THE AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGIST

The Australian Entomologist (formerly Australian Entomological Magazine) is a

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Cover: Ornate false spider mites (Tuckerellidae) are early derivative members of

the economically important Tetranychoidea - spider mites, clover mites, flat

mites, etc.. This species, Tuckerella sp. nr. flabellifer Miller, feeds on the stems

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Illustration by Juanita Choo, Department of Zoology and Entomology,

University of Queensland.

Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3): 65-70 65

A NEW SPECIES OF LEUCIACRIA ROTHSCHILD & JORDAN

(LEPIDOPTERA: PIERIDAE) FROM MONTANE NEW IRELAND,

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

C.J. MULLER

Centre for Ore Deposit Research, University of Tasmania, GPO Box 252-79, Hobart, Tas 7001

Address for correspondence: PO Box 228, Dural, NSW 2158

Abstract

Leuciacria olivei sp. nov. is described and illustrated from high elevations in southern New

Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea. The new species is compared with

L. acuta Rothschild & Jordan, 1905, within the previously monotypic genus.

Introduction

The genus Leuciacria Rothschild & Jordan (1905) was proposed for the type

species, the previously unique L. acuta Rothschild & Jordan. Klots (1933),

in his extensive paper dealing with the family Pieridae in general, considered

Leuciacria to be closest to Elodina C. & R. Felder, although he stated that the

genus was somewhat isolated in terms of its affinities. Klots (1933) stated

that neither the venation nor the genitalia of Leuciacria suggested any

definite relationships.

The followings abbreviations are used in this work: ANIC - Australian

National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra; BMNH - The Natural History

Museum, London; CJMC - Private collection of C. J. Muller, Sydney; JOC -

Private collection of John Olive, Cairns

Leuciacria olivei sp. nov.

(Figs 1-3, 5)

Types. Holotype & (ANIC genitalia slide No. 13096), PAPUA NEW GUINEA:

“Hans Meyer Ra., 2400 m, S. New Ireland, 22.viii.1998, C.J. Muller” in ANIC.

Paratypes:'1 0°, same data as holotype (BMNH); 1 0”, same data as holotype (JOC);

1 ð, same data as holotype but dated 20.viii.1998 (CJMC); 1 d, same data as

holotype, with genitalia dissected and attached to specimen (CJMC).

Description. Male (Figs 1-3). Forewing length 24.8 mm, antenna 12.9 mm.

Head black with dense, deep grey hair-tufts, whitish-grey ventrally; antenna

black, with conspicous flat club, ventrally white-centered; labial palpus black

and hairy. Thorax black above with numerous fine grey hairs, cream

beneath; legs grey, tending light brown at end. Abdomen white, with black

dorsal ridge tapering posteriorly, claspers grey. Forewing concave between

apex and vein M,, strongly convex between tornus and vein M,, costa slightly

bowed toward base, apex pointed; above cream, costa and apex narrowly

black, base with yellow suffusion and with scattering of black scales, cilia

cream; beneath cream with costa marginally black, apex light grey-fawn,

strong yellow suffusion particularly in distal portion of cell, lessening

= $

66 Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3)

Figs 1-2. Leuciacria olivei sp. nov., male. (1) Upperside; (2) underside. Scale bar =

5mm.

Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3) s

towards termen, cell and veins greenish proximally. Hindwing slightly

rounded, above cream with fine hairs in distal area near inner margin, yellow

suffusion in costal and inner margin to basal areas, scattering of black scales

at base, cilia cream; beneath cream with faint greenish tinge, costa yellow,

slight scattering of grey scales in postmedian area between veins CuA, and

3A, parallel linearly with termen near tornus, cell and veins greenish

proximally.

Figs 3-4. Adult males of Leuciacria spp., comparing extent of dense white scales.

(3) L. olivei, (4) L. acuta. Scale bar = 8 mm.

68 Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3)

Figs 5-6. Male genitalia of Leuciacria spp. 5. L. olivei. (a) dorsal view; (b) vinculum

and tegumen ring, lateral view; (c) left valva, lateral view; (d) aedeagus, lateral view.

6. L. acuta. (a) dorsal view; (b) vinculum and tegumen ring, lateral view; (c) left

valva, lateral view; (d) aedeagus, lateral view. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3) 69

Genitalia (Fig. 5). Vinculum and tegumen ring broadly oval, indented

anteriorly; uncus long, slender, gently dipping, apex dorsally sharply pointed,

blunt laterally with median dorsolateral toothed processes; valva long, rather

narrow, covered with fine setae, apex with tip hooked, curved inwards,

ventrum irregular; tegumen short and bent upwards; aedeagus sharp,

irregular basally, squared apically, post-zonal portion bowed strongly.

Female. Unknown

Etymology. Named in honour of Mr John Olive, Trinity Park, Queensland.

Discussion

The discovery of Leuciacria olivei sp. nov. in New Ireland is somewhat

surprising, as the genus previously has not been recorded outside mainland

New Guinea. Parsons (1991, 1998) stated that L. acuta flies at 1200-2000 m

and is generally a rare taxon. L. olivei has been observed and/or collected

between 1700 and 2400 m in the Hans Meyer Ra., southern New Ireland.

Since intervening New Britain has several mountains that rise above 2000 m,

it is suggested that Leuciacria may occur there also.

Leuciacria olivei may be separated readily from L. acuta (Fig. 4) by the

shape of the forewing, which in L. acuta is strongly concave between the

apex and vein M2. The costa is nearly straight in L. olivei, while it is

strongly bowed in L. acuta, particularly towards the apex. The forewing

black apical tip is far more reduced in L. olivei than in L. acuta and there is a

strong yellowish suffusion on the ventral surface of both wings in the former

that is not present in L. acuta.

In addition, the male genitalia of the two taxa bear several distinguishing

features (Figs 5, 6). The uncus in L. olivei is slender with toothed dorsal

processes, whilst in L. acuta it is more simple and diamond-shaped.

Laterally, the uncus of L. acuta is beak-like in appearance, while that of

L. olivei is comparatively blunt. The valvae of L. olivei are much longer and

narrower than in L. acuta and the apical hook is much less pronounced than

in the latter species. The aedeagus in L. acuta is fairly simple and blunt both

anteriorly and posteriorly, whereas that of L. olivei is sharp and irregular

basally, and squared apically.

The habitat for the type series of L. olivei is a mixed moss/heath forest which

is peculiar to andesitic (ancient volcanic) mountain crests and slopes above

1800 m in southern New Ireland. Adults were taken, together with

Graphium kosii Miiller & Tennent (Papilionidae), Delias messalina lizzae

Miiller (Pieridae), Parantica fuscela Parsons and Cethosia vasalia Miiller

(Nymphalidae), as they flew directly and quite rapidly above the canopy

which is as low as 6 m in the highest parts of the Hans Meyer Range (Fig. 7).

70 Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3)

Fig. 7. Type locality of L. olivei, Hans Meyer Range, 2400 m, southern New Ireland.

Acknowledgments

The expedition into remote southern New Ireland was made possible by a

number of local people, particularly Joel Todiai, and the author is grateful to

them all. Permits to acqhire material were issued by the Department of

Primary Industries, Namatanai, and the Provincial Government, Kavieng.

References .

Klots, A.B. 1933. A generic revision of the Pieridae (Lepidoptera), together with a study of the

male genitalia. Entomologica Americana 12(4): 139-242.

