THE AUSTRALIAN

Entomologist

published by

THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF QUEENSLAND

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Volume 33, Part 2, 16 June 2006

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ISSN 1320 6133

THE AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGIST

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Cover: This undescribed ant spider (Zodariidae), known only from the Expedition

Range, is one of about 25 new Habronestes species from Queensland. In Australia,

Habronestes is one of the most diverse genera of ant spiders with almost 130 species,

of which only about one fifth are described. They are small to medium-sized spiders

(2 — 12 mm in length) and most can be recognised by the bright yellow or orange

spots on their backs and the distinctive palps of the males. Illustration by Barbara

Baehr.

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2): 57-58 57

A FURTHER RECORD OF APATURINA ERMINEA (CRAMER)

(LEPIDOPTERA: NYMPHALIDAE: APATURINAE)

FROM AUSTRALIA

C.G. MILLER

PO Box 336, Lennox Head, NSW 2478

Abstract

À second confirmed male of Apaturina erminea (Cramer) is recorded from Iron Range,

Queensland and an Australian specimen illustrated for the first time.

Introduction

Apaturina erminea (Cramer) occurs from Maluku in eastern Indonesia to the

Solomon Islands, including Papua New Guinea and northeastern Australia,

where it is known only from Iron Range, on Cape York Peninsula in northern

Queensland (Braby 2000).

Wood (1981) recorded the capture of the first Australian specimen, a male,

while Braby (2000) noted that very few specimens had been collected,

including a female by J. Young. To date, no Australian specimen has been

illustrated.

Discussion

A further male (Figs 1-2) was collected by the author on 21 May 2002, at the

edge of the track leading to Mt Lamond at Iron Range. It was collected as it

landed on a tree trunk at a height of 2.5 m from the ground, in full sunshine,

at 1330 h. The behaviour of this specimen and the circumstances of its

capture were very similar to those described by Wood (1981) and it is likely

that the two specimens were collected within 100 m of each other.

Some nine subspecies are currently recognised but the subspecific status of

the Australian population has not been determined. The present male differs

from those of A. e. papuana Ribbe, illustrated by Braby (2000), in having less

blue on the upperside of the hind wing and a darker underside (Figs 1-2). So

far, only a brown female form is known from Australia, whereas two colour

forms occur in Papua New Guinea (Braby 2000). Further material is needed

to resolve the subspecific identity of the Iron Range population, which might

be distinct.

The larval food plant has not been recorded but is believed to belong to the

genus Celtis (Ulmaceae) (Braby 2000).

References

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

CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood; xx + 976 pp.

WOOD, G.A. 1981. First record of Apaturina erminea (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

from Australia. Australian Entomological Magazine 8(1): 16.

58 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

Ee WONG m ETSI

Figs 1-2. Apaturina erminea (Cramer); male from Mt Lamond, Iron Range, northern

Qld, 21 May 2002: (1) upperside; (2) underside.

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2): 59-70 59

EFFECTS OF LAND DISTURBANCE ON BUTTERFLIES

(LEPIDOPTERA) ON A HILLTOP AT MURWILLUMBAH,

NEW SOUTH WALES

GREG NEWLAND

63 Ewing Street, Murwillumbah, NSW 2484

Abstract

A post-disturbance study of butterfly species richness and abundance was completed on the

butterfly community of Hospital Hill, Murwillumbah, NSW. Butterfly species richness did not

decline following disturbance; however a significant decrease in butterfly abundance was

evident. Of the 21 hill-topping species known or thought to use Hospital Hill, a decrease in hill-

topping activity was recorded for many species with one, Polyura sempronius sempronius

(Fabricius) [Nymphalidae], virtually disappearing from the site.

