THE AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGIST

The Australian Entomologist is a non-profit journal published in four parts annually

by the Entomological Society of Queensland and is devoted to entomology of the

Australian Region, including New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and islands of the

south-western Pacific. Articles are accepted from amateur and professional

entomologists. The journal is produced independently and subscription to the Journal

is not included with membership of the Society.

The Publications Committee

Editor: Dr D.L. Hancock

Assistant Editors: Dr CJ. Burwell

Queensland Museum

Mr G. Daniels

University of Queensland

Dr G.B. Monteith

Queensland Museum

Business Manager Mrs S. Wright

Queensland Museum

Subscriptions

Subscription are payable in advance to the Business Manager, The Australian

Entomologist, P.O. Box 537, Indooroopilly, Old, Australia, 4068.

For individuals: A$25.00 per annum in Australia.

A$30.00 per annum in Asia-Pacific Region.

A$35.00 per annum elsewhere.

For institutions: A$30.00 per annum in Australia.

A$40.00 per annum in Asia-Pacific Region.

A$40.00 per annum elsewhere.

Cheques in currency other than Australian dollars should include an extra A$7.00.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF QUEENSLAND

Membership is open to anyone interested in Entomology. Meetings are normally held

in the Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Queensland on the

second Monday of March-June and August-December each year. Meetings are

announced in the Society’s News Bulletin which also contains reports of meetings,

entomological notes, notices of other Society events and information on Members’

activities.

Enquiries relating to the Society should be directed to the Honorary Secretary,

Entomological Society of Queensland, C/- Department of Zoology and Entomology,

University of Queensland, Brisbane, Old, 4072.

Sustaining Associates

Centre for Identification and Diagnotics, The University of Queensland; Pest

Management Research, Department of Natural Resources; Tropical Fruit Fly

Research Group, Griffith University.

Cover: The carabid beetle genus Nurus has about 10 large, heavy-bodied species

which occur along the eastern seaboard of Australia from northern NSW to north Old.

They live in spiral burrows which they excavate with their mandibles. Prey is

ambushed from the burrow entrance at night. Females brood their eggs and first instar

larvae in the burrow. Nurus brevis Motschulsky, 1865 occurs near Lismore and is

listed as rare and endangered by NSW legislation. Illustration by Geoff Thompson.

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2): 49-60 49

THRIPS AND THEIR HOST PLANTS: NEW AUSTRALIAN

RECORDS (THYSANOPTERA: TEREBRANTIA)

LAURENCE A. MOUND

CSIRO Entomology, PO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601; email:Laurence.Mound@csiro.au

Abstract

This list updates the 1996 ABRS Zoological Catalogue, with 7 genera and 14 species of

Terebrantia not recorded previously from continental Australia, together with a further 18

species recorded from Australia since publication of that catalogue, newly established larval

host plant relationships for a further 12 species and range extensions for some others.

Introduction

The information presented here emphasises two problems in our

understanding of the Australian insect fauna. The northern tropical zone of

this continent either shares a considerable thrips fauna with territories to the

north, or is currently susceptible to extensive invasions from those territories;

we cannot know which, given the present lack of base-line data. Moreover,

our understanding of the Australian fauna has been outstripped by taxonomic

descriptive activity. Collecting and describing new taxa is easy;

understanding the position of those taxa in ecosystems and thus how they

interact in the maintenance of biological diversity is both more difficult and

more important. The purpose of the following notes is to record 14 named

species that have previously not been recorded from Australia (indicated *),

to list a further 18 species (indicated #) that are not given in the ABRS

Zoological Catalogue (Mound 1996a) but have been recorded in various

subsequent publications, to record newly recognised host-plants for a further

12 species and to note some nomenclatural changes and range extensions.

An electronic listing, revised to December 2000, is available at

http://www.environment.gov.au/abrs/abif-fauna/chcklist.htm

In recording a total of 170 species of Thysanoptera Terebrantia from

Australia, in 61 genera and three families, Mound (1996a) stated that the

fauna seemed to be poorly known, the list being dominated by introduced

taxa. Most of the native species were known only from single samples, even

single damaged specimens, so that no information was available on host-

plant relationships or distribution patterns. During the last five years, an

extensive research programme on the Thysanoptera Tubulifera associated

with Acacia phyllodes (Mound and Morris 2001) has resulted in the largely

fortuitous accumulation of much information on species of Thysanoptera

Terebrantia. Many new species have been discovered, but no attempt is made

here to describe any of these, nor even to list unrecorded genera for which

the only species found in Australia remain undescribed. The endemic thrips

fauna is certainly more diverse than published records indicate. However, 12

of the 14 species newly recorded here are known also from tropical Asia,

thus emphasising the southeast Asian component of the Australian fauna.

50 Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

The following abbreviations have been used: ACT - Australian Capital

Territory; ANIC - Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra;

NSW - New South Wales; NT - Northern Territory; OAI - Orange

Agricultural Institute collection, Orange; QDPI - Queensland Department of

Primary Industries collection, Indooroopilly; Qld - Queensland; SA - South

Australia; Tas - Tasmania; Vic - Victoria; WA - Western Australia.

Merothripidae

Species in this family are presumed to be fungus-feeding. Three genera are

known worldwide, but the only previous Australian records of the family

involved three species of Merothrips Hood.

*Erotidothrips mirabilis Priesner. A single female of this species was

recognised by John Donaldson, collected in December 1998 at Cairns (Qld)

[in QDPI]. It has been taken widely in tropical countries but is known from

very few specimens.

Melanthripidae

Considered for many years as a synonym of the Aeolothripidae, this family is

currently used to include four genera worldwide (Moritz, Mound and Morris

2001). Two of these genera exhibit classical southern hemisphere distribution

patterns. Dorythrips Hood is found in South America and Western Australia;

Cranothrips Bagnall occurs in South Africa and Australia. Females of all

species in these genera retain the plesiomorphic condition of the seventh

abdominal sternite, with a pair of lobes on the posterior margin that represent

the ancestral eighth sternite. All of the species in this family apparently feed

on and breed in flowers.

Cranothrips symoni Mound. This species is known only from the flowers of

Brunonia australis (Apiaceae), a blue-flowered herb that used to be classified

in its own monobasic family. Populations have been found on this plant at

three widely separated sites, the Simpson Desert (SA), the Hamersley Range

(WA) and, during December 2000, at Mendooran in eastern NSW.

Aeolothripidae

Most of the species that are placed in this family are predatory, or at least are

facultative predators on other small arthropods in flowers. One species listed

here is exceptional in being purely phytophagous.

#Cycadothrips albrechti Mound & Terry. This is the third species described

in this genus, all breeding only in the male cones of Macrozamia

(Zamiaceae). C. albrechti produces enormous populations in the cones of M.

macdonnellii in Central Australia. It acts as the pollinator of this plant species

and pupates beneath in the soil (Mound and Terry 2001).

#Mymarothrips bicolor Strassen. Mound and Marullo (1998) pointed out that

the record of the Oriental species M. garuda Ramakrishna & Margabandhu

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2) 51

from Darwin (NT) by Mound (19962), was based on a misidentification of

M. bicolor, described from Krakatau, Indonesia. These thrips are predatory

on the larvae of other thrips species on the leaves of trees.

Thripidae

Two subfamilies are recognised in this family. The first includes the species

related to the greenhouse thrips (Mound, Marullo and Trueman 2001) The

second includes most of the thrips species that are major pests, including all

the tospovirus vectors (Mound 1996b).

Panchaetothripinae

All species in the subfamily appear to be leaf-feeding and are commonly

associated with older leaves rather than young leaves. Polyphagy seems to be

common in this group, with few of the species known to exhibit particular

host associations. Mound (19962) listed 17 species in 13 genera from

Australia in this subfamily; three further genera and species are here recorded

from the Australian mainland for the first time.

Anisopilothrips venustulus (Priesner). Widespread, particularly on tropical

islands (Mound and Marullo 1996), this species was recorded from Australia

on a single female taken in rainforest near Taree (NSW). A second female

has been taken recently at the same site and a further female collected near

Cape Tribulation in northern Qld.

*Astrothrips tumiceps Karny. Described from Java and recorded from

Pakistan, India, Malaya and the Philippines, Glenn Bellis collected a series of

females in August 1999 at Old Arafura, 450 km east of Darwin (NT), that

were causing leaf scorching on Annona muricata (Annonaceae).

#Australothrips aliceae Marullo and Mound. This Northern Territory species

appears to be associated only with turkey bush, Calytrix brownii (Myrtaceae)

(Marullo and Mound 1997). In contrast, the only other member of the genus,

Australothrips bicolor Bagnall, is widespread across Australia on the leaves

of various Myrtaceae, including species of Eucalyptus.

*Copidothrips octarticulatus (Schmutz). Described from Sri Lanka, with

synonyms from Taiwan and Kiribati, Mound (19962) recorded this species

from the Australian territory of Christmas Island, under the name C.

formosus Hood. It has been seen from Pohnpei (Micronesia) damaging kava

(Piper methysticum) and from Seychelles on crucifer seedlings. At Berrimah

Farm, Darwin (NT), it was found in April 1999 causing leaf damage to

Aglaonema (Araceae), this being the first record from the Australian

zoogeographical region.

*Elixothrips brevisetis (Bagnall). Described from Sri Lanka and subsequently

recorded from territories between Taiwan and various Pacific islands,

specimens have been studied from Cape Tribulation (Qld). Others are listed

[in OAI] from Mt Edith and Mt Spec in northeastern Qld.

52 Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

Moundothrips apterygus Wilson. This unusual wingless panchaetothripine

was described on specimens stated to have been collected from “grasses” at

Meningie near the Coorong (SA). However, a visit to the type locality in

December 2000 revealed that the “grass” on which this thrips lives is actually

a grass-like rush, Apodasmia brownii (Restionaceae).

Retithrips javanicus Karny. Described from Java and recorded from

Singapore and the Philippines (Reyes 1994), the only Australian record of

this species was based on four females collected in the McArthur River area

(NT). However, in May 1999 Tony Postle collected one female from

Lagerstroemia (Myrtaceae) at Broome (WA).

Thripinae

Mound (1996a) listed 124 species in 35 genera from Australia in this

subfamily. These species exhibit a wide range of biologies. In some genera,

species are associated with the flowers of particular groups of plants, e.g.

