THE AUSTRALIAN

Entomologist

published by

THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF QUEENSLAND

Volume 31, Part 1, 26 March 2004

Price: $6.00 per part

ISSN 1320 6133

THE AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGIST

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Queensland Museum

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University of Queensland

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Research Group, Griffith University.

Cover: Granulaptera cooki Monteith (Hemiptera: Aradidae) is one of many wingless

species of bark bugs found in the rainforests of the Wet Tropics of northern

Queensland. This species is generally restricted to high altitudes in the northern Wet

Tropics and is most common on Mt Finnigan. Illustration by Geoff Thompson.

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1): 1-3 Ó

AN ANNOTATED LIST OF THE HAWK MOTHS AND

BUTTERFLIES (LEPIDOPTERA) OF LIZARD ISLAND,

QUEENSLAND

R.B. LACHLAN

Entomology Department, Australian Museum, 6 College St, Sydney, NSW 2010

Abstract

Records are provided for 19 species of hawk moths and 23 species of butterflies from Lizard

Island, northern Queensland. Notes are given on abundance.

Introduction

The hawk moths and butterflies of Lizard Island are poorly documented

compared with nearby Queensland coastal regions. Moulds (1985) recorded

two species of Macroglossum Scopoli, M. micaceum micaceum (Walker) and

M. prometheus lineatum (Lucas) from the island but D'Abrera (1987) did not

list it as a specific locality for any Australian species. Duckworth and McLean

(1986) listed 11 species of butterflies from the island.

Lizard Island (14°40’S, 145°28’E) lies approximately 27 km off the north

Queensland coast, about 93 km NNE of Cooktown. It is a dry island with

large areas of bare, exfoliating granite cliffs and hills. Around 60% of the

island is covered by grassland. Eucalypt and acacia woodlands are found in

some areas along with mangroves (3 species) fringing some beaches.

Paperbarks and pandanus are found in an area behind Watsons Bay. The

island is about 4 km long from north to south, about 3 km wide at its widest

point and has an area of close to 10 km”.

This survey was carried out between 30 November and 13 December 2002.

Conditions were extremely dry and no rain of note had been recorded since

the previous January. Fortunately, about 30 mm of rain fell on the first night

of the survey but no further rain was recorded during the survey period.

All specimens are in the collection of RBL temporarily; duplicates are held by

the Queensland Museum, Brisbane and the Australian National Insect

Collection, CSIRO, Canberra.

Discussion

Eighteen species of hawk moths and 19 species of butterflies were collected

during the survey. They are listed in Table 1, together with notes on

abundance. The severe drought affecting Lizard Island clearly reduced the

numbers of both groups, both in terms of species and general abundance. This

appeared to be particularly the case with butterflies, with only well known

species being encountered. The possible exception is Taractrocera ina

Waterhouse, noted by Braby (2000) to have a sporadic distribution along the

eastern coast of Cape York Peninsula. A return to normal rainfall patterns

(approximately 1300 mm p.a.) should see an increase in both species and

numbers of both groups.

2 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

Table 1. List of hawk moths and butterflies collected on Lizard Island. An asterisk (*)

indicates a previously recorded species and a double asterisk (**) a previous record

that was not repeated in late 2002.

Species

Notes

HAWK MOTHS (19 species)

Sphingidae

Agrius convolvuli (Linnaeus)

Leucomonia bethia (Kirby)

Cephonodes janus janus (Miskin)

Cephonodes picus (Cramer)

Gnathothlibus erotus eras (Boisduval)

Gnathothlibus sp. [undescribed]

Macroglossum corythus pylene (C. Felder)

Macroglossum hirundo errans (Walker)

Macroglossum micaceum micaceum (Walker) *

Macroglossum prometheus lineatum (Lucas) **

Macroglossum tenebrosum (Lucas)

Hippotion celerio (Linnaeus)

Hippotion velox (Fabricius)

Theretra clotho celata (Butler)

Theretra indistincta (Butler)

Theretra inornata (Walker)

Theretra latreillii latreillii (W.S. Macleay)

Theretra margarita (Kirby)

Theretra silhetensis intersecta (Butler)

Abundant

Abundant on some nights

One female

One female

Abundant

Two males

Two males

21 males, no females

One female

Moulds 1985

One female

One male

One male, three females

Abundant

Very common

Very common

One male

One female

Four males, two females

BUTTERFLIES (23 species)

Hesperiidae

Taractrocera ina Waterhouse

Telicota augias krefftii (W.J. Macleay)

Cephrenes trichopepla (Lower)

Papilionidae

Papilo aegeus aegeus Donovan

Papilo fuscus capaneus Westwood

Cressida cressida cressida (Fabricius)

Pieridae

Eurema hecabe hecabe (Linnaeus) *

A common species

Common

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1) 3

— eee

Elodina walkeri Butler Fairly common

Belenois java teutonia (Fabricius) Dark form, common

Cepora perimale scyllara (W.S. Macleay)

Appias paulina ega (Boisduval)

Nymphalidae

Hypocysta adiante adiante (Hübner) *

Hypolimnas bolina nerina (Linnaeus) *

Tirumala hamata hamata (W.S. Macleay) ** Duckworth & McLean 1986

Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus)

Euploea core corinna (W.S. Macleay) *

Lycaenidae

Arhopala centaurus centaurus (Fabricius) A very common species

Hypolycaena phorbas phorbas (Fabricius) * A very common species

Anthene seltuttus affinis (Waterhouse & R. Turner) *

Candalides erinus erinus (Fabricius) *

Theclinesthes sp. ** Duckworth & McLean 1986

Famegana alsulus alsulus (Herrich-Scháffer) ** Duckworth & McLean 1986

Euchrysops cnejus cnidus Waterhouse & Lyell ** Duckworth & McLean 1986

Acknowledgements

I sincerely thank the Directors of the Lizard Island Research station, Lyle

Vail and Anne Hoggett, for allowing my family and I access to the Research

Station. A special thank you to staff members Marianne and Lance Pearce for

all their help during the survey period. I also thank Alan Clackson

(Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service) for his support of the survey, carried

out under Permit number WITK 00490602. For comments on the manuscript I

sincerely thank Max Moulds (Australian Museum) and Ted Edwards

(Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra). Typing of the

manuscript was kindly done by my wife Deborah Lachlan.

References

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

CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood; xx + 976 pp.

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

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

Classey, Faringdon; ix + 226 pp.

DUCKWORTH, B.G. and McLEAN, J. 1986. Notes on a collection of butterflies from the

islands of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Australian Entomological Magazine 13(3-4): 43-

48.

MOULDS, M.S. 1985. A review of the Australian hawk moths of the genus Macroglossum

Scopoli (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). Australian Entomological Magazine 12(5): 81-105.

4 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

BOOK REVIEW

A guide to the dragonflies of Borneo: their identification and biology. By A. G. Orr.

Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia; January

2003; x + 195 pp; hardback. ISBN 983-812-069-3.

Tropical insect faunas have been poorly served by guidebooks, for many reasons. Dr

Orr has now written one that provides an excellent model for authors in the future and

odonatists are very fortunate to have such a beautiful book. With colour illustrations

on almost every page, it is a pleasure to read and to browse. This book is a

comprehensive guide to the known species of Borneo and their ecology. There are

some 275 named species, 42% of them endemic, and over half of them are illustrated.

There are parts of Borneo which have scarcely been explored for dragonflies and there

must be a number of species awaiting discovery - this book provides a solid base from

which to work.

Introductory chapters outline structure and biology, biogeography and ecology. There

are useful hints on collecting, preserving and photography, plus descriptions of the

major habitats with appropriate illustrations. A key to the families (adults) is

accompanied by explicit diagrams and is followed by a complete checklist of species.

Conservation is noted to be more apparent than real, since logging is allowed to go on

in National Parks, but it is a start. Much remains to be done, hindered in part by the

difficult terrain and lack of access. The most interesting and least known species

inhabit montane rainforest - not the easiest place for collecting adults which may hunt

at tree-top height, or are thinly scattered.

The main part of the book consists of species accounts arranged by family. Included

here are details of life histories and habitat preferences, with advice on species

identification. Where this is critical, pointers to the available literature are given. The

author has extensive field experience and the accounts benefit greatly from this, being

enlivened at times by personal anecdotes and observations. Of particular interest are

the chlorocyphid damselflies, which use their spectacular colours to advantage in

courtship displays, differing from species to species and comprising dancing, wing

flashing and leg dangling (to show white ‘gaiters’). Some males may only feed on

alternate days. In the case of some Anisoptera, the female has a scoop-shaped tip to

the abdomen, with which she collects a drop of water and flicks it, together with her

eggs, onto terrestrial substrates such as overhanging leaves. These are just some of

many fascinating insights into the life styles here presented.

The book is illustrated throughout with photographs, mostly taken by the author but

with contributions from several others, especially M. Hämäläinen, which include

close-ups and some larvae. To cap it all off, there is a magnificent portrait gallery of

paintings by the author, on 25 plates, representing 115 species of adults and 18

species of larvae. This book will, I suspect, prove irresistible to dragonfly enthusiasts,

whether amateur or professional, and will have an appeal far beyond its remit. It is

highly recommended.

J. N. Yates

Imbil

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1): 5-12 5

THE INSECTS ASSOCIATED WITH GALLS FORMED BY

TRICHILOGASTER ACACIAELONGIFOLIAE (FROGGATT)

(HYMENOPTERA: PTEROMALIDAE) ON ACACIA SPECIES IN

TASMANIA

R. BASHFORD

Forestry Tasmania, GPO Box 207, Hobart, Tas 7001

E-mail: dick.bashford@forestrytas.com.au

Abstract

Galls produced by Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae (Froggatt) were collected over several years

from several phyllodinous species of Acacia, mainly A. sophorae and A. stricta, and the insects

reared from them. The number of gall-forming adults and parasitoids reared from individual

galls is compared with the size of the galls. The effect of galling on host plant health is

commented on in relation to planting of these Acacia species in community or government

funded projects. Twenty-one insect species were reared from galls formed by Trichilogaster

acaciaelongifoliae on Acacia species in Tasmania.

Introduction

One of the ‘classic’ papers in Australian entomological literature is that of

Noble (1940), in which he examined the biology of the pteromalid

Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae (Froggatt) and showed that this species was

responsible for gall formation on a number of phyllodinous wattle species in

the Sydney area, New South Wales. In recent times some of those wattle

species have been introduced to South Africa, in particular Acacia longifolia

(Andr.) Willd., which has become an invasive weed (Boucher and Stirton

1978). A program of biological control of A. longifolia has commenced with

the release (Dennill 1987) of T. acaciaelongifoliae, the aim being to reduce

seed production and vegetative growth (Dennill 1985).

In Tasmania, phyllodinous wattles are widely planted in coastal reserves and

town park areas as they are fast growing and require little maintenance once

established. The presence of large numbers of galls results in the decline in

health of wattles in planting projects. The visual result is unsightly and

replanting is required after several years. It is recommended that community

funded revegetation projects plant Acacia species less susceptible to galling

by T. acaciaelongifoliae.

Methods

Galls were collected from three coastal amenity plantings of Acacia sophorae

(Labill.) R. Br. ex Ait. (Boobyalla or Coast Wattle) and A. stricta (Andr.)

Willd. (Hop Wattle) on an opportunistic basis. Regular collections were made

from two large, heavily galled A. sophorae shrubs planted in 1990, spaced

500 m apart, in a fire rehabilitation planting at Bell Bay in northern Tasmania.