Parsons, M.J. 1991. Butterflies of the Bulolo-Wau valley. Bishop Museum, Honolulu; 280 pp.

Parsons, M.J. 1998. The butterflies of Papua New Guinea; their systematics and biology.

Academic Press, London; 736 pp.

Rothschild, W. and Jordan, K. 1905. On some new Lepidoptera discovered by A. S. Meek in

British New Guinea. Novitates Zooligicae 12: 448-478.

Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3): 71-76 71

POSSIBLE POSTCOPULATORY MATE GUARDING

IN ORNITHOPTERA EUPHORION (GRAY)

(LEPIDOPTERA: PAPILIONIDAE)

A.G. ORR

Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Management,

Environmental Sciences, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld 4111

Abstract

Observations were made on the courtship behaviour of Ornithoptera euphorion (Gray) at

Bramston Beach, north Queensland. An instance is described of a male, known to have mated

with a female, following her for about a day and driving off other males who courted her.

Three one examples of apparent guarding involving pairs where mating was not observed are

also noted.

Introduction

Following insemination, males of many butterfly species produce a mating

plug, which seals the ostium bursae or copulatory opening and prevents or

delays remating by the female (Ehrlich and Ehrlich 1978, Dickensen and

Rutowski 1989). Owing to the ditrysian arrangement of the female

reproductive tracts found in all higher Lepidoptera, the plug does not impede

oviposition and may remain in place for life. When freshly formed the plug

is soft and gelatinous and over a period of one to two days it contracts and

hardens (Orr 1988, Matsumoto and Suzuki 1992). It has been shown in

Atrophaneura alcinous Klug that the freshly formed plug can be easily

penetrated or pushed aside by the aedeagus of another male and that males

sometimes cling to mating pairs and mate successfully with the female when

the original pair separate (Suzuki and Matsumoto 1990, Matsumoto and

Suzuki 1992). This behaviour sometimes also occurs in Ornithoptera

richmondia (Gray) maintained in captivity (Orr, unpublished observations).

It would seem logical therefore, that if males could successfully drive off

potential mates in the period following mating while the plug remains soft,

they would minimize the risks of the female remating with another male and

using his sperm to fertilize her eggs.

The details of courtship behaviour in Ornithoptera Boisduval and Troides

Hiibner species have never been fully described and vary considerably with

circumstances. However in all species of the two genera for which

information is available, including O. euphorion (Gray), the male hovers

briefly below the female, then flies directly in front of her, possibly brushing

her antennae with the androconia which fringe the anal margin of the

hindwings, then hovers about half a metre above her. Immediately before a

mating or mating attempt, it is common for the male to splay his hindwings

slightly and bring them together in an abrupt scissor action, which may serve

to disseminate pheromones. Mating is attempted generally only when the

female is quiescent, or at least has ceased to flap her wings. This cycle may

be repeated many times. It may be performed on newly emerged females,

72 Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3)

where mating follows very quickly, or on feeding females and flying

females; in the latter case the male describes a series of progressive ellipses

about the female as he follows her. Brief accounts of courtship in

T. oblongomaculatus papuensis Wallace and in O. richmondia are given by

Parsons (1983) and Orr (1988) respectively. Most of the courtships observed

in nature probably involve already mated females and remating seldom

results but, as in O. richmondia between 10-20% of old females contain more

than one spermatophore, polyandry evidently does occur in nature and a

small proportion of such courtships must be successful (Orr 1988,

unpublished observations).

Methods

Between 8-15 February 1999 I spent a total of 14.5 hours observing the

courtship and other sexual interactions of O. euphorion around cultivated

Hibiscus flowers at Bramston Beach, near Innisfail, north Queensland.

Owing to legal restrictions on handling this species I was unable to capture

and mark individuals, but at least four males and three females were

identifiable by the distinctive wing damage. Much wing chipping may have

been caused by Yellow-bellied Sunbirds (Nectarina jugularis), which

frequently pecked the butterflies, apparently in defence of their feeding

territories. The butterflies were observed by using compact wide angled

binoculars. Any distinguishing marks were noted and recorded. Notes of

behaviour were made using a small hand held dictophone.

Results

Five interactions in which a male continually courted a female were followed

for approximately half an hour to one hour, until either the pair was lost from

sight or the male ceased courtship attempts. Although males often alighted

beside or on top of the female and attempted mating, successful coupling was

never achieved and, following such attempts, females invariably alighted and

flew at least a few metres before resuming feeding, whereupon the male

recommenced courtship. On two occasions the male grappled with the

female and carried her to the ground but was unable to hold her in either

case. In all cases the female was almost certainly mated and probably bore a

mating plug, which would have been difficult to dislodge. After such

aggressive mating attempts females normally departed. The frequency of

mating attempts varied but typically took place every five to fifteen minutes

over a period of up to an hour or more.

Such observations are typical of the courtship behaviour of males with mated

females which is frequently observed. However on one occasion (12 Feb.

1999) I observed a mated pair arrive at the flowers at 0920h, where they

commenced feeding. At 0935h they separated and as both bore distinctive

damage I was able to recognize them on subsequent enounters and

intermittently observe their behaviour throughout the day. Following

Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3) 73

separation the pair remained at the flowers and continued feeding for another

63 minutes. The male remained close to the female and was rarely more than

a metre from her. Five minutes after they separated a smaller male arrived at

the nectar and, after feeding briefly, began to court the female. The original

male tolerated his presence until he had been hovering above the female for

about three minutes, when he flew at the intruder and chased him for about

50 metres, then returned to an inflorescence near the female. Over a period

of 58 minutes the small male returned and courted the female persistently,

only to be attacked and routed by the first male on five occasions. Two cues,

which were correlated, seemed to trigger his aggression. He attacked either

when the female ceased to flutter her wings while the second male was

hovering above her, or when the second male splayed and then snapped his

hindwings against his abdomen, a movement which normally indicates an

intention to attempt mating. On two occasions the first male grappled with

the second and carried him to the ground. At no time did the first male court

the female for more than a few seconds and this was only immediately

following a serious altercation with the interloper. At 1038h the female flew

off, closely followed by the first male. I relocated the same pair later in the

day at another clump of Hibiscus about a kilometer distant, with the male still

in close attendance but not courting the female. On this occasion the pair

were observed for 42 minutes, during which time the male drove off two

other males, both quite distinct from the original interloper. The pair

reappeared at the original location at 1515h. They fed undisturbed for 12

minutes when a small male, almost certainly the original interloper, arrived

and after feeding at nectar for five minutes began again to court the female.

Between 1520 and 1710h the pair continued to feed with the small male

almost continually courting the female. He was driven off on six occasions

by the first male. The final interaction, at 1708h, was particularly dramatic.

Following a prolonged period of courtship, the interloper dived on the female

and carried her to the ground. The first male swooped onto the struggling

pair and seized the male, whereupon the female was freed and flew away.

After the males had grappled on the ground for about 30 seconds the second

male escaped and few away rapidly, with the first in pursuit. I did not see

them again that day. Also during this period (i.e. 1520-1710h) two other

males arrived and courted the female, sometimes at the same time as the

small male, but these were eventually driven off by the original male or lost

interest following a series of altercations with the small male.