Introduction

Hospital Hill is situated on the northern side of the business centre of

Murwillumbah in northern New South Wales and is a dominant natural

feature. The site is a habitat ‘island’ surrounded by extensive urban and

agricultural development. Since 1930, it has been subjected to significant

land disturbance, much of the original vegetation having been removed to

accommodate water storage tanks, access roads and visitor facilities. Despite

extensive clearing, many of the larger native trees have been retained and

regrowth has occurred in many areas that were originally cleared. The

Hospital Hill vegetation community comprises wet sclerophyll open forest

and woodland species (Ecograph 2002). Dominant tree species include

tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys), brush box (Lophostemon confertus)

and pink bloodwood (Eucalyptus intermedia). In woodland areas, camphor

laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) has become a major regrowth species.

Eighteen butterfly larval food plant species have been recorded from the site.

Hill-topping in butterflies is a very complex behaviour which has been

recognised as a mate location strategy, particularly in species which occur at

low population densities (e.g. Shields 1967, Scott 1968, 1973, Atkins 1975,

Common and Waterhouse 1981, Newland 1992, New 1997, Sands and New

2002). Factors that determine whether a site is used or not can be subtle

(Baugham and Murphy 1988), and even small changes cause butterflies to

abandon a site (Smithers 1996). The importance of hill-topping sites is out of

proportion to their extent, so that a small area can be vital to the survival of

species over a larger area, and the significance of competition among male

butterflies has only recently been recognised as essential to preserving the

genetic integrity of species which hilltop. Hilltops are also key sites for

insects as prey for predatory birds and other invertebrates (Sands and New

2002).

A 13 megalitre reservoir was proposed by Tweed Shire Council for the

summit of Hospital Hill, with site preparation work commencing in August

2003. The new reservoir, with a development footprint of 56 metres diameter,

60 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

replaces a 1.2 megalitre reservoir built in 1930. Available information

suggested that the significance of the proposal on the value of Hospital Hill

as a hill-topping butterfly site should be considered carefully (NSW National

Parks and Wildlife Service 2003). The loss and/or degradation of sites used

for hill-topping by butterflies is listed by the NSW Scientific Committee

(2001) as a “key threatening process’ in Schedule 3 of the NSW Threatened

Species Conservation Act 1995. A key threatening process is defined in this

Act as ‘a process that threatens, or could threaten, the survival or

evolutionary development of species, populations or ecological

communities’. The primary concern with respect to the impact of the

proposal was that the development would contribute to the loss and/or

degradation of Hospital Hill as a butterfly hill-topping site.

To determine effects of land disturbance associated with construction of the

new reservoir on the use of Hospital Hill by butterflies, post-disturbance

surveys were completed in 2003-2004 and compared with pre-disturbance

surveys carried out by the author in 1991-1992. Butterfly species richness

and abundance were the major criteria investigated, along with butterfly

behaviour. Study of the effects of disturbance and the effectiveness of

mitigation measures implemented has the potential to provide relevant, useful

information that can be used to predict the impact of similar developments.

Potential loss and/or degradation of summit sites used for hill-topping by

butterflies is a matter other local government authorities are likely to have to

consider when assessing proposed infrastructure developments at hilltop

sites.

Materials and methods

Researchers, including Pollard (1977, 1982) and Thomas (1983), have

developed techniques that estimate abundance and species richness in

selected areas. These techniques involve walking along a predetermined route

and recording all butterflies encountered within a set distance from the

observer. A similar method was adopted for the studies carried out on

Hospital Hill, together with a set of fixed criteria to maximise consistency in

data collection. Studies suggest that estimates of butterfly abundance based

on transect counts are more accurate than previously thought and provide an

adequate basis for assessing a butterfly's status and needs (Pollard 1982).

When completing each transect survey, the transect route was travelled at a

slow walking pace and all butterflies seen within an area extending 5 metres

in front of and 2.5 metres either side of the observer were recorded. These

distances were found to be the limits that would allow accurate recording.

The first transect was commenced around 0930 h. General observations were

then carried out until 1300 h, when a second transect was completed.

Additional observations, where possible, were carried out until mid to late

afternoon. One limitation was the difficulty in locating butterflies perched

high above in tree canopies, particularly cryptic, fast-flying species. For this

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2) 61

reason, some hill-topping species, including those of the lycaenid genera

Hypochrysops C. & R. Felder and Acrodipsas Sands, may still remain

unrecorded from Hospital Hill.