Collections were made every two weeks during the life of the galls, from late

October 1999 to the end of May 2001 and some dead galls were collected to

identify some inquiline species. Voucher specimens are deposited in the

Tasmanian Forest Insect Collection, Hobart.

6 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

Mass groups of galls were placed in 19 cm diameter glass petri dishes and

emerging insects removed weekly. Individual galls were held in plastic food

containers with perforated lids to prevent build up of condensation. All galls

were weighed within 6 hours of collection, either in mass groups or

individually, after being transported in sealed paper bags. All galls were held

in a controlled temperature room at 18°C. Humidity in the glass dishes was

70% RH when containing green galls, declining to 40% RH when containing

old dry brown galls.

Galls from two northern and one southern site were divided into three size

classes (<20 mm, 20-30 mm and >30 mm diameter). Volumes and weights of

the gall groups were calculated and the galls retained for insect emergence.

Analysis of variance was used to determine differences between emergence

and gall size and sites and gall size at the 95% confidence level.

Table 1. The insects reared from galls formed by 7. acaciaelongifoliae on Acacia

sophorae in Tasmania.

Insect species Family Number of

specimens

Hymenoptera

Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae (Froggatt) Pteromalidae 1865

Poecilocryptus nigromaculatus Cameron Ichneumonidae 118

Eriostethus sp. Braconidae 11

Megastigmus ?darlingi Torymidae 45

Megastigmus sp. Torymidae 19

Eurytoma gahani Noble Eurytomidae 105

Glabridorsum stokesii (Cameron) Ichneumonidae l

Chromeurytoma noblei (Girault) Pteromalidae 395

Ormyromorpha sp. Pteromalidae l

Coelocyba nigrocincta Ashmead Pteromalidae 1

Sierola sp. Bethylidae 1

Coleoptera

Araecerus palmaris (Pascoe) Anthribidae 1240

Eleale sp. Cleridae 27

Lepidoptera

Polysoma eumetalla (Meyrick) Gracillariidae 167

Erechthias mustacinella (Walker) Tineidae 108

Stathmopoda cephalaea Meyrick Oecophoridae 14

Holocola (Eucosma) triangulana Meyrick Tortricidae 89

Macrobathra sp. Cosmopterigidae 22

Gauna aegusalis (Walker) Pyralidae 5

Opogona comptella (Walker) Tineidae l

Hemiptera

Nipaecoccus ericicola (Maskell)

Pseudococcidae

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1) 7

Results

A list of the insects associated with galls collected from Acacia sophorae

bushes at coastal amenity plantings on the east and north coasts of Tasmania

is presented in Table 1. Emergence patterns over a two-year period for all

species emerging from T. acaciaelongifoliae galls are shown in Fig. 1.

Month of emergence NDJFMAMJ JAS ONDJFMAMJJAS

Hymenoptera

T. acaciaelongifoliae

Chromeurytoma noblei

Eurytoma gahani

Ormyromorpha sp.

Coelocyba nigrocincta

Sierola sp.

Megastigmus ?darlingi

Megastigmus sp.

P. nigromaculatus

Eriostethus sp.

Glabridorsum stokesii

Coleoptera

Araecerus palmaris

Eleale sp.

Lepidoptera

Polysoma eumetalla

Erechthias mystacinella

Stathmopoda cephalaea

Holocola triangulana

Macrobathra sp.

Gauna aegusalis

Opogona comptella

-

Fig. 1. Emergence periods of insect species recorded from Trichilogaster

acaciaelongifoliae galling on Acacia sophorae in Tasmania.

Notes on insect species utilising T. acaciaelongifoliae galls

The primary gall former, 7. acaciaelongifoliae, emerged from late November

to early April at northern Tasmanian sites and between late December and

early March at southern Tasmanian sites (Fig. 1). Sex ratio was 0.48:1.0 (606

males, 1259 females).

The ichneumonid Glabridorsum stokesii is a generalist parasitoid of

Lepidoptera species. The other ichneumonid, Poecilocryptus nigromaculatus,

was a common species at all sites (56 males, 62 females). This species was

found to prey indiscriminately on the primary gall former and associated

parasitoids in galls on Melaleuca produced by fergusoninid flies (Goolsby et

al. 2001). It is suprising that this species was not recorded from

Uromycladium galls at the same sites (Bashford 2002).

8 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

The chalcid wasps are all parasitoids or predators of the primary gall former

and, in some cases, hyperparasitoids. Eurytoma gahani and Chromeurytoma

noblei were common emergents from galls at most sites. C. noblei emerged

in greater numbers but from fewer galls than E. gahani. E. gahani and

Coelocyba nigrocincta larvae appear to feed phytophagously within the cell

occupied by the developing gall former larva until the final instar. On

attaining this stage of development the gall former larva is devoured (Noble

1940). It may be some months before the larva pupates in order to

synchronize with new gall formation. (Noble 19392).

Two species of Megastigmus emerged from the galls, one with a long

ovipositor, Megastigmus ?darlingi and one with a short ovipositor,

Megastigmus sp. Some species of Megastigmus, for example M. acaciae, are

internal larval parasitoids (Noble 1939b), while others appear to be inquilines

feeding on gall tissue (Currie 1937). The short ovipositor species may feed

phytophagously before killing the gall former larva at a late instar stage

(Noble 1939b). M. ?darlingi emerged mainly from old galls in July-

September with some individuals emerging in November from galls collected

in July. Combined species parasitism/predation of the primary gall former

from all sites was 45.596.

All Lepidoptera emerging from 7. acaciaelongifoliae galls were also reared

from Uromycladium rust galls on Acacia dealbata in a previous study by

Bashford (2002).

Adults of the weevil Araecerus palmaris were found sheltering in old open

galls for most months of the year; often several adults were present in the

same gall. Larvae were found in 36% of galls of an intermediate stage

between mature soft green and old hard galls. The sex ratio was 0.86:1.0 (573

males, 667 females). A similar sex ratio (0.88:1.0, n=95) was recorded from

Uromycladium galls on Acacia dealbata by Bashford (2002). Noble (1941)

noted the emergence of A. palmaris (as Doticus pestilens) from galls on A.

decurrens caused by Trichilogaster maideni (Froggatt).

Emergence from individual galls

There was no significant difference in the number of T. acaciaelongifoliae

adults emerging from the different sized gall classes (F=2.36731, P<0.05,

n-100 galls for each size class). The same applied to the proportions of

emerging parasitoids (Table 2). Smaller galls tended to have higher levels of

parasitism but this was not statistically significant. Larger galls did not

necessarily produce a greater number of gall formers than smaller galls.

However the number of external lobes on a gall determined the number of

chambers each formed by a T. acaciaelongifoliae larva. The number of lobes

on 67 large green galls greater than 30 mm diameter were counted along with

the number of primary exit holes formed by T. acaciaelongifoliae and their

relationship shown in Table 3.

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1) 9

Table 2. Proportion of known T. acaciaelongifoliae parasitoids emerging from galls

of three size classes. Ten galls in each gall diameter class from each site.

Galls <20 mm Galls 20-30 mm Galls >30 mm

diameter diameter diameter

Site Parasitoids % Parasitoids % Parasitoids %

Bell Bay 29 54 26 34 17 41

Lauriston 23 61 31 13 24 21

Blackmans Bay 22 29 39 15 12 13

Total 74 48 96 21 53 25

Table 3. Relationship betwen the number of gall lobes and emerging 7.

acaciaelongifoliae adults.

Number of lobes per gall

l 2 3 4 5

Number of galls 16 22 22 6 1

Number of T. acaciaelongifoliae 24 47 61 24 4

Average per gall lobe 1.5 1.07 0.92 l 0.8

Impact of galling on plants

Galls first appeared on A. sophorae plants at Bell Bay in early July with galls

1-2 mm in diameter at inflorescence sites. Green galls 5 mm in diameter were

infesting all lower branches of shrubs 2-3 m in height a month later (Fig 2a).

In early January maximum gall development was achieved; their average

weight and volume are recorded in Table 4. By early March many galls were

turning brown (Fig. 2b) and starting to break down following the completion

of emergence of the primary gall former and associated insects. A small

proportion of galls (<3%) persist as green, fleshy, small galls until June but

they seldom had exit holes. This may be a result of natural mortality of the

gall former at an early stage of development.

Table 4. Average weight and volume of 7. acaciaelongifoliae galls within each

diameter class. Figures in italics indicate percentage of galls in each diameter class at

each site. No significant difference was observed between diameter classes and sites

(F=1.06008, P=<0.5, n-90).

Galls <20 mm diameter Galls 20-30 mm diam. Galls >30 mm diameter

Weight Volume Weight Volume Weight Volume

Site (g (mm) % (g) mm % (g) (mm?) %

Bell Bay 3.35 2848.8 18.3 7.16 6182.3 57.6 9.17 12012.8 24.1

Lauriston 3.54 2848.8 8.9 7.33 7424.1 48.6 12.52 12373.8 42.5

Blackm- 2.9 2815 15.4 7.13 7367.8 61.8 8.99 9907.2 22.8

ans Bay

10 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

On infested trees very few inflorescences made the transition to flowers and

seed-pods were rare on these plants. Seed production is greatly reduced by the

galling of reproductive buds. The heavy aggregations of multi-celled galls on

stems prevented stem elongation and patches of dying branches were evident

in February on large bushes. Young shrubs did put on shoot growth in March

and April when most galls were brown. The impact on larger shrubs over 3 m

high was more evident with sections of the shrubs dying. The rate of phyllode

abscission increased making the shrubs thin crowned and patchy. Most plants

can survive a number of years of heavy gall infestations but become unsightly

with branch breakage common in the winter.

Discussion

The use of fast growing Acacia species for amenity plantings in coastal areas

of Tasmania has been encouraged by community funding programs

administered by organisations such as Landcare, Greening Australia and local

councils. Considerable community work goes into the initial planting and

establishment phases of these programs and it is disappointing to see some

plantings in decline due to biotic effects such as galling, largely due to the

choice of tree species planted. Alternative Acacia shrub species for planting

in coastal areas are Varnish wattle (Acacia verniciflua), Wirilda (Acacia

retinodes) or West Australian golden wattle (Acacia saligna). None of these

species was galled although all were present in the plantings at Bell Bay.

Dennill et al. (1993) records T. acaciaelongifoliae as forming galls on

Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon R. Br.) in South Africa. This species is a

valuable furniture and veneer timber grown in managed native forest stands

and plantations in Tasmania. In South Africa, 10% of Blackwood trees

surveyed carried galls although the size and number of galls per branch were

much reduced compared to other Acacia species examined. In Tasmania,

galling of Blackwood has not been observed. The Blackwood plantation

estate in Tasmania is routinely monitored by Forest Health officers for pests

and diseases. Blackwoods at the Bell Bay study site were not infested. It

would seem unlikely that galls caused by T. acaciaelongifoliae will be a

threat to the expanding Blackwood plantation estate in Tasmania.

In South Africa, T. acaciaelongifoliae has been introduced as a gall-forming

biological control agent of Acacia longifolia (Dennill 1987). Several native

parasitic species have been found to be associated with it, causing up to

21.3% mortality (average 14.5% in four sites). In Tasmania, mortality levels

averaged 45.5% but ranged from 12-61% with some differences observed in

different gall size classes (Table 2). The impact of host mortality on gall

formation and subsequent branch dieback appears minimal given the

fecundity of the female gall former who can lay up to 400 eggs in the flower

and vegetative buds of the host plant (Manongi and Hoffmann 1995). In

Tasmania it is clear that parasitism rates have little impact on the number of

galls developing and subsequent impact on tree viability.

