominant species in plantations were known forestry pests. One pest species ( Gonipterus scutellatus ) was also very abundant in remnant forest, although it was only recently first recorded in Western Australia. It may be that plantation forestry provided an ecological bridge that facilitated invasion of the native forest by this nonendemic pest species. Plantation communities had more leaf-feeding moths and beetles than remnant forests. Plantations also had fewer ants, bees, evanioid wasps and predatory canopy beetles than remnants, but predatory beetles were more common in the understory of plantations than remnants. Use of broad spectrum insecticides in plantations might limit the ability of these natural enemies to regulate herbivore populations. There were only weak indications of differences in composition of the fauna at habitat edges and no consistent differences between the fauna of plantations adjacent to remnant vegetation and those surrounded by agriculture, suggesting that there is little scope for managing biodiversity outcomes by choosing different edge to interior ratios or by locating plantations near or far from remnants.
... Page 2. Australian water striders of the subfamilies Trepobatinae and Rhagadotarsinae (Hemipt... more ... Page 2. Australian water striders of the subfamilies Trepobatinae and Rhagadotarsinae (Hemiptera : Gerridae) Nils Møller AndersenA and Tom A. WeirB AZoological Museum, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. ...
The semiaquatic bugs (Hemiptera:Heteroptera, infraorder Gerromorpha), comprising water striders a... more The semiaquatic bugs (Hemiptera:Heteroptera, infraorder Gerromorpha), comprising water striders and their allies, are familiar inhabitants of water surfaces in all continents. Currently, the world fauna has more than 1900 described species classified in eight families and 165 genera. A phylogenetic analysis using maximum parsimony was performed on a dataset comprising 56 morphological characters scored for 24 exemplar genera covering all families and subfamilies of Gerromorpha. The phylogenetic relationships found concur with those presented by except that the relationships between some subfamilies of Veliidae and Gerridae are unresolved. The Australian fauna of Gerromorpha comprises six families, 30 genera, and 123 species. One-third of the genera and more than 80% of the species are endemic to Australia. Previously, we have covered all Australian species of the families Gerridae, Hermatobatidae and Veliidae. The present paper deals with the families Hebridae, Hydrometridae, and Mesoveliidae. We offer redescriptions or descriptive notes on all previously described species, describe Mesovelia ebbenielseni , sp. nov. (Mesoveliidae), Austrohebrus apterus , gen. et sp. nov., and Hebrus pilosus , sp. nov. (Hebridae), and synonymise Hebrus woodwardi Lansbury, syn. nov. (Hebridae) and Hydrometra halei Hungerford and Evans, syn. nov. (Hydrometridae). We present keys for the identification of genera and species, and map the distribution of all species. We also give a key for the identification of the families of Gerromorpha known from Australia.
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Papers by Tom Weir