Post-disturbance surveys of the summit butterfly fauna were carried out on

one day every month for 12 months, from August 2003 to July 2004, using

the same methodology employed in the 1991-1992 study (Newland 2005).

This allowed comparison of data from both pre-disturbance and post-

disturbance stages to determine effects of development on the hilltop

butterfly fauna. As the 1991-1992-study period extended from November to

February, comparisons with the post-disturbance study period were made for

these months only.

Butterfly species richness

Species richness is arguably the most widely used indicator of the ecological

diversity of a given area. It is often used as the biological measure of a

habitat when decisions are to be made concerning conservation and

management. Two components of species richness — number of species and

species present, were compared for the two study periods. Butterfly species

richness was recorded for each month; including species sighted during the

day's observations but not recorded in transect surveys.

Number of species

Total number of species

The total number of species, including hill-topping species, was similar for

both study periods, with summit disturbance having little effect on this

component of species richness. During the November 1991-February 1992

study, 47 butterfly species were identified at Hospital Hill. From November

2003 to February 2004, 50 species were observed. The slightly higher

number recorded during the post-disturbance study period may be due to

several inconspicuous species being overlooked in the 1991-1992 study.

Figure 1 compares the total number of species recorded for these months.

Number of hill-topping species

Compared with the 1991-1992 survey, the 2003-2004 study yielded two

additional hill-topping species, with a total of 17 species recorded during the

post-disturbance survey. The two additional species observed during 2003-

2004, Netrocoryne repanda C. & R. Felder and Hypocysta metirius Butler,

may have been present in 1991-1992 but were probably overlooked. The

post-disturbance study recorded generally lower monthly numbers of hill-

topping species (Figure 2).

Including species observed outside the study periods, 21 butterfly species

(Table 1) are now known or thought to use the Hospital Hill site as a mate-

locating rendezvous. This represents 29% of all butterfly species recorded

from the site.

62 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

Species present

All species

Appendix 1 lists all species observed from the site, including those observed

outside the study periods. Although the number of species recorded for both

study periods remained relatively unchanged, the species recorded for each

study period differed slightly, perhaps reflecting natural population

fluctuations.

Table 1. Hill-topping butterfly species known or thought to use the Hospital Hill site,

Murwillumbah. C = common; U = uncommon; L = local in distribution. * — species

with males less abundant after disturbance of site; ^ — species observed in the vicinity

of Hospital Hill and which probably also use the hilltop as a mate locating site.

Butterfly species Status

HESPERIIDAE

Netrocoryne repanda repanda C. & R. Felder C,L

Toxidia peron (Latreille) * G

PAPILIONIDAE

Protographium leosthenes leosthenes (Doubleday) *

Graphium macleayanum macleayanum (Leach) *

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

Papilio anactus W.S. Macleay *

Cressida cressida cressida (Fabricius)

PIERIDAE

Delias nigrina (Fabricius) *

Delias argenthona argenthona (Fabricius) *

NYMPHALIDAE

CEOIQEONCI

ana

Hypocysta metirius Butler C

Polyura sempronius sempronius (Fabricius) * U

Acraea andromacha andromacha (Fabricius) * (C

Hypolimnas bolina nerina (Fabricius) * C

Junonia villida calybe (Godart) C

Vanessa kershawi (McCoy) C

Vanessa itea (Fabricius) ^ CL

LYCAENIDAE

Hypochrysops delicia delicia Hewitson ^ U,L

Ogyris olane (Hewitson) U,L

Ogyris zozine (Hewitson) U,L

Deudorix diovis (Hewitson) C,L

Candalides absimilis (C. Felder) * C

——————————————— s

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2) 63

Total number of species

E 1991-1992

E 2003-2004

Number of Species

November December January February

Fig. 1. Total number of species recorded from November to February at Hospital Hill,

Murwillumbah, during 1991-1992 and 2003-2004.