The following morning at the original site I saw the female again between

0820 and 0930h, this time unaccompanied by the first male, who I observed

nectaring at the same site later in the day, between 1310 and 1320h, and

again between 1600 and 1630h. On that day, between 1510 and 1640h, I

also observed another pair, which although not observed in copula, exhibited

similar apparent guarding behaviour to that described above. This male bore

no distinguishing marks but he was seen constantly defending the female

74 Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3)

from several interlopers, including the male from the previous pair, and

particularly the small original interloper described above who he attacked

and chased on seven occasions, three times seizing him and taking him to the

ground. The female was recognizable and was observed two days later

without an escort.

Prior to these observations (8-9 Feb. 1999), I twice observed between 1600

and 1800h a similar series of interactions between a guarding male which fed

and did not attempt courtship, a feeding female, and one or more courting

males which seldom fed. Other unguarded females also visited the flowers

and were subjected to courtship without result, but these usually did not

remain at the site for more than half an hour. In the light of the above

observations it seems reasonable to suggest that in these cases too the

guarding male had mated with the (guarded) female that day, and both were

replenishing their energy reserves.

Discussion

While these results do not provide a statistical sample they are sufficiently

unique to merit recording. Non-contact mate guarding is widespread in some

insects, especially the Odonata (Corbet 1961), but has never been reported in

the Lepidoptera. Following mating, females of most species are

unresponsive to male courtship for several days, even in polyandrous species

(Obara et al. 1975, Suzuki et al. 1977) and hence a mating plug, if present, is

likely to have hardened and be effective by the time the female accepts

another mating. Mate guarding would be most expected in species in which

forced copulation without courtship occurs. This happens only in sphragis

bearing species such as Cressida cressida Fabricius and Acraea andromacha

Fabricius (Orr 1988, 1995, 1999) and a few highly polyandrous species in

which males secure many matings and do not produce a mating plug, such as

Danaus plexippus Linnaeus (occasionally, Pliske 1975) or Acraea natalica

Boisduval (Orr 1988). In C. cressida the female is not normally released

until the sphragis is completely hardened (Orr and Rutowski 1992, Orr

1999), a situation analogous to contact mate guarding in the Odonata, and in

A. andromacha females are usually intercepted at hilltops and at the site of

the larval foodplant, rather than at nectar sources which are mostly dispersed;

hence freshly mated females are less likely to be molested although this has

been recorded (Epstein 1987). Males of polyandrous species which produce

no mating plug would be expected to direct their efforts to seeking more

mates, rather than attempting to guard one who may be almost guaranteed to

remate eventually.

Observations of caged O. richmondia suggest that females will accept

matings while the plug is still soft, especially if the first male has donated a

small spermatophore and the second male is especially persistent. Forced

copulation such as occurs in C. cressida is probably physically impossible as

Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3) 75

the male must force the female to evert her sinus vaginalis, which would be a

difficult if not impossible operation if the female did not acquiesce to some

extent; but it is possible that a female might accept a mating soon after the

first if only to escape the attentions of an especially persistent male. I have

not previously witnessed the probable guarding behaviour described above,

in either O. richmondia or O. euphorion, perhaps partly because I have

seldom seen such a concentration of Ornithoptera in such easy terrain, but it

is also possible that the male guarding behaviour occurs only facultatively

when population densities are high and females are likely to be subjected to

intense courtship from other males immediately after mating.

Acknowledgments i

I thank the many residents of Bramston Beach who supported me and my

family while floodbound for six days by Cyclone Rona, during which time

many of these observations were made.

References

CORBET, P.S. 1961. The biology of dragonfies. Witherby, London.

DICKINSON, J.L. and RUTOWSKI, R.L. 1989. The function of the mating plug in the

chalcedon checkerspot butterfly. Animal Behaviour 38: 154-162.

EHRLICH, A.H. and EHRLICH, P.H. 1978. Reproductive strategies in the butterflies:

I. Mating frequency, plugging and egg number. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society

51: 666-697.

EPSTEIN, M. 1987. Mating behaviour of Acraea andromacha andromacha (Fabricius) in New

Caledonia. Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society 41: 119-121.

MATSUMOTO, K. and SUZUKI, N. 1992. Effectiveness of the mating plug in Atrophaneura

alcinous (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 30: 157-163

OBARA, Y., TATEDA, H. and KURABARA, M. 1975. Mating behaviour of the cabbage

butterfly, Pieris rapae crucivora Boisduval. V. Copulatory stimuli inducing changes in female

response patterns. Dobut Zasshi 84: 71-76.

ORR, A.G. 1988. Mate conflict and the evolution of the sphragis in butterflies. Unpublished

PhD thesis, Griffith University, Nathan; 348 pp.

ORR, A.G. 1995. The evolution of the sphragis in the Papilionidae and other butterflies.

Chapter 16, in: Scriber, J.M., Tsubaki, Y. and Lederhouse, R.C. (eds), Swallowtail butterflies:

their ecology and evolutionary biology. Scientific Publishers, Gainesville; pp 155-164

ORR, A.G. 1999. Biology of Cressida cressida (Fabricius) (Papilionidae: Troidini). In:

Kitching, R.L., Scheermeyer, E., Jones, R.E. and Pierce, N.E. (eds). Biology of Australian

butterflies. Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera 6. CSIRO Publications, Melbourne.

ORR, A.G. and RUTOWSKI, R.L. 1991. Mating plug carried by female signals mated status to

male in the Big Greasy, Cressida cressida (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae). Journal of Natural

History 25: 703-710.

PARSONS, M.J. 1983. Notes on the courtship of Troides oblongomaculatus papuensis

(Papilionidae) in Papua New Guinea. Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society 37: 83-85.

PLISKE, T.E. 1975. Courtship behaviour of the monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus L..

Annals of the Entomological Society of America 68: 143-151.

76 Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3)

SUZUKI, N. and MATSUMOTO, K. 1990. Pair clinging behaviour of Atrophaneura alcinous

(Lepidoptera: Papilionidae). Journal of Ethology 8: 45-51.

SUZUKI, Y., NAKANISHI, A., SHIMA, H., YATA, O. and SAIGUSA, T. 1977. Mating

behaviour of four Japanese species of the genus Pieris (Lepidoptera, Pieridae). Kontyu 45:

300-313.

CORRIGENDA

In Figure 1 of Orr and Kitching (1999), captions (i) and (j) are transposed.

Fig. (i) is Beara falcata; fig. (j) is Scaphidriotis sp.

ORR, A.G. and KITCHING, R.L. 1999. A checklist of macrolepidoptera

collected from rainforest and former forest areas on basalt soils on the

Atherton Tableland. Australian Entomologist 26(1): 15-27.

Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3): 77-82 77

USE OF ODONATA AS PREY BY SAND WASPS, BEMBIX SPP.

(HYMENOPTERA: SPHECIDAE)

A.D. AUSTIN

Department of Applied and Molecular Ecology, Waite Campus, The University of Adelaide,

PO Glen Osmond, SA 5064 (email: aaustin@waite.adelaide.edu.au)

Abstract

The sphecid wasp Bembix minya Evans & Matthews from southern South Australia is recorded

for the first time as preying on damselflies (Odonata). Details of its nest structure and prey

range are presented, as is a discussion of the evolutionary transition within the genus to

utilising prey other than Diptera.

Introduction

Bembix F. is a large cosmopolitan genus of sphecid wasps comprising about

330 described species, 82 of which occur in Australia (Evans and Matthews

1973, Bohart and Menke 1976). They are often extremely common in sandy

habitats such as along beaches and the dunes of arid and semi-arid deserts.