Odontothripiella Bagnall on Fabaceae flowers, Dichromothrips Priesner on

Orchidaceae and several genera on Poaceae. In other genera, such as

Pseudanaphothrips Karny, species are associated with flowers of host plants

that are only distantly related and, in some genera including Anascirtothrips

Bhatti, Dendrothrips Uzel and Parabaliothrips Priesner, the species live only

on leaves.

#Anascirtothrips arafura Mound & Wang. Described from the leaves of

Ficus (Moraceae) trees on Melville and Bathurst Islands (NT), this is the

third member of this genus. Mound and Wang (2000) provided a key to

distinguish the three species and also recorded the following species from

Australia for the first time.

#Anascirtothrips arorai Bhatti. Described from the leaves of Ficus in India

and subsequently found on the leaves of Ficus microcarpa in Florida, this

species was recorded from Australia on specimens collected from Ficus on

the University Campus at Darwin (NT), in June 2000.

Apterothrips apteris (Daniel). This widespread wingless species is commonly

associated with grasses, but has been recorded as a pest of lucerne. However,

in coastal California it is associated with the leaves of Erigeron (Asteraceae).

During 2000 it was found by Margaret Williams damaging a crop of garlic

near Hobart (Tas), a host association not previously recorded.

*Arorathrips spiniceps (Hood). Like other members of this genus and also of

the closely related genus Chirothrips Haliday, this species feeds and pupates

within the florets of grasses and is thus easily transported around the world in

grass seeds. Mound and Marullo (1996) record it from several Caribbean

countries as well as from the following territories in the Pacific: Hawaii,

Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. There are tss d in QDPI and

ANIC from Bowen in northeastern Qld.

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2) 53

*Chaetanaphothrips leeuwenii Karny. Presumably originally from SE Asia,

in common with the other members of this genus, this species has been

recorded widely around the tropics. In the West Indies it has been found in

association with banana crops. The new Australian record is based on two

females taken in May 1999 on the Cobourg Peninisula, near Darwin (NT).

#Dendrothrips diaspora Mound. Although this species has been taken at

various sites across Australia, in WA, Qld and NSW, the plant species on

whose leaves it breeds remains undiscovered. Mound (1999) provided a key

to distinguish the three members of this genus known from Australia.

#Dendrothrips glynn Mound. Based on three females collected at Cairns

(Qld), this species is very similar to one from New Caledonia.

#Dendrothrips howei Mound. Described from Lord Howe Island from five

specimens (Mound 1999), this species was found breeding, in December

2001, on the young leaves of Xylosma maidenii (Flacourtiaceae).

Dichromothrips australiae Mound. Previously known only from the type

series collected at Kanangra Walls (NSW), this thrips has now been found on

the flowers of Pterostylis atrans (Orchidaceae) at Mt Franklin (ACT).

*Dichromothrips corbetti (Priesner). This SE Asian orchid pest has been

taken several times at Darwin (NT), causing damage to the flowers of Vanda

(Orchidaceae). The dark forewings are pale at the base and the tergites have

characteristic sculpture laterally, consisting of a series of transverse parallel

lines.

Dichromothrips spiranthidis (Bagnall). Described originally on a single

specimen from Healesville (Vic), this thrips apparently breeds in the flowers

of a range of Orchidaceae. It was collected recently from Spiranthes sinensis

at Gloucester Tops (NSW) and also near Brisbane (Qld). At Namadgi NP

(ACT) it was collected from Prasophyllum wilkinsoniorum.

#Edissa steinerae Mound. Described on a single female from grasses at

Atherton (Qld), this species was also recorded from Thailand and Japan

(Mound 1999). The only other member of the genus is from South Africa and

Sudan.

Ensiferothrips primus Bianchi. Described from New Caledonia, the

previously unknown host plant in that country was established by Bournier

and Mound (2000) as Malaisia scandens (Moraceae). Substantial populations

of this thrips were found recently by Geoff Williams, on the und er surface of

the leaves of this climber near Taree (NSW).

#Ensiferothrips secundus Mound. Described from Lord Howe Island, on one

female and four males taken on Smilax australis (Smilacaceae), this species

differs from the only other member of the genus in lacking greatly enlarged

setae on the forewing (Mound 1999).

54 Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

Hydatothrips argenticinctus Girault. Described on a single specimen, this

species has now been collected widely in eastern NSW, breeding on the

leaves of the creeper Parsonsia straminea (Apocynaceae).

Hydatothrips haschemi Girault. Described from a single female collected on

a window, this species appears to be associated with the leaves of various

Fabaceae, including Centrosema and Calopogonium, on which it has been

collected around Darwin and also at Kakadu and Larrimah (NT).

*Karphothrips dugdalei Mound & Walker. Described on a single female

from near Auckland, New Zealand, this species is widespread in Australia on

the youngest leaves of species of sword grass, Gahnia (Cyperaceae).

Specimens have been studied from near Albany (WA), near Hobart (Tas),

Chichester Dam (NSW) and Monga Forest (NSW). It is a long, slender,

yellow thrips, superficially similar to the common grass-living Aptinothrips

Haliday, but with wings.

#Leucothrips nigripennis Reuter. Associated with various cultivated ferns,

such as Pteris cretica, in various parts of the world, this minute white species

with black wings was recorded by Mound (1999) from both Gosford (NSW)

and Perth (WA). The other described species in this thripid genus are all from

the New World. L. nigripennis is probably South American in origin, Brazil

being the only country from which it has been recorded outside of cultivation.

*Megalurothrips typicus Bagnall. Described from Sarawak and recorded

from various SE Asian territories including Java, Sumatra and Taiwan, this

species differs from the only other member of the genus known from

Australia, M. usitatus Bagnall, in having the median pair of setae on the

seventh sternite arising on the posterior margin, not anterior to this margin

(Palmer 1987). The species presumably breeds in flowers of Fabaceae, but

Angus Wilson collected several females in the flowers of mango trees at

Kununurra (WA), in September 2001.

*Monothrips flavus Moulton. The only species in this genus is based on a

single damaged female, collected from Saccharum in Rabaul, New Britain,

during 1929. The genus has not been recognisable from its description

(Moulton 1940), but one female collected from grasses at Humpty Doo (NT),

in May 1999, has now been compared with the holotype on loan from the

Bishop Museum, Hawaii and is considered conspecific. The pronotum bears

numerous transverse striae, tergites II- VIII each have two or three rows of

ctenidia-like microtrichia anterolaterally and a very broad, finely toothed,

craspedum on the posterior margin. The sternites have about eight discal

setae and a series of stout triangular teeth on the posterior margin laterally.

Superficially this thrips looks like a member of the genus Rhamphothrips

Karny, particularly in the shape of the head and pronotum. However, the

chaetotaxy of the seventh sternite is very different from members of that

genus (Moritz, Mound and Morris 2001), the median pair of marginal setae

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2) 55

being widely separated and the other two pairs of marginal setae arising near

the lateral corners of this sternite.

*Neohydatothrips gracilipes (Hood). Previously known from the Caribbean

area, living on various malvaceous weeds including species of Sida (Mound

and Marullo 1996), this species has been studied recently from India and

Thailand. In northern Australia it has been collected widely on malvaceous

weeds between Brisbane (Qld) and Darwin (NT).

Neohydatothrips diana (Girault). Described on a female from Mt Coot-tha,

Brisbane, this species has been found breeding on the leaves of Pultenaea

procumbens and Dillwynia sieberi (Fabaceae) around Googong Dam (NSW)

near Canberra.

Neohydatothrips haydni (Girault). Previously known only from one of

Girault’s most damaged specimens, this species appears to be associated with

Swainsonia galegifolia (Fabaceae), judging from specimens in QDPI. A very

similar, if not identical, species was common in Spring 2001 on Indigofera

australis (Fabaceae) in the coastal forests inland from Batemans Bay (NSW).

#Neohydatothrips samayunkur Kudo. This species was recorded from

Australia under the name of a Mexican species, N. pseudoannulipes Johansen

(Mound, Goodwin and Steiner 1996). However, the available material from

Mexico on which this identification was based (Mound and Marullo 1996)

subsequently proved to represent two species (Nakahara 1999). It is the

second of these two, now recognised as N. samayunkur described from

Japan, that is the widespread pest of marigold plants and other members of

the genus Tagetes (Asteraceae). During 1995 this species caused severe

damage to cultivated marigolds at Gosford (NSW).

#Organothrips indicus Bhatti. This species, the only fully aquatic thrips, was

found at Indooroopilly (Qld) breeding on water hyacinth, Eichhornia

crassipes (Pontederiaceae). Described originally from India on Typha

(Typhaceae), it has been recorded widely around the world on other aquatic

plants (Mound 2000). The males are wingless, almost larviform and

particularly difficult to find amongst the surface mucous of their host plant,

beneath water level.

#Organothrips wrighti Mound. Described on a male and a female taken on

Melville Island (NT) and two females from near Cape Tribulation (Qld),

another female has now been studied that was collected near Cairns (Qld) [in

QDPI]. Presumably the species is widespread on grasses or rushes growing

near water across northern Australia (Mound 2000).

Parabaliothrips setifer (Karny). Until recently this species has been known

only from the type specimen that was collected early in the last century. It

has now been found breeding on Leucopogon lanceolata (Epacridaceae) at

Monga Forest (NSW) and at Walcha (NSW). A further new species of this

56 Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

genus is currently being described (Gillespie, Mound and Wang 2002), living

on the buds of Ficus macrophylla (Moraceae) at Sydney (NSW).

Pseudanaphothrips araucariae Mound & Palmer. Described from the male

cones of Araucaria bidwilli in southern Queensland, this Australian thrips

also produces large populations in Queensland in the male cones of at least

two species of Pinus (Pinaceae). These populations have become so large

around Cardwell (northern Qld) that the thrips has become a serious nuisance

annually, entering a local school in vast numbers (Mound, Ritchie and King

2002).

Pseudanaphothrips frankstoni (Steele). Previously known only from two

females collected in the flowers of blackberries in Victoria, large populations

have been found amongst the sori on fronds of the tree fern Dicksonia

antarctica (Dicksoniaceae) in narrow gullies at Tidbinbilla (ACT).

Pseudodendrothrips darci (Girault). Described from a single female taken at

Indooroopilly (Qld), this minute pale species is probably widespread on

Ficus leaves. In providing a key to the three members of Pseudodendrothrips

Schmutz from Australia, Mound (1999) indicated that P. darci cannot be

distinguished at present from the common SE Asian species P. bhattii Kudo.