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1) 11

Fig. 2. Impact of Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae galling on Acacia sophorae in

Tasmania: (a) new and old galls on growing shoot; (b) heavy gall infestation on

mature bush; (c) early stages of branch dieback on heavily galled bush.

12 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

Acknowledgements

My thanks to Comalco Aluminium Limited for allowing access to the

Lauriston Reserve and the Fire Rehabilitation Project Area at Bell Bay. My

thanks also to ANIC curators John LaSalle and John Lawrence for

identification of the Hymenoptera and Coleoptera respectively. Two

reviewers gave helpful advice with the manuscript.

References

BASHFORD, R. 2002. The insect fauna inhabiting Uromycladium (Uredinales) rust galls on

silver wattle (Acacia dealbata) in Tasmania. Australian Entomologist 29(3): 81-95.

BOUCHER, C. and STIRTON, C.H., 1978. Long-leaved wattle Acacia longifolia (Andr.)

Willd. Pp 44-47, in: C.H. Stirton (Ed.), Plant invaders, beautiful but dangerous. ABC Press,

Cape Town.

CURRIE, G.A. 1937. Galls on eucalyptus trees, a new type of association between flies and

nematodes. Proceedings of the Linnaean Society of New South Wales 62: 147-175.

DENNILL, G.B. 1985. The effect of the gall wasp Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae

(Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on reproductive potential and vegetative growth of the weed

Acacia longifolia. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 14: 53-61.

DENNILL, G.B. 1987. Establishment of the gall wasp Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae

(Pteromalidae) for the biological control of the weed Acacia longifolia in South Africa.

Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 19: 155-168.

DENNILL, G.B., DONNELLY, D. and CHOWN, S.L. 1993. Expansion of the host-plant range

of a biocontrol agent Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae (Pteromalidae) released against the weed

Acacia longifolia in South Africa. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 43: 1-10.

GOOLSBY, J.A., BURWELL, C.J., MAKINSON, J. and DRIVER, F. 2001. Investigation of the

biology of Hymenoptera associated with Fergusonina sp. (Diptera: Fergusoninidae), a gall fly of

Melaleuca quinquenervia, integrating molecular techniques. Journal of Hymenoptera Research

10(2): 163-180.

MANONGI, F.S. and HOFFMANN, J.H. 1995. The incidence of parasitism in Trichilogaster

acaciaelongifoliae (Froggatt) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), a gall-forming biological control

agent of Acacia longifolia (Andr.) Willd. (Fabaceae) in South Africa. African Entomology 3(2):

147-151.

NOBLE, N.S. 1938. Tepperella trilineata Cam., a wasp causing galling of the flower buds of

Acacia decurrens. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 63: 389-411.

NOBLE, N.S. 1939a. A new species of chalcid (genus Eurytoma) associated with Tepperella

trilineata Cam., a wasp causing galling of the flower buds of Acacia decurrens. Proceedings of

the Linnean Society of New South Wales 64: 223-241.

NOBLE, N.S. 1939b. A new species of Megastigmus parasitic on Tepperella trilineata Cam., a

wasp causing galling of the flower buds of Acacia decurrens. Proceedings of the Linnean

Society of New South Wales 64: 266-278.

NOBLE, N.S. 1940. Trichilogaster acaciae-longifoliae (Froggatt) (Hymenopt., Chalcidoidea), a

wasp causing galling of the flower-buds of Acacia longifolia Willd., A. floribunda Sieber and A.

sophorae R. Br. Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 90: 13-38.

NOBLE, N.S. 1941. Trichilogaster maideni (Froggatt) (Hymenopt., Chalcidoidea), a wasp

causing galls on Acacia implexa Benth., and A. maideni F.v.M. Proceedings of the Linnean

Society of New South Wales 66:178-200.

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1): 13-19 13

NOTES ON THE BIOLOGY AND DISTRIBUTION OF TRAPEZITES

TAORI ATKINS (LEPIDOPTERA: HESPERIIDAE)

STEPHEN J. JOHNSON! and PETER S. VALENTINE2

'Oonoonba Veterinary Laboratory, PO Box 1085, Townsville, Old. 4810

?Tropical Environment Studies & Geography, James Cook University, Townsville, Old. 4811

Abstract

Trapezites taori Atkins is recorded breeding on Lomandra confertifolia pallida A.T. Lee

(Xanthorrhoeaceae) growing along sandstone cliffs and escarpments at Blackdown Tableland

National Park and at a new southern location for the butterfly in Carnarvon Gorge National

Park, Queensland. A description is given of the previously unknown pupa and comments are

made on the apparent close association between T. taori, its foodplant and the sandstone habitat

of central Queensland.

Introduction

Trapezites taori Atkins was described from a series of both sexes collected at

Blackdown Tableland and a single female from Isla Gorge, central

Queensland (Atkins 1997). Eggs were obtained from captive females,

enabling descriptions of early immature stages, but rearing beyond larval

stage was not achieved (Atkins 1997). The captive larvae fed on several

Lomandra spp. but immature stages were not located in the field.

T. taori has a limited distribution with adults regarded as rare (Atkins 1997,

Braby 2000) and National Parks staff in the areas where the skipper was

known to occur were keen to develop conservation management plans for it.

We undertook work on the biology and distribution of 7. taori in order to

provide data on which to formulate conservation plans and the preliminary

findings of these studies are presented here.

Life history and habitat

Adult males were observed in September and October 2000 at Blackdown

Tableland, establishing leks in small clearings close to the edge of the

sandstone escarpment, where they settled on low bushes, twigs or directly on

the sandstone where the underside colour provided excellent crypsis. A male

was subsequently observed patrolling a lek close to the base of the cliff in

March 2003. On two occasions adults were observed to enter the area along

the top of the escarpment by flying up the face of the escarpment. We could

find no larvae or evidence of larval feeding on any of the several Lomandra

spp. that grew in the heath or forest areas on the adjacent tableland.

In February 2001, we searched the broken edge along the top of the

escarpment and located numerous fine-leaved Lomandra plants. A small,

unidentified Trapezites Hübner larva was found in a curled dead leaf within

one of the plants. The following day we searched down to the base of the

cliffs and found the same Lomandra species growing commonly in cracks,

along ledges and in the broken scree at the base.

14 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

Several final instar larvae fitting the description of 7. taori and numerous

earlier instar larvae similar to the one found the previous day were found on

these plants. The larvae were taken to Townsville for closer examination and

all were consistent with the published description of T. taori larvae. The

plants were subsequently identified as Lomandra confertifolia pallida A.T.

Lee (Xanthorrhoeaceae) by the Queensland Herbarium.

The larvae were placed on potted Lomandra plants in Townsville. Final instar

larvae pupated and emerged in March and April but the earlier instar larvae

continued to feed and emerged in August and September.

In this habitat, L .c. pallida differs from other Lomandra spp. in having long,

very fine leaves growing from elongated stems with the dead foliage recurved

against the stem to form dense clumps. The plants were restricted to exposed

sandstone areas such as ledges (Fig. 1), cracks and crevices in the vertical

walls, in the broken scree at the base of the cliffs and occasionally extending

down water lines.

4

Figs 1-4. Host plant and pupa of Trapezites taori. (1) typical Lomandra confertifolia

pallida host plant in crevice at Blackdown Tableland; (2) mature larval head of T.

taori (arrowed) and seed capsules of host plant at Carnarvon Gorge; (3) pupa, anterior

view; (4) pupa, lateral view.

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1) 15

ae tae n Fr y "

Figs 5-6. Habitat of Trapezites taori. (5) Precipice sandstone formation at Blackdown

Tableland; (6) L. c. pallida host plant on ledge at Carnarvon Gorge.

16 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

All areas that contained L. c. pallida appeared to be protected from fires and

the plants were absent from sections of the escarpment where adjacent forest

and grasses grew close to the exposed cliff and allowed fire to penetrate.

Early instar larvae sheltered between leaves of the food plant. Later instars

commonly constructed elongated shelters in the recurved dead leaves, with

the entrance of the shelter opening at the base of the growing leaves and

flower spikes, or made shelters in leaf litter where available. In the absence of

fires the dead foliage remained in place for long periods and final instar larval

and pupal shelters from previous generations were commonly encountered.

L. c. pallida produces short flower spikes that give rise to 3-4 large seeds that

lie at the base of the growing leaves. Each seed has a striped pattern similar to

that of the later instar larval heads of T. taori. In instances where the later

larval shelter was constructed with the opening at the level of the seeds, the

mature larvae rested with the head fully exposed and blocking the entrance to

the shelter (Fig. 2) and the exposed head capsule was often difficult to

distinguish from the seeds of the plant.

The previously undescribed pupa of T. taori (Figs 3-4) is 23-27 mm long and

cylindrical, tapering posteriorly to an elongate decurved cremaster. It is pale

grey-brown covered with black spots and blotches. The frons has two raised

areas centrally and dorsally, the latter overlaid with black blotches. A

transverse black line lies across the frons at the base of the central raised

areas. The prothoracic plates are black and black spots form broken

transverse lines on the posterior of the abdominal segments. The cremaster is

dark brown with a deep pit ventrolaterally at the junction with the final

abdominal segment. Prominent black stripes overly the antennal clubs

ventrally.

Discussion

We visited Carnarvon Gorge, Isla Gorge and Blackdown Tableland in late

August 2002 to search for additional locations for T. taori.

At Carnarvon Gorge our searches were confined to the bottom of the gorges.

L. c. pallida was found predominantly along the scree slope but occasionally

on ledges (Fig. 6) and cracks in the cliffs. Larvae of T. taori were found

throughout the gorges of Carnarvon Creek and its tributaries. L. c. pallida at

Carnarvon Gorge was morphologically different from that occurring at

Blackdown Tableland and Isla Gorge in having broader leaves and shorter

stems.

The habitat at Carnarvon Gorge is much wetter than either Blackdown

Tableland or Isla Gorge and the scree at the base of the cliffs is deep sandy

soil that supports tall forest but few understorey plants. The Lomandra plants

were restricted to the exposed cliffs and the steep scree close to the base of

the cliffs and did not extend into areas supporting grasses that carried

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1) 17

frequent fires. The overlying forest produced deep leaf litter and later instar

larvae commonly made shelters in fallen leaves. Occasional larvae of T.

eliena (Hewitson) were also found on L. c. pallida at Carnarvon Gorge.

At Isla Gorge almost all the accessible L. c. pallida plants had been burnt in

September 2001 and only a single larva of T. eliena was found on a regrowth

plant.

At Blackdown Tableland, larvae were found in the same situations as in

summer. Several later larval instar shelters contained pupal exuviae of

ichneumonid wasps. Larvae from both locations were placed on potted plants

in Townsville and produced adults in September, October, November,

December and January.

The high numbers of larvae found at Carnarvon Gorge and Blackdown

Tableland suggest that the species is likely to be more abundant than

previously thought.

The underside colour of adult T. taori closely resembles the exposed

sandstone, suggesting a close evolutionary association between the skipper

and exposed sandstone habitat. L. c. pallida is a widespread plant in southern

Queensland (Henderson 1997), but in the sandstone habitats of central

Queensland it appears to be the only Lomandra species that has adapted to

growth in the narrow ecotone along the exposed sandstone cliffs. This

restricted occurrence appears to be fire related and although the plant can

survive occasional intense fires it appears to be intolerant of more frequent

fires, being replaced by other Lomandra species in areas subject to more

regular burning away from the rocky areas. The remarkable similarity

between the seeds of L. c. pallida and the later larval head capsules of T.

taori, together with the unusual habit of many larvae in constructing shelters

opening at the level of the seeds and blocking the entrance of the shelter with

their heads, further supports a long evolutionary association between T. taori

and L. c. pallida.

