THE AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGIST

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Fly Group

Cover: The very large and strong-flying robberfly Blepharotes coriarius Wiedemann

is widespread across eastern Australia. Blepharotes contains six described and a

similar number of undescribed species, restricted to Australia and New Guinea. They

are easily recognised by their flat, usually yellow or orange abdomens, that bear

dense, lateral tufts of hairs. From an original drawing by Geoff Thompson.

Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1): 1-12 1

THE SPREAD AND IMPACT OF THE INTRODUCED

VESPINE WASPS VESPULA GERMANICA (F.) AND VESPULA

VULGARIS (L.) (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE: VESPINAE)

IN TASMANIA

RICHARD BASHFORD

Forestry Tasmania, GPO Box 207, Hobart, Tas 7001

Abstract

The dispersal since introduction and current distribution of the two vespine wasps present in

Tasmania, Vespula germanica (F.) and Vespula vulgaris (L.), is documented. The economic

effects on agriculture, forestry and tourism are outlined and an appraisal of possible

environmental impacts made.

Introduction

The European wasp, Vespula germanica (F.), was first found to be

established in Australia in the Hobart suburb of Battery Point in 1959 (Anon

1960). Since then this species has expanded its range throughout the settled

regions of the island and in recent years become firmly established in

National Parks, uninhabited areas of the south-west and rainforest areas in

north-western Tasmania.

Originating in Europe and the Mediterranean region, V. germanica is now

widespread throughout the world including North America, Chile, South

Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Its presence in New Zealand dates from

sightings in the 1920s but it was not confirmed as established until 1944

(Thompson 1982). The species spread throughout New Zealand in about six

years, its rapid dispersal accelerated by its survival through the relatively

mild winters of the region. A similar event occurred in Tasmania following

confirmed establishment in 1959 in Hobart. Within ten years the wasp had

become widely established in the north of the state and within a further five

years penetrated the rainforests of the west coast and now occupies most of

the state. The number of nests established in high rainfall areas fluctuated

annually but in recent years V. germanica seems to have gained a permanent

foothold in many areas thought to be marginal for its establishment.

The English wasp, Vespula vulgaris (L.), a species similar in appearance to

the European wasp, has recently been found established in southern

Tasmania (Matthews et al. 2000). Examination of museum specimens shows

that the species has been present in the Hobart area since 1995 and is

currently restricted to the south east of the state. V. vulgaris was first found in

Australia in the Melbourne area in 1958 and has not greatly expanded its

range. In New Zealand this species is widespread throughout most of the

country and in some areas, such as the South Island beech forests, has

usurped V. germanica (Clapperton et al. 1994).

2 Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1)

General life history

The adult workers of both Vespula species are primarily protein feeders and

are swift, voracious hunters of many insects, especially larger Diptera and

honeybees. The wasps also gorge on ripe fruits such as apples, plums, grapes

and berry fruits as well as meat from carrion and barbecue areas.

Overwintering queens emerge from hibernation in spring and establish new

nests. The nests are never exposed, usually being found in hollow trees,

under rock slabs, in cavity brick walls or under big logs. They are

constructed from wood fibres collected by the workers and mixed with saliva

to form a papier-mache nest filled with breeding cells. Eggs are laid in the

golf ball-sized nest and the first adult workers emerge several weeks later.

Workers live for several weeks, continually increasing the size of the nest.

Increasing numbers of adult workers are produced during the summer

months with populations peaking at up to 20,000-30,000 workers per nest in

March/April. Workers tend to forage within 200 metres of the nest but

individuals may travel up to a kilometre. In autumn the nests begin to decline

and several hundred queens and male wasps are produced in larger cells.

Mating occurs outside the nest, the drones die and the queens migrate to find

overwintering sites. The remaining workers usually die, leaving the nest

deserted. However in well-sheltered nests resident queens and workers may

survive and remain active during the winter, resulting in increased nest size

and large wasp populations the following year. These nests may survive and

enlarge for up to three seasons. The largest recorded V. germanica nest in

Tasmania occupied 2.268 cubic metres in volume (Lewis 1975).

Most wasp colonies in Europe die out over the winter months, with

overwintering queens re-establishing nests each spring. There is only one

generation a year. The survival of the nest, which can house up to 100,000

insects, is temperature dependent, with mortality occurring at 0°C after 12

hours (Madden 1981). High rainfall and prolonged periods of frost and snow

may limit the permanent distribution of the wasps in some areas of Tasmania

although V. vulgaris is able to survive in colder and wetter sites than V.

germanica (Beggs 1991).

Pest status

Vespid wasps cause crop losses to many agricultural industries especially soft

fruit orchards, horticultural ventures, apiaries and the wine and grape

industries. Their presence and aggressive nature pose health threats to

outdoor workers in agriculture, forestry and tourism. Both species are

aggressive if individuals or the nest are disturbed and pose a hazard to people

using machinery during forestry and agricultural operations or in recreational

areas such as picnic grounds.

European wasps are economic pests of beehives, robbing them of honey and

killing worker bees when foraging. No estimates of losses are available from

Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1) 3

Tasmania but in New Zealand destruction of 1.9% of all hives and damage to

another 4.9% of hives in 1974/75 resulted in serious losses to the industry

(Walton and Reid 1976). By 1986/87 the annual total of destroyed and

damaged hives had risen to 9.35% (Clapperton et al. 1989). Movement of

wasps into native forest areas also deprived beekeepers of considerable

potential honey production as a result of competition with bees for honeydew

in beech forests (Crosland 1989). However, a Tasmanian study did not

demonstrate any significant competition between wasps and bees for the

leatherwood flower resource used for honey produced in wet forest areas

(Ettershank and Ettershank 1993).

The increased area of grapes grown for wine production in Tasmania

provides an attractive food source for wasps in autumn when foraging

activity is at its peak. Although losses in Tasmania have not been

documented, in the 1999/2000 season several southern vineyards reported a

loss of grape production of up to 25%. This was due to fruit damage to

grapes being hollowed out by wasps; consequently picking was brought

forward by several weeks to minimise crop losses. Trapping in some

vineyards in the south of the state has shown the presence of both Vespula

species. In Victoria losses of 10-15% of the total crop due to damage by V.

germanica has been recorded (Thomas 1993). Wasp damage in some

vineyards in Victoria was responsible for bringing the harvest date forward

and in recent years there has been an increased incidence of pickers and

processors being stung (Darby et al. 1998). Wasp feeding reduces the content

of the grape and also introduces foreign yeast types that can interfere with the

fermentation process (M. Williams, pers. com.).

One Tasmanian commercial grower of strawberries reported a 20% loss in

fruit production in 2000 due to wasp damage. The wasps are attracted to

sugary substances and aggregations can occur at fruit processing plants and

fruit and confectionery shops.

Although not reported in Tasmania, in Israel there has been an increasing

incidence of European wasps feeding on milk from lactating dairy cattle,

causing bacterial ulcers affecting up to 65% of cows in some herds. There

was also a higher incidence of nests on dairy farms (Braverman 1998).