#Pseudodendrothrips gillespei Mound. This large dark member of the genus

was described from Lord Howe Island on the leaves of Alyxia ruscifolia

(Apocynaceae). It has recently been recorded from mainland Australia, one

female being collected by Geoff Williams near Taree (NSW).

#Pseudodendrothrips mori (Niwa). Three females of this pest of mulberry

trees were found on a sandpaper fig near Cooktown, northern Qld (Mound

1999). The species has been reported widely around the world, but there is no

other Australian record.

*Rhamphothrips pandens Sakimura. Recorded widely from the Caribbean

and across the Pacific to Java, but always in low numbers without good

evidence of a specific host relationship, a single female of this species was

taken on the Cobourg Peninsula (NT) in May 1999.

#Salpingothrips aimotofus Kudo. One female and one larva of this species

were collected at Indooroopilly (Qld), but it probably occurs widely across

the northern parts of Australia. In China and Taiwan the species is associated

with the leaves of the Fabaceae vine, kudzu (Pueraria).

Scirtothrips albomaculatus Bianchi. Described from New Caledonia, this

species has been taken widely in eastern Australia. Adults have been taken on

many different plants, but the species is probably associated with the

widespread and variable shrub Dodonaea viscosa (Sapindaceae).

Stenchaetothrips biformis (Bagnall). Very few specimens of the oriental rice

thrips have been collected in Australia and none from rice crops. However,

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2) 57

the species seems to be well established near Brisbane at Indooroopilly (Qld),

judging from a long series of both sexes [in QDPI] taken from reeds along

the roadside near the Long Pocket Laboratories.

*Thrips extensicornis Priesner. Described from Java and recorded from

Taiwan and the Philippines, this flower-living species was taken in

considerable numbers at Berrimah Farm, Darwin (NT), damaging flowers of

Gardenia (Rubiaceae) during October 1999. Unlike related species in this

large genus, females have only a single pair of discal setae on each

abdominal sternite. There is also a series of this species in QDPI, collected at

Cairns (Qld) on Pavetta indica (Rubiaceae), during November 1985.

Thrips knoxi (Girault). Known previously from one female, this is a common,

apparently univoltine species breeding in spring in the flowers of a range of

small species of the genus Lomandra (Xanthorrhoeaceae). It is less common

in the flowers of L. longifolia and its cultivars, in which the common eastern

flower thrips, Thrips setipennis (Bagnall), is frequently abundant. T. knoxi is

widespread along the east and south coasts from at least Brisbane (Qld) to

Adelaide (SA). It is an unusual member of the genus, with a small glandular

area on the third sternite in females and a broad-based sensorium on the sixth

antennal segment. The number of antennal segments varies between seven

and eight.

Thrips nigropilosus Uzel. Records of this minor pest are rare in Australia, but

a substantial population was observed by Marilyn Steiner on the leaves of a

garden Achillea (Asteraceae), at Gosford (NSW), for some months in 1998.

*Thrips novocaledonensis (Bianchi). This is the dominant member of the

genus in a range of flowers in New Caledonia (Bournier and Mound 2000). It

is established on Norfolk Island, where it has been found in large numbers in

the flowers of Lantana and from whence it has been taken in quarantine at

Sydney (NSW).

Thrips palmi Karny. This SE Asian species was first collected in Australia at

Darwin (NT) in June 1989, then again at Ormiston, Brisbane (Qld) in July

1990 (Houston et al. 1991). Since then, John Donaldson has identified the

species from various crops at different sites on the Atherton Tableland (Qld),

including lettuce, navy bean, capsicum, pumpkin and eggplant. The presence

of this species and its dispersal within Australia are usually considered to be

due to transmission by the horticultural trade. It is found regularly in

quarantine on imported cut flowers such as orchids and translocation

internally by the trade in vegetable seedlings is easy. In September 2001,

John Moulden collected T. palmi at Kununurra (WA) from damaged

seedlings of Lisianthus. Although inter-state horticultural trade may have

caused this, the possibility cannot be discounted that this species is now part

of the natural thrips fauna of northern Australia, with populations

supplemented by winds from Indonesia.

58 Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

Thrips parvispinus (Karny). This SE Asian species has been taken widely

across northern Australia, on a range of plants but only in low numbers. 7.

taiwanus Takahashi, recorded from Australia by Mound and Gillespie

(1997), is now recognised as a synonym of T. parvispinus (Mound and

Collins 2000). The species is considered to have the potential to become a

serious pest. It was recently recorded in Europe for the first time.

Thrips seticollis (Bagnall). Known previously only from the holotype female

collected near Perth (WA), this is the only member of the genus to have a

pre-apical claw on the fore tarsus. Single females have been collected on

three occasions recently in the ACT and another female in Tasmania, all of

which share with the holotype this as well as other character states. The host

plant is probably a member of the Epacridaceae, but this has yet to be

confirmed.

Thrips setipennis (Bagnall). This is one of the most common flower thrips

along the eastern coast of Australia. It breeds in the flowers of a wide range

of unrelated plants, including Lomandra (Xanthorrhoeaceae), Prostanthera

(Lamiaceae) and Notelaea (Oleaceae). Williams, Adam and Mound (2001)

indicated that this thrips is the specific pollinator of the small tree Wilkiea

huegeliana (Monimiaceae) and possibly of other trees in the eastern

rainforests.

#Thrips trehernei Priesner. This European species is probably widespread in

southeastern Australia, having been taken in the flowers of Taraxacum

officinale (Asteraceae) at several sites in NSW, ACT and SA (Mound 1998).

Trichromothrips bilongilineatus (Girault). This species was placed in

Trichromothrips by Mound & Houston (1987) and Dorcadothrips Priesner

was synonymised subsequently with this by Bhatti (1999). This genus now

includes 27 species, mainly from the Old World tropics, but with very little

information on biology. Adult females of T. bilongilineatus have been taken

several times from ferns at Gosford (NSW), although there is no evidence

that the species breeds on these plants.

Acknowledgements

Many people across Australia have provided specimens on which the above

records are based, including Glenn Bellis and Haidee Brown at Berrimah

Farm, Darwin; Tony Postle at Broome; Angus Wilson and John Moulden at

Kununurra; John Donaldson and Judy King at QDPI, Indooroopilly; Tony

Wright at CSIRO, Long Pocket; Marilyn Steiner at HRI, Gosford; Peter

Gillespie at Orange Agricultural Institute, Orange; Geoff Williams at the

Landsdowne Nature Reserve, Taree; and Margaret Williams at the

Agricultural Department, Hobart. Alice Wells provided extensive help with

field collecting and plant identifications.

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2) 59

References

BHATTI, J.S. 1999. Nomenclatural changes in Trichromothrips, Dorcadothrips, and Micothrips

(Terebrantia: Thripidae). Thrips 1: 1-5.

BOURNIER, J.-P. and MOUND, L.A. 2000. Inventaire commenté des Thysanoptéres de

Nouvelle- Calédonie. Bulletin de la Societe Entomologique de France 105: 231-240.

GILLESPIE, P.S., MOUND, L.A. and WANG, C.-L. 2002. The Austro-oriental genus

Parabaliothrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae), with a new Australian species forming male

aggregations. Australian Journal of Entomology 41: [in press].

HOUSTON, K.J., MOUND, L.A. and PALMER, J.M. 1991. Two pest thrips (Thysanoptera)

new to Australia, with notes on the distribution and structural variation of other species. Journal

of the Australian Entomological Society 30: 231-232.

MARULLO, R. and MOUND, L.A. 1997. A second species of the genus Australothrips

(Thysanoptera). Australian Journal of Entomology 36: 221-224.

MORITZ, G., MOUND, L.A. and MORRIS, D.C. 2001. ThripsID - Pest thrips of the world. An

interactive identification and information system. Cd-rom published by ACIAR, Australia.

MOULTON, D. 1940. Thysanoptera from New Guinea and New Britain. Occasional Papers of

Bernice P. Bishop Museum 15: 243-270.

MOUND, L.A. 1996a. Thysanoptera. Pp 249-336, 397-414 (Index), in Wells, A. (ed.),

Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 26. Psocoptera, Phthiraptera, Thysanoptera. CSIRO,

Melbourne; 418 pp.

MOUND, L.A. 1996b. The Thysanoptera vector species of tospoviruses. Acta horticulturae 431:

298-309.

MOUND, L.A. 1998. Another immigrant thrips species in Australia. Victorian Entomologist 28:

72-73.

MOUND, L.A. 1999. Saltatorial leaf-feeding Thysanoptera (Thripidae, Dendrothripinae) in

Australia and New Caledonia, with newly recorded pests of ferns, figs and mulberries. Australian

Journal of Entomology 38: 257-273.

MOUND, L.A. 2000. The aquatic thrips Organothrips indicus Bhatti (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

in Queensland, and a new species, O. wrighti, from tropical Australia. Australian Journal of

Entomology 39: 10-14.

MOUND, L.A. and COLLINS, D.W. 2000. A south east Asian pest species newly recorded from

Europe: Thrips parvispinus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), its confused identity and potential

quarantine significance. Journal of European Entomology 97: 197-200.

MOUND, L.A. and GILLESPIE, P.S. 1997. Identification guide to thrips associated with crops in

Australia. NSW Agriculture, Orange & CSIRO Entomology, Canberra; 56 pp.

MOUND, L.A., GOODWIN, S. and STEINER, M.Y. 1996. Neohydatothrips pseudoannulipes

Johansen (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), a pest thrips on African marigolds new to Australia.

Australian Journal of Entomology 35: 201-202.

MOUND, L.A. and HOUSTON, K.J. 1987. An annotated check-list of Thysanoptera from

Australia. Occasional Papers on Systematic Entomology 4: 1-28.

MOUND, L.A. and MARULLO, R. 1996. The thrips of Central and South America: an

introduction. Memoirs on Entomology International 6: 1-488.

60 Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

MOUND, L.A. and MARULLO, R. 1998. Biology and identification of Aeolothripidae

(Thysanoptera) in Australia. Invertebrate Taxonomy 12: 929-950.

MOUND, L.A., MARULLO, R. and TRUEMAN, J.W.H. 2001. The greenhouse thrips,

Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis, and its generic relationships within the sub-family Panchaetothripinae

(Thysanoptera; Thripidae). Insect Systematics and Evolution 32: 205-216.