Our findings to date indicate that the primary habitat of T. taori is a narrow

ecotone less than 100 m wide along the cliffs and escarpments of the aptly

named Precipice Sandstone Formation in central Queensland (Fig. 5). This

Jurassic sandstone is exposed in a significant linear expression from

Carnarvon Range through Lonesome National Park and Robinson National

Park and connects to the north and east with Isla Gorge National Park.

Although the main geological formation at Blackdown Tableland is Clematis

Sandstone (which links Dawson, Shotover and Expedition Ranges), the cliff

lines and gorges are Precipice Sandstone (Warner 1987). Other sandstone

formations overlay the Precipice Sandstone, but this formation typically caps

the mesas in Carnarvon Gorge and forms the walls of Carnarvon Range

(Beetson and Gray 1993).

18 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

Throughout the sandstone environments there are numerous narrow but tall

outcrops providing a maze of cliff lines that provide habitat for L. c. pallida.

The dense dendritic drainage patterns further enlarge the linear component of

this habitat.

Although the Precipice Sandstone Formation occurs as a thin zigzag line

approximately 500 km from west to east, the major cliff outcrops are in the

areas previously noted. In an attempt to estimate the length of suitable habitat

(ie. outcropping sandstone cliff faces), we utilised the 1:250,000 topographic

map sheets that cover the region and attempted to track the cliff lines by

opisometer. Although clearly subject to errors of measurement and mapping,

this revealed at least 1,000 km of cliffs. Blackdown Tableland was estimated

to have 100 km of cliffs; Carnarvon Ranges west of the Injune to Rolleston

Highway about 300 km; east of this highway down through Lonesome

National Park and then east to Precipice Creek (type locality for the

formation) includes another 300 km of cliffs; finally the Robinson Gorge

National Park and north to Claire Range and Expedition Range includes a

further 300 km.

The close association between the skipper, food plant and exposed sandstone

habitat suggests that female 7. taori may be unlikely to disperse far from

exposed sandstone cliffs and raises the possibility of limited genetic

interchange between populations in the more disjunct sandstone areas. There

are a few small outliers disjunct from the main areas, including Isla Gorge

which is 50 km away from its nearest neighbour outcrop. The Blackdown

Tableland outcrop of Precipice Sandstone is approximately 100 km from its

nearest neighbour, but the intervening areas along the Expedition Range

include cliffs of other sandstone formations that may be suitable habitat for T.

taori.

The largely uninterrupted continuum of suitable habitat, together with the lack

of morphological differences in adults from disjunct localities, suggests that

genetic isolation has not occurred. It is clear that the extensive lengths of the

escarpment on private land play an important role in maintaining connectivity

and habitat for this species.

Atkins (1997) listed an unconfirmed sighting of T. taori from near

Springsure. However, the Minerva Hills area is not sandstone and a search of

the Queensland Herbarium database showed no records of L. c. pallida from

there, suggesting that this sighting should be regarded as doubtful.

Acknowledgements

We thank the Queensland Department of Environment for permits covering

areas of National Park included in our study, local Parks and Wildlife staff for

their keen interest and support during field studies and the Queensland

Herbarium for identification of Lomandra species.

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1) 19

References

ATKINS, A.F. 1997. Two new species of Trapezites Hübner (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae:

Trapezitinae) from eastern Australia. Australian Entomologist 24(1): 7-26.

BEETSON, J.W. and GRAY, A.R.G. 1993. The ancient rocks of Carnarvon Gorge. Department

of Mines and Energy, Queensland, Brisbane; 48 pp.

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

CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood; xx + 976 pp.

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

Herbarium, Department of Environment, Brisbane; 286 pp.

WARNER, C. 1987. Exploring Queensland’s central highlands. Charles Warner, Yanderra,

NSW; 144 pp.

20 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

ADDITIONAL NOTE ON A NEW SPECIES OF NEODIPHTHERA

FLETCHER (LEPIDOPTERA: SATURNIIDAE) FROM

NORTHEASTERN QUEENSLAND

D.A. LANE

3 Janda Street, Atherton, Old 4883

Abstract

The record of a female Neodiphthera Fletcher specimen from Groote Eylandt, Northern

Territory, is confirmed.

Discussion

Lane and Naumann (2003) questioned the locality data for a specimen of

Neodiphthera Fletcher from Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory. John

d’Apice (pers. comm., 25 July 2003) has confirmed that the labelling of a

pinkish brown female (Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory, 18.v.1982, J.W.C.

d’Apice & V.J. Robinson) is correct.

This distribution record is a most unexpected one, as the genus is apparently

absent from the Bamaga area at the tip of Cape York Peninsula, but present at

Iron Range and Silver Plains in central Cape York Peninsula, in New Guinea,

Aru Island of Indonesia, and on Groote Eylandt. Further collecting is required

to confirm the status of specimens from this area, provisionally referred to N.

sulphurea Lane & Naumann (Lane and Naumann 2003).

Reference

LANE, D.A. and NAUMANN, S. 2003. A new species of Neodiphthera Fletcher (Lepidoptera:

Saturniidae) from northeastern Queensland. Australian Entomologist 30(2): 79-86.

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1): 21-24 21

SOME RECORDS OF BUTTERFLIES (LEPIDOPTERA) FROM

WESTERN CAPE YORK PENINSULA, QUEENSLAND

D.L. HANCOCK! and G.B. MONTEITH?

!PQ Box 2464, Cairns, Qld 4870

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

Abstract

Twenty-nine species of butterflies are reported from Kowanyama, southwestern Cape York

Peninsula, of which 17 are newly recorded and eight confirmed from that area. In addition, nine

species are newly recorded from Weipa, northwestern Cape York Peninsula.

Introduction

Distribution maps for Australian butterflies produced by Braby (2000) have

highlighted the paucity of records from western Cape York Peninsula,

northern Queensland. For Weipa, most previous records emanate from

McCubbin (1972). For southwestern parts of the Peninsula (Kowanyama

area) Dunn and Dunn (1991) mapped only four species, while distribution

maps in Braby (2000) for other species are based on extrapolation rather than

definitive records.

Collecting was undertaken by the present authors during an Australian

Biological Resources Study of Cape York Peninsula from 1974-1977

(Monteith and Hancock 1977). Weipa was visited by GBM from 5-8

February 1975 and 3-7 February 1976. Kowanyama (28 km inland from the

Gulf coast on Magnificent Creek, a tributary of the Mitchell River) was

visited by DLH from 7-14 January 1977. A few additional specimens were

collected at Weipa by K. DeWitte in February 1976.

Fifty-two species were recorded from Weipa and 29 from Kowanyama (Table

1). For Weipa, these wet season records supplement those made during the

dry season by McCubbin (1972). Nomenclature follows Braby (2000) and

voucher specimens are held in the Queensland Museum, Brisbane.

Records from Weipa

Collecting took place around Weipa township, Kerr (Hibberd) Point (an area

with relict rainforest) and Andoom. This area lies in the Northeastern Floristic

Zone (see Dunn and Dunn 1991).

The following species are newly recorded from Weipa: Taractrocera ina,

Ocybadistes ardea ardea, Suniana sunias rectivitta, Telicota colon argeus,

Telicota mesoptis mesoptis, Graphium agamemnon ligatum, Papilio fuscus

capaneus, Arhopala wildei, Zizula hylax attenuata.

Delias mysis mysis and Hypolimnas misippus were collected at Weipa by K.

DeWitte in February 1976, along with Papilio aegeus aegeus, Cressida

cressida cressida, Catopsilia pomona, Mycalesis perseus perseus, Precis

orithya albicincta and Precis hedonia zelima.

22 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

Table 1. Butterflies recorded at Kowanyama in January 1977 and at Weipa in

February 1975 and February 1976. A = Kowanyama township; B = Magnificent

Creek, upstream of township; C = stock camp, 15 km from township; D = Weipa

township [x = 1975; o = 1976]; E = Kerr Point [1976]; F = Andoom [1976].

Kowanyama Weipa

A de (c ee d

HESPERIIDAE

Tagiades japetus janetta Butler

Taractrocera ina Waterhouse

Ocybadistes walkeri sothis Waterhouse

Ocybadistes ardea ardea Bethune-Baker X

Suniana sunias rectivitta (Mabille)

Telicota colon argeus (Plótz)

Telicota augias krefftii (W.J. Macleay)

Telicota mesoptis mesoptis Lower

Pelopidas lyelli lyelli (Rothschild) XN NE X

PAPILIONIDAE

Graphium sarpedon choredon (C. & R. Felder) _

Graphium macfarlanei macfarlanei (Butler)

Graphium agamemnon ligatum (Rothschild)

Papilio aegeus aegeus Donovan

Papilio fuscus capaneus Westwood X

Papilio ulysses joesa Butler [sight record]

Papilio demoleus sthenelus W.S. Macleay XX

Cressida cressida cressida (Fabricius) x

Pachliopta polydorus queenslandicus (Rothschild)

PIERIDAE

Catopsilia pomona (Fabricius)

Eurema laeta sana (Butler)

Eurema hecabe hecabe (Linnaeus)

Elodina walkeri Butler

Cepora perimale scyllara (W.S. Macleay)

Appias paulina ega (Boisduval)

Delias mysis mysis (Fabricius)

NYMPHALIDAE

Melanitis leda bankia (Fabricius) x

Mycalesis perseus perseus (Fabricius) Xo X

Mycalesis terminus terminus (Fabricius)

Ypthima arctoa arctoa (Fabricius)

Pantoporia consimilis consimilis (Boisduval) x x

a x eM MC

~

~~ KK

"WoW KK KM x

~ x x Ox

~ ox ox ox

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1) 23

Kowanyama Weipa

AWE Boe Cl D SES:

NYMPHALIDAE (cont.)

Pantoporia venilia moorei (W.J. Macleay) x

Phaedyma shepherdi shepherdi (Moore) x

Hypolimnas alimena lamina Fruhstorfer X xX

Hypolimnas bolina nerina (Fabricius) No ds 3. HN.ooX

Hypolimnas misippus (Linnaeus) { o

Precis orithya albicincta Butler X XE ECC

Precis villida calybe (Godart) x XX

Precis hedonia zelima (Fabricius) x Mo Q o

Danaus chrysippus petilia (Stoll) m GRO X XX

Danaus affinis affinis (Fabricius) x No x 5

Euploea sylvester sylvester (Fabricius) x

Euploea darchia niveata (Butler)

Euploea core corinna (W.S. Macleay) m No» X

Euploea alcathoe eichhorni Staudinger X

Tellervo zoilus gelo Waterhouse & Lyell X

LYCAENIDAE

Hypochrysops polycletus rovena Druce x

Arhopala centaurus centaurus (Fabricius) X x

Arhopala micale amytis (Hewitson) XN

Arhopala wildei Miskin

Hypolycaena phorbas phorbas (Fabricius) X C XT

Anthene seltuttus affinis (Waterhouse & Turner) x x

Anthene lycaenoides godeffroyi (Semper) x

Candalides erinus erinus (Fabricius) me Ox

Nacaduba berenice berenice (Herrich-Scháffer) x

Psychonotis caelius taygetus (C. & R. Felder) me OO

Catochrysops panormus platissa (Herrich-Scháffer) NX x

Zizeeria karsandra (Moore) x x x

Zizina labradus labdalon Waterhouse & Lyell x

Famegana alsulus alsulus (Herrich-Scháffer) X x

Zizula hylax attenuata (T.P. Lucas) X

Euchrysops cnejus cnidus Waterhouse & Lyell x

Records from Kowanyama

Collecting took place around Kowanyama township, along Magnificent Creek

(0-6.5 km upstream of township) and at a stock camp about 15 km from the

township. This area lies in the Northern Floristic Zone (see Dunn and Dunn

1991).