Number of hill-topping species

14 3

12

N

o

o 10

o

o

e © E1 1991-1992

$ 6. E 2003-2004

a

io

a= 4

=

2

0

November December January February

Fig. 2. Number of hill-topping species recorded from November to February at

Hospital Hill, Murwillumbah, during 1991-1992 and 2003-2004.

64 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

Total butterfly abundance

11991-1992

E 2003-2004

Index Number of Individuals

November December January February

Fig. 3. Index of total butterfly abundance (individuals recorded during morning and

afternoon transects) from November to February at Hospital Hill, Murwillumbah,

during 1991-1992 and 2003-2004.

Hill-topping butterfly abundance

60 6

50

40

em 11991-1992

2003-2004

20

"LN i

0

November December January February

Index Number of Individuals

Fig. 4. Index of hill-topping butterfly abundance (individuals recorded during

morning and afternoon transects) from November to February at Hospital Hill,

Murwillumbah, during 1991-1992 and 2003-2004.

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2) 65

A small number of Cupha prosope (Fabricius) adults were observed in April-

June 2004. This species was probably more widespread in the Tweed Valley

prior to European settlement. The only other known occurrence of this

butterfly is in Cudgen Nature reserve, north of Cabarita on the Tweed Coast.

Hospital Hill is considered to constitute an important refuge for this species,

as almost the entire surrounding coastal lowland rainforest habitat has been

cleared for agriculture and residential development.

Seventy-four butterfly species have now been recorded from Hospital Hill

(Appendix 1). This represents 35% of the 206 species known from the

McPherson region. (Dunn and Dunn 1991). When compared with the 96

species recorded from Mt Warning National Park (Newland 1999), it is

evident that isolated remnant sites such as Hospital Hill represent important

butterfly conservation refuges.

Hill-topping species

Several frequently observed, conspicuous hill-topping species were recorded

for both study periods, including Graphium macleayanum (Leach), G.

sarpedon choredon (C. & R. Felder), Acraea andromacha (Fabricius) and

Candalides absimilis (C. Felder). Other, less conspicuous species, including

Netrocoryne repanda and Deudorix diovis Hewitson, were recorded less

frequently, being more difficult to detect. Table 1 lists all hill-topping species

known or thought to use the site.

The most obvious result of hilltop disturbance on individual hill-topping

species was the virtual disappearance of the nymphalid Polyura sempronius

(Fabricius). Removal of perching sites and associated modification of the

summit profile has had a detrimental effect on this species’ use of Hospital

Hill as a mate location site. Prior to the recent disturbance, males of P.

sempronius were conspicuously present, patrolling the summit and perching

on tree trunks, power poles and electrical or communications wires and

equipment adjacent to the old 1.2 megalitre reservoir. Throughout the post-

disturbance survey period, only one specimen was sighted, a male which flew

over the summit briefly before departing.

Summit disturbance has also resulted in a decrease in abundance of many

other hill-topping species. Although species which patrol close to the ground,

such as Papilio anactus W.S. Macleay and Acraea andromacha were still

present in the summit area, they were observed to be generally much less

abundant or more sparsely distributed. Some high-flying species, including

Graphium macleayanum and Candalides absimilis, suffered a similar

decrease in abundance, although these species generally appear to have better

adapted to loss of summit vegetation. Males were seen to modify their

patrolling patterns following removal of mature summit trees, switching

patrol areas to the tops of adjacent trees.

66 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

Butterfly abundance

Butterfly abundance was calculated as an index of the number of individuals

recorded during both the morning and afternoons transect counts. Both total

butterfly abundance and hill-topping butterfly abundance were significantly

reduced following disturbance, despite the higher rainfall which occurred

prior to and during the post-disturbance study (Figures 3, 4). This decrease in

abundance reflects the loss of available habitat for both hill-topping and non-

hilltopping butterfly species - a total of 0.2 hectares of hilltop habitat being

lost as a result of vegetation clearing and site excavation for the new

reservoir. This area was the highest point on Hospital Hill prior to the recent

construction work and acted as a focus for much of the hill-topping activity

for butterflies and other insects.