MOUND, L.A. and MORRIS, D.C. 2001. Domicile constructing phlaeothripine Thysanoptera from

Acacia phyllodes in Australia: Dunatothrips Moulton and Sartrithrips gen.n., with a key to

associated genera. Systematic Entomology 26: 401-419.

MOUND, L.A., RITCHIE, S. and KING, J. 2002. Thrips (Thysanoptera) as a public nuisance: a

Queensland case study and overview, with comments on host plant specificity. Australian

Entomologist 29: 25-28.

MOUND, L.A. and TERRY, I. 2001. Pollination of the central Australian cycad, Macrozamia

macdonnellii, by a new species of basal clade thrips (Thysanoptera). International Journal of Plant

Sciences 162: 147-154.

MOUND, L.A. and WANG, C.-L. 2000. The genus Anascirtothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae),

from leaves of Ficus trees in India, Taiwan and Australia. Chinese Journal of Entomology 20: 327-

333.

NAKAHARA, S. 1999. Validation of Neohydatothrips samayunkur (Kudo) (Thysanoptera:

Thripidae) for a thrips damaging marigolds (Tagetes spp.). Proceedings of the Entomological

Society of Washington 101: 458-459.

PALMER, J.M. 1987. Megalurothrips in the flowers of tropical legumes: a morphometric study. Pp

480-495 in Holman, J., Pelikan, J., Dixon, A.F.G. and Weismann, L. (eds), Population structure,

genetics and taxonomy of aphids and Thysanoptera. SPB Academic Publishing, The Hague; 542

pp.

REYES, C.P. 1994. Thysanoptera (Hexapoda) of the Philippine Islands. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology

42: 107-507.

WILLIAMS, G., ADAMS, P. and MOUND, L.A. 2001. Thrips (Thysanoptera) pollination in

Australian subtropical rainforests, with particular reference to pollination of Wilkiea huegeliana

(Monimiaceae). Journal of Natural History 35: 1-21.

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2): 61-68 61

NOTES ON ANT-LYCAENID ASSOCIATIONS

(HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE AND LEPIDOPTERA:

LYCAENIDAE) IN SOUTHEAST QUEENSLAND

DANIEL SCHMIDT

Queensland Museum, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane, Qld 4101

Abstract

Thirty-one new ant associations are reported for immature stages of facultatively

myrmecophilous lycaenid butterflies from southeast Queensland. Larvae of three species,

Rapala varuna (Horsfield), Erysichton lineata (Murray) and Psychonotis caelius (C. Felder), are

reported in weak associations with ants for the first time. The introduced ant Technomyrmex

albipes (Smith) is identified as the most common attending ant of facultative lycaenids in

disturbed habitats around Brisbane.

Introduction

An interesting feature of lycaenid biology is the mutualistic associations

between their immature stages and ants (Pierce et al. 1987). These

associations vary in intensity and in the degree of specificity between

partners (Fiedler 1991, Eastwood and Fraser 1999). Larvae of many lycaenid

species possess specialised glands which attract, reward and appease

attendant ants that may otherwise be aggressive towards them (Malicky

1970). In return ants may protect lycaenid larvae against predators and

parasitoids (Pierce et al. 1987).

A recent review of lycaenid-ant associations in Australia by Eastwood and

Fraser (1999) provided a classification for the level of ant attendance typical

for mature larvae of each species. Facultatively ant-associated lycaenids are

attended by a broad range of (usually) ecologically subordinate ants, while

obligately ant-associated species are attended by a restricted range of

(usually) ecologically dominant ants.

This paper reports on a collection of ants found attending lycaenid immature

stages in southeast Queensland. Results are discussed in light of Eastwood

and Fraser’s (1999) review.

A voucher collection of ants is lodged in the Queensland Museum. Butterfly

nomenclature follows Braby (2000), spelling of lycaenid names follows

Common and Waterhouse (1981). Ant nomenclature follows Shattuck (1999)

and R. Kohout (pers. comm.) for Polyrhachis spp.

Results

Details of all lycaenid-ant associations recorded in this survey are presented

in Table 1. New records involving lycaenids with no previously recorded ant

associations and new records of poorly documented associations are

discussed below. Other new records and confirmation of previously recorded

associations appear in Table 1 only.

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

Table 1. Ant attendance records for lycaenid butterfly larvae and pupae in southeast

Queensland. DM= Degree of Myrmecophily (from Eastwood and Fraser 1999): 0, no

interaction; 1, weakly myrmecophilous; 2, moderately myrmecophilous; 3, steadily

myrmecophilous; 4, obligately myrmecophilous. Numbers in parentheses indicate

modified degree of myrmecophily from present study. AL= Attendance Level (after

Eastwood and Fraser 1999): N, not attended; L, light attendance <5 ants; H, heavy

attendance >5 ants. Ant subfamilies are indicated at first mention of taxon.

Lycaenid taxon

Hypochrysops cyane

(Waterhouse & Lyell)

H. epicurus Miskin

H. ignitus ignitus

(Leach)

H. digglesii

(Hewitson)

H. apelles (Fabricius)

H. byzos (Boisduval)

Philiris innotata

(Miskin)

Ogyris genoveva

(Hewitson)

O. zosine (Hewitson)

O. abrota (Westwood)

O. amaryllis amaryllis

(Hewitson)

DM AL

4 H

1 N

1 L

4 H

3 L

4) L

Attending ant

*: new record

L: ants attending larva

P: ants attending pupa

Anonychomyrma sp."

(Dolichoderinae)

Anonychomyrma sp."

Papyrius sp."

(Dolichoderinae)

Crematogaster sp."

(Myrmicinae)

Crematogaster sp."

Not Attended

Technomyrmex albipes *"

(Dolichoderinae)

Not attended

Camponotus sp."

(Formicinae)

Camponotus sp."

C LP

amponotus sp.

Camponotus sp."

Crematogaster sp."

Not Attended

Crematogaster sp."

T. 2albipes **

Location (Date)

Inala (15.viii.1999)

Indooroopilly

(1.2000)

Redland Bay

(5.11.2000)

Peregian Beach

(12.xii.1999)

nr Mt Elliot, Boonah

(2.vi.1999)

Redland Bay

(5.11.2000)

Girraween

(31.1.2001)

Landsborough

(11.11.2001)

Oxley Ck, Moggill

Ck, Landsborough

Leslie Dam, War-

wick (18.11.2000)

Leyburn (31.1.2001)

nr Mt Elliot, Boonah

(2.vi.1999)

nr Mt Elliot, Boonah

(27.vi.1999)

nr Mt Elliot, Boonah

(21.v.2000)

Crows Nest (1.2000)

Girraween

(31.1.2001)

Wacol (30.1.1999)

Beenleigh

(26.xi.2000)

Redland Bay

(3.xii.2000)

Redland Bay (17.ix.

& 3.xii.2000)

—————————————————e 3.x14i2000) 500901 1€

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

O. amaryllis amaryllis

(cont.)

O. oroetes oroetes

(Hewitson)

O. olane (Hewitson)

O. barnardi barnardi

(Miskin)

Jalmenus evagoras

evagoras (Donovan)

Deudorix diovis

Hewitson

Paratrechina sp.*"

(Formicinae)

Not attended

Rhytidoponera sp.*"

(Ponerinae)

Ochetellus sp."

(Dolichoderinae)

Ochetellus sp."

T. ?albipes *"

Meranoplus sp.

(Myrmicinae)

Crematogaster sp."

Iridomyrmex sp."

(Dolichoderinae)

Not attended

Crematogaster sp."

?Iridomyrmex sp."

Not attended

Crematogaster sp."

Not attended

Iridomyrmex sp."

À LP

Iridomyrmex sp."

Iridomyrmex sp.”

Pheidole megacephala

(Myrmicinae)

T. 2albipes *

T. ?albipes ®

Pullen Pullen Ck

(23.vii.2000)

Wacol, Moggill Ck,

Oxley Ck, Pullen

Pullen Ck

Ebbw Vale

(7.11.1999)

Gailes (7.11.1999)

Kookaburra Park,

Salisbury

(13.11.1999)

Salisbury Park,

Salisbury (6.11.1999)

Leslie Dam,

Warwick

(18.11.2000)

Eight Mile Plains

(6.ii. & 22.viii.1999)

Corinda

Kookaburra Park,

Salisbury (6.11.1999)

All above locations

Eight Mile Plains

(22.viii.1999)

Leslie Dam,

Warwick, not

collected

(18.111.2000)

Kookaburra Park,

Salisbury

(22.viii.1999)

Browns Plains,

Salisbury,

Indooroopilly,

Gailes, Leyburn

Leyburn (3.x.1999)

Leyburn

Toohey Forest

(x.2000)

Toowoomba

(5.iv.1999)

Mt Coot-tha

South Brisbane

(20.ix.1999; 19.x. &

25.xi.2000)

South Brisbane (12.

xi.1998; 19.x.1999)

Oxley Ck, Corinda

(9.1.2000)

Deudorix diovis

(cont.)

Rapala varuna

(Horsfield)

Candalides margarita

(Semper)

C. absimilis (C.

Felder)

Nacaduba berenice

(Herrich-Scháffer)

——————————————— PH

0 (1)

Ie leti e

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

T. "albipes "

T. ?albipes"

Iridomyrmex sp.*"

Iridomyrmex sp."

Iridomyrmex sp?

Iridomyrmex sp."

Tetramorium sp.*"

(Myrmicinae)

Polyrhachis

(Chariomyrma) aurea

Mayr *- (Formicinae)

Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma)

australis Mayr *"

Polyrhachis sp."

Polyrhachis (Hagiomyrma)

lydiae Forel *'-

Paratrechina sp.*"

Not attended

T. ?albipes *"

T. ?albipes t

Not attended

Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma)

australis *™

T. ?albipes *-

Iridomyrmex sp.*"

Not attended

Paratrechina sp.

Pheidole megacephala *"

Crematogaster sp.

T. ?albipes *"

T. albipes *-

Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma)

australis *-

Wishart

(11.viii.1999)

Graceville

(15.x.2000)

South Brisbane

(11.xi.1999;

19.vii.2000)

Corinda (29.x.2000)

Oxley (27.viii.2000)

Wishart (15.x.2000)

Sherwood

(14.xi.1999)

Archerfield

(19.xi.2000)

South Brisbane

(1.2000)

Sherwood, specimen

lost (15.v.2000)

Archerfield

(19.xi.2000)

Archerfield (v.2000)

All above locations

Oxley Ck, Corinda

(xii.1999)

Sherwood

(25.iv.2001)

Oxley Ck, Toohey

Forest, Sherwood,

Moggill Ck,

Sherwood, Rocklea

Sherwood

(19.1.2000)

Herston (1.iv.2000)

Sherwood

(29.x.2000)

Springwood,

Sherwood

South Brisbane

(1.ix.1999)

Brisbane CBD

(17.iii.2000)

Mt Coot-tha

(18.11.2001)

Sherwood

(9.iv.2000)

Brisbane CBD

(14.11.2001)

South Brisbane

(111.2000; 12.11.2001)

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

Nacaduba berenice

(cont.)