24 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

Seventeen of the 29 species known from Kowanyama are newly recorded:

Taractrocera ina, Ocybadistes ardea ardea, Telicota mesoptis mesoptis,

Pelopidas lyelli lyelli, Papilio fuscus capaneus, Eurema laeta sana, Melanitis

leda bankia, Mycalesis perseus perseus, Precis orithya albicincta, Precis

hedonia zelima, Danaus affinis affinis, Euploea alcathoe eichhorni, Arhopala

centaurus centaurus, Hypolycaena phorbas phorbas, Anthene lycaenoides

godeffroyi, Catochrysops panormus platissa, Zizina labradus labdalon.

Occurrence of eight other species at Kowanyama is confirmed: Papilio

demoleus sthenelus, Catopsilia pomona, Eurema hecabe hecabe, Danaus

chrysippus petilia, Euploea sylvester sylvester, Euploea core corinna,

Hypolimnas bolina nerina, Precis villida calybe. An additional species,

Anthene seltuttus affinis, was recorded by Dunn and Dunn (1991) and Braby

(2000) but inadvertently omitted from the map in Braby (2000).

Specimens of Arhopala centaurus centaurus from Kowanyama are a duller

purple than usual and, like the Karumba specimen recorded by Dunn and

Dunn (1991) and Braby (2000), are difficult to place to subspecies, showing

some resemblance to A. c. asopus Waterhouse & Lyell. All specimens of

Eurema laeta sana collected belong to the wet-season form. Males of Papilio

demoleus sthenelus, Eurema laeta sana, Hypolimnas bolina nerina,

Catochrysops panormus platissa and Zizeeria karsandra were collected at

mud puddle aggregations.

Other records

The following records of interest are noted also, extending the known

distributions south of Iron Range and reducing the gap between these

northern populations and those further south. Localities are mapped in

Monteith and Hancock (1977).

Suniana sunias rectivitta. Mt White near Coen, Peach Creek, Mcllwraith

Range and near Stewart River mouth (June-July 1976 - GBM & M. De Baar).

Arhopala wildei. Peach Creek near Mcllwraith Range (June-July 1976 -

GBM & M. De Baar); near Stewart River mouth (June-July 1975 - GBM).

References

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

CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood; xx + 976 pp.

DUNN, K.L. and DUNN, L.E. 1991. Review of Australian butterflies: distribution, life history

and taxonomy. Parts 1-4. Privately published, Melbourne; 660 pp.

McCUBBIN, C. 1972. Notes on the butterflies of Weipa, north Queensland, 6-18 June 1969.

Victorian Entomologist 2(1): 9-11.

MONTEITH, G.B. and HANCOCK, D.L. 1977. Range extensions and notable records for

butterflies of Cape York Peninsula, Australia. Australian Entomological Magazine 4(2): 21-38.

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1): 25-27 25

HOST PLANT AND SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF BACTROCERA

VISENDA (HARDY) (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE)

J. ROYER! and B. DOSTIE?

! Queensland Department of Primary Industries, PO Box 652, Cairns, Qld 4870

"Queensland Tropical Public Health Unit, PO Box 1103, Cairns, Qld 4870

Abstract

Host plant records from northern Queensland suggest that Bactrocera visenda (Hardy) is

monophagous on Garcinia warrenii (native mangosteen: Clusiaceae). Populations of B. visenda

increased markedly from November to February annually, which correlates well with the fruiting

period for G. warrenii. Almost all G. warrenii fruit collected produced B. visenda, which was

not reliably reared from any other host. A record from G. gibbsiae remains unconfirmed. B.

visenda was not reared from cultivated mangosteen (G. mangostana) and is unlikely to become

an economic pest of cultivated fruit in this region.

Introduction

An increasing variety of native and tropical fruit is being grown in northern

Queensland, but the pest status of many endemic rainforest fruit flies remains

unknown. As part of the Papaya Fruit Fly Eradication Campaign (1995-99),

an extensive trapping and fruit collection survey was conducted to establish

breeding sites and host fruits of Bactrocera papayae Drew & Hancock and

other fruit flies. Bactrocera visenda (Hardy) was found to be one of the most

frequently trapped fruit flies yet, despite its abundance, comparatively little is

known about its biology. Two hosts, Garcinia warrenii and G. gibbsiae

(Clusiaceae) have been reported previously (May 1957, 1960, Drew 1989).

An earlier record from G. kajewskii (Hardy 1951) almost certainly refers to

G. warrenii (Hancock et al. 2000). There is no information on the importance

of these hosts to B. visenda, nor on any changes in its seasonal abundance.

Methods

Trapping

During the eradication campaign, B. papayae populations were monitored

using Steiner traps baited with methyl eugenol lures. Trap placement was on a

1 km grid where eradication treatments were intensive, and at 5-10 km

intervals in more remote areas. Traps were cleared weekly and their contents

identified. Most traps were checked only for the presence of B. papayae.

However, selected traps in rainforest areas and study areas had all fruit flies

counted and identified to species and these provided data on B. visenda.

Fruit Collecting

As an adjunct to lure trapping, a project was initiated during the eradication

campaign to elucidate the host fruit range of B. papayae and other fruit flies.

Fruit was collected from farms, orchards, suburban yards, rainforest and

produce markets. Fruit samples were held in a laboratory under controlled

temperature (27°C) and humidity (70%) until fruit flies emerged. After

emergence, fruit flies were left for a further 7 days to mature and colour, then

26 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

killed in a freezer. Fruit flies were then identified, with numbers of each

species, host fruit and collection location being recorded.

Results

From January 1996 to March 1998 a total of 101,538 B. visenda was obtained

from 22,852 trap samples. The seasonal abundance pattern for B. visenda is

given in Fig. 1 and shows a marked increase between December and February

annually. This coincides with the known fruiting pattern of G. warrenii

(Cooper and Cooper 1994).

Fruit of four species of Garcinia was collected, but B. visenda was recovered

only from G. warrenii (Table 1). G. mangostana, the only commercially

grown mangosteen, produced no B. visenda during this study.

25

Mean # B.visenda per trap

Time (months)

Fig. 1. Seasonal abundance of Bactrocera visenda from methyl eugenol traps in

northern Queensland.

Discussion

The results indicate that Bactrocera visenda is monophagous on Garcinia

warrenii. There is no evidence to suggest that G. mangostana or any other

mangosteens surveyed are hosts of B. visenda. May (1960) recorded G.

gibbsiae as a host, but the reliability of this report is unknown and it requires

confirmation (D.L. Hancock, pers. comm.). G. gibbsiae was not collected

during the survey and this record remains unconfirmed. May (1957) indicated

that G. gibbsiae is a major host of B. expandens (Walker), which was reared

from G. dulcis but not from G. warrenii during the survey.

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1) 27

Garcinia gibbsiae fruits from July to January, whereas G. warrenii fruits

primarily from October to January (Cooper and Cooper 1994). B. visenda

were reared between September and March and the seasonal increase in adult

abundance (Fig. 1) correlates well with the fruiting period of G. warrenii. As

very low numbers of adults were collected in lure traps between May and

October, it is possible that B. visenda overwinters as largely non-lure

responding (and non-breeding) adults in moist, shady forest areas.

Table 1. Fruit fly rearing data from Garcinia spp.

Garcinia species No. of samples No. of samples No. of samples

collected that produced that produced

fruit flies B. visenda

G. mangostana 75 3 0

G. dulcis 60 8 0

G. xanthochymus 2 0 0

G. warrenii 68 66 66

References

COOPER, W. and COOPER, W.T. 1994. Fruits of the rainforest. A guide to fruits in Australian

tropical rainforest. RD Press, Surry Hills; 327 pp.

DREW, R.A.I. 1989. The tropical fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae: Dacinae) of the Australasian

and Oceanian Regions. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 26: 1-521.

HANCOCK, D.L., HAMACEK, E.L, LLOYD, A.C. and ELSON-HARRIS, M.M. 2000. The

distribution and host plants of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Australia. Queensland Dept.

of Primary Industries Information Series Q199067, Brisbane; iii + 75 pp.

HARDY, D.E. 1951. The Krauss collection of Australian fruit flies (Tephritidae-Diptera).

Pacific Science 5(2): 115-189.

MAY, A.W.S. 1957. Queensland host records for the Dacinae (fam. Trypetidae). First

supplementary lists. Queensland Journal of Agricultural Science 14: 29-39.

MAY, A.W.S. 1960. Queensland host records for the Dacinae (fam. Trypetidae). Second

supplementary lists. Queensland Journal of Agricultural Science 17: 195-200.

28 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

BOOK REVIEW

The action plan for Australian butterflies. By D. P. A. Sands and T. R. New.

Environment Australia, Canberra; October 2002; v + 377 pp. ISBN 0642548498.

Available from Environment Australia, GPO Box 787, Canberra, ACT 2601.

In the past, butterfly conservation in Australia, particularly Queensland, has been a

largely legislative affair based on little or no scientific evidence. The inclusion of

many common or vagrant species on protected lists has served to undermine

credibility in the process, whereas severe restrictions placed on collecting have

inhibited further study of species genuinely or potentially in need of conservation.

This volume effectively redresses these deficiencies, providing solid scientific

evidence for inclusion of species in conservation categories based on IUCN criteria.

Much of the base data for the species assessments was gathered from amateur

enthusiasts during a series of workshops held throughout the country. These are the

very people most affected, adversely and unnecessarily, by restrictive legislation

based on species lists rather than habitat reserves.

Of the 654 butterfly species and subspecies recognised by the authors, synopses

discuss the conservation concerns attributed previously to 219 taxa [220 stated in text

but there is no number 174]. This covers the bulk of the report and includes costings

for species where further research or conservation measures are considered necessary.

Significantly, three common species long known to be of no conservation significance

despite legislation since the 1970s, Ornithoptera euphorion, O. priamus and Papilio

ulysses, are recommended for deletion from protective lists. Allowing new enthusiasts

to collect and study these showy species in the wild may well help foster an

appreciation of the natural environment (as it did with the present reviewer before

legislation), leading to a future generation of conservationists.

The total budget suggested for research, surveys and restoration work needed for

species of concern does not include land acquisition costs but, at $2,369,300, is well

below that recommended for similar work on vertebrates such as birds (Endersby

2003). It seems a small price to pay for conservation within a group of insects often

regarded as of flagship importance in environmental quality assessments.

Two appendices provide National, State and Municipal recommendations for 26 taxa

considered threatened (critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable) and a

further 79 taxa considered of lower risk or data deficient, A third appendix tabulates

distribution and previous threat assessments for all 654 taxa. This work is a valuable

and highly recommended addition to the library of everyone interested in butterflies

and/ or conservation.

Reference

ENDERSBY, I. 2003. [Review of] Action plan for Australian butterflies. Victorian

Entomologist 33(2): 18-21.