Discussion

Monitoring of the Hospital Hill butterfly fauna has enabled a detailed,

quantitative assessment to be made of the effect of hilltop disturbance on the

use of the site by butterflies. Although it is often difficult to determine if

changes to the butterfly fauna at sites such as Hospital Hill are the result of

human interference or are due to natural population fluctuation, results of this

study suggest that decline in abundance of hill-topping males was a result of

recent disturbance to the summit. A decrease in the ability of male butterflies

to effectively compete for and mate with females has implications for the

long term breeding success and maintenance of genetic fitness among local

populations of affected species.

Results of this study also suggest that individual hill-topping species differ in

their response to summit disturbance. Changes to the summit area adjacent to

the old reservoir site have resulted in depletion or dispersal of hill-topping

aggregations of many species which perch or patrol close to the ground. The

virtual disappearance of Polyura sempronius confirms previous observations

that even relatively small changes to the summit profile can cause some

species to abandon a site. High-flying species, however, generally appear to

have adapted better to disturbance, modifying their patrolling patterns in

response to the altered summit vegetation profile. However, the reduction in

tree canopy area would undoubtedly have reduced the total canopy area

available for male butterflies to maintain individual territories.

Comparison of species richness alone to quantify effects of land disturbance

on butterfly communities. may lead to incorrect conclusions regarding the

“health” of butterfly hilltop communities. This study revealed a significant

decline in populations of hill-topping species, although overall species

richness was not affected. Assessment of effects of land disturbance on

butterfly communities, therefore, should compare both species richness and

abundance to more accurately quantify the effects of disturbance on sites

thought to be important to the reproductive life cycles of butterflies. This is

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2) 67

of particular relevance if similar proposals are planned for other hilltops

known or thought to support local butterfly populations which are

geographically isolated or genetically distinct.

Promotion of native species regrowth and establishment of suitable nectar

sources around the summit of Hospital Hill may assist in eventually

mitigating negative effects of summit disturbance. Future surveys at this site

should provide an indication of the effectiveness of compensatory plantings

in restoring the abundance of depleted hill-topping butterfly species

populations. When planning for and designing infrastructure such as

observation towers, communications facilities and water reservoirs, careful

consideration should be given to the effects of land disturbance to summit

areas that are known or thought to serve as hill-topping sites. Siting of

infrastructure a small distance below the summit (10-30 m) and minimising

vegetation disturbance in order to preserve the summit profile, would greatly

assist in ensuring the long-term survival and genetic fitness of hill-topping

butterflies and other insects.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Karen Cranney who kindly assisted with proof reading

and preparation of the Figures. I would also like to thank Tweed Shire

Council for permission to publish results of the study.

References

ATKINS, A.F. 1975. Notes on hill-topping butterflies of Queensland. Victorian Entomologist 5:

131-135.

BAUGHMAN, J.F. and MURPHY, D.D. 1988. What constitutes a hill to a hill-topping

butterfly? American Midland Naturalist 120: 441-443.

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

vols. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood; xx + 976 pp.

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

Angus and Robertson, Sydney; xiv + 682 pp.

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

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

ECOGRAPH. 2002. Assessment of habitat: proposed water storage reservoir — Hospital Hill,

Murwillumbah. Unpublished report prepared for Tweed Shire Council.

NEW, T.R. 1997. Butterfly conservation. Second edition. Oxford University Press; 224 pp.

NEWLAND, G.J. 1992. A study of butterfly abundance and behaviour at four hill-tops in

northern coastal New South Wales. Unpublished thesis. University of New England, Armidale;

97 pp.

NEWLAND, G.J. 1999. Butterflies of Mount Warning National Park. Victorian Entomologist

29(5): 84-90.

NEWLAND, G.J. 2005. An assessment of disturbance on the butterflies of Hospital Hill,

Murwillumbah, NSW. Unpublished report prepared for Tweed Shire Council and the NSW

Department of Environment and Conservation.