N. biocellata (C.

Felder & R. Felder)

Erysichton lineata

(Murray)

Psychonotis caelius

(C. Felder)

Prosotas felderi

(Murray)

P. dubiosa (Semper)

Catopyrops florinda

(Butler)

Sahulana scintillata

(T.P. Lucas)

Leptotes plinius

(Fabricius)

Lampides boeticus

(Linnaeus)

Zizina labradus

(Godart)

0 (1)

L,H

Polyrhachis sp.

Tapinoma sp.*"

(Dolichoderinae)

Not attended

T. ?albipes *-

Not attended

Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma)

pilosa Donisthorpe *"

Not attended

T. ?albipes *"

Not attended

Crematogaster sp."

Dolichoderus sp.*"

(Dolichoderinae)

Not attended

T. albipes *-

Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma)

australis *-

Not attended

Iridomyrmex sp.*"

Paratrechina sp.*"

Not attended

Iridomyrmex sp.*"

Prolasius sp.*"

(Formicinae)

Not attended

Coopers Plains

(viii.2000)

South Brisbane

(12.11.2001)

Sherwood, South

Brisbane

Oxley Ck, Corinda

(28.ix.2000)

Sherwood, Rocklea,

Toohey Forest, Mt

Coot-tha

Sherwood

(21.iv.2000)

Sherwood, Wishart,

Mt Coot-tha, Mt

Glorious

Oxley Ck, Corinda

(xii.1999)

Oxley Ck, Toohey

Forest, Springwood

Rocklea (14.v.2000)

nr Mt Elliot, Boonah

(21.v.2000)

Sherwood, Rocklea,

Toohey Forest,

Springwood, Mt

Coot-tha

Sherwood, Mt Coot-

tha

Herston (1.iv.2000)

Benwarra Park,

Oxley Ck

Rocklea, Sherwood,

Brisbane CBD

Rocklea, Toohey

Forest, Mt Coot-tha

Sherwood (26. ii. &

8.x.2000)

Sherwood

(29.xii.2000)

Sherwood, Brisbane

CBD, Springwood

Corinda, South

Brisbane

South Brisbane (21

& 28.ix.2000)

South Brisbane

(28.ix.2000)

South Brisbane

66 Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

New records

Philiris innotata (Miskin)

Larvae were not attended by ants at several sites in Brisbane and at

Landsborough (Table 1). On one tree at Landsborough 6 out of 20 larvae

were each attended by a single Technomyrmex ?albipes (Dolichoderinae)

worker at the time of collection. The ants antennated over the entire larval

dorsal surface but concentrated their efforts at the dorsal nectary organ

(DNO) on the seventh abdominal segment. Ant attendance of this species has

been recorded on only a few occasions from northern Queensland (Eastwood

and Fraser 1999). This record is the first from the southern part of its range.

Rapala varuna (Horsfield)

A single T. ?albipes worker was found attending a larva feeding on

Alphitonia excelsa at Oxley Ck, Brisbane. This ant rapidly antennated the

DNO, but paid no attention to other regions of the larva. Other larvae were

ignored by T. ?albipes and by several other ants (viz. Polyrhachis sp.,

Iridomyrmex sp.), which were foraging for nectar on the flowers within

centimeters of many R. varuna larvae. A single mature larva found feeding

on flowers of Eriobotrya japonica at Sherwood, Brisbane, was continuously

attended by five T. ?albipes ants. The ants removed droplets of clear fluid

from the larval DNO and on several occasions the larval tentacular organs

(TO's) were fully everted. Ant attendance has not been reported previously

for R. varuna larvae (Eastwood and Fraser 1999).

Erysichton lineata (Murray)

A single ant, Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) pilosa Donisthorpe (Formicinae),

was found straddled over a mature larva located on a flower of Macadamia

integrifolia at Sherwood, Brisbane. The ant and larva remained in contact

after several days in captivity, during which time the ant was observed to

antennate and remove fluid from the DNO on numerous occasions. The larva

also everted its TOs in the presence of the ant. Ant attendance of E. lineata

has not been reported previously (Eastwood and Fraser 1999) and is a rare

occurrence in Brisbane, where numerous unattended larvae were observed

(Table 1).

Psychonotis caelius (C. Felder)

Two larvae feeding on flowers of Alphitonia excelsa at Oxley Ck, Brisbane

were each attended by single T. ?albipes workers. The ants alternated

between antennating the larval DNO for brief periods (never for more than

about five seconds) and foraging on flowers. The larva in each case did not

respond in any noticeable way to the ants. Larval TO's were not seen in a

fully extended state. Ant attendance has not been reported previously for this

species (Eastwood and Fraser 1999) and the great majority of larvae found in

Brisbane were unattended.

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2) 67

Prosotas felderi (Murray)

Five larvae on a single food plant, Acacia disparrima subsp. disparrima at

Rocklea, Brisbane were each attended by a single Crematogaster sp.

(Myrmicinae) worker. All larvae on nearby trees were unattended. Near Mt.

Elliot at Boonah, a single larva was found with a large Dolichoderus sp.

(Dolichoderinae) worker in attendance. In captivity the ant remained with the

larva until it pupated several days later. All ant tended larvae responded to

attention by the ants with intermittent extension of the TO’s and production

of fluid droplets from the DNO which the ants removed. Ant attendance of P.

felderi is uncommon with only one prior report (Braby 2000).

Discussion

Lycaenid-ant associations reported here are in accordance with the patterns

described by Eastwood and Fraser (1999). Facultative species such as

Deudorix diovis Hewitson, Ogyris oroetes (Hewitson) and Nacaduba

berenice (Herrich-Scháffer) are able to appease a variety of ant genera from

several subfamilies. The 31 new facultative ant-lycaenid associations

reported in Table 1 are therefore unsurprising. Ant genera commonly found

in facultative association with lycaenid larvae in this survey include

Technomyrmex (associated with 10 species), Crematogaster (7 species),

Iridomyrmex (6 species), Polyrhachis (5 species) and Paratrechina (4

species). These genera commonly associate with facultative myrmecophilous

lycaenids (see Eastwood and Fraser 1999).

The high incidence of association with Technomyrmex is unusual and

possibly reflects the abundance of T. ?albipes in Brisbane. Technomyrmex

albipes is native to Japan and is now a nuisance pest in many tropical

countries owing to its habit of forming large colonies (estimated to

sometimes exceed 1 million individuals) in residential areas (Weissling et al.

1998). It is a common ant in disturbed habitats such as suburban parks,

gardens and remnant bushland in Brisbane (D. Schmidt pers. obs.). At sites

such as Oxley Ck, Corinda the high local abundance of T. ?albipes appears to

be achieved by its large colony size and interconnected colony structure.

Nests often occurred under flaking bark of trees and individuals foraged at

high densities over virtually all vegetation in the area. In these situations

lycaenid larvae and homopterans often are attended and even normally

unattended species such as Psychonotis caelius receive some attention. The

ecological impact of T. albipes in Australia is unknown.

Larvae of R. varuna, E. lineata, P. caelius and P. felderi possess typical

lycaenid myrmecophilous organs including a dorsal nectary organ and

tentacular organs. Each of these species was found to be weakly

myrmecophilous, their larval stages rarely being found with attendant ants

and therefore all would be classified as level 1 in the schema of Eastwood

and Fraser (1999).

68 Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

Larvae of lycaenids classified as obligately ant associated by Eastwood and

Fraser (1999) (e.g. Hypochrysops spp.), were in most cases found with their

characteristic ant genera in attendance (Table 1). One exception was Ogyris

amaryllis amaryllis (Hewitson), which was found with several different

genera and subfamilies of ants in attendance (Table 1). Eastwood and Fraser

(1999) recognised this species as an anomaly in their review and additional

records here confirm that further work is required to understand the ant

associations exhibited by this taxon over its vast range (Schmidt and Rice, in

press). Due to the low attendance levels observed during this study and the

range of ants found in attendance, the subspecies O. a. amaryllis is

tentatively treated here as facultatively myrmecophilous in southeast

Queensland.

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to Rudy Kohout who identified the Polyrhachis ants. Rod

Eastwood, Trevor Lambkin and anonymous reviewers made valuable

comments on the manuscript. Kerrod Beattie, Trevor Lambkin and Peter

Wilson provided advice on collecting lycaenids. Steven Rice and Adele

Millis assisted in the field. Dr Chris Burwell cheerfully assisted me at times

when I became stuck with ant identifications.

References

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

Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria; xx + 976 pp.

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

and Robertson, Sydney; xiv + 682 pp.

EASTWOOD, R. and FRASER, A.M. 1999. Associations between lycaenid butterflies and ants in

Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 24: 503-537.

FIEDLER, K. 1991. European and north west African Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera) and their

associations with ants. Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 28(4): 239-257.

MALICKY, H. 1970. New aspects on the association between lycaenid larvae (Lycaenidae) and

ants (Formicidae, Hymenoptera). Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society 24: 190-202.

PIERCE, N.E., KITCHING, R.L., BUCKLEY, R.C., TAYLOR, M.F. and BENBOW, K. 1987.

Costs and benefits of cooperation between the Australian lycaenid butterfly, Jalmenus evagoras

and its attendant ants. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 21: 237-248.

SCHMIDT, D.J. and RICE, S.J. In press. Association of ants and Ogyris amaryllis amaryllis

juveniles in south eastern Queensland. Australian Journal of Entomology.

SHATTUCK, S.O. 1999. Australian ants: their biology and identification. Monographs on

Invertebrate Taxonomy Vol. 3. CSIRO Publishing, Australia; xi + 226 pp.

WEISSLING, TJ., FERSTER, B. and CARPIO, M. 1998. White-footed ant: Technomyrmex

albipes (Fr. Smith). University of Florida Cooperative Extension Publication EENY-51. University

of Florida; http://creatures.ifas.edu/urban/ants/white-footed_ant.htm

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2): 69-72 69

PARASITISATION RATES OF SOME PARASITOIDS

(HYMENOPTERA: ICHNEUMONIDAE) OF THE AUTUMN GUM

MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE)

MARK W. SHORT, STEFAN SCHMIDT? and ZOLTAN LUKACS?