D. L. Hancock

Cairns

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1): 29-36 29

THE LIFE HISTORY AND DISTRIBUTION OF RACHELIA

EXTRUSA (C. & R. FELDER) (LEPIDOPTERA: HESPERIIDAE:

TRAPEZITINAE) IN AUSTRALIA

PETER. S. VALENTINE! and STEPHEN. J. JOHNSON?

'Tropical Environment Studies & Geography, James Cook University, Townsville, Old 4811

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

Abstract

The life history of Rachelia extrusa (C. & R. Felder) is described and a significant southern

range extension to the Rocky River area of Cape York Peninsula recorded. The larval food plant

is Flagellaria indica L. (Flagellariaceae), occurring as distinct forms under closed canopy

rainforests. High levels of egg and larval parasitism are recorded from the Rocky River

population. The juvenile stages confirm the morphological links of Rachelia Hemming with

both the Trapezitinae and Hesperiinae.

Introduction

Rachelia extrusa (C. & R. Felder) was first recorded in Australia from

specimens collected at Iron Range, Queensland in May and June 1973

(Atkins 1975). Although six adults have also been collected in Papua New

Guinea (Parsons 1999), nothing was known about the juvenile stages or food

plants and some speculation has occurred about its taxonomic links (Atkins

1975, Parsons 1999).

Within Australia the species is known from a restricted distribution (Atkins

1975, Braby 2000). All specimens in collections have been taken at a limited

number of sites within the Iron Range area, mainly males aggregating at a

canopy lek in the vicinity of Gordon Creek. Occasional individuals have also

been taken near Mt Tozer and along roadsides within a few square kilometres

of the Iron Range Resources Reserve.

Field surveys

In late April 2002, during a field survey at Rocky River (13?49'57"S,

143°27'05"E), an area on the south-eastern edge of the MclIlwraith Range

about 40 km north of the Silver Plains Station on Cape York Peninsula,

Queensland, we discovered an unknown early instar larva. The larva had

made a tubular shelter in a leaf of a Flagellaria indica L. plant under the

rainforest canopy, in habitat situations typical for Telicota brachydesma

Lower larvae that were present in the same location (Valentine and Johnson,

2000). The larva was taken to Townsville for rearing and by late May its

appearance indicated that it was new to present knowledge. The presumed

final instar shape appeared somewhat trapezitine although, superficially, it

also resembled larvae of Pyrginae and Hesperiinae. We suspected that it was

the unknown larva of R. extrusa but remained uncertain, in part because this

species was not known at Rocky River. On 25 May, 40 hymenopteran

parasitoids emerged from the larva and pupated.

30 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

— gne

r

» 4 *

T A

TED oe

Figs 1-5. (1) larval food plant of R. extrusa, the distinct low narrow-leaf form of

Flagellaria indica L. (2-5) juvenile stages of R. extrusa: (2) egg; (3) first instar larva;

(4) fourth instar larva; (5) final instar larva.

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1) 31

zi

Figs 6-10. Juvenile stages of R. extrusa. (6) larval head cap; (7) lateral view of pupa;

(8) pupal cap; (9) parasitic emergence from third instar larva; (10) parasitic emergence

from final instar larva.

32 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

In July 2002 we returned to the Rocky River site to search for more of these

larvae. At this stage it was not clear that the species was confined to very

specific habitat and to particular forms of F. indica and, while a number of

hesperiid larval shelters were located, only one specimen of the new larva was

found. By late August this second specimen had also succumbed to

hymenopteran parasitoids.

In November 2002 we conducted a third search at Rocky River and located

additional hesperiid larvae on F. indica plants. These were returned to

Townsville for rearing. Yet again our efforts were frustrated when some of

the larvae proved to be Telicota augias krefftii (W.J. Macleay) and remaining

larvae were parasitised by different parasitic wasps. However, by now we had

correctly identified the preferred forms of F. indica for the new larva and we

once again returned to Rocky River in early May 2003. On this occasion we

were able to locate fresh and parasitised eggs as well as many larvae ranging

from first instar to third instar. Despite continuing examples of parasitism we

were finally able to rear several larvae through to adults, including one from

an egg. During this period we communicated our preliminary findings to

Peter Wilson, who undertook searches at Iron Range and located larvae,

which were reared to adults (P. Wilson, pers. comm.).

Life History

Food plant (Fig. 1). Flagellaria indica L. (Flagellariaceae).

Egg (Fig. 2). Pale pink, hemispherical, 0.9 mm high, 1.2 mm wide at base,

21-25 vertical ribs (n=6).

First instar larva (Fig. 3). Head shining black, slightly narrower at top with

slight median sulcus, a few scattered fine setae; body pale yellow with a

prominent wedge-shaped black prothoracic plate; abdominal segments with

pair of dorsal and ventrolateral setae anteriorly and dorsolateral setae

posteriorly; small lateral setae above prolegs; A8 and anal plate with pair of

long curved setae posteriorly; spiracles brown. Length 3 mm.

Second and third instar larvae. Head brownish red, pear-shaped with mid-

dorsal cleft; pale brown along sulcus and frontoclypeal sutures; frontoclypeus

dark brown. Body pale green with dorsal heart edged white from T3 to A9

and dorsolateral white lines from T2 to A9, both lines becoming fragmented

into spots on posterior segments; anal plate pink with pink suffusion

extending anteriorly onto A8 and 9. Length 6-15 mm.

Fourth instar larva (Fig. 4). Similar to third instar but body pinkish brown.

Final instar larva (Figs 5-6). Head reddish brown; pear-shaped with deep

sulcus dorsally producing 2 short horns; pale whitish central stripe from tip of

horns along frontoclypeal suture to ventrolateral margin; small central white

patch dorsally on frontoclypeus. Body pinkish brown; prothorax pale cream

anteriorly and translucent posteriorly; mesothorax deeper pink dorsally;

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1) 33

dorsal heart darker green; faint whitish dorsal and lateral lines. Abdominal

segments with transverse lines of small pale white spots and a single

prominent white spot on lateral line on each segment; covered in short pale

setae with expanded tips; ventrolateral margin of segments 7 and 8 appear

scalloped when at rest; anal plate rugose, dark reddish brown, semicircular,

narrower than preceding segments and bearing 2 pairs of long pale setae on

lateral margin; spiracles whitish. Length 16-25 mm.

Pupa (Figs 7-8). Length 22-24 mm. Cylindrical, tapering gradually to an

elongated, slightly decurved dorso-ventrally flattened cremaster with

prominent black lateral pits and attached to a stout transverse silken thread.

Greyish brown, paler posteriorly; abdominal segments 1-8 with dorsolateral

white spots, a pair of white lateral spots on meso and metathorax; spiracles

white edged orange brown, body covered in erect straight or slightly curved

simple setae some with flattened tips. Prominent semicircular black spiracular

plates; dorsal mesonotum, prothorax, antennal bases and ventral mandibular

areas white with irregular brown fissures; frons pale brown with prominent

dorsal and ventral rugose protrusions, dark patches dorsally, ventrolaterally

and on ventral side of dorsal protruberances; attached by strong central girdle

across thorax.

Discussion

There are three main forms of F. indica at both Iron Range and Rocky River.

One is a very thick-stemmed plant that climbs strongly to the canopy and has

large coarse leaves. Another form has very fine small leaves and a slightly

zig-zag appearance as it climbs a few metres high under the canopy. It has a

spindly habit. The third form has small to medium leaves and typically occurs

as a low upright or sometimes sprawling plant, usually «1 metre high but

sometimes taller. The stems are slightly broader than the zig-zag form but

much finer than the giant form. It is possible that this third form is merely a

seedling of the giant form, perhaps subject to the common rainforest

phenomenon of seedling still-stand. All larvae found to date have been on the

smaller forms with a preference at Rocky River for the third form. All three

forms may occur in close proximity but the two smaller forms are most

common under the rainforest canopy. Queensland Herbarium staff believe all

three forms are of the one species (pers. comm., Henderson 1997). In

captivity larvae readily accepted all forms.

Eggs are laid on the underside edge of a leaf of the food plant and upon

hatching the first instar larva consumes part or all of the eggshell. It then

constructs a shelter at the tip of the leaf by silking together a tube, usually

joined dorsally. Initial feeding occurs along the edge of this leaf between the

shelter and the leaf base. Subsequent shelters may involve one or more leaves

joined to form a tube or occasionally the leaf may be doubled back and silked

at the edges to form a ‘sock’.

34 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

In situations where suitable shelters are unable to be formed within leaves of

the plant, later instar larvae leave the plant and make shelters in leaf litter near

the base of the plant. In captivity provision of dried leaves at the base of small

potted plants led to final instar occupation and silking of these dried leaves

into shelters much like that of a typical off-plant shelter of Trapezites Hübner

species. Larvae pupated in these dried leaf shelters and fashioned silk thoracic

girdles and attached the cremaster to a strong lateral posterior line. Pupal

duration of captive reared larvae was 17-21 days in Townsville in June/July

and 17 and 19 days in Bundaberg in September and May respectively. During

May to July in Townsville it took 54 days from egg to pupa.

Fig. 11. Underside of freshly emerged adult male R. extrusa from Rocky River,

showing dense hairs.

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1) 35

The form of the egg and pupa is consistent with that seen in Trapezitinae,

especially Trapezites spp., but the larval form and presence of a strong central

girdle in the pupa are closer to Notocrypta de Niceville spp. (Hesperiinae). It

is interesting to note the comment in Parsons (1999) that a sketch by Brandt

of the unknown food plant of Notocrypta aluensis Swinhoe appears to show

F. indica.

The preferred habitat of larval R. extrusa is on small F. indica plants (Fig. 1)

growing under closed canopy rainforest. All eggs and larvae found to date at

both locations have been within 500-700 mm of the ground and small plants

are often denuded of leaves by developing larvae.

The level of parasitism in the Rocky River population of R. extrusa seems

remarkably high. We observed parasitism in eggs, early instar larvae and final

instar larvae (Figs 9-10). One possible explanation may be the more open

nature of the habitat for R. extrusa. Many of the locations where larvae were

found at Rocky River had very limited undergrowth and the F. indica plants

were prominent against a relatively bare ground (in several cases even more

so where leaf litter was swept into the nest mounds of Yellow-footed Scrub-

hens). Identification of the parasitoids to species has not been possible and

voucher specimens have been lodged in the Queensland Museum. There are

two families represented, Eulophidae and Braconidae (M. Elson-Harris, pers.

comm.).

The absence of adults paralleled our experience with T. brachydesma in that

even when large numbers of larvae were found, no adults were encountered.

In many visits to Rocky River only one adult T. brachydesma has so far been

encountered, despite many hundreds of larvae being seen. It is likely that in

both species the low light conditions under the canopy and the cryptic

colouration of the adults precludes easy observation of females laying eggs.

Males in both cases are likely to be in the upper canopy. In the case of R.

extrusa this is certainly true at Iron Range. Further surveys at Rocky River are

required to discover male leks. Freshly emerged adults are particularly hairy

in the ventral thoracic region and on their legs (Fig. 11).

Sands and New (2002) considered R. extrusa to be of ‘no conservation

concern’ despite its extremely limited distribution and unknown life history.