Spread of Vespula germanica in Tasmania

Records of wasp sightings and nests were compiled from newspaper reports,

observations of forestry workers and public inquires as well as personal

observations. Figure 1 shows the distribution throughout the state for each

decade since establishment based on confirmed sightings. Spradbery and

Maywald (1992) stated that by 1974 the wasp was widespread throughout

Tasmania. Since then there have been periods of several years in western

coastal areas where wasp populations have been very low due to high rainfall

flooding nests. However, since the early 1990s populations have been high.

4 Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1)

This suggests that the occupancy of good nesting sites had enabled the

population to recolonise flooded sites or marginal habitats quickly. Several

very large nests have been found, especially among the roots of large dead

eucalypts, in very high rainfall areas (<2000 mm per annum), suggesting

occupancy for several years. This trend of permanent occupancy of good nest

sites has occurred throughout the state over the period of establishment,

ensuring that there will always be high wasp populations in Tasmania. The

experience in New Zealand suggests that this ‘permanency’ phase may take

up to 20 years to be achieved before a plateau of population numbers will

occur. The other moderating factor to permanent establishment is the food

resource.

1959-1970

1971-1980 ANANN

1981-1990

1991-2000

Fig. 1. Distribution of the European wasp, Vespula germanica, in Tasmania for each

decade since introduction.

Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1) 5

Spradbery and Maywald (1992) noted that the initial establishment and

spread of V. germanica is largely dependent on man and the urban

environment. Colonisation of sub-optimal habitats is dependent on suitable

nest sites, over-wintering sites for queens and a food resource that can sustain

high wasp populations. Nest density is dependent on site availability. In New

Zealand at a disturbed land site the density reached 75 nests per hectare

(Szabo 1993).

Fig. 2. Distribution of Vespula germanica (@) and V. vulgaris (O) in Tasmania from

a survey conducted in April 2000.

Spread of Vespula vulgaris in Tasmania

Following the discovery of V. vulgaris at Warra in the south of the state

(Matthews et al. 2000), an examination of museum specimens determined

presence in the Hobart area dating from 1995. A small survey was conducted

6 Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1)

during April 2000, during which Forestry Tasmania staff, Australian

Entomological Society members and university students collected vespid

wasps either by live capture or utilising commercial wasp traps. Totals of 745

V. germanica and 51 V. vulgaris wasps were collected from 47 sites (Fig. 2).

V. germanica was collected at all but one site while V. vulgaris was present at

most sites south of and including Hobart suburbs. V. vulgaris was not found

at midland or northern sites. At most sites small numbers of wasps were

collected. At sites where both species coexisted, V. vulgaris was in low

numbers compared with V. germanica. At one Hobart suburban site however,

V. vulgaris dominated (ratio of 4:1, n = 65). At Warra, where large numbers

of wasps were collected at nine sites, the ratio of the two species in 1999-

2000 was almost 1:1 (n = 316). Clearly trap position will influence the

numbers of each species captured if a trap is inadvertently placed near a nest.

The distribution of V. vulgaris may have been underestimated and its

presence at some sites overlooked, given the low catches at many sites.

However, out of 111 specimens collected in the state north of Hobart, none

was V. vulgaris.

Movement of wasps into high rainfall areas of western Tasmania

Vespula germanica was first recorded in the west of Tasmania at

Queenstown in 1971 and in the coastal Strahan area in 1974. There seems to

have been little movement from these population areas until 1988, when

wasp nests were found at the top end of Macquarie Harbour and then at Port

Davey in 1991. By 1997 all coastal areas of the South-West National Park

were inhabited. In some areas along the southern coastal track many walkers

complained of large numbers of wasps attending campsites. The north and

central-west coastal areas, including the Arthur River rainforest, were all

occupied in 1987 by well-established populations. The coastal strip between

the Arthur and Pieman Rivers was one of the last regions of Tasmania to be

regularly occupied but by 1993 the wasps were a common sight to forestry

and survey workers (Mesibov 1993). Since 1993 there have been yearly

reports of nests throughout the south-west regions of Tasmania by

bushwalkers, forestry and national park workers, indicating that the wasp has

become established in western regions of Tasmania. Initial colonisation in

favourable seasons enables nests to be built in marginal sites, which

subsequently are effected by flooding or low temperatures. However, initial

colonisation also enables good sites to be occupied and support later

movement into marginal areas.

Vespula vulgaris is reported as being more tolerant of colder and wetter

conditions and higher altitude than V. germanica. With the establishment of

this species in Tasmania it may be able to colonise areas which are marginal

for V. germanica (Fordham et al. 1991, Beggs 1991). Of concern are the

potential occupation of the interior of the South-West National Park and the

alpine regions of central Tasmania.

Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1) 7

Impact on native fauna

The establishment, in the southern forests of Tasmania, of a long-term

ecological research site (Warra LTER site) where research into sustainable

logging systems is being conducted, provided the opportunity to examine the

impact of the Vespula species on the native invertebrate fauna. As part of

baseline invertebrate studies, using Malaise traps, Vespula species have been

captured at nine routinely monitored sites in sufficient numbers to enable

some initial impact comments to be made.

During the initial set up of the Warra site, involving cutting tracks and

marking boundaries during the summer months of 1996/97, workers did not

observe the presence of Vespula species. This suggests that, if present,

populations and nest numbers were very low. Since mated queens and

foraging workers rarely fly more than one kilometre (Rogers 1972), nest

establishment at the Warra site appears to have commenced in the summer of

1996/97 with migration from Tahune Park, adjacent to Huon River, where V.

germanica has been present for at least 15 years. The wasps appear to have

followed the new road and colonised disturbed roadside ground, then moved

mainly into logged coupes containing very disturbed ground and then into

nearby native forest. Native forest, on the edge of logged coupes, is used by

foraging workers of both Vespula spp., with V. germanica preferring open

areas and avoiding areas of closed canopy.

At Warra, between November and June in 1997-1998, wasps were collected

at nine Malaise trap sites distributed throughout a two square kilometre area.

Low trap catches of between 1-9 wasps per trap [mean 1.29 (64 trap times)]

were recorded. In 1998/99 during the same months, all sites recorded

captures of between 1-50 wasps per trap [mean 8.9 (61 trap times)]. In

1999/2000 traps captured 1-42 wasps per trap [mean 8.6 (35 trap times)].

Table 1 presents the capture over time of the two wasp species at Warra. Two

Malaise traps situated in an open logged area accounted for 20% of the total

wasps caught. In the three seasons of sampling a total of 854 wasps was

captured in the Malaise traps.

In 1998/99 seven wasp nests were found at newly disturbed roadside sites

along the length of the study area and two nests were found in an undisturbed

coupe. No nests were found in 1997/98. High populations of wasps were

present during March to June in both 1999 and 2000 in a coupe logged the

previous winter, where there were many nests in disturbed ground. Many of

these nest sites may not be suitable for winter survival in adverse conditions.