ICRC for Sustainable Production Forestry & CSIRO Entomology, GPO Box 1700, Canberra,

ACT 2601

?State Museum of Natural History, Stuttgart, 70191, Germany

3PO Box 331, Queanbeyan, NSW 2620

Abstract

Information is provided on one tachinid (Diptera) and four ichneumonid (Hymenoptera)

parasitoids of the autumn gum moth Mnesampela privata (Guenée) (Geometridae).

Parasitisation rates are given for the unidentified tachinid and the ichneumonid Heteropelma

scaposum (Morley) (Anomaloninae). A combined parasitisation rate is given for an unidentified

species of Pristiceros Gravenhorst plus an undescribed species of Neolevansa Gauld (both

Ichneumoninae: Platylabini). This is the first host record for any Neolevansa species. Also

reported as a parasitoid is an unidentified species of Eriborus Förster (Campopleginae). An

earlier report of an ichneumonid from the genus Anacis Porter (Cryptinae: Cryptini) as a

parasitoid of M. privata is corrected.

Introduction

The autumn gum moth Mnesampela privata (Guenée) (Geometridae:

Ennominae) is a serious pest of Eucalyptus globulus and E. nitens plantations

in southeastern and southwestern Australia (Neumann and Collett 1997,

Elliott et al. 1998). While studying the seasonal phenology of this moth,

Lukacs (1999) collected data on its natural enemies, which we report in this

paper.

Materials and methods

Approximately 2,000 fifth (final) instar larvae of M. privata were collected

from various sites in Tasmania and Victoria (see Lukacs 1999 for site

details). One hymenopteran morphospecies of larval parasitoid was noticed

and three specimens were kept for later identification. The M. privata pupae

were reared under a number of different environmental regimes until an adult

moth emerged, one or more parasitoids emerged or the pupa died. Parasitoids

were separated into morphospecies. Emergence data were recorded for each

cohort of pupae and each morphospecies of parasitoid. A small number of

parasitoids were kept for later identification. All specimens are deposited in

the Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC), Canberra.

Results

Identities of the parasitoids

We identified the larval parasitoid as a species of Eriborus Förster

(Ichneumonidae: Campopleginae). Lukacs (1999) initially recognised three

morphospecies of larval-pupal parasitoids, a tachinid fly which was not

identified further and two ichneumonids.

70 Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

The larger of the ichneumonid morphospecies was identified as Heteropelma

scaposum (Morley) (Anomaloninae). On closer inspection, the smaller

ichneumonid morphospecies actually comprised two species, both belonging

to the subfamily Ichneumoninae, tribe Platylabini. One was a species of

Pristiceros Gravenhorst while the other was an undescribed species of

Neolevansa Gauld. Since we possess only one specimen of our species of

Neolevansa, we have refrained from formally describing it as new. However,

Table 1 (see also Figs 1-4) gives diagnostic features to distinguish this

species, Neolevansa sp. 1, from the only described species of the genus, N.

hirsuta Gauld. Note that according to Gauld (1984), there are 11 undescribed

species of Neolevansa known, all from Australia.

Table 1. Characters for distinguishing Neolevansa sp. 1 from N. hirsuta.

Character Neolevansa hirsuta Neolevansa sp. 1

Area superomedia A little longer than Distinctly wider than

wide (Fig. 1) long (Fig. 2)

Texture between punctures on Smooth and shining Somewhat rugose

metapleuron

Predominant colour of head and Black Reddish-brown

mesosoma (Figs 1, 3) (Figs 2, 4)

Pale yellow band along Present Absent

medioposterior margin of

pronotum

Number of pale yellow spots on Two (Fig. 3) One (Fig. 4)

lower mesopleuron

re i de M e m

Oviposition behaviour in the field

Heteropelma scaposum was observed ovipositing in first instar larvae but not

in later instars. Neolevansa sp. 1 or Pristiceros sp. (identity uncertain) was

usually seen walking over foliage and crawling into larval shelters in search

of older larvae. It readily oviposited in fifth instar larvae it found exposed on

the leaf surface inside thin silk shelters. Neither the Eriborus sp. nor the

tachinid fly were observed in the field.

Parasitisation levels

A total of 1,211 M. privata pupae were formed in the laboratory. The

parasitisation rates for cohorts of pupae ranged from 0.0% to 35.7%, with an

overall rate of 9.1% (Table 2). Generally, the parasitoids emerged in

synchrony with the moths, indicating that the development of both is tightly

linked. Records were not kept for the larval parasitoid Eriborus sp.

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2) 71

Table 2. Parasitisation rates of three morphospecies of larval-pupal parasitoids.

Morphospecies Average parasitisation rate Range across cohorts

Neolevansa sp. 1 / 4.6% 0.0-35.7%

Pristiceros sp.

Heteropelma scaposum 3.6% 0.0-16.7%

Tachinid fly 0.8% 0.0-8.3%

Overall 9.1% 0.0-35.7 %

Figs 1-4. Propodeum and mesopleuron of Neolevansa spp. (1) N. hirsuta, propodeum; (2)

N. sp. 1, propodeum; (3) N. hirsuta, mesopleuron; (4) N. sp. 1, mesopleuron.

72 Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

Discussion

Mnesampela privata constitutes the first host record for any species of

Neolevansa. This association is not surprising given that almost all known

hosts of Platylabini are geometrid moths (Gauld 1984). All of the other taxa,

namely Tachinidae, Eriborus, Pristiceros and Heteropelma scaposum, have

already been recorded as parasitoids of M. privata (Elliott and Bashford

1978, de Little 1981, Gauld 1984, Schumacher ef al. 2000). Their

parasitisation rates, though, have not previously been measured.

One of the preliminary identifications in Lukacs (1999) is incorrect. The

morphospecies identified here as Neolevansa sp. 1/Pristiceros sp. was called

Anacis sp. by Lukacs (1999). This error (albeit as 2Anacis Sp.) was repeated

by Schumacher et al. (2000), where on one occasion it was misspelt Anacris

sp. This morphospecies was originally called Anacis sp. because of a

suggestion by Ian Naumann (ANIC, Canberra), who did not examine

specimens but merely commented on a photograph (Lukacs 1999, p. 238).

Acknowledgements

MWS and ZL acknowledge the financial support provided by an Australian

Postgraduate Award with additional stipend from the CRC for Sustainable

Production Forestry. MWS also thanks Rob Floyd for the initial opportunity

to work at CSIRO as a volunteer and Martin Steinbauer (CRC - SPF &

CSIRO Entomology) for his ongoing guidance and support and helpful

comments on drafts of the paper. All authors thank Christine Taylor (The

Natural History Museum, London) for the loan of Neolevansa specimens.

References

DE LITTLE, D.W. 1981. A study of autumn gum moth, Mnesampela privata Guen.

(Lepidoptera: Geometridae) on Eucalyptus nitens plantations on north west Tasmania.

Unpublished report, Associated Forest Holdings, Hobart; 12 pp.

ELLIOTT, H.J. and BASHFORD, R. 1978. The life history of Mnesampela privata (Guen.)

(Lepidoptera: Geometridae) a defoliator of young eucalypts.

Entomological Society 17: 201-204.

ELLIOTT, H.J., OHMART, C.P. and WYLIE, F.R. 1998. Insect pests of Australian forests:

ecology and management. Inkata Press, Melbourne; 214 pp.

Journal of the Australian

GAULD, LD. 1984. An introduction to the Ichneumonidae of Australia. British Museum

(Natural History), London; 413 pp.

LUKACS, Z. 1999. Phenology of autumn gum moth Mnesampela privata (Guenée)

(Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Unpublished PhD thesis, School of Agricultural Science,

University of Tasmania, Hobart; xx+252 pp.

NEUMANN, F.G. and COLLETT, N.G. 1997. Insecticide trials for control of the autumn gum

moth (Mnesampela privata), a primary defoliator in commercial eucalypt plantations prior to

canopy closure. Australian Forestry 60: 130-137.

SCHUMACHER, R.K., AUSTIN, A.D. and FLOYD, R.B. 2000. Parasitoids of the autumn gum

moth, Mnesampela privata (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in south-eastern Australia,

with description of two new larval parasitoids. Transactions of the Royal Society of South

Australia 124: 1-15.

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2): 73-79 73

EUPLOEA BUTTERFLIES OF THE REMOTE SANTA CRUZ

ISLANDS (TEMOTU PROVINCE, SOLOMON ISLANDS):

NAMES, PHENOTYPES AND DISTRIBUTION

(LEPIDOPTERA: NYMPHALIDAE: DANAINAE)

W. JOHN TENNENT

Biogeography and Conservation Laboratory, Department of Entomology, The Natural History

Museum, London SW7 SBD, UK

(address for correspondence: 38 Colin McLean Road, Dereham, Norfolk NR19 2RY, England)

Abstract

Based on recently collected material from the Santa Cruz Islands (Temotu Province, Solomon

Islands), distribution of subspecies of Euploea sylvester Fabricius, E. leucostictos Gmelin, E.

boisduvalii Lucas, E. treitschkei Boisduval and E. lewinii Felder & Felder in the islands is

discussed. The names era de Nicéville, 1902 and matemae Carpenter, 1953 are newly

synonymised with ŒE. boisduvalii lapeyrousei Boisduval, 1832. The name brunnescens

Carpenter, 1953 is newly synonymised with E. lewinii lilybaea Fruhstorfer, 1911.

Introduction

The danaine genus Euploea Fabricius is very diverse in the large islands of

the Solomon archipelago in the tropical southwest Pacific. Some islands (e.g.

San Cristobal, Malaita, Rennell) support remarkable mimetic butterfly

assemblages, involving Euploea, Danaus Kluk (Danainae) and Hypolimnas

Hübner (Nymphalinae), with quite different phenotypes of the same species

occurring on adjacent islands. Fewer taxa have penetrated as far as the

smaller islands of Micronesia and Polynesia further east. Mimetic

associations and distribution of Pacific danaines were examined by Poulton

(1924, 1926), Carpenter (1942, 1953), Ackery and Vane-Wright (1984) and

Dudley and Adler (1996).