Our significant range extension and life history discovery enhance the basis

by which its conservation status may be assessed. F. indica occurs commonly

in rainforests throughout Torres Strait and Cape York Peninsula and R.

extrusa may well have a wider distribution within Australia than is currently

known. There is no evidence of any direct anthropogenic threats to the

species; however, occasional minor food plant damage from feral cattle and

pigs is evident at Rocky River. Given the above and the current plans for the

Mcllwraith Range to be gazetted as a protected area (QPWS, pers. comm.)

we agree with the Sands and New (2002) assessment.

36 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

Acknowledgements

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service is acknowledged for scientific

permits under which this work was conducted. Our colleague Mr Peter

Wilson is thanked for information about his searches at Iron Range, as are Mr

Sunlight Bassini and the Lama Lama people for access through the Silver

Plains station. The authors acknowledge the Umpila people as traditional

owners of the Rocky River sites. We also thank Marlene Elson-Harris of

Queensland Department of Primary Industries for identification of

parasitoids.

References

ATKINS, A.F. 1975. The first record of Rachelia extrusa (C. and R. Felder) (Lepidoptera:

Hesperiidae: Trapezitinae) in Australia. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society. 14:

237-241.

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

CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood; xx + 976 pp.

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

Herbarium, Department of Environment and Heritage, Brisbane; 286 pp.

PARSONS, M. 1999. The Butterflies of Papua New Guinea: their systematics and biology.

Academic Press, London.

SANDS, D.P.A. and NEW, T.R. 2002. The action plan for Australian butterflies. Environment

Australia, Canberra; v + 377 pp.

VALENTINE, P.S. and JOHNSON, S.J. 2000. The life history of Telicota brachydesma Lower

(Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae). Australian Entomologist 27(4): 103-108.

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1): 37-42 37

NOTES ON THE STATUS OF SOME ELODINA C. & R. FELDER

SPECIES (LEPIDOPTERA: PIERIDAE)

M. DE BAAR

Queensland Forestry Research Institute, Department of Primary Industries, 80 Meiers Road,

Indooroopilly, Qld 4068

Abstract

The status of Elodina tongura Tindale, E. queenslandica De Baar & Hancock, E. q. kuranda De

Baar & Hancock, E. walkeri Butler, E. umbratica Grose-Smith, E. sada Fruhstorfer, E. hypatia

hypatia C. & R. Felder and E. egnatia (Godart) is discussed. Twenty-six species and ten

subspecies of Elodina C. & R. Felder are recognised.

Introduction

The genus Elodina C. & R. Felder, 1865, contains a variable number of

recognised species (16 according to Parsons 1998, 23 according to Yata

1985), of Capparis (Capparaceae) feeding butterflies. Continuing uncertainty

as to the status of certain Australian and New Guinea taxa has prompted a

critical review of Braby (2000), De Baar and Hancock (19932), Parsons

(1998) and Yata (1985), together with a reinterpretation of the status of a few

other taxa. The 26 species and 10 subspecies recognised as a result of this

review, together with their general distributions, are listed in Table 1.

Discussion

Elodina tongura

E. tongura Tindale was regarded as a valid species by De Baar and Hancock

(19932). Braby (2000) considered it to be ‘a wet season form of E. walkeri’

and ignored the much longer vesica of the male genitalia compared with that

of E. walkeri Butler. Hancock (2001) noted (in a review of Braby 2000) that

*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; [but] a seasonal form would be expected to occur throughout the

range of the species, including Queensland.' Hancock (2001) also noted that

‘many pierid genera contain cryptic species that are difficult to tell apart.’

Parsons (1998: p. 289) stated ‘It also appears that the taxon tongura Tindale

... might belong to definita." E. definita Joicey & Talbot is known from across

New Guinea but, unlike E. tongura, it has a well defined subapical band on

the underside of the forewing.

Recently, a small series of Elodina was collected north of Woolner Station,

60 km east of Darwin, Northern Territory, flying among thorny branches of a

Capparis tree near the sea, behind coastal marshlands (D.P.A. Sands, pers.

comm.). Specimens from this series were examined by both the present author

and D.L. Hancock (pers. comm.), who considered it to contain both Æ.

tongura and E. walkeri (Sands and New 2002). This collection thus

demonstrates a distributional overlap between E. walkeri and E. tongura.

38

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

Table 1. Elodina species and subspecies and their general distributions.

Elodina taxa

E. leefmansi Kalis, 1934

E. pura Grose-Smith, 1895

E. sota Eliot, 1956

E. dispar Rober, 1887

E. egnatia egnatia (Godart, 1819)

E. e. bouruensis Wallace, 1867

E. e. cirrha (Boisduval, 1832)

E. e. boisduvali Fruhstorfer, 1911

E. e. fruhstorferi Rober, 1919

E. e. tenimberensis Joicey & Talbot, 1922

E. invisibilis Fruhstorfer, 1910

E. therasia C. & R. Felder, 1865

E. anticyra Fruhstorfer, 1910

E. hypatia hypatia C. & R. Felder, 1865

E. h. litana Fruhstorfer, 1910

E. biaka Joicey & Noakes, 1915

E. aruensis Joicey & Talbot, 1922

E. definita Joicey & Talbot, 1916

E. andropis andropis Butler, 1876

E. a. namatia Fruhstorfer, 1910

E. a. hydatis Fruhstorfer, 1910

[7 Elodinesthes effeminata Fruhstorfer]

E. umbratica Grose-Smith, 1889

E. sada Fruhstorfer, 1910

E. primularis Butler, 1882

E. argypheus Grose-Smith & Kirby, 1890

E. signata signata Wallace, 1867

E. s. pseudanops Butler, 1877

E. parthia (Hewitson, 1853)

E. padusa (Hewitson, 1853)

E. walkeri Butler, 1898

E. tongura Tindale, 1923

Distribution

eastern Java

Pura, Alor, Adonara, Pantar & Flores

(Lesser Sunda Is)

southern Sulawesi

Banggai Archipelago (E of Sulawesi)

Ambon, Seram (southern Moluccas)

Buru (southern Moluccas)

Halmahera (northern Moluccas)

northern Sulawesi

Timor, Sumba (Lesser Sunda Is)

Tanimbar (eastern Lesser Sunda Is)

Wetar (Lesser Sunda Is)

Halmahera (northern Moluccas)

Numfoor & Roon Is, (Geelvink Bay,

West Papua)

New Guinea & surrounding islands

Kei Is

Biak I., northern West Papua

Aru Is

New Guinea

Central Province, Papua New Guinea

Waigeo I. & northern West Papua

Morobe Province & D'Entrecasteaux

group, Papua New Guinea

Choiseul to San Cristobal & Santa

Ana, Solomon Islands

Waigeo I. & New Guinea

New Britain, Duke of York I. & New

Ireland (Bismarck Archipelago)

Bougainville, Choiseul, Santa Isabel,

Guadalcanal (Solomon Archipelago)

New Caledonia

Lifu (Loyalty Is)

Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, to

central eastern New South Wales

Australia (except SW Western

Australia & Tasmania)

far northern areas of Australia

coastal Northern Territory, Australia

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1) 39

Elodina taxa Distribution

E. perdita Miskin, 1889 central eastern Queensland

E. claudia De Baar & Hancock, 1993 mid Cape York Peninsula, northern

Queensland

E. angulipennis (P.H. Lucas, 1852) central eastern Queensland to central

eastern New South Wales

E. queenslandica queenslandica De Baar Cape York Peninsula, northern

& Hancock, 1993 Queensland

E. q. kuranda De Baar & Hancock, 1993 NE to SE Queensland

On present evidence, based on male genitalia, the more distinct yellow basal

flash of the forewing underside in E. tongura (subdued in E. walkeri), its

usually larger size, its confinement to the northern coastal regions and islands

of the Northern Territory (E. walkeri occurs across northern Australia), the

absence of a dark patch on the underside of the forewing apical area (not so

for E. definita Joicey & Talbot, which has a rather distinct patch or band), it

is concluded that E. tongura should be retained as a distinct species.

Elodina queenslandica

E. queenslandica and its subspecies E. q. kuranda were described recently by

De Baar and Hancock (1993a). Parsons (1998: p. 285) stated ‘However,

queenslandica is apparently merely a subspecies of the earlier described NG

taxon andropis’ and, in the E. andropis Butler section (p. 287), further stated

‘It also appears that the taxon queenslandica, and particularly its subspecies

kuranda ... might belong to andropis. E. andropis is a distinctive species

represented by three subspecies (E. a. andropis, E. a. namatia Fruhstorfer

and E. a. hydatis Fruhstorfer), which always has a broad subapical/

subterminal band on the forewing underside, although in E. a. namatia this

band is not as broad as in the other subspecies.

E. q. queenslandica and E. q. kuranda both have a uniformly white hindwing

underside on black and white prints when photographed under ultraviolet

light; however, E. a. andropis and E. a. hydatis have an intensely black thin

marginal line (data from ultraviolet-reflection photographic studies

undertaken for the review by De Baar and Hancock 1993a; E. a. namatia not

studied). The hindwing upperside margins are broadly banded brown-black in

both sexes of E. a. andropis and in males of E. a. namatia and sometimes

there are brownish submarginal patches present in females of E. a. hydatis;

these features are not present in E. queenslandica. The forewing underside

subapical/ subterminal darker band is always broader in E. a. andropis and E.

a. hydatis than in E. queenslandica. This is very noticeable in E. q.

queenslandica, which occurs geographically closest to E. andropis. The

forewing underside basal flash is yellow-orange in E. q. queenslandica but

subdued in E. q. kuranda, E. a. andropis and E. a. hydatis.

40 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

Braby (2000) did not recognise subspecies in E. queenslandica, based on

variations in the forewing underside subapical/ subterminal band. However,

E. q. queenslandica consistently lacks projections on the upper forewing

apical black area between veins CuA; and CuA;. As noted above, the

forewing underside basal flash is yellow-orange in E. q. queenslandica, even

in many specimens examined from Iron Range, Cape York Peninsula, but this

is subdued in E. q. kuranda, a feature Braby (2000) did not discuss. The

taxonomic and distributional boundaries between these two taxa might need

further investigation. Braby (2000) also stated that specimens from the

Yeppoon-Rockhampton area *have very distinct genitalia" but no details were

provided. Both Braby (2000) and De Baar and Hancock (1993b) indicated a

need for further life-history studies. Moss et al. (1996) stated ‘it appears

likely that habitat requirements between the two species [E. angulipennis

(P.H. Lucas) and E. queenslandica] may differ, with E. q. kuranda preferring

moister habitats.' It is concluded that further work is necessary before these

subspecific taxa are casually sunk.

Elodina walkeri, E. sada and E. umbratica

E. walkeri Butler was regarded as a distinct species by De Baar and Hancock

(1993a). Parsons (1998) amalgamated E. umbratica Grose-Smith [type

locality Ulawa I. (Ulaua)] and E. [hypatia] sada Fruhstorfer [type locality

Waigeo (Waigiu)] and, while he mentioned the presence of this taxon across

New Guinea, he made no mention of any localities east of New Guinea other

than Ulawa in the Solomon Islands. Parsons (1998: p. 288) further stated ‘It

also appears that the taxon walkeri Butler ... might belong to umbratica.’

Certainly, E. walkeri and E. umbratica appear similar, but some caution is

necessary. The forewing apex is well rounded in New Guinea examples [E.

sada] but subtly pointed in E. walkeri; New Guinea examples also have a

more convex forewing termen. Solomon Islands examples [typical Æ.

umbratica] have more extensive black forewing areas than E. walkeri.

E. umbratica is widespread in the Solomon Islands (Tennent 2002) but the

placing of it, E. sada and E. walkeri in synonymy needs further support. E.

walkeri has priority over E. sada but, at least for the time being, all three taxa

should be regarded as distinct.