With one exception (Evans 1978), species elsewhere in the world exclusively

provision their brood chambers with various paralysed adult Diptera (usually

muscoids, syrphids, dolichopodids and therevids) as food for a single

developing larva (Evans and Matthews 1973, Bohart and Menke 1976). It is

this biology and the fact that nest construction and provisioning can be

observed easily that has lead to the genus being used in studies of

comparative insect behaviour (e.g. Evans 1957, 1966, Evans and Matthews

1973).

Compared with other continents, the Australian Bembix fauna is particularly

interesting in that several species prey on insect groups other than Diptera,

including thynnine wasps, colletid, halictid and Trigona Jurine bees,

myrmeleontid lacewings and Odonata (Evans and Matthews 1973, Evans et

al. 1982). Two species have been recorded as provisioning their nests with

damselflies, B. coonundura Evans & Matthews from Lake Violet in Western

Australia, and B. variabilis Smith from Darwin and the Ord River near

Kununurra (Evans and Matthews 1973). A third species, B. allunga Evans &

Matthews, is known to utilise adult libellulid dragonflies at Kemp Beach near

Yeppoon, Queensland (Evans et al. 1982). However, B. variabilis and

B. allunga, both of which are widely distributed across the continent, are not

obligate predators of Odonata. More commonly they prey on a wide variety

of other insects, which include at least 12 dipteran families in the case of

B. variabilis, while B. allunga preys on various families of Diptera and

Neuroptera. In this study a fourth species, B. minya Evans & Matthews from

southern South Australia, is also recorded as preying on damselflies. Details

of its nest structure and prey range are presented, as is a discussion of the

evolutionary transition within the genus to utilising prey other than Diptera.

78 Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3)

Materials and Methods

Observations were made over a period of two days in mid-March 1993 at

Wistow, 4 km south of Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia (Fig.

1). The nests originally were discovered by accident when a two-tonne pile

of builder’s sand that had been at the site for the previous seven days, was

moved using a spade. Five nests were discovered, two of which were

partially disturbed by the spade, while the other three were completely

destroyed but recognisable by three semi-discrete groups of damselfly prey.

One adult wasp and all damselfly prey were collected into 70% alcohol from

a total of five nests, for later identification. Observations were undertaken

every 30-60 minutes during daylight hours but when no wasp activity was

observed at the end of the second day, the nests were gently exposed using a

small spoon to elucidate their structure.

Fig. 1. Localities where Bembix spp. have been recorded preying on Odonata:

B. variabilis on damselflies (@); B. coonumdura on damselflies (®); B. minya on

damselflies (3); B. allunga on libellulid dragonflies (m).

Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3) 79

Results and Observations

Several species of sphecid wasps, including B. minya, had constructed nests

in the pile of builder’s sand described above. All nests were on the north-

western side of the sand pile and the entrances about 50 cm from ground

level. The two partially disturbed nests had slightly curved entrance tunnels,

estimated at 20 and 25 cm in length and angled downwards at about 30° to

the horizontal. At the end of each tunnel a single elongate brood chamber

was found that was horizontal and about 10-12 cm in length (Fig. 2). One

chamber contained 15 damselflies, comprising two obvious species based on

colour differences, and a single small Bembix larva. The other chamber

contained 19 damselflies, again comprising at least two species. These prey

were retained with the damselflies from the other three nests and totalled 79

individuals, which later identification revealed to comprise four species, two

coenagrionids and two lestids (Table 1).

Fig. 2. Lateral aspect of the nest of Bembix minya showing elongate brood chamber

(scale line = 5 cm; tunnel diameter not to scale).

One adult B. minya was collected from one of the two partially disturbed

nests and no other individuals were recorded at the sand pile over the next

day and a half. It is therefore possible that all five nests were constructed by

the one adult female and some of them had been fully provisioned and sealed

off. Given that 79 damselflies were recovered from the five nests, it seems

reasonable to assume that this species provisions its brood chamber with an

average of 16 prey items, a figure commensurate with the 15 and 19 prey

recorded from the two partially disturbed nests.

80 Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3)

Extensive searching of the area showed that the closest source of damselflies

was from two farm dams, one approximately 200 metres to the west of the

nest site and the other about 380 metres to the south-east. Several other dams

were located 400-600 metres in various directions. A small number of

damselflies were seen flying over the water surface of the closest dam.

Several individuals were netted and these were later identified as Austrolestes

analis (Rambur) and A. annulosus (Selys), the two commonest species

collected by B. minya (Table 1).

Table 1. Damselfly species recorded from five nests of Bembix minya at Wistow,

South Australia.

Damselfly prey Number of individuals

Coenagrionidae

Ischnura aurora (Brauer) 1

Xanthagrion erythroneurum (Selys) 17

Lestidae

Austrolestes analis (Rambur) 30

Austrolestes annulosus (Selys) 31

TOTAL 79

Discussion

The observations made during this study show that predation by Bembix spp.

on Odonata, particularly damselflies, is geographically widespread in

Australia (Wheeler and Dow 1933, Evans and Matthews 1973, Evans et al.

1982) (Fig. 1). They also lend support to the proposal that some Bembix spp.

may be obligate specialists on Odonata (damselflies), rather than the latter

being alternative prey for polyphagous species that mostly feed on Diptera.

Although there are insufficient data on prey for the genus to make definitive

statements about prey group specificity, the detailed studies of Evans and

Matthews (1973) and Evans et al. (1982) on the Australian fauna provide

information on 27 of 82 described species. All except three of these 27

species specialise on a single prey group, viz. Diptera, thynnine wasps,

Apidae s.l. (Colletinae, Halictinae, Trigona) myrmeleontid lacewings and

Odonata. The exceptions are: B. variabilis, which preys mostly on Diptera

but at two localities has been observed to also prey on damselflies, either

exclusively (Kununurra) or in combination with Diptera so that brood

chambers are provisioned with both prey groups (Darwin); B. allunga, which

also mostly preys on Diptera as well as ascalaphid, chrysopid and

myrmeleontid Neuroptera and libellulid dragonflies; and B. moma Evans &

Matthews, the nests of which usually contain a mixture of prey groups

Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3) 81

comprising to date three subfamilies of Apidae s.l., five families of wasps

(Ichneumonidae, Gasteruptiidae, Tiphiidae, Pompilidae, Sphecidae) and at

least five families of flies (Evans and Matthews 1973).

The elongate brood chamber described here for B. minya (Fig. 2) is

somewhat atypical for Australian Bembix in that most species construct a

short chamber (Evans and Matthews 1973). However, at least one other

species, B. variabilis, also constructs a similar elongate chamber which is

undoubtedly necessary to accommodate the elongate bodies of multiple

damselfly prey.

Clearly, Bembix spp. provide an ideal group to examine the evolutionary

pathways that have led to prey switching. There is already some evidence

that prey specificity is an evolutionary (fixed) trait in that the three species

which exclusively prey on bees are contained within a single (presumably

monophyletic) species-group. Further, the two species apparently restricted

to damselflies, B. minya and B. coonundura, are closely related

(R.W. Matthews, pers. comm.) and may be sister taxa. A prerequisite for

such evolutionary studies would be the generation of a robust phylogeny for

the Australian species, a not insurmountable task but one that would probably

require molecular techniques given the likely level of morphological

homoplasy within the genus.