In New Zealand, Donovan (1997) recorded high nest density during the

establishment phase in disturbed ploughed land at 137 nests/hectare for V.

vulgaris. This density reflects the utilisation of potential nesting sites, many

of which would not survive adverse weather conditions.

8 Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1)

Table 1. Seasonal capture of Vespula germanica and V. vulgaris in Malaise traps at

Warra (data pooled from 9 traps for each month).

Year Month Vespula germanica Vespula vulgaris

Queens Workers Queens Workers

1997 Nov 1 0 0 0

Dec 7 0 0 0

1998 Jan 8 0 0 0

Feb 0 2 0 0

Mar 0 9 0 4

Apr 0 14 0 14

May 0 4 0 12

Total 16 29 0 30

1998 Nov 3 0 0 0

Dec 3 0 0 0

1999 Jan 0 0 0 0

Feb 0 3 0 1

Mar 0 57 0 5

Apr 0 147 0 108

May 0 41 1 81

June 4 3 2 4

Total 10 251 3 199

1999 Oct 4 0 0 0

Nov 9 0 0 0

Dec 24 0 1 0

2000 Jan 16 0 0 0

Feb 0 4 0 4

Mar 0 48 0 60

Apr 0 47 0 60

May 0 11 1 27

Total 53 110 2 151

Total 79 390 5 380

Comparisons of the Warra site with New Zealand are valid as similar

disturbance and climate effects enable prediction that the establishment phase

will continue at Warra as long as logging and roading activity continues.

Once these activities cease then over a period of several years the optimal

sites will become permanently colonised and fluctuations in population will

occur, tempered by weather conditions and food resources. In New Zealand

10% of studied nests over-wintered and were active for two to three seasons

(Harris 1996).

Madden (1981) recorded the foraging loads of V. germanica at one site in

Tasmania over several seasons and found that calliphorid flies were the most

common prey, comprising 28.5% of total prey capture. Insects comprised

Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1) 9

81% of foraging loads. Lewis (1975) found Diptera comprised 45.5% of

protein loads, of which 23.5% were calliphorids and 18% muscids. In New

Zealand, Thomas (1960) reported a marked decrease in the abundance of

blowflies since V. germanica became established. At Warra the number of

large calliphorid flies captured in the same Malaise traps was compared over

time with the capture of vespine wasps. Figure 3 illustrates the average

numbers of large calliphorids of four different species, captured over the

years in the same traps used to sample Vespula populations. In 1997/98,

when wasps were at low population levels during the establishment phase,

numbers of calliphorids averaged over 40 individuals per month per trap

during November-March then declined to 15 per month per trap in April-

May. During the following summer of 1998/99, when the wasp population

had increased 15 fold, calliphorids were trapped at 31 individuals per month

per trap during November-February. During March-May, when wasp food

gathering was at its peak, the trap catches of calliphorids declined to 2

individuals per month per trap. In 1999/2000 the calliphorid populations

were low throughout the summer and declined further when high wasp

numbers were present.

It is planned to continue monitoring the calliphorid and wasp populations for

several seasons to investigate the possibility of long-term reduction of

numbers of calliphorids and other prey species due to predation by Vespula

species.

Figure 3: Numbers of vespid wasps and calliphorids caught in Malaise traps at Warra.

(Pooled monthly collections from nine traps)

O Vespid wasps

m Calliphorids

50 |

a 40|

E |

žo

3a)

= |

c |

Hi]

= 20 |

i | | |

o Li d AN n add

ond Et MY Pf) tue af GF Te eo n ch oa i mie Ti ab We 4 GG nd ap ti ma dm

1998 1999 2000

Fig. 3. Numbers of vespid wasps and calliphorids caught in Malaise traps at Warra.

(Pooled monthly collections from 9 traps).

10 Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1)

Discussion

There is little information on the impact of introduced vespine wasps on the

native environment in Australia. In New Zealand the predatory effects of

Vespula spp. on tipulid crane flies demonstrates the deleterious effect on

populations of some native prey species. Up to 91% of tipulid species could

be vulnerable to wasp predation (Toft and Beggs 1995). Those species of

crane flies whose flight periods coincided with that of introduced Vespula

wasps were potentially most vulnerable to direct impact from wasp

predation.

Beggs and Rees (1999) examined the impact of introduced Vespula wasps on

lepidopteran communities. The findings indicated that large free living

lepidopteran larvae are particularly vulnerable, to the degree that some

species whose larvae are most active at the time of peak wasp activity have

virtually no chance of surviving to adults at moderate wasp densities.

Toft and Rees (1998) studied the impact of V. vulgaris on garden orb-web

spiders in a beech forest. They found wasp abundance and the probability of

spider survival were negatively correlated. The extrapolation from the model

created predicts that the invertebrate taxa most vulnerable to wasp predation

may have already been removed from that site ecosystem during the 40 years

of wasp occupation.

Reducing populations of Vespula species by nest destruction has been

attempted in New Zealand, with limited success because colonisation and

reinvasion by foraging workers meant there was little impact on cumulative

wasp biomass as measured using Malaise traps (Beggs et al. 1998). However,

recent advances in insecticide baiting gives hope for reducing wasp

populations at specific community sites such as picnic grounds, work areas

such as vineyards, or unique ecosystems. Such a trial could be conducted at

Warra where a 2 km wasp-free buffer currently exists between the LTER site

and the South-West Conservation Area boundary. The establishment of a

buffer controlled by summer trapping may prevent establishment of vespine

wasps in the eastern section of the Conservation Area.

Acknowledgments

My thanks to Forestry Tasmania staff, local members of the Australian

Entomological Society and University students who collected wasps during

the month of April. Dr Andy Austin (The University of Adelaide) kindly

confirmed the identity of Vespula vulgaris.

References

ANON. 1959. The European Wasp. Tasmanian Department of Agriculture Annual Report

(1958/59) 38: 35.

BEGGS, J.R. 1991. Altitudinal variation in abundance of common wasps (Vespula vulgaris).

New Zealand Journal of Zoology 18: 155-158.

Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1) 11

BEGGS, J.R. and REES, J.S. 1999. Restructuring of Lepidopterous communities by introduced

Vespula wasps in a New Zealand beech forest. Oecologia 119(4): 565-571.

BEGGS, J.R, TOFT, R.J., MALHAM, J.P., REES, J.S., TILLEY, J.A.V., MOLLER, H. and

ALSPACH, P. 1998. The difficulty of reducing introduced wasp (Vespula vulgaris) populations

for conservation gains. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 22(1): 55-63.

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Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1): 13-16 13

NOTES ON THE LIFE HISTORY OF HYPOCHRYSOPS HIPPURIS

NEBULOSIS SANDS (LEPIDOPTERA: LYCAENIDAE)

S.J. JOHNSON’ and P.S. VALENTINE’

'Oonoonba Veterinary Laboratory, PO Box 1085, Townsville, Qld 4810

“Tropical Environment Studies and Geography, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811

Abstract

Some larval stages and the pupa of Hypochrysops hippuris nebulosis Sands from northern

Australia are described and illustrated. The fern Pyrrosia lanceolata (L.) Farw. (Polypodiaceae)

is recorded as the larval food plant and the immature stages are attended by the ant Philidris

cordatus stewartii (Forel).