68 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

NSW NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. 2003. Hospital Hill Reservoir, Lot 2

DP 1044176, Karrumul St. Murwillumbah — advice on significance of impact and mitigating

measures. Unpublished report prepared for Tweed Shire Council.

NSW SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 2001. Final determination to list ‘the loss and/or

degradation of sites used for hill-topping by butterflies’ as a hey threatening process in Schedule

3 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 [gazetted 20/04/2001].

POLLARD, E. 1977. A method of assessing changes in abundance of butterflies. Biological

Conservation 12: 115-134.

POLLARD, E. 1982. Monitoring butterfly abundance in relation to the management of a nature

reserve. Biological Conservation 24: 317-328.

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

Australia, Canberra; vi + 377 pp.

SCOTT, J.A. 1968. Hilltopping as a mating mechanism to aid the survival of low density

species. Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 7: 191-204.

SCOTT, J.A. 1973. Adult behaviour and population biology of two skippers (Hesperiidae)

mating in contrasting topographical sites. Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 12: 181-196.

SHIELDS, O. 1967. Hilltopping. An ecological study of summit congregation of butterflies on a

southern California hill. Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 6: 69-178.

SMITHERS, C.N. 1996. Objection to development of 153-165 Grosvenor Street, Wahroonga:

the nature of hill-topping and its importance. Land and Environment Court Proceedings No.

10457 of 1996.

THOMAS, J.A. 1983. A quick method for estimating butterfly numbers during surveys.

Biological Conservation 27: 195-211.

Appendix 1

Butterfly species observed from 1977 to 2004 at Hospital Hill, Murwillumbah, NSW.

Status (relative abundance): C = common; U = uncommon; L = local in distribution;

S — sporadic in occurrence.

Butterfly species Status

HESPERIIDAE

Euschemon rafflesia rafflesia (W.S. Macleay) U

Chaetocneme beata (Hewitson) CE

Netrocoryne repanda repanda C. & R. Felder C, L

Hasora discolor mastusia Fruhstorfer C

Hasora khoda haslia Swinhoe C

Badamia exclamationis (Fabricius) S

Trapezites symmomus symmomus Hübner G

Toxidia rietmanni rietmanni (Semper) C,L

Toxidia parvula (Plótz) C,L

Toxidia peron (Latreille) C

Ocybadistes flavovittatus flavovittatus (Latreille) C

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

Butterfly species

HESPERIIDAE (cont.)

Ocybadistes walkeri sothis Waterhouse

Telicota colon argeus (Plótz)

Suniana sunias rectivitta (Mabille)

Telicota anisodesma Lower

Cephrenes augaides sperthias (C. Felder)

Cephrenes trichopepla (Lower)

PAPILIONIDAE

Protographium leosthenes leosthenes (Doubleday)

Graphium macleayanum macleayanum (Leach)

Graphium sarpedon choredon (C. & R. Felder)

Graphium eurypylus lycaon (C. & R. Felder)

Papilio anactus W.S. Macleay

Papilio aegeus aegeus Donovan

Papilio fuscus capaneus Westwood

Cressida cressida cressida (Fabricius)

PIERIDAE

Catopsilia pyranthe crokera (W.S. Macleay)

Catopsilia pomona (Fabricius)

Catopsilia gorgophone (Boisduval)

Eurema smilax smilax (Donovan)

Eurema hecabe hecabe (Linnaeus)

Elodina parthia (Hewitson)

Elodina angulipennis (P.H. Lucas)

Belenois java teutonia (Fabricius)

Cepora perimale scyllara (W.S. Macleay)

Appias paulina ega (Boisduval)

Delias nigrina (Fabricius)

Delias argenthona argenthona (Fabricius)

Pieris rapae rapae (Linnaeus)

NYMPHALIDAE

Melanitis leda bankia (Fabricius)

Hypocysta metirius Butler

Heteronympha merope merope (Fabricius)

Polyura sempronius sempronius (Fabricius)

Acraea andromacha andromacha (Fabricius)

Cupha prosope prosope (Fabricius)

Phaedyma shepherdi shepherdi (Moore)

69

Status

Qoo

C,L

aa

CHOCO OIOROLC

QOoOoO000000000o002005

Ocouooo

as

(al

70 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

Butterfly species Status

NYMPHALIDAE (cont.)