The observations reported here are consistent with those documented for

B. coonundura in regard to the number of damselflies provisioned per nest,

and for this species and B. variabilis for nest structure. The three intact nests

of B. coonundura excavated by Evans and Matthews (1973) at Lake Violet

each contained about 10 damselflies, comprising two of the four species

recorded here for B. minya, viz. Xanthagrion erythroneurum (Selys) and

A. annulosus. This number and that recorded for B. minya are substantially

lower than for the larger numbers of smaller flies recorded from nests of

some Bembix spp., which often number in excess of 50. Bembix coonundura

and B. minya presumably expend less energy in foraging for a smaller

number of prey and this may explain why a single wasp was collected from

the Wistow site; i.e. with fewer prey required it is possible for one wasp to

provision multiple nests sequentially in a relatively short period of time,

given that prey abundance is not limiting.

Finally, although the information presented here was the result of a fortuitous

encounter, this study has revealed the potential for using artificial sand piles

for observing and recording the nesting behaviour of Bembix spp. and other

sphecids. At sites where soil types are mostly inappropriate for nest

construction by sand wasps, artificial sites could be provided using sand of

different coarseness to examine the effect of particle size on nesting success.

Artificial sites provided at various times would also allow for the collection

of data on seasonality in nesting and its effect on species composition of

prey, plus rates of colonisation by different species.

82 Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3)

Acknowledgments

I wish to thank the late Tony Watson for identification of the damselflies, Ian

Naumann for identifying the Bembix species, and Bob Matthews and Sally

Collins for their comments on the manuscript.

References

BOHART, R.M. and MENKE, A.S. 1976. Sphecid wasps of the world: a generic revision.

University of California Press, Berkley; 694 pp.

EVANS, H.E. 1957. Studies on the comparative ethology of digger wasps of the genus Bembix.

Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca, New York; 248 pp.

EVANS, H.E. 1966. The comparative ethology and evolution of the sand wasps. Harvard

University Press, Cambridge; 526 pp.

EVANS, H.E. 1978. A solitary wasp that preys upon lacewings (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae;

Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Psyche 85: 81-83.

EVANS, H.E., EVANS, M.A. and HOOK, A. 1982. Observations on nests and prey of

Australian Bembix sand wasps (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 30:

71-80.

EVANS, H.E. and MATTHEWS, R.W. 1973. Systematics and nesting behaviour of Australian

Bembix sand wasps (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Memoirs of the American Entomological

Institute 20: 1-387.

WHEELER, W.M. and DOW, R. 1933. Unusual prey of Bembix. Psyche 40: 57-59.

Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3): 83-86 83

A NOTE ON UNSUCCESSFUL OVERWINTERING OF LARVAE OF

DANAUS PLEXIPPUS (L.) (LEPIDOPTERA: NYMPHALIDAE)

IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS, NEW SOUTH WALES

David G. James

Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, 24106

North Bunn Road, Prosser, Washington 99350, USA

Abstract

Fortnightly observations were made on a larval population of Danaus plexippus (L.) at

Hazelbrook, New South Wales to provide information on winter survival in the Blue

Mountains. The population was decimated in July and August apparently by strong, cold

winds. Only small numbers of larvae and pupae survived until September and none produced

adult butterflies.

Introduction

The monarch or wanderer butterfly, Danaus plexippus (L.), has an extensive

summer range in eastern Australia, breeding wherever suitable host plants

occur (Smithers 1977). During autumn the southern part of this range (in

NSW) contracts, forming overwintering populations in the Sydney and

northern coastal areas of New South Wales. The Sydney basin harbours both

breeding and non-breeding overwintering populations (Smithers 1965, James

1979, 1981). The westward limit of reproductive populations in the Sydney

area has not been established, although larvae have not been recorded west of

the Great Dividing Range during winter (Smithers 1977).

The two prime requirements for the survival and development of

D. plexippus larvae are an adequate food supply and body temperatures

greater than the developmental zero of 11-12°C for much of the time

(Rawlins and Lederhouse 1981, Zalucki 1982). Milkweed, Gomphocarpus

(= Asclepias) fruticosus (L) (Asclepiadaceae), the major host plant of

D. plexippus in New South Wales, occurs at elevations of up to at least 700 m

during winter in the Blue Mountains, west of the Sydney basin (James,

unpub. obs.). The presence of host plants, together with the ability of

D. plexippus larvae to increase body temperatures substantially when

exposed to sunshine (James 1986), indicate that survival of larvae during

winter in the Blue Mountains may be possible.

This study provides information on overwintering by larvae of D. plexippus

during 1984 at one site in the Blue Mountains.

Materials and Methods

The author’s garden at Hazelbrook, 17 km east of Katoomba at an altitude of

650 m, was chosen as the study site. A small patch of 25-30 milkweed

plants, occupying an area of approximately 1 m’, was established on a south-

facing slope in December 1983. Plants ranged in size from, 0.5-1.5 m tall.

The surrounding area was cultivated with vegetables. Natural bushland

occurred 5 m down-slope of the milkweed.

84 Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3)

On 26 May 1984, 100 second instar larvae of D. plexippus were introduced

to the milkweed patch. One month later (24 June) a second batch of 100

third instar larvae was released. The milkweed was examined at fortnightly

intervals until the end of September and data recorded on number and instar

of larvae. Plants were searched thoroughly on each occasion and it is likely

that only a small number of larvae escaped detection. Pupae found on the

plants and general information on larval development and mortality were

recorded. Weather conditions were recorded also; the ambient temperature

was continuously monitored by a thermohygrograph situated 1 m above

ground level.

Results

The population of 200 larvae introduced to the milkweed in early winter

failed to produce a single butterfly. Numbers of larvae, fairly stable in June,

declined dramatically during July and August (Table 1). Small numbers of

pupae were produced but many were malformed and all died. The

substantial depletion of larvae during July and August coincided with the

occurrence of frequent cold and strong south to south-westerly winds which

were often accompanied by rain, sleet or snow. Such weather systems often

persisted for many days. The first of these severe cold fronts occurred in the

first week of July. On 4 July snow covered the ground for more than 5

hours. Subsequent examination of the milkweed revealed many larvae had

been blown to the ground by the gale force winds and had died. Similar

conditions occurred at the end of July and on four occasions during August.

Table 1. Number of larvae, pupae and relative percentages of instars of D. plexippus

during May-September 1984 at Hazelbrook, NSW.

Date No. of Relative % of instars No. of

larvae 2nd 3rd 4th Sth pupae

26.v. * 100 100 0 0 0 0

9.vi. 90 30 70 0 0 0

23.vi. 82 0 67 33 0 0

24.vi. * 182 0 92 8 0 0

T.vii. 130 0 81 19 0 0

21.vii. 64 0 20 51 29 1

4.viii. 32 0 0 31 69 6

18.viii. 12 0 0 17 83 15

1.ix. 7 0 0 0 100 22

15.ix. 1 0 0 0 100 23

29.ix. (0) 0 landi 0 0 0 25

* Denotes introduction of 100 second or third instar larvae.

Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3) 85

Observations indicated that larvae were most vulnerable when ecdysis

coincided with cold, windy conditions, and invariably died.

Temperatures during the period of study ranged from 1-19°C and daily

maxima and minima averaged 12.6 and 6.2°C respectively (Table 2). July

was the coldest and most overcast month, while June and August were

characterised by similar temperatures and mainly sunny skies. Strong winds

were common during July and August but June was mainly calm (Table 2).

Table 2. Climate data for Hazelbrook NSW, June-August 1984. Days were recorded

as “sunny” if there were more than 4 hours of sunshine; days were recorded as windy

if winds exceeded 20 km/h for more than 1 hour.