Introduction

Hypochrysops hippuris nebulosis Sands is known from south-western Papua

New Guinea and the Claudie River area on Cape York Peninsula,

Queensland (Sands 1986). Males have been observed regularly in the

morning engaged in aggressive territorial behaviour on the summits of drier

hills and ridges in the rainforest but females have been seen less commonly,

usually along tracks. The life history was previously unknown. Searching in

an area near Gordon Creek, where we have most commonly seen females,

revealed feeding scars on a small blade-like fern. Further searching on the

fern using lights at night revealed larvae which were reared to adults.

Life history

Foodplant. Pyrrosia lanceolata (L.) Farw. (Polypodiaceae).

Third and fourth instar larvae (Fig. 1). Head brown; prothorax red brown

with anterior margin scalloped, each protrusion bearing 3 long pale setae;

prothoracic plate brown with scattered dark blotches; body reddish brown

with variegated pale areas; pale green dorsal stripe extending ventrally on

segment 1; abdominal segments each bearing a central dorsal rosette of red

tubercles; abdominal segment 8 with a pair of raised circular black dots

composed of concentric rings of erect short dark brown setae; spiracles

black; abdominal segments 9 and 10 expanded laterally and posteriorly into

rounded lobes, a central red triangular area and green lateral areas; body

densely covered in short setae with stellate tips.

Final instar larva (Fig. 2). Flattened with scalloped margins; brown,

variegated with pink, cream and green; a broad pale green dorsal stripe with

central ridge tipped black; prothoracic plate pink; lateral green line along

spiracles on abdominal segments 3-6; prominent black spots with pale

centres laterally on abdominal segment 8; anal plate pinkish with lateral

cream stripes bearing 3 small black spots; body densely covered in short

stellate setae which are black overlying dark brown areas and pale brown

overlying green, cream and pink areas; long pale setae ventrally and along

lateral margins.

14 Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1)

Figs 1-3. Hypochrysops hippuris nebulosis: (1) fourth instar larva; (2) final instar

larva; (3) pupa. Scale bars = 2 mm.

Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1) 15

Pupa (Fig. 3). Pale brown, densely mottled black; cream dorsal stripe on

abdominal segments 2-6; pair of black blotches dorsolaterally on anterior

mesothorax and on prothorax. Attached by anal hooks and central girdle.

Length 13 mm. Pupal duration 19-21 days in Townsville in September.

Fig. 4. Hypochrysops hippuris nebulosis feeding scars on Pyrrosia lanceolata.

Observations and discussion

Despite numerous searches over the past few years we have been unable to

locate eggs or early instar larvae. We have observed female H. h. nebulosis

walking on P. lanceolata but have not observed oviposition. An egg

dissected from a freshly dead female was pale green, suggesting oviposition

may be on the fern blades; however, much of the fern grows on smaller

branches and high on trunks of trees and is inaccessible.

Larvae have only been found on fern growing on trees infested with the ant

Philidris cordatus stewartii (Forel); however, the relationship between larvae

and ants appears to be facultative because several larvae found feeding or

wandering on the host tree were not attended by ants. Along the Claudie

River and its tributaries at Iron Range, larvae of H. h. nebulosis often feed on

P. lanceolata growing on large Nauclea orientalis (Rubiaceae) trees

containing larvae of H. elgneri barnardi Waterhouse.

P. lanceolata ‘is an uncommon species in Australia found only on trees in

the monsoonal rainforests of the ranges of central Cape York Peninsula’

(Jones and Clemesha 1976). Feeding scars (Fig. 4) made by larvae of H.

hippuris are widespread along the Claudie River valley and we have

observed them commonly on fern up to 15 metres high but less so on fern

growing above this height. We have not found feeding scars on fern growing

on trees not infested with P. c. stewartii. Greg Daniels collected a female

16 Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1)

around a bird's nest fern but oviposition was not observed (Common and

Waterhouse 1981). Bird’s nest ferns commonly grow with P. lanceolata at

Iron Range and, in our experience, frequently contain large nests of P.

cordatus, but we have not found larvae or signs of larval feeding on these

ferns. The trees supporting plants of P. lanceolata are also covered in mosses

and the stems of the fern trap fallen leaves and detritus. Larvae reared on fern

growing on recently fallen branches constructed shelters by tunnelling into

the moss and detritus and the variegated green and pink colouration of the

larvae afforded excellent crypsis. Pupation occurred in the larval shelter.

Three larvae collected in July 1996 were parasitised by an unidentified

braconid wasp.

H. hippuris Hewitson is only the second butterfly species known to use ferns

as a food plant, although Sands (1986) observed a female of H. dohertyi

Oberthiir apparently engaged in oviposition behaviour around a fern in Papua

New Guinea. The closely related H. theon C. & R. Felder uses the ferns

Drynaria quercifolia (Daniels 1976) and Platycerium hillii (Lane 1993) in

Australia and larvae are attended by the same ant as larvae of H. h. nebulosis.

At Iron Range, D. quercifolia occurs commonly on the base of trees also

hosting P. lanceolata and infested with P. cordatus but we have not observed

larvae of the two butterfly species together.

The record by D.P.A. Sands (in Braby 2000) of Polypodium sp. as a food

plant of H. h. nebulosis cannot be verified. No adults were reared to confirm

the reputed larval identification and Polypodium is not known to occur in

Queensland (Henderson 1997). H. h. nebulosis is known only from the

Claudie River valley in Australia, suggesting that P. lanceolata may be its

only food plant in Australia.

Acknowledgments

We thank Mick and Clare Blackman for assistance during field work, the

Queensland Herbarium for food plant identification and the Department of

Environment for permits to undertake work in areas under their control.

References

BRABY, M.F. 2000. Butterflies of Australia: their identification, biology and distribution. 2

vols. CSIRO, Collingwood; xx + 976 pp.

COMMON, LF.B. and WATERHOUSE, D.F. 1981. Butterflies of Australia. Angus and

Robertson, Sydney; xiv + 682 pp.

DANIELS, G. 1976. The life history of Hypochrysops theon medocus (Fruhstorfer)

(Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 15: 197-199.

HENDERSON, R.J.F. 1997. Queensland plants: names and distribution. Queensland

Herbarium, Department of Environment; Indooroopilly; 286 pp.

JONES, D.L. and CLEMESHA, S.C. 1976. Australian ferns and fern allies. A.H. & A.W Reed,

Sydney; 294pp.

LANE, D.A. 1993. A new food plant record for Hypochrysops theon medocus (Fruhstorfer)

(Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Victorian Entomologist 23: 35-36.

SANDS, D.P.A. 1986. A revision of the genus Hypochrysops C. & R. Felder (Lepidoptera:

Lycaenidae). Entomonograph 7: 1-116.

Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1): 17-22

A NEW SPECIES OF DELIAS HUBNER (LEPIDOPTERA:

PIERIDAE) FROM NEW IRELAND, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

CHRIS J. MULLER

Indochina Goldfields, Jl. 141, Sumatera, Tarakan, Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia

(address for correspondence: PO Box 3228, Dural, NSW 2158)

Abstract

Delias brandti sp. nov. is described and figured from the mountains of New Ireland. It is placed

in a species group of its own, based on distinctive genitalia. Notes on the distribution of D.

messalina lizzae Miiller in New Ireland are also included.

Introduction

The large genus Delias Hiibner contains butterflies that commonly have

brightly coloured undersides. They are distributed throughout the Asia-

Pacific region from India, China and Taiwan to Australia, Solomon Islands,

Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Based on similar genitalia, Klots (1933)

considered that the closest relative of Delias is Cepora Billberg. He also

noted that the pupae of the Neotropical Pereute Herrich-Schieffer are

indistinguishable from those of Delias. Corbet and Pendlebury (1978)

suggested that Delias, Pereute and the African genus Mylothris Hiibner

probably form a good tribe.

The revision of Delias by Talbot (1928-37) remains the major work to date,

although much literature dealing with the genus has been published since,

including that of Roepke (1955), van Mastrigt (1989, 1990, 1993) and

Yagashita et al. (1993). The latter work listed around 230 species, although a

proportion of these are of dubious status.

In February 1998, during a visit to the Australian National Insect Collection,

Canberra, an unusual female Delias specimen from New Ireland in the W. W.

Brandt collection was noticed, prompting a trip to montane New Ireland in

July-August 1998. This specimen was later figured by Parsons (1998) as the

female of D. narses Heller. The specimen does not correspond with females

of D. narses from New Ireland in the author’s collection and another from

New Britain in the Australian Museum, Sydney. This error may be attributed

to the extreme rarity of D. narses females in collections, combined with the

identification label with the ANIC female that states D. narses.

In late August 1998, three specimens of an undescribed Delias were observed

but not captured as they flew at great height over a spine ridge at about 1800

m in the Hans Meyer Range, southern New Ireland. As a result, during

October-November 2000, a further expedition was undertaken into the

southern mountains of New Ireland by the author. Two males and a single

female of this species were collected, also at 1800 m. This new species is

described here and shows very distinctive characters, especially its unusual

genitalic morphology.

18 Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1)

This work is one of a series of papers dealing with the taxonomy and biology

of the butterflies of New Ireland (Miiller 1999a, b, 2001; Miiller and Sands

1999; Miiller and Tennent 1999).

Abbreviations in this work are as follows: ANIC - Australian National Insect

Collection, CSIRO, Canberra; AM - Australian Museum, Sydney; CJMC -

Private collection of C. J. Miiller, Sydney.

Delias brandti sp. nov.

(Figs 1-4, 18)

Type material. Holotype O' (genitalia dissected and attached to specimen), PAPUA

NEW GUINEA: Schleinitz Mts., 1800 m, south-central New Ireland, 20.x.2000, C.J.

Miller (in ANIC). Paratypes: 1 Of, 1 %, same data as holotype (CJMC); 1 9,

Schleinitz Mts., 3000 ft, 2.x.-18.xii.1959, W.W. Brandt, Sir E. Hallstrom (ANIC).

Description. Male (Figs 1, 2). Fore wing length 28 mm, antenna 14 mm.

Head black, clothed with dense, deep grey hairs; labial palpus grey-cream,

eye ringed with grey-cream; antenna black. Thorax black with long grey

hairs dorsally; legs black. Abdomen white, valvae grey. Fore wing with costa

slightly bowed towards base; upperside with ground colour black, basal one-

third creamy white, cilia black; underside black with basal two-thirds chrome

yellow, becoming irregular below vein 1A+2A; conspicuous black spot at

end of cell between veins M, and M,; subapical region with chrome yellow

band, broken by veins. Hind wing upperside black with basal half creamy

white, darkening to blue-grey in median area; underside with ground colour

black; chrome yellow bar along costa at base; a small subapical spot of

similar colour between veins Rs and M,; a small white spot in discocellular

region between veins M, and M,.

Genitalia (Fig. 18). Vinculum and tegumen ring broadly oval; uncus stout,

ornate and rugose, blackened anteriorly; valva short and squat, covered with

short, thick hair, apex blunt, ventral margin bowed centrally; saccus squat

and rounded; aedeagus squared both anteriorly and posteriorly.

Female (Figs 3, 4). Fore wing length 29 mm, antenna 15 mm. As in male but

with both wings broader; pale basal area on upperside with a yellow-cream

suffusion; underside with chrome yellow on fore wing more extensive and

reaching inner margin.

Etymology. This distinctive new species is named in honour of W. W.

Brandt, who collected one of the female paratypes in the Schleinitz

Mountains in 1959. Brandt spent a decade collecting in very remote parts of

Papua New Guinea, his efforts resulting in the subsequent description of

many taxa.

Early stages. Unknown.

Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1) 19

15 16

Figs 1-16. Delias adults from New Ireland and Bougainville. Odd numbers upperside,

even numbers underside. (1, 2) D. brandti sp. nov. O'; (3, 4) D. brandti 9; (5, 6) D.

narses O; (7, 8) D. narses 9; (9, 10) D. messalina lizzae 0; (11, 12) D. m. lizzae 9;

(13, 14) D. m. lizzae ©; (15, 16) D. m. messalina O. Scale bar = 1 cm.

20 Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1)

Figs 17-19. Male genitalia of Delias from New Ireland. (17) D. narses; a. genitalic

ring (lateral view); b. genitalia (dorsal view); c. right valva (lateral view); d. aedeagus

(lateral view). (18) D. brandti sp. nov.; a. genitalic ring (lateral view); b. genitalia

(dorsal view); c. right valva (lateral view); d. aedeagus (lateral view). (19) D.

messalina lizzae; a. genitalic ring (lateral view); b. sociuncus (dorsal view); c. right

valva (lateral view); d. aedeagus (lateral view). Scale bar = 1 mm.

Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1) 21

Discussion

The division of Delias into species groups by Talbot (1928-37) was based

mainly on a detailed study of genitalia and androconial form. Delias brandti

is unlike any other known Delias species. It shows vague wing pattern

similiarities with D. ladas Grose-Smith, D. caliban Grose-Smith (both

chrysomelaena species group) and D. messalina Arora (nigrina Species

group). In particular, the latter species shares a similar white or yellow spot

in the median area of the hind wing underside, while the wing shape is

reminiscent of D. eximia Rothschild (also nigrina species group). In D.

messalina this spot is centred in the cell (Figs 9-16), while in D. brandti it is

situated along the discocellulars between the veins M, and M,. The fore wing

underside pattern is distinctive in D. brandti, the blackened discocellulars

being very unusual in Delias. The new taxon shows no close relationship to

D. narses (Figs 5-8, 17).

The genitalia of D. brandti are unique (Fig. 18), particularly the uncus which

is squat and rugose. While the adults are dissimilar in appearance, the

genitalia of D. vidua Joicey & Talbot (nysa species group) and D. brandti

show some minor similarities. The distinctive genitalia of D. brandti suggest

that it should be placed in a species group of its own, related to the nigrina,

nysa and chrysomelaena species groups.