This paper deals with the nomenclature and distribution of Euploea species

and subspecies in the remote Santa Cruz group of islands, politically part of

the Solomon Islands, but geographically closer to the New Hebrides

archipelago (Vanuatu), in preparation for a forthcoming book on the

butterflies of the Solomon Islands. It also deals with the nomenclature of the

islands themselves (Fig. 1). In a comprehensive taxonomic and

biogeographical study, Carpenter (1953) was concerned largely with the

distribution of Euploea forms and subspecies in the Pacific. Recently

collected material has enabled resolution of some apparent anomalies.

The main island of the Santa Cruz group appears in the Times Atlas of the

World as *Ndeni' and this has often been used in the literature, including by

the present author (Tennent 1999, 2000, 2001). The name is not recognised

by local people, who call the island ‘Santa Cruz’ or ‘Nendo’. The small

islands of Trevanion and Lord Howe lie a few hundred metres off the

northwest and southeast coasts of Nendo respectively. To the north of Nendo

lies the active volcano of Tinakula and northeast of Tinakula are the scattered

islands of the Reef and Duff groups. Utupua and Vanikoro lie southeast of

74 Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

Nendo and the latter is only some 160 km north of the most northerly islands

of the Torres group (Vanuatu). An alternative name for the Reefs is

‘Swallow’ or ‘the Swallows’, which also appears in the Times Atlas and has

been used by authors including Carpenter (1953) and Ackery and Vane-

Wright (1984). Like Ndeni, the name is not recognised locally. The Reef

group includes the small western outliers of Matema and Pileni and should

not be confused with the Reef Islands which form part of the Banks island

group of northern Vanuatu, some 400 kilometres to the southeast. Still

further east lie the tiny and remote Polynesian islands of Tikopia, Anuta and

Fatutaka. Anuta and Fatutaka are referred to as ‘Cherry’ and ‘Mitre’ by the

Times Atlas. There are no butterfly records from uninhabited Fatutaka.

100

[a a ———À

ES Duff islands kilometres

^ Reef islands

Matema, z

Tinakula THE

( ; = Nendo SANTA CRUZ

ISLANDS

11°S

GS Utupua

Gs Vanikoro

Fig. 1. Map of the Santa Cruz Islands.

A previous lack of material (Carpenter 1953) has in some cases hampered

assignation of Euploea populations to subspecies. The author spent several

months in the Santa Cruz group in 2000 and made collections of Euploea

butterflies on all islands visited. Collections were also made on some

northern islands of Vanuatu, including the Torres group, from where few

specimens have also previously been available. This combined material has

made it possible to reassess distribution of some Santa Cruz phenotypes.

Collection of Euploea (and Danaus affinis Fabricius) specimens is

considerably assisted throughout the tropical Pacific by the attraction of

males (and occasionally females) to the withered leaves and twigs of plants,

including Argusia argentea (Boraginaceae), from which they sequester

chemical compounds for use in defence against predators.

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2) 75

Several hundred specimens have been deposited in The Natural History

Museum (BMNH), London. The following abbreviation has been used: TL -

Type locality.

The Santa Cruz group Euploea species

Euploea sylvester Fabricius, 1793 (TL: [Australia])

In a consolidated list (Carpenter 1953) of Pacific Euploea distribution,

melander Grose-Smith, 1897 (TL: ‘Santa Cruz’) and tristis Butler, 1866 (TL:

Vanuatu) were regarded as geographical subspecies, whilst moesta Butler,

1866 (TL: Irian Jaya) was noted as a ‘form’. Carpenter (1953) said of moesta

*under this name are included the poorly spotted forms ...' and went on to

separate melander, tristis and other forms, including moesta, on the basis of

geographical distribution, in effect applying all of these names at the level of

subspecies. Carpenter reported two male moesta from Matema, several

melander from Santa Cruz [Nendo], Utupua, Vanikoro and the Reefs (Banks

group) and tristis from many islands of Vanuatu, including the Banks and

Torres groups. He reported a solitary male tristis from Matema, which he

regarded as an ‘unusual locality’ for this subspecies. Samson (1979) regarded

Santa Cruz sylvester as melina Godart, 1819 (TL: Moluccas).

Carpenter (1953) said ‘It might seem legitimate to claim that as tristis ...

moesta [and] melander ... seem closely connected by intermediates it would

be justifiable to treat all as synonyms of tristis. Yet the geographical

distribution supports continuance of these names’. Collection of further

material confirms an apparent line of demarcation between the Santa Cruz

group and, for example, the Torres group. In a series of 37 males and 5

females collected by the present author from Nendo, the Reefs (Ngadeli,

Nifololi, Lomlom, Pileni), Utupua and Vanikoro, only 6 males (Nendo, Reefs

[Ngadeli, Lomlom]) have prominent white submarginal spots on the

upperside of the hindwing and white subapical markings on the upperside of

the forewing, whilst the remainder have an unmarked hindwing (or almost

so) and blue subapical spots on the forewing. By comparison, males from a

series of 6 males and 14 females from the Torres group have prominent white

subapical and submarginal markings. Females are more variable and may be

difficult to separate.

In the opinion of the present author, populations of all Santa Cruz Islands

from which material is available are referable to E. s. melander, whilst

populations from the Torres group to the south are E. s. tristis. The species

has not been reported from Tikopia, Anuta or the Duff group.

Euploea leucostictos Gmelin, 1790 (TL: [Ambon])

E. leucostictos crucis Carpenter, 1953 was described from three males and

one female from Santa Cruz [Nendo] and a ‘small’ male specimen of

polymela Godman & Salvin, 1888 (TL: Solomon archipelago [syntypic

series]), the usual form from the Solomon archipelago further west, was also

76 Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

noted from Santa Cruz. Carpenter (1953) said of this specimen “The

specimen from Santa Cruz ... is of particular interest, seeing that another

form of [leucostictos] occurs there: possibly this one was an intruder’.

Carpenter went on to describe eustachiella Carpenter, 1953 from a male and

two females from Anuta and to report (Carpenter 1953) five male iphianassa

Butler, 1866 (TL: Vanuatu: Aneityum) and a male novarumebudum

Carpenter, 1942 (TL: Vanuatu: Espiritu Santo) from Tikopia among long

series of both subspecies from the islands of Vanuatu.

Examination of a long series of E. leucostictos from Nendo, the Reefs

(Matama, Ngadeli, Lomlom, Pileni, Temotuana’a Atoll), the Duffs, Utupua

and Vanikoro, suggests that E. l. crucis is a variable insect. Many males lack

subapical markings, whilst others have a curved series of white subapical

spots. Females are more variable, but few have the prominent hindwing

submarginal spots characteristic of E. l. iphianassa. By comparison, a series

of 23 males and 8 females from Tikopia are significantly less variable. Males

are large and dark in appearance and both sexes are indistinguishable from E.

l. iphianassa from the Torres group. Thus, it is clear that E. I. crucis occurs

on all western islands of the Santa Cruz group, whilst E. l. iphianassa occurs

on Tikopia, as well as on the Torres group in northern Vanuatu. The author

was unfortunately only able to spend one day on Anuta, in dull weather. E.

leucostictos was not seen and no comment is made regarding the status of E.

l. eustachiella, beyond noting that Carpenter (1953) agreed that some

specimens of eustachiella, eustachius Kirby, 1899 (New Guinea) and

iphianassa, differed little.

Euploea boisduvalii Lucas, 1853 (TL: ‘Australia’ [?Fiji])

In addition to era de Nicéville, 1902 (TL: ‘Santa Cruz’ [?Nendo]) from

Nendo and Reef Island (Banks group), Carpenter (1953) reported lapeyrousei

Boisduval, 1832 (TL: Vanikoro) from Vanikoro and Utupua, and matemae

Carpenter, 1953 (TL: Matema) from Matema and Anuta. It is noted that

bakeri Poulton, 1927 (TL: Vanuatu: Espiritu Santo) was reported from the

Banks group, in addition to seven males from the Reefs. E. b. era was

reported from Tikopia by Ackery and Vane-Wright (1984).

Carpenter (1953) compared era with torvina Butler, 1875 (TL: Vanuatu:

Aneityum) from the southern islands of Vanuatu. He considered phenotypic

differences between era, lapeyrousei and matemae warranted separation at

subspecies rank and figured both sexes of each of the last two taxa.

Differences between these monochrome illustrations are certainly apparent,

with matemae displaying much paler wing margins (especially the female)

than lapeyrousei.

The author collected a series of 47 male and 39 female E. boisduvalii from

Nendo, Tinakula, the Reefs (Matama, Ngadeli, Nifiloli, Lomlom, Pigeon), the

Duffs (from where boisduvalii was previously unreported), Utupua, Vanikoro

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2) TI

and Tikopia. This material included 2 males and 1 female from Matema (TL

of matemae) and 5 males and 16 females from Vanikoro (TL of lapeyrousei).

It is not possible to separate specimens from any of these localities and in the

opinion of the author, populations from all islands of the Santa Cruz group

are the same. The question of which name should properly be applied was, in

effect, determined by Carpenter (1953) who resolved 'a most complicated

tangle of mistakes’ concerning the type material and type locality of

lapeyrousei. There seems no doubt that /lapeyrousei originated from

Vanikoro (appropriately, since it was here that Jean-Frangois de Galaup de

La Pérouse met an untimely end in 1788) and the names era and matemae

are here placed as new synonyms of E. b. lapeyrousei. It is noted that the

islands of Matema and Anuta are more than 400 km distant from each other

and it is considered highly unlikely that a distinct geographical subspecies

(i.e. matemae) occurs on these two tiny islands but not on intervening

islands.

Euploea treitschkei Boisduval, 1832 (TL: New Ireland)

Carpenter (1953) reported three female viridis Butler, 1882 (TL: ‘Thursday

Island, south of New Guinea' [Torres Strait, Queensland]) *which can only

be classed as transitional to jessica’ from Vanikoro and one male aenea

Butler, 1872 (TL: 'Solomon Islands') from Utupua but recorded jessica

Butler, 1869 (TL: ‘Fiji’ [almost certainly erroneous]) with a wide

geographical range from the Bismarck and Solomon archipelagos to New

Caledonia and Vanuatu. He did not record jessica from the Santa Cruz group.

Samson (1979) reported E. treitschkei aenea and E. treitschkei f. jessica from

the Santa Cruz group and Ackery and Vane-Wright (1984) recorded Santa

Cruz treitschkei as ‘Euploea treitschkei ssp.’.