Temperature °C No. of No.of

Maximum Minimum sunny windy

Range Daily mean Range Daily mean days days

(+SE) (+SE)

June 9.5-17.5 13.5 (2.2) 4.5-11.0 6.9 (1.4) 22 2

July 6.0-13.5 10.5 (1.8) 1.0-8.0 4.9 (1.6 17 16

August 10.0-19.0 13.9 (2.5) 3.0-10.0 6.8 (1.8) 25 22

June- 6.0-19.0 12.6 (2.7) 1.0-11.0 6.2 (1.8) 64 40

August

Discussion

Overwintering in the Blue Mountains poses considerable problems for the

survival of larvae of the monarch butterfly. Whilst cold-cool (0-12°C)

conditions (e.g. June) alone do not appear to drastically threaten survival and

development of larvae, their occurrence in combination with prolonged

exposure to strong winds (e.g. August) produces substantial mortalities. This

mortality may have been caused by a wind chill effect, and/or an inability by

larvae to recolonise host plants after being blown to the ground. Despite cool

conditions, calm and sunny weather in June produced good larval

development and excellent survival. An estimated one third of the

population progressed from second to fourth instar. This was most likely

facilitated by the predominance of sunny days which enabled larvae to

elevate body temperatures substantially, thus accelerating development.

Winter monarch larvae exposed to sunshine under calm conditions can

achieve body temperatures 10-22°C higher than ambient (James 1986).

However, even light winds drastically reduce solar heat gains (May 1979).

The sustained windy conditions during August produced devastating

mortalities and development of survivors was minimal. Even larvae that

pupated successfully in late August-September eventually died, indicating

that irreversible physiological damage was suffered by the larvae.

86 Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3)

The southerly aspect of the garden, despite a certain amount of protection

provided by the nearby mature bushland, undoubtedly contributed towards its

unsuitability as an overwintering site for D. plexippus larvae. It seems likely

that reduction of the chill factor by adequate buffering from strong winds

would allow good overwintering survival of monarch larvae in the Blue

Mountains, provided abundant sunshine was available. Due to air circulation

from lower elevations and tree cover, many lower-mid elevation localities in

the Blue Mountains are relatively frost-free, allowing survival of the frost-

sensitive G. fruticosus. In the Sydney basin, the most successful winter

breeding populations of D. plexippus invariably occur on north facing slopes

(James, unpub. obs.) and such situations would offer the best opportunity for

survival of overwintering larvae in the Blue Mountains.

References

JAMES, D.G. 1979. Observations on two overwintering clusters of Danaus plexippus (L.)

(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in the Sydney area during 1978. Australian Entomological

Magazine 5: 81-85.

JAMES, D.G. 1981. Studies on a winter breeding population of Danaus plexippus (L.)

(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) at Spencer, New South Wales. General and Applied Entomology

13: 47-53.

JAMES, D.G. 1986. Thermoregulation in Danaus plexippus (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae):

Two cool climate adaptations. General and Applied Entomology 18: 43-47.

MAY, M.L. 1979. Insect thermoregulation. Annual Review of Entomology 24: 313-349.

RAWLINS, J.E. and LEDERHOUSE, R.C. 1981. Developmental influences of thermal

behaviour on Monarch caterpillars (Danaus plexippus): an adaptation for migration

(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Danainae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 54:

387-408.

SMITHERS, C.N. 1965. A note on overwintering in Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus)

(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Australia. Australian Zoologist 13: 135-136.

SMITHERS, C.N. 1977. Seasonal distribution and breeding status of Danaus plexippus (L.)

(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Australia. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 16:

175-184.

ZALUCKI, M.P. 1982. Temperature and rate of development in Danaus plexippus and

D. chrysippus (Nymphalidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 21: 241-246.

Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3): 87-90 87

PARASITISM OF ACACICOLA ORPHANA (ERICHSON)

(COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE) IN TASMANIA

Tara L. Simmul' and Anthony R. Clarke?

! Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Production Forestry and University of

Tasmania, GPO Box 252-12, Hobart, Tas 7001

? Australian School of Environmental Studies, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane,

Qld 4111

Abstract

Parasitism of late-instar Acacicola orphana larvae was assessed at six locations throughout

Tasmania in October 1997. Overall rates of parasitism were very low and only one parasitoid

was collected, a species of Lixophaga Townsend (Diptera: Tachinidae). Only 17 tachinid

pupae were reared from 600 larvae (2.83% parasitism), but the number of larvae initially

observed bearing tachinid eggs was higher (32 larvae, 5.3% parasitism). The emergence rate of

adult tachinids was low, with only four of the 17 pupae (23%) yielding flies. The number of

larvae bearing tachinid eggs between sites ranged from 0-17 and was positively and

significantly correlated with tree damage estimates made at the collection sites during the

previous season.

Introduction

The fireblight beetle, Acacicola (= Pyrgoides) orphana (Erichson), defoliates

the temperate bipinnate acacias Acacia dealbata Link. and A. mearnsii de

Wild (French 1911, Froggatt 1923, McKeown 1942). Defoliation is more

apparent in spring when the winter-developing larvae are in the fourth (final)

instar. Severely affected trees can lose all foliage and larvae chew green bark

from the stems, effectively ring-barking the trees. Repeated severe

defoliation may result in tree death. Although A. dealbata and A. mearnsii

have been identified as having potential for pulp and paper making (Clark et

al. 1994), there is a reluctance to grow these species because of the severe

defoliation caused by A. orphana (D. de Little, pers. comm.).

An understanding of the natural enemies of A. orphana is needed if IPM

systems are to be developed for this insect. Elliott (1978) observed only very

low numbers (6 specimens from ‘a number of collections ... containing

several hundred individuals per collection’) of two tachinid parasitoids,

Deltomyza australiensis (Malloch) and a species of Lixophaga Townsend in

A. orphana populations in the Florentine Valley, south-central Tasmania.

Elliott (1978) noted that A. orphana larvae develop throughout the colder

months of the year and he hypothesised that conditions in his study area were

unfavourable for many predators and parasitoids. In 1997 we conducted a

more extensive Tasmanian survey of A. orphana larval populations, with the

aim of identifying additional parasitoid species and spatial variance in

parasitism rates.

Materials and methods

No parasitism of eggs, first or second instar larvae of A. tria has been

observed (Elliott 1978, T. Simmul, pers. obs.). Therefore, for this study only

88 Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3)

third and fourth instar larvae were collected from six Tasmanian sites on one

occasion each in mid-October, 1997. Site locations were: Lake Leake

(147°38'S, 41°58'E), Buckland 1 (147°44'S 42°39'E), Buckland 2 (147°36'S

42°38'E), Conara (147°27'S 41°50'E), Dromedary (147°06'S 42°46'E) and

Perth (147°09'S 41°35'E). At all sites A. dealbata was the predominant

Acacia species. During October 1996 (the previous season), all sites except

Dromedary were assessed for A. orphana defoliation using a visual scoring

system based on 10 trees per site. To obtain the site score, 10 trees were

scored visually with values ranging from zero, representing no damage, to

five, for complete foliage removal and some bark chewed. The values were

then averaged across the 10 trees and rounded to the nearest whole number.

When cultures were first established, each larva was examined individually

and records made of any tachinid eggs present on the body. One hundred

larvae from each site were maintained in ventilated containers under constant

conditions (17°C + 5°C; 8L, 16D, -66% R.H.). Cultures were cleaned and

fresh foliage was provided three times weakly. At these times any dead

larvae were counted and the apparent cause of death noted. Final counts

were made of the number of adult beetles, number of parasitoid pupae and

the number of adult parasitoids emerging.