Doleschallia bisaltide australis (C. & R. Felder)

Hypolimnas bolina nerina (Fabricius)

Junonia villida calybe (Godart)

Vanessa kershawi (McCoy)

Vanessa itea (Fabricius)

Tirumala hamata hamata (W.S. Macleay)

Danaus petilia (Stoll)

Danaus affinis affinis (Fabricius)

Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus)

Euploea tulliolus tulliolus (Fabricius)

Euploea core corinna (W.S. Macleay)

LYCAENIDAE

Hypochrysops delicia delicia Hewitson U, L

Ogyris olane (Hewitson) U, L

Ogyris zozine (Hewitson) U, L

Deudorix diovis (Hewitson) CAD

Candalides absimilis (C. Felder) C

Nacaduba berenice berenice (Herrich-Schäffer)

Nacaduba kurava parma (Waterhouse & Lyell)

Erysichton lineata lineata (Murray)

Pyschonotis caelius taygetus (C. & R. Felder)

Prosotas felderi (Murray)

Catopyrops florinda halys (Waterhouse)

Jamides phaseli (Mathew)

Catochrysops panormus platissa (Herrich-Scháffer)

Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus)

Leptotes plinius pseudocassius (Murray)

Zizina labradus labradus (Godart)

Everes lacturnus australis Couchman

Euchrysops cnejus cnidus Waterhouse & Lyell

E — ee

pooac

dondoo?

CICS GI OR@sCeCSOEOEOE@E@EG)

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2): 71-76 71

A NEW SPECIES OF CHARAXES OCHSENHEIMER

(LEPIDOPTERA: NYMPHALIDAE) FROM EAST TIMOR

D.A. LANE! and C.J. MÜLLER?

13 Janda Street, Atherton, Qld 4883

"Molecular Ecology Laboratory, Macquarie University, Ryde, NSW 2109

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

Abstract

Charaxes marki sp. n. is described and figured from East Timor and compared with C. elwesi

Joicey & Talbot, C. mars Staudinger and C. madensis Rothschild, to which it shows some

relationship.

Introduction

Charaxes Ochsenheimer is a predominantly Afrotropical genus of more than

140 known species (Smart 1975). Approximately 20 species are recorded

from the Indo-Pacific region, extending as far east as the Bismarck

Archipelago, Papua New Guinea (D'Abrera 1990, Tsukada 1991, Parsons

1998), but with a concentration of distribution in South East Asia. Only one

species, C. /atona Butler, is known to occur east of the Moluccas.

Tsukada (1991) depicted nearly all of the described Charaxes, including C.

musashi Tsukada, a new species similar to C. affinis Butler, and a number of

new subspecies. That work also covered several Charaxes subspecies

described recently by Japanese authors (e.g. Hanafusa 1985, Morinaka 1990,

Nishiyama and Ohtani 1981) from the Lesser Sunda Islands. However, both

D'Abrera (1990) and Tsukada (1991) recorded only C. orilus Butler from

East Timor.

Recent fieldwork by one of us (DL, in conjunction with Mark Lane) in East

Timor has yielded a highly distinctive, previously undescribed species of

Charaxes, showing affinities with C. elwesi Joicey & Talbot, C. mars

Staudinger and C. madensis Rothschild. It is described below.

Charaxes marki sp. n.

(Figs 1-3)

Type. Holotype ©, EAST TIMOR: 5 km NW Bobonaro, 1000 m, 9?00'35"S,

125°17E, 20.1.2004, D.A. & M.D. Lane (in Australian National Insect Collection

(ANIC), Canberra).