Adults of D. brandti were collected flying over the canopy on a ridge

summit, at around 1800 m, where the vegetation is montane moss forest and

the tree canopy approximately 15-20 m high. They were taken flying with D.

messalina lizzae Miiller and other Delias taxa. The flight of this species is

more rapid than D. messalina lizzae, while not as robust as that of D. narses

and D. totila Heller.

Delias messalina lizzae was previously known only from 6 specimens taken

at 2400 m in the Hans Meyer Range in 1998. A small number of males was

collected during October-November 2000 in the same mountain range at

1800 m, approximately 80 km NNW from the type locality. In addition, two

males were taken in the Schleinitz Mountains, central New Ireland at 1400

m. D. m. lizzae is highly variable, both in wing shape and extent of the bright

markings beneath. Most of the known males are similar to the holotype, with

a rather acute wing shape and lacking pale grey submarginal markings on the

hind wing underside (Figs 9, 10). Two specimens, however, have more

rounded wings and a grey submarginal line on the hind wing underside (Figs

13, 14). Females vary in the extent of the white submarginal markings on the

upperside of both wings. The male genitalia are also illustrated (Fig. 19).

References

ARORA, R. 1983. New Delias butterflies from the Solomon Islands (Lepidoptera: Pieridae).

Systematic Entomology 8: 15-24.

22 Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1)

CORBET, A.S. and PENDLEBURY, H.M. 1978. The Butterflies of the Malay Peninsula. 3rd

edition, revised by J.N. Eliot. Malayan Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur; 578 pp.

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

the male genitalia. Entomologica Americana. 12: 139-242.

MULLER, C.J. 1999a. A new species of Cethosia and a new subspecies of Delias

(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae and Pieridae) from New Ireland, Papua New Guinea. Records of

the Australian Museum 51(2): 169-177.

MULLER, C.J. 1999b. A new species of Leuciacria Rothschild and Jordan (Lepidoptera:

Pieridae) from montane New Ireland, Papua New Guinea. Australian Entomologist 26(3): 65-

70.

MULLER, C.J. 2001. Notes on the life history of Chilasa moerneri moerneri (Aurivillius)

(Lepidoptera: Papilionidae). Australian Entomologist 28(1): 27-31.

MULLER, C.J. and SANDS, D.P.A. 1999. A new subspecies of Bindahara meeki Rothschild

and Jordan (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from New Ireland, Papua New Guinea. Australian

Entomologist 26(4): 103-110.

MULLER, C.J. and TENNENT, W.J. 1999. A new species of Graphium Scopoli (Lepidoptera:

Papilionidae) from the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea. Records of the Australian

Museum 51(2): 161-168.

PARSONS, M.J. 1998. The Butterflies of Papua New Guinea. Their systematics and biology.

Academic Press, London; xvi+736 pp, xxvit+136 plates.

ROEPKE, W. 1955. The butterflies of the genus Delias Hiibner (Lepidoptera) in Netherlands

New Guinea. Nova Guinea (n. s.) 6: 185-260, 3 pls.

TALBOT, G. 1928-37. A monograph of the pierine genus Delias. 6 parts. London; pp iii+656.

VAN MASTRIGT, H.J.G. 1989. Taxonomy of the Delias mesoblema subgroup from Irian Jaya

(Lepidoptera: Pieridae). Entomologische Berichten, Amsterdam. 49: 8-14.

VAN MASTRIGT, H.J.G. 1990. New (sub)species of Delias from the central mountain range

of Irian Jaya (Lepidoptera: Pieridae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 133: 197-204.

YAGASHITA, A., NAKANO, S. and MORITA, S. 1993. A list of the genus Delias Hiibner of

the world. [Text] pp i-xiv; 1-384 (and 4 pp errata); [illustrations] pp i-ix; 1-409; i-vi. Ed.

Yasusuke Nishiyama. Khepera Publishers, Tokyo.

Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1): 23-24 23

THE PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN FEMALES OF LEUCIACRIA

OLIVEI MULLER AND PSEUDODIPSAS UNA D’ABRERA

(LEPIDOPTERA: PIERIDAE AND LYCAENIDAE)

CHRIS J. MULLER

Indochina Goldfields, Jl. 141 Sumatera, Tarakan, Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia

(address for correspondence: PO Box 3228, Dural, NSW 2158)

Abstract

Females of the Papuan Leuciacria olivei Miiller and Pseudodipsas una D’ Abrera are described

and figured. The known distribution of L. olivei in New Ireland is extended.

Introduction

Leuciacria olivei Miiller was described from five males taken in southern

New Ireland at 2400 m (Miiller 1999). Recently, a series of males and a

single female were collected in south-central New Ireland, at approximately

1800 m.

Pseudodipsas una D’ Abrera was known previously only by a single male

from an unknown locality in New Ireland (Parsons 1998). It was described

originally as a subspecies of P. eone (C. & R. Felder) (D’ Abrera 1971).

Descriptions

Leuciacria olivei Miller

Female (Figs 2, 3). Fore wing length 25 mm, antenna 13 mm. Head black

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

conspicuous flat club; labial palpus deep grey. Thorax black above, pinkish-

cream beneath. Abdomen white, black dorsally, claspers grey. Fore wing

concave between apex and vein M,, convex between tornus and vein M,,

apex pointed; above cream-yellow, costa and termen broadly black, large

black spot in postmedian area of cell; beneath cream with irregular black

subterminal markings and large black spot at end of cell, remainder of cell

yellow. Hind wing rather elongate, above pale yellow; beneath cream with

yellow-green suffusion, costa bright yellow.

Pseudodipsa una D’ Abrera

Female (Figs 4, 5). Fore wing length 13 mm, antenna 9 mm. Head, thorax

and abdomen black dorsally, white ventrally; antenna black with obscure

white ribs; labial palpus grey. Fore wing costa straight, termen slightly

convex; above dark brown, cilia dark brown; beneath light grey, dark brown

in subterminal region, a pair of irregular but continuous triangle-shaped dark

brown postmedian and subterminal bands, three broken dark brown bands in

basal and median area. Hind wing with termen slightly pronounced between

tornus and vein M,, above dark brown, large pale silver-blue subtornal area,

with dark brown indistinct subterminal spots between vein M, and tornus,

cilia dark brown; beneath pale grey with a series of regularly spaced brown

bands, subtornal spots large and dark brown.

24 Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1)

Figs 1-5. (1) Leuciacria olivei male, upperside. (2) L. olivei female, upperside. (3) L.

olivei female, underside. (4) Pseudodipsas una female, upperside. (5) P. una female,

underside. Scale bar = 1 cm.