The relationship between the number of larvae carrying tachinid eggs and the

defoliation score during the previous season was examined using linear

regression (Excel 6.0).

Results

Only 5.3% of collected A. orphana larvae bore tachinid eggs, with one to

three eggs found per individual. A few tachinids (0.5%) developed in larvae

with no eggs on the cuticle, implying that the eggs had been dislodged after

the tachinid larva eclosed or that the parent fly had oviposited on an earlier

instar host. The tachinid was a larval endoparasitoid, killing the host late in

the final larval or prepupal stage, when the puparium protruded from a split

in the host’s cuticle. Adult flies, identified as Lixophaga sp., emerged after

approximately 10 days. Only one tachinid developed in each host larva.

Parasitised A. orphana larvae did not appear to behave differently from non-

parasitised larvae.

The highest amount of parasitism was at Conara (17% of larvae carrying

eggs), while the lowest was 1% at Perth and Buckland 2. At Perth, no egg

was observed on the larva; however a single tachinid puparium was

observed. No flies were reared from either of these locations (Table 1).

Unidentified mortality in the cultures caused losses of 18-27% (average

24%), some of which may have been caused by parasitoids which

subsequently failed to emerge. From all collections only 17 tachinid pupae

were recorded, from which only four adult flies emerged. No

hyperparasitoids were observed.

Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3) 89

A positive relationship (r = 0.96) existed between the site defoliation scores

made in the season prior to the collections and the number of eggs found on

the larvae in 1997.

Table 1. Tree defoliation scores and Acacicola orphana larval parasitism records for

six sites in Tasmania. Initial sample size from each site = 100 larvae. Defoliation

score range: 0 = none; 5 = total defoliation.

Site Site No. of larvae No. of larvae No. of adult

defoliation carrying with a tachinid flies emerging

score tachinid eggs pupa from pupae

Lake Leake 2 2 3 2

Conara 5 17 6 2

Buckland 1 3 8 2 0

Buckland 2 1 1 0 0

Perth 0 0 1 0

Dromedary - 4 5 0

Discussion

In a collection of 600 larvae from six sites, larval parasitism (based on the

presence of tachinid eggs) of A. orphana in Tasmania, averaged across all

sites, was only 5%. Direct mortality attributable to parasitism was around

3%. This parasitism rate seems similar to that obtained by Elliott (1978),

although a direct comparison is difficult because of the way his results are

presented. Unlike Elliott, only one parasitoid species, Lixophaga sp., was

obtained. Although other authors have recorded very low parasitism rates of

paropsine chrysomelids (the group to which A. orphana belongs), tachinid

parasitism rates of species such as Chrysophtharta bimaculata (Olivier) and

Paropsis atomaria Olivier are normally 2-7 fold higher than that recorded for

A. orphana (Tanton and Khan 1978, de Little 1982, Tanton and Epila 1984,

de Little et al. 1990). The reason for the low parasitism obtained may be due

to the winter cycle of A. orphana larvae, as suggested by Elliott (1978), but

this is difficult to test directly. Alternatively, a greater temporal sampling of

larvae may show seasonal cycles in parasitism rates, of which we have only

recorded the low period. Seasonality of tachinid parasitism rates has been

demonstrated for P. atomaria (Tanton and Khan 1978, Tanton and Epila

1984).

If the level of tree defoliation is related to A. orphana population levels, this

may imply delayed density dependence between beetle numbers and parasite

numbers. Obviously the sample size is very low and this needs to be

repeated.

The low parasitism rate, coupled with the low number of adult flies

successfully developing and emerging from A. orphana larvae, suggests that

90 Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3)

this species may be a relatively poor host for Lixophaga sp. More studies on

field parasitism are required to quantify the effect of this parasitoid on

populations of A. orphana.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mr S. Paterson for technical assistance and

Dr B. Cantrell for identification of the tachinid. Dr D. de Little provided

unpublished information. This work was supported by an Australian

Postgraduate Award (Industry) scholarship partnered by the Tasmania Forest

Research Council, the Australian Research Council and the Cooperative

Research Centre for Sustainable Production Forestry.

References

CLARK, N.B., BALODIS, V., GUIGAN, F. and WANG, J.X. 1994. Pulpwood potential of

Acacias. Pp 196-202, in BROWN, A.G. (ed.), Australian tree species research in China.

ACIAR, Canberra; 226 pp.

de LITTLE, D.W. 1982. Field parasitization of larval populations of the Eucalyptus-defoliating

leaf-beetle, Chrysophtharta bimaculata (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). General and

Applied Entomology 14: 3-6.

de LITTLE, D.W., ELLIOTT, H.J., MADDEN, J.L. and BASHFORD, R. 1990. Stage-specific

mortality in two field populations of immature Chrysophtharta bimaculata (Olivier)

(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 29: 51-55.

ELLIOTT, H.J. 1978. Studies on the fireblight beetle, Pyrgoides orphana (Erichson)

(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and its effect on the growth of silver wattle in Tasmania.

Australian Forestry 41: 160-166.

FRENCH, C. 1911. Handbook of the destructive insects of Victoria. Part V. Government

Printer, Melbourne; 169 pp.

FROGGATT, W.W. 1923. Forest insects of Australia. Government Printer, Sydney; 171 pp.

McKEOWN, K.C. 1942. Australian insects. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales,

Sydney; 304 pp.

TANTON, M.T. and EPILA, J.S.O. 1984. Parasitization of larvae of Paropsis atomaria Ol.

(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the Australian Capital Territory. Australian Journal of

Zoology 32: 251-259.

TANTON, M.T. and KHAN, S.M. 1978. Aspects of the biology of the eucalyptus-defoliating

chrysomelid beetle Paropsis atomaria Ol. in the Australian Capital Territory. Australian

Journal of Zoology 26: 113-120.

Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3): 91-95 91

A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF HAWK MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA:

SPHINGIDAE) FROM PAPUA NEW GUINEA

R.B. LACHLAN

Entomology Department, Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

Abstract

Altijuba oktediensis gen. et sp. nov. is described from a single female from Tabubil, Western

Province, Papua New Guinea.

Introduction

An undescribed genus and species of hawk moth was collected at Tabubil in

the mountains of Western Province, Papua New Guinea, in May 1993. This

new taxon is distinct from all genera previously recorded from Papua New

Guinea and West Irian.

Altijuba gen. nov.

(Figs 1-3)

Type species. Altijuba oktediensis sp. nov.

Description. Antenna short, filiform except for terminal segments which

gradually taper; weakly hooked. Eyes small in relation to overall size. Palps

not large but erect, closely appressed to head. Head and thorax with distinct

medial scale crest. Abdomen very short and stout, tapering abruptly.

Middle tibia with one pair and hind tibia with two pairs of small spurs. Hind

legs short. Coxae densely covered with long hair scales. Fore femur covered

by shorter, flattened scales. Hind femur with distinctive thin crest of long

scales on ventral surface. Distal half of tibia with triangular shaped crest of

long scales on dorsal surface. All legs narrow and of thread-like appearance.

Forewing costa straight with apex of wing falcate; termen almost straight

from R, to M,, serrate and angled inwards from M, to tornus; distal edge of

inner margin at tornus bluntly tooth-like; two prominent cream stigmata

visible on upperside at end of discal cell, one above the other; only one

prominent stigmata visible on underside. Hindwing with apex rounded to Rs

vein; termen slanting inwards but almost straight from Rs to M,, then serrate

to 1A+2A; tornus with tooth-like projection.