Carpenter (1953) said ‘The variable forms grouped under the specific name

treitschkei have proved to be extremely troublesome to sort out ...’.

Collection of material is also rather more ‘troublesome’ in the case of E.

treitschkei than its congeners since males seem rarely to be attracted to the

leaves and twigs of Argusia trees, but prefer (unidentified) climbing vines

(presumably with similar chemical properties to those of Argusia). Such

vines are usually several metres above ground. Individual butterflies were not

observed congregating in the manner of other Euploea species in the Santa

Cruz Islands.

Despite potential confusion in allocating names geographically suggested by

Carpenter (1953), material collected by the author (15 males and 4 females)

on Nendo, Utupua and Vanikoro, appear referable to the name jessica. There

is some variation in males; some have the hindwing unmarked, whilst others

have one or more postdiscal white marks, never approaching the large and

prominent series of lorenzo Butler, 1870 (TL: ‘Solomon Islands’ [?San

Cristobal]) from San Cristobal, the easternmost island of the Solomon

archipelago and from certain other islands including the Torres group.

78 Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

In using the names jessica and lorenzo above, use of the prefix ‘form’ or

‘subspecies’ has been avoided. Although authors disagree on the status of

these names, many consider them to be merely widespread forms and there is

some evidence to support this. However, in the Solomon archipelago

(especially on San Cristobal and in the Santa Cruz group) phenotypes appear

geographically more or less constant. E. treitschkei would benefit from a

thorough revision. It is noted that Carpenter (1953) considered lorenzo a

synonym of jessica.

Euploea lewinii Felder & Felder, [1865] (TL: [Tonga])

E. lewinii brunnescens Carpenter, 1953 was described from 12 males and a

female from Tikopia and one male from Vanikoro. It was said to be similar

in appearance to lilybaea Fruhstorfer, 1911 (TL: Vanuatu: Tanna). Carpenter

(1953) also recorded two males in the California Academy of Sciences

Collection, said to be from Anuta, which were ‘not like [brunnescens] from

Tikopia and Vanikoro, but agree better with Fijian eschscholtzii [Felder &

Felder, [1865] (TL: Fiji).

In his description of brunnescens Carpenter (1953) said '... differs from all

other forms of lewinii by its light brown colour on the upper side ... the

underside is even paler, thus differing from lilybaea which [it] most

resembles ...’. It is curious that E. lewinii was not seen by the author during

8 weeks spent on the island of Tikopia, the TL of E. l. brunnescens. This is a

small island (it is possible to walk around it in little more than half a day at

low tide). Conversely, it was the only danaine seen on a whole day spent on

the island of Anuta, where a short series of 11 specimens was collected.

Comparison of this series from Anuta, paratypes of brunnescens in the

BMNH and material from various islands of Vanuatu does not support

perceived differences. Indeed, some specimens from, for example, Espiritu

Santo and Malekula, have paler undersides than those from Tikopia or

Anuta. Other minor characteristics provided by Carpenter appear not to be

geographically consistent and brunnescens is here placed as a new synonym

of E. lewinii lilybaea to which, in the opinion of the author, Tikopia and

Anuta specimens properly belong. Occurrence of E. lewinii on Vanikoro

requires confirmation.

Acknowledgements

Mr Moses Biliki, Ministry of Forests, Environment and Conservation,

Honiara, supported the author's research and the Ministry of Education and

Human Resources Development, Honiara, issued permits for fieldwork. The

fieldwork was partially funded by the Trustees of the Godman Exploration

Fund (BMNH) and the Percy Sladen Fund (Linnean Society of London).

Travel throughout the western Santa Cruz Islands would have been virtually

impossible without the practical assistance, local knowledge and marine

skills of Ross Hepworth, businessman and politician, of Pigeon Island (Reef

group). The author is also grateful to village chiefs too numerous to mention

Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2) 79

individually who allowed research on ‘Custom’ land under their control, and

indebted to Chief Edward Tafua and to Josia Rimatana and their families for

their kindness and hospitality during an enforced stay on Tikopia brought

about by a lack of visiting ships. Chris Muller, Dural, NSW, kindly loaned

the author an emergency radio beacon (EPIRB).

References

ACKERY, P.R. and VANE-WRIGHT, R.I. 1984. Milkweed butterflies: their cladistics and

biology. British Museum (Natural History), London.

CARPENTER, G.D.H. 1942. Revisional notes on Melanesian Euploea (Lepidoptera) with

descriptions of new subspecies and forms (appendix by G. Talbot). Proceedings of the Royal

Entomological Society of London, (B)11: 127-140.

CARPENTER, G.D.H. 1953. The genus Euploea (Lep. Danaidae) in Micronesia, Melanesia,

Polynesia and Australia. A zoo-geographical study. Transactions of the Zoological Society of

London 28: 1-165.

DUDLEY, R. and ADLER, G.H. 1996. Biogeography of milkweed butterflies (Nymphalidae:

Danainae) and mimetic patterns on tropical Pacific archipelagos. Biological Journal of the Linnean

Society 57(4): 317-326.

POULTON, E.B. 1924. Mimicry in the butterflies of Fiji considered in relation to the Euploeine and

Danaine invasions of Polynesia and to the female forms of Hypolimnas bolina L. in the Pacific.

Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1923: 564-691, 23 pls.

POULTON, E.B. 1926. The Euploeine associations of the New Hebrides and their relation to those

of Fiji. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London 1: 47-54.

TENNENT, W J. 1999. Notes on some Solomon Islands Papilio Linnaeus, with descriptions of four

new subspecies (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae). Nachrichten Entomologischen Vereins Apollo 20(2):

207-230.

TENNENT, W.J. 2000. Thirteen new butterflies from the Solomon Islands (Lepidoptera:

Lycaenidae). Butterflies 25: 9-22.

TENNENT, W.J. 2001. Twenty new butterflies from the Solomon Islands (Lepidoptera:

Hesperiidae; Lycaenidae; Nymphalinae; Satyrinae; Danainae). British Journal of Entomology and

Natural History 14: 1-27.

80 Australian Entomologist, 2002, 29 (2)

RECENT ENTOMOLOGICAL LITERATURE

BROUGHTON, S.

2001 Parasitism and predation of the lantana leafmining beetles Octotoma scabripennis Guérin-

Méneville and Uroplata girardi Pic (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Hispinae). Australian

Journal of Entomology 40(3): 286-293.

BROWN, G.R.

2001 Status of the Ariphron generic group (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae). Australian Journal of

Entomology 40(1): 23-40.

CRUIKSHANK, L., JESSUP, A.L. and CRUIKSHANK, D.J.

2001 Interspecific crosses of Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) and Bactrocera jarvisi (Tryon)

(Diptera: Tephritidae) in the laboratory. Australian Journal of Entomology 40(3): 278-

280.

EDWARDS, E.D., NEWLAND, J. and REGAN, L.

2001 Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea, Papilionoidea. In: Wells, A. and Houston, W.W.K. (eds)

Zoological Catalogue of Australia, Vol. 31.6. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne; x + 615 pp.

EXLEY, E.M.

2001 The walkeriana species-group of Euhesma Michener (Hymenoptera: Colletidae:

Euryglossinae). Australian Journal of Entomology 40(2): 102-112.

GULLAN, P.J. and SJAARDA, A.W.

2001 Trans-Tasman Platycoelostoma Morrison (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Margarodidae) on

endemic Cupressaceae, and the phylogenetic history of margarodids. Systematic

Entomology 26(3): 257-278.

JENKINS, N.L. and HOFFMANN, A.A.

2001 Distribution of Drosophila serrata Malloch (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Australia with

particular reference to the southern border. Australian Journal of Entomology 40(1): 41-

48.

KEMP, D.J.

2000 The basis of life-history plasticity in the tropical butterfly Hypolimnas bolina (L.)

(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 48: 67-78.

2001 Age-related site fidelity in the territorial butterfly Hypolimnas bolina (L.) (Lepidoptera:

Nymphalidae). Australian Journal of Entomology 40(1): 65-68.

KOLESIK, P. and CUNNINGHAM, S.A.

2000 A new gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) infesting fruit of punty bush, Senna

artemisioides (Caesalpiniaceae) in Australia. Transactions of the Royal Society of South

Australia 124: 121-126.

KOLESIK, P., McFADYEN, R.E.C. and WAPSHERE, A.J.

2000 Descriptions of new gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) infesting native and introduced

Solanum spp. (Solanaceae) in Australia. Transactions of the Royal Society of South

Australia 124: 31-36.

McDONALD, F.J.D.

2001 Two new species of Diaphyta Bergroth with notes on the genus (Hemiptera:

Pentatomidae). Australian Journal of Entomology 40(1): 17-22.

MOUND, L.A. and MORRIS, D.C.

2001 Domicile constructing phlaeothripine Thysanoptera from Acacia phyllodes in Australia:

Dunatothrips Moulton and Sartrithrips gen.n., with a key to associate d genera. Systematic

Entomology 26(4): 401-419.

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.

Papers longer than ten printed pages will normally not be accepted.

Papers will be accepted only if a minimum of 100 reprints is purchased. Manuscripts

occupying less than one printed page may be accepted without charge if no reprints

are required. Charges are as follows: cost per printed page $27.50 (B&W), $60

(colour) for 100 copies. Page charges may be reduced at the discretion of the

Publications Committee.

Illustrations. Both colour and B&W photographs must be submitted at the size they

are to appear in the journal. Line drawings should be about twice their required size.

Address manuscripts to: The Editor

The Australian Entomologist

P.O. Box 537,

Indooroopilly, Qld, 4068

Australia

Printed by Colour Wise Reproductions, 300 Ann Street, Brisbane, 4000.

Tue AUSTRALIAN

Entomologist

Volume 29, Part 2, 21 June 2002

CONTENTS

MOUND, L.A.

Thrips and their host plants; new Australian records (Thysanoptera:

Terebrantia).

SCHMIDT, D.

Notes on ant-lycaenid associations (Hymenoptera: Formicidae and

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in southeast Queensland.

SHORT, M.W., SCHMIDT, S. and LUKACS, Z.

Parasitisation rates of some parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of

the autumn gum moth (Lepidoptera: Geometridae).

TENNENT, WJ.

Euploea butterflies of the remote Santa Cruz Islands (Temotu Province,

Solomon Islands): names, phenotypes and distribution (Lepidoptera:

Nymphalidae: Danainae).

RECENT ENTOMOLOGICAL LITERATURE

ISSN 1320 6133