Discussion

Leuciacria olivei is sexually dimorphic. The described female differs

markedly from those of L. acuta Rothschild & Jordan in the more elongate

hind wing, absence of markings on the hind wing, large fore wing cell spot

and overall yellow suffusion of both wing surfaces. The holotype male of L.

olivei has more black on the fore wing apex than other known specimens; the

majority possess little or no black on the fore wing (Fig. 1). In addition to the

types and other specimens taken in the Hans Meyer Range, southern New

Ireland, several males were observed flying about 20 m above the ground in

the Schleinitz Mountains, central New Ireland, at 1400 m, extending the

known range approximately 200 km north-east.

Females of P. una closely resemble males but have broader, more rounded

wings. Both sexes may be distinguished from other Pseudodipsas C. & R.

Felder species by the absence of orange markings around the tornal spots on

the hind wing underside. Females also have an extensive pale blue subtornal

area on the hind wing upperside. The described female was collected in a

forested gully in the Schleinitz Mountains at 1000 m, where it was flying

with several other lycaenids, including Erysichton albiplaga Tite. At least

two males of P. una were observed to fly rapidly and settle briefly on a ridge

summit at 1100 m.

References

D’ABRERA, B. 1971. Butterflies of the Australian Region. Lansdowne Press, Melbourne,

Australia; 415 pp.

MULLER, C.J. 1999. A new species of Leuciacria Rothschild & Jordan (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

from montane New Ireland, Papua New Guinea. Australian Entomologist 26(3): 65-70.

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

Academic Press, London; 736 pp.

Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1): 25-26 25

BOOK REVIEW

Butterflies of Australia. Their Identification, Biology and Distribution. By

M.F. Braby. CSIRO Publishing; August 2000; 2 vols; xx + vii + 976 pp; 70

colour plates; hardback. Price $195. ISBN 0 643 06591 1.

This long-awaited work is undoubtedly the most significant contribution to

the literature on Australian butterflies since the 1981 second edition of

Common and Waterhouse’s Butterflies of Australia, with the number of

species recognised from Australia (including Torres Strait islands) increasing

from 382 in the former work to 410 in the present volumes (plus a further 4

from outlying islands).

The inclusion, in appendices, of the fauna of Christmas, Cocos (Keeling) and

Norfolk Islands is welcome, but the downgrading of the fauna of Lord Howe

Island and the northern and eastern Torres Strait islands to the same

appendices is regrettable; these have long been accepted as an integral part of

Australia. It is unusual to find a book on a country’s fauna that defines its

scope by zoogeographical, rather than political boundaries and a more

appropriate title might be Butterflies of the Australian Faunal Subregion.

Introductory chapters provide an overview of biology, classification,

collection and study. With the exception of the section on Conservation,

these differ little from those in Common and Waterhouse and the

contributions of that work to the present one remain significant.

The species listings provide the bulk of the text and include updated

information on both nomenclature and biology, particularly life histories. In

many cases, there are also useful notes on variation, taxonomic status,

distribution and habits. Although impressive, these listings are not without

problems. The requirement of the International Code of Zoological

Nomenclature regarding agreement in gender between species and genus

names has been disregarded. This means that the work cannot be used as a

reliable guide to the correct spelling of names; for this Common and

Waterhouse remains the authority. It is to be hoped that subsequent editions

will rectify this breach of the Code. In the Papilionidae, the tribal name

Lampropterini should be used in preference to Graphiini.

There is a greatly reduced emphasis on subspecies. Many have been

synonymised, some justifiably but others perhaps a little too hastily and

without proper consideration. Two species have been reduced in status on

very doubtful grounds. Jalmenus notocrucifer has been tentatively placed as

a subspecies of J. inous in a move which serves no useful purpose. Elodina

tongura has been placed as a seasonal form of E. walkeri, despite differences

in the aedeagus and its restriction to coastal and insular Northern Territory; a

seasonal form would be expected to occur throughout the range of the

species, including Queensland. Many pierid genera contain cryptic species

26 Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1)

that are very difficult to tell apart. A better understanding may result from

DNA, pheromone or ecological data but until then, and in the interests of

stability, the prevailing treatments should have been maintained. The

treatment of the Ornithoptera species, with the evidently sister-taxa

richmondia and euphorion (a relationship supported by morphological and

hybridisation data) placed as a species (O. richmondia) or a subspecies (O.

priamus euphorion), defies both logic and phylogenetic reasoning.

Positive aspects of the book include the 64 excellent colour plates of set adult

specimens. All but 2 species (Pseudoborbo bevani and Appias celestina, both

likely vagrants) are illustrated thus. The 6 colour plates of early stages and

adults in life are also welcome, although given the wealth of life history

information available, perhaps more of these could have been included.

Alternatively, there is scope for a companion volume on life histories.

There are very few typographical errors. The black and white illustrations

provided for each species are a very useful addition to the text, particularly

with the highlighting of diagnostic features. This is especially so in the case

of the Hesperiidae and Lycaenidae, where many species are difficult to

identify. The maps are more precise than in Common and Waterhouse,

distributions more closely approximating actual records rather than broad

extrapolations. In some cases this gives the impression that widespread

species are absent from large tracts of country and some available records

have been omitted (e.g. from western Cape York Peninsula).

There are useful appendices of larval food plants and attendant ants, species

protected by legislation and a glossary. The appendix on species considered

to be of conservation concern is less useful; it is too subjective and

superficial for a book of this kind.

Many of the above criticisms appear to result from following the precedents

set by the 1996 Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Australia by Nielsen,

Edwards and Rangsi. These aside, this is a very worthwhile addition to the

literature and the author should be congratulated for his perseverance and

attention to detail. It is attractively presented and a delight to use. In its large,

hardback form it is too cumbersome to be used as a field guide and a much

abridged version may find a ready market. However, I have no doubt that

this work deserves a place on the bookshelf of everyone interested in the

Australian butterfly fauna. For those actively involved with the subject it is

something of a necessity.

David L. Hancock

Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1): 27-31 27

NOTES ON THE LIFE HISTORY OF

CHILASA MOERNERI MOERNERI (AURIVILLIUS)

(LEPIDOPTERA: PAPILIONIDAE)

C. J. MULLER

Indochina Goldfields, Jl. 141, Sumatera, Tarakan, Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia

(address for correspondence: PO Box 3228, Dural, NSW 2158)

Abstract

The pre-pupal larva and pupa of Chilasa moerneri moerneri (Aurivillius), from New Ireland,

Papua New Guinea, are described and figured. Adults of both sexes are also illustrated,

previous photographs of the male being a misidentified female.

Introduction

Chilasa moerneri (Aurivillius) has commonly been placed within Papilio

Linnaeus. Hancock (1983), however, referred it, together with C. laglaizei

(Depuiset) and C. toboroi (Ribbe), to Chilasa Moore, which may be

separated into subgenera Chilasa and Agehana Matsumura. Chilasa laglaizei

is known from Aru, Waigeo and mainland New Guinea (Parsons 1998),

while C. toboroi is recorded from Bougainville and the Solomon Islands.