Etymology. The generic name Altijuba is derived from the Latin words

‘altus’ meaning high and ‘juba’ meaning mane or crest.

Altijuba oktediensis sp. nov.

(Figs 1-3)

Type. Holotype 9, PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Tabubil, Western Province,

5°15'S 141°13'E, 650 m, 11.v.1993, R.B. Lachlan. Holotype in Australian

National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra.

Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3)

Figs 1-2. Altijuba oktediensis gen. et sp. nov., holotype female. ( 1) upperside, legs

reset for examination; (2) underside.

Description. Female (Figs 1-3). Forewing length 41 mm. Antenna light

brown and filiform. Palpi grey-brown above, contrasting orange-brown

below. Small cream spot below and slightly forward of each eye. Head,

thorax and abdomen uniform grey-brown on upper surface. Head and thorax

with dark brown, longitudinal, medial crest. Underside of thorax with dense,

orange-brown pilosity. Single, dark brown, transverse line on posterior edge

of upperside of third abdominal segment. Proximal end of all tibiae with

cream spot on dorsal surface. Underside of abdomen orange-brown with

distinct sheen and three thin, disconnected, brown longitudinal medial lines;

each segment with mauve and brown posterior edge.

Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3) 93

Fig. 3. Altijuba oktediensis gen. et sp. nov., holotype female at rest.

Forewing upperside pattern as in Fig. 1; ground colour dark brown with

lighter markings. Dark brown apical band. Thin, dark brown, postmedian

line pointed outwards along veins R, to M, and 1A+2A. Two dark brown

lines beginning at submedian and postmedian areas of costa, curving inwards

and joining at inner margin one third of length from base and enclosing a

dark, triangular patch. Two prominent cream stigmata, one above the other,

at end of discal cell. Three simple brown fasciae between subbasal and

submedian areas. Underside with single, strongly visible stigma. Basal and

subcostal areas grey-brown. Postmedian area lighter brown. Single thin

brown median band from R, curving inwardly to CuA,. Single serrate, thin

brown postmedian line from R, to CuA,. Subapical area dark brown with

diffuse black and orange scaling. Light mauve subterminal band, straight to

M,, inner edge of band serrate proximally above veins CuA,, CuA, and

1A+2A.

Hindwing upperside with dark brown ground colour. Thin, orange-brown

apical and terminal band to M,. Dark, pink-brown band with thin black

anterior and posterior lines from just above vein CuA, to inner margin above

tornus distally. Underside with ground colour orange-brown, pink basally.

Dark grey along costa, lighter grey in anal area tending light brown towards

tornus. Small faint stigma at end of cell. One straight, thin, dark brown

transverse median line from vein Sc+R, to CuA,. Two thin, faint, serrate,

parallel postmedian lines terminating above tornus. Broad mauve terminal

band from apex to vein CuA,, serrate proximally between veins M, and

CuA..

94 Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3)

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Western Province, Papua New Guinea.

Etymology. The specific name oktediensis is derived from the Ok Tedi river,

which flows past the mining town of Tabubil, the only known locality for the

species.

Discussion i

As the only known specimen is a female, the genitalia have not been

examined. External characters have been used to characterize the genus and

to determine where it probably belongs. When males become available the

genitalia will provide further clues as to its placement. Neither Mackey

(1975) nor D’Abrera [1987] illustrated any species that closely resemble this

specimen. It was first noted as an unidentified species by Moulds and

Lachlan (1998). The forewing shape resembles Eurypteryx Felder and

Gehlenia Bryk but is more serrate. The hindwing shape also has some

resemblance to E. falcata Gehlen but is also more serrate. The two stigmata

on the forewing upperside of A. oktediensis are a prominent feature and are

also found, to a lesser degree, on E. shelfordi Rothschild & Jordan.

However, no species of Eurypteryx has the orange-brown underside to the

hindwings and abdomen seen on the new species. Also, Altijuba has very

small eyes and short palps which do not project as they do in Eurypteryx and

Acosmeryx Boisduval.

Dr Ian Kitching (personal communication) has examined photographs of the

holotype and is of the opinion that the new genus is probably closely related

to Eurypteryx and may well be somewhat sexually dimorphic, with the male

being more uniform in colour and with smaller stigmata. A distinctive

feature of this new species is the unusually short, stout abdomen, similar to

the African sphingid Dovania poecila Rothschild & Jordan. The vast

majority of world Sphingidae have a much longer abdomen in both sexes.

The crest on the head and thorax of Altijuba is similar to that in Gehlenia.

The orange-brown underside of the hindwing is also common to some

Acosmeryx species but Altijuba differs from these in the shape of both wings.

The leg scaling is another distinctive feature of Altijuba.

This new species has a number of characters found in several different genera

as well as its own distinctive features. It cannot be placed in a currently

described genus and is therefore placed in a new genus on its own.

Despite over three years of comprehensive collecting between 1991-93 and

in March-April 1994, at several sites in and around the Tabubil region, only a

single specimen of this species was collected. During this time thousands of

specimens, covering 66 species and 20 genera, were either sighted, examined

or collected (Moulds and Lachlan 1998). Dr Kitching has suggested that if

Altijuba is related to Eurypteryx this may explain its rarity as it is well known

that Eurypteryx species do not readily come to light.

Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3) 95

Acknowledgments

For advice and helpful comments on the manuscript I sincerely thank Mr Ted

Edwards (Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra) and Dr

Ian Kitching (The Natural History Museum, London). I am most grateful to

Ok Tedi Mining Ltd for their field support, especially to former managers of

the environment section, Murray Eagle and Ian Wood, and to Robert

Murphy, Chief Geologist. Without their support and permission to access

collecting sites this work would not have been possible. I would also like to

thank my wife, Deborah Lachlan, for typing the manuscript.

References

D’ABRERA, B. [1987]. Sphingidae Mundi, hawk moths of the world. Based on a checklist by

Alan Hayes and the collection he curated in the British Museum (Natural History). E.W.

Classey, Faringdon; ix+226 pp.

MACKEY, A.P. 1975. Hawk moths of Port Moresby. Occasional Papers of the Biology

Department, University of Papua New Guinea 4: 1-20.

MOULDS, M.S. and LACHLAN, R.B. 1998. An annotated list of the hawk moths

(Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) of Western Province, Papua New Guinea. Australian Entomologist

25(2): 45-60.

96 Australian Entomologist, 1999, 26 (3)

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THE AUSTRALIAN

Entomologist

Volume 26, Part 3, 10 December 1999

CONTENTS

AUSTIN, A.D.

Use of Odonata as prey by sand wasps, Bembix spp. (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae).

JAMES, D.G.

A note on unsuccessful overwintering of larvae of Danaus plexippus (L.)

(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales.

LACHLAN, R.B.

A new genus and species of hawk moth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) from Papua

New Guinea.

MULLER, CJ.

A new species of Leuciacria Rothschild & Jordan (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) from

montane New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.

ORR, AG.

Possible postcopulatory mate guarding in Ornithoptera euphorion (Gray)

(Lepidoptera: Papilionidae).

SIMMUL, T..L. and CLARKE, A.R.

Parasitism of Acacicola orphana (Erichson) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in

Tasmania

ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTICES Inside back cover.

ISSN 1320 6133

COR