Elodina hypatia hypatia

When black and white prints of a few specimens of E. h. hypatia C. & R.

Felder photographed under ultraviolet light were examined, one male from

Sambio, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, appeared quite distinct. On

the upperside of the wings this specimen was white in colour, apart from the

apical areas, whereas other specimens examined had blackened upper

surfaces. However, under visible light this specimen appeared typical for E. h.

hypatia, except perhaps for a sinuous dark subapical patch on the forewing

underside. The possibility exists that two species are involved.

Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1) 41

Elodina egnatia

E. egnatia (Godart) occurs in the Moluccas, Sulawesi and Timor region (see

Table 1). Waterhouse and Lyell (1914) included E. angulipennis under E.

egnatia because a series of larger specimens from Prince of Wales I., Torres

Strait, Queensland, appeared to be nearer typical E. egnatia than those from

the mainland. However, E. angulipennis was returned to species status by

Talbot (1932-1935) and Common and Waterhouse (1972). There are some

similarities within the group, which includes E. egnatia, E. angulipennis and

E. queenslandica, but the females of E. egnatia have hindwings washed in a

cream colour on their undersides (not so for E. angulipennis and E.

queenslandica). The apex of the forewing in E. egnatia is more acute than in

E. queenslandica and slightly so in E. angulipennis. There is a large

distributional gap between E. queenslandica (to which Waterhouse and Lyell

(1914) were referring above) in the Torres Strait and the nearest E. egnatia

population (Timor, Ambon or Ceram). It would be interesting not only to

compare these three taxa but also the six subspecies of E. egnatia, which are

widely separated geographically, using molecular techniques. Such a study

might extend the species list even further.

Conclusion

Our taxonomic understanding of Elodina is still incomplete but, as with any

difficult and cryptic group, caution is needed before any taxa are arbitrarily

sunk or synonymised. The use of molecular systematics, including DNA

analysis, may be necessary to resolve the problems of the group and either

support or alter the present arrangement. On present evidence, the

arrangement presented in Table 1 appears the most sound.

Acknowledgements

I wish to thank D.L. Hancock for his support and comments on an earlier draft

and D.P.A. Sands for drawing specimens to my attention, supporting the

Elodina work and his valuable comments on butterfly taxonomy and biology

over the years.

References

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Robertson, Sydney; xii + 498 pp, 41 pls.

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(Lepidoptera: Pieridae). Australian Entomologist 20(1): 25-43.

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MOSS, J.T.St L., DE BAAR, M. and HANCOCK, D.L. 1996. New overlap records in the

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23(1): 27-28.

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

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SANDS, D.P.A. and NEW, T.R. 2002. The action plan for Australian butterflies. Environment

Australia, Canberra; v + 377 pp.

TALBOT, G. 1932-1935. Pieridae I — III. In Strand, E. (ed.), Lepidopterorum Catalogus 23(53,

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TENNENT, W.J. 2002. Butterflies of the Solomon Islands: systematics and biogeography.

Storm Entomological Publications, Dereham; xxiii + 413 pp.

WATERHOUSE, G.A. and LYELL, G. 1914. The butterflies of Australia. A monograph of the

Australian Rhopalocera. Angus & Robertson, Sydney; vi + 239 pp, 43 pls.

YATA, O. 1985. Pieridae. In Tsukada E. (ed.), Butterflies of the South East Asian Islands, Vol.

1. Pieridae, Danaidae. Plapac, Tokyo; 623 pp, 162 pls.

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RECENT ENTOMOLOGICAL LITERATURE

ALLSOPP, P.G.

2003 Synopsis of Antitrogus Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthini).

Australian Journal of Entomology 42(2): 159-178.

ANDERSON K.L., SEYMOUR, J.E. and ROWE R.

2003 Influence of a dorsal trash-package on interactions between larvae of Mallada signata

(Schneider) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Australian Journal of Entomology 42(4): 363-

366.

ASHE, J.S.

2003 Weiria australis gen. n., sp. n., the first fully myrmecoid aleocharine staphylinid from

Australia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Aenictoteratini). Australian

Journal of Entomology 42(2): 179-184.

BELOKOBYLSKIJ, S.A., IQBAL, M. and AUSTIN, A.D.

2003 First record of the subfamily Dirrhopinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from the

Australian region, with a discussion of relationships and biology. Australian Journal of

Entomology 42(3): 260-265.

BIONDI, M. and D'ALESSANDRO, P.

2003 Revision of the Pepila fuscomaculata species-group and description of four new

species from Australia (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae). Australian Journal of

Entomology 42(4): 313-326.

BRABY, M.F. and LYONNS, K.A.

2003 Effect of temperature on development and survival in Delias nigrina (Fabricius)

(Lepidoptera: Pieridae). Australian Journal of Entomology 42(2): 138-143.

CANZANO, A.A., JONES, R.E. and SEYMOUR, J.E.

2003 Diapause termination in two species of tropical butterfly, Euploea core (Cramer) and

Euploea sylvester (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Australian Journal of

Entomology 42(4): 352-356.

CARVER, M., BL THGEN, N., GRIMSHAW, J.F. and BELLIS, G.A.

2003 Aphis clerodendri Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), attendant ants (Hymenoptera:

Formicidae) and associates on Clerodendrum (Verbenaceae) in Australia. Australian

Journal of Entomology 42(2): 109-113.

COOK, L.G.

2003 Apiomorpha gullanae sp. n., an unusual new species of gall-inducing scale insect

(Hemiptera: Eriococcidae). Australian Journal of Entomology 42(4): 327-333.

DAVIS, R.A. and DISNEY, R.H.L.

2003 Natural history and description of Aphiura breviceps Schmitz, a scuttle fly (Diptera:

Phoridae) whose larvae prey on the eggs of frogs (Anura: Myobatrachidae) in Western

Australia. Australian Journal of Entomology 42(1): 18-21.

GOODISMAN, M.A.D. and CROZIER, R.H.

2002 Population and colony genetic structure of the primitive termite Mastotermes

darwiniensis. Evolution 56: 70-83.

2003 Association between caste and genotype in the termite Mastotermes darwiniensis

Froggatt (Isoptera: Mastotermitidae). Australian Journal of Entomology 42(1): 1-5.

GUMOVSKY, A.V.

2003 New peculiar entedonine genus (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae) from

Western Australia. Australian Journal of Entomology 42(1): 79-83.

44 Australian Entomologist, 2004, 31 (1)

HETERICK, B.E.

2001 Revision of the Australian ants of the genus Monomorium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Invertebrate Taxonomy 15: 353-459.

2003 Two new Australian Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), including a

highly distinctive species. Australian Journal of Entomology 42(3): 249-253.

LIANG, A.-P. and FLETCHER, M.J.

2003 Review of the Australian aphrophorid spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae).

Australian Journal of Entomology 42(1): 84-93.

LOCKETT, C.J. and PALMER, W.A.

2003 Rearing and release of Homichloda barkeri (Jacoby) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae:

Alticinae) for the biological control of prickly acacia, Acacia nilotica ssp. indica

(Mimosaceae) in Australia. Australian Journal of Entomology 42(3): 287-293.

MARULLO, R.

2003 Host relationships at plant family level in Dendrothrips Uzel (Thysanoptera: Thripidae:

Dendrothripinae) with a new Australian species. Australian Journal of Entomology

42(1): 46-50.

MILLER, L.J. and ALLSOPP, P.G.

2000 Identification of Australian canegrubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthini).

Invertebrate Taxonomy 14: 377-409.

RAGHU, S. and LAWSON, A.E.

2003 Feeding behaviour of Bactrocera cacuminata (Hering) (Diptera: Tephritidae) on methyl

eugenol: a laboratory assay. Australian Journal of Entomology 42(2): 149-152.

RAGHU, S., HALCOOP, P. and DREW, R.A.I.

2003 Apodeme and ovarian development as predictors of physiological status in Bactrocera

cacuminata (Hering) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Australian Journal of Entomology 42(3):

281-286.

REID, C.A.M.

2003 Recognition of the genus Haplosaenidea Laboissiére in Australia, with a key to the

Australian genera of Galerucini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae). Australian

Journal of Entomology 42(1): 40-45.

SCHMIDT, S. and NOYES, J.S.

2003 Two new egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) of the wood borer Agrianome

spinicollis (Macleay) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), a pest of pecans in eastern Australia.

Australian Journal of Entomology 42(1): 12-17.

SCHWARTZ, M.D. and CASSIS, G.

2003 New genus and new species of myrmecomorphic plant bug from Australia (Heteroptera:

Miridae: Mirini). Australian Journal of Entomology 42(3): 254-259.

SUTRISNO, H. and HORAK, M.

2003 Revision of the Australian species of Hyalobathra Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea:

Crambidae: Pyraustinae) based on adult morphology and with description of a new

species. Australian Journal of Entomology 42(3): 233-248.

TALIANCHICH, A., BAILEY, W.J. and GHISALBERTI, E.L.

2003 Palatability and defense in the aposematic diurnal whistling moth, Hecatesia exultans

Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Agaristinae). Australian Journal of Entomology

42(3): 276-280.

THOMPSON, G.J., KITADE, O., LO, N. and CROZIER, R.H.

2000 Phylogenetic evidence for a single, ancestral origin of a ‘true’ worker caste in termites.

Journal of Evolutionary Biology 13: 869-881.

ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTICES

Items for insertion should be sent to the editor who reserves the right to alter, reject

or charge for notices.

WANTED. Specific butterfly collection data for inclusion in a planned

systematic list of the butterflies of Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia plus the

Bismarck Archipelago. Even common butterflies with reliable island data are

valuable. John Tennent, 38 Colin McLean Road, Dereham, Norfolk NR19 2RY,

England (e-mail jt@storment.freeserve.co.uk).

NOTES FOR AUTHORS

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

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

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Address manuscripts to: The Editor

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Printed by ColourWise Reproductions, 300 Ann Street, Brisbane, 4000.

THE AUSTRALIAN

Entomologist

Volume 31, Part 1, 26 March 2004

KKK

CONTENTS

BASHFORD, R.

The insects associated with galls formed by Trichilogaster

acaciaelongifoliae (Froggatt) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on Acacia species in Tasmania.

DE BAAR, M.

Notes on the status of some Elodina C. & R. Felder species (Lepidoptera: Pieridae). 37

HANCOCK, D.L. AND MONTEITH, G.B.

Some records of butterflies (Lepidoptera) from Western Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. 21

JOHNSON, S.J. AND VALENTINE, P.S.

Notes on the biology and distribution of Trapezites taori Atkins (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae). 13

LACHIAN, R.B.

An annotated list of the hawk moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) of Lizard Island, Queensland.

LANE, D.A.

Additional note on a new species of Neodipbthera Fletcher (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

from northeastern Queensland.

ROYER, J. AND DOSTIE, B.

Host plant and seasonal abundance of Bactrocera visenda (Hardy) (Diptera: Tephritidae).

VALENTINE, P.S. AND JOHNSON, SJ.

The life history and distribution of Rachelia extrusa (C. & R. Felder)

(Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Trapezitinae) in Australia.

RECENT ENTOMOLOGICAL LITERATURE

BOOK REVIEW:

A guide to the dragonflies of Borneo: their identification and biology.

A.G. Orr

BOOK REVIEW:

The action plan for Australian butterflies. D.P.A. Sands and T.R. New

ISSN 1320 6133