Subspecies C. t. straatmani Racheli was described from a single male from

Santa Isabel (Racheli 1979), while Straatman (1975) and Parsons (1998)

additionally recorded this taxon from Malaita Island, where John Tennent

(pers. comm., 1997) has also seen specimens flying.

Aurivillius (1919) described C. moerneri, after a Mr. Birger Mörner, from a

single male from New Ireland that was illustrated as a black and white line

drawing. This holotype male is missing and there is no record of any

published photographs of it. Typical C. m. moerneri was otherwise only

known from two females and D’Abrera (1971) suggested (erroneously) that

the butterfly was probably extinct. The two females are in the Natural

History Museum, London and the Australian National Insect Collection,

respectively. The former specimen was figured as a male by both Parsons

(1998) and D’Abrera (1971, 1978, 1990). Additionally, Straatman (1975)

stated that he saw a few specimens taken in New Ireland during 1968.

Subspecies C. m. mayhoferi Bang-Haas was described also from a single

male taken in the south-eastern Bainings Mountains, eastern New Britain, at

700 m (Bang-Haas 1939). This specimen has never been illustrated and is

now also apparently lost.

During July, 1998 two pre-pupal larvae and a dead pupa of C. m. moerneri

were discovered by the author in a small clearing in montane rainforest at

approximately 1000 m in the Schleinitz Mountains, central New Ireland.

These emerged as a pair (Figs 1-4), a photograph of the true male being

provided for the first time.

28 Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1)

Figs 1-4. Adults of Chilasa moemeri moerneri. Odd numbers uppersides, even

numbers undersides. (1, 2) male; (3, 4) female. Scale bar = 1 cm.

Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1) 29

Figs 5-8. Early stages of Chilasa moerneri moerneri. (5) pre-pupal larva (lateral

view); (6) pre-pupal larva (dorsal view); (7) pupa (lateral view); (8) pupa (dorsal

view). Scale bar = 1 cm.

30 Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1)

Life history

Larva. Pre-pupal stage (Figs 5, 7) 61 mm long; prothoracic shield and head

black; body ground colour pale ochreous yellow; body segments with a pair

of black dorsolateral tubercles about 4.5 mm long with broad black bases; all

segments joined by broad, black ring, widening laterally into large, triangular

spot below spiracles, middorsally each ring with a white, elongated spot.

Pupa (Figs 6, 8). 58 mm long; leathery; head with shallow central trough;

abdominal segment 8 with a long and segment 9 with a shorter, blunt

appendage lateroventrally; cremaster broad and cephalad, yellow dorsally,

black ventrally; abdominal segments each with a pair of small dorsolateral

humps; thoracic segments with two pairs of humps, those laterally are more

prominent than dorsolateral humps; ground colour cadmium yellow;

segments 5-9 and inner margin of wing case laterally with broken, broad,

brown stripe surrounding the spiracles.

Discussion

The pre-pupae and pupae of C. moerneri are morphologically similar to those

of C. laglaizei and C. toboroi, as described by Straatman (1975), but are

distinctive in some respects. The pre-pupal larvae of all three species have

rugose dorsolateral tubercles and are yellow with black segments and black

and white lateral spots. The pre-pupa of C. moerneri has tubercles that are

intermediate in length between those of C. laglaizei and C. toboroi.

Pupae of C. moerneri are similar to the other two species, all three having a

characteristic cylindrical, leathery appearance and a yellow ground colour

broken by a series of dark, lateral, abdominal spots. The pupa of C. moerneri

is slightly darker than that of C. laglaizei and C. toboroi and the dorsolateral

humps on the thorax are much less prominent. For both of the specimens

discussed here, pupation occurred at around 3 am and adults emerged 16

days later at approximately 8 am. Straatman (1975) recorded pupal durations

of 14-16 and 16-18 days respectively for C. laglaizei and C. toboroi.

Shortly after eclosion, both adults promptly dropped to the ground,

apparently being very weak. Each adult had to be held between thumb and

forefinger for around three hours as they could only be persuaded to hold

onto netting material for a short time. The apparent rarity of C. moerneri in

nature may possibly be attributed to the poor ability of adults to expand and

dry their wings upon emergence.

The larval foodplant of C. moerneri is unknown. Both C. laglaizei and C.

toboroi are known to feed on plants belonging to the Lauraceae (Straatman

1975). Several lauraceous plants (including Litsea sp.) were noted within 15

metres of the pre-pupal larvae, which were located on low vegetation less

than 30 cm from the ground.

Australian Entomologist, 2001, 28 (1) 31

Only a single specimen of C. moerneri, a female, was observed by the author

during 2 months field research in New Ireland in 1998. In flight, the female

was reminiscent of a large Eleppone anactus (W. S. Macleay) from Australia

but was more aggressive and flew at canopy level. It was noted to pause

briefly at flowers some 25 m above the ground. A further field trip to New

Ireland during October-November 2000 yielded no adults or early stages of

this taxon.

References

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BANG-HAAS, O. 1939. Neubeschreibungen und Berichtigungen der Exotischen

Macrolepidoptererenfauna II. Entomologische Zeitschrift 39: 301-302.

D’ABRERA, B. 1971. Butterflies of the Australian Region. Lansdowne Press, Melbourne; 415

pP.

D’ABRERA, B. 1978. Butterflies of the Australian Region. 2nd, revised, edition. Lansdowne

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D’ABRERA, B. 1990. Butterflies of the Australian Region. 3rd, revised, edition. Hill House,

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HANCOCK, D.L. 1983. Classification of the Papilionidae (Lepidoptera): a phylogenetic

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NOTES FOR AUTHORS

Manuscripts submitted for publication should, preferably, be type-written, double

spaced and in triplicate. Refer to recent issues for layout and style.

All papers will be forwarded to two referees and the editor reserves the right to reject

any paper considered unsuitable.

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Address manuscripts to: The Editor

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THE AUSTRALIAN

Entomologist

Volume 28, Part 1, 4 May 2001

CONTENTS

BASHFORD, R.

The spread and impact of the introduced vespine wasps Vespula germanica (F.)

and Vespula vulgaris (L.) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespine) in Tasmania.

JOHNSON, S.J. and VALENTINE, P.S.

Notes on the life history of Hypochrysops bippuris nebulosis Sands

(Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).

MULLER, CJ.

A new species of Delias Hubner (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) from New Ireland,

Papua New Guinea.

MULLER, CJ.

The previously unknown females of Leuciacria olivei Müller and

Pseudodipsas una D'Abrera (Lepidoptera: Pieridae and Lycaenidae).

MULLER, CJ.

Notes on the life history of Chilasa moerneri moerneri (Aurivillius)

(Lepidoptera: Papilionidae).

BOOK REVIEW:

Butterflies of Australia. Their Identification, Biology and Distribution.

M.F. Braby.

RECENT LITERATURE

An accumulative bibliography of Australian entomology.

ISSN 1320 6133