Description. Male (Figs. 1-2). Forewing length 41 mm (centre of thorax to

apex). Head, thorax and abdomen brown; antennae half length of costa.

Forewing with costa strongly bowed from 1/2 to 3/4 towards apex, fairly

straight otherwise; apex sharply acute; termen gradually then strongly

concave to CuA;, then angled basally; tornus sharply rounded; dorsum

straight. Hindwing termen rounded from apex to CuA;, then strongly

indented to 1A; tornus sharply rounded, dorsum slightly bowed. A tooth-like

tail projection 5 mm long extends along CuA).

72 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

Forewing upperside broadly black, orange basally for 1/3 but with a black

central band in discal cell; an orange median band, strongly indented between

veins, extends from costa to dorsum; a much shorter postmedian band,

similarly indented between veins, extends from costa to M». A subapical and

subterminal band, which is a series of orange spots centrally located between

veins, extends parallel to termen, but not reaching dorsum. Hindwing

upperside broadly black, basally brown. A broad white patch extends from

dorsum across lower half of hind wing to CuA;, then centrally across outer

cell and postmedian area to M», therein extending to costa but in that area

overlaid with orange, giving a rusty brown appearance. A black median band,

indented between veins, extends from costa to just above cell. A row of black

subtornal spots located between veins and overlaying white patch extends

from tornus to CuA;. Forewing underside broadly grey-brown, with a mirror

image of upperside orange bands much paler, edged black/dark brown; a grey

patch at apex, extending into a grey terminal band that runs parallel to termen

but not reaching dorsum; termen area brown. Hindwing underside broadly

grey/brown, with grey fleck overlay; a series of light orange submedian and

median patches, faintly edged black; terminal area brown, with a row of

black spots, edged white and indented basally, located between veins, extends

from apex to tornus in an arc roughly parallel to termen; a distinctive brown

band extends from apex, bowed slightly basally, to just above tornus.

Male genitalia (Fig. 3, Genitalia slide ANIC 18571). Tegumen elongate,

bulbous posteriorly, broad and keel-shaped laterally; sociuncus with

prominent crown posteriorly, bent backwards, uncus sharp laterally and

broad, saddle-shaped dorsally, with numerous long fine setae; vinculum

uniformly very narrow; gnathos brachia acute, nearly parallel to uncus in

lateral view; valvae broad and tapered apically in lateral view, dorsally with

single large sclerotised hook apically, outer edge of valvae irregular, covered

with long fine setae; juxta long and narrow, tapered apically, strongly bowed

downwards, weakly bifurcated posteriorly, with pair of proximal fine

processes, aedeagus elongate and irregular, bulbous posteriorly with very

sharply tapering apex, adorned dorsally along prominent ridge with very

short, evenly spaced black spines along apical third of aedeagus.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. Named after Mark Lane, who spent seven months in East Timor

in 2002, under a United Nations military deployment. During this period

Mark collected many interesting specimens of moths and butterflies, often

under extremely difficult and arduous conditions.

Comments. Charaxes marki is a distinctive species readily distinguishable by

its wing shape, pattern, colouration and male genitalic characters. In

particular, the strongly contrasting fore and hind wing colouration is very

striking.

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

Figs 1-2. Charaxes marki sp. n., holotype male. (1) upperside; (2) underside.

73

74 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

Fig. 3-4. Charaxes spp., male genitalia. (3) C. marki Sp. n., genitalia slide ANIC

18571: (a) genitalia with right valva removed, lateral view, 10X; (b) juxta, ventral

view, 20X; (c) aedeagus, lateral view, 10X; (d) genitalia, dorsal view, 10X.

(4) C. elwesi: (a) genitalia with right valva removed, lateral view, 10X; (b) juxta,

ventral view, 20X; (c) aedeagus, lateral view, 10X; (d) genitalia, dorsal view, 10X.

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2) 75

The holotype has an unusually shaped hind wing unlike any other known

Indo-Pacific Charaxes species. It is distinct in that the sub-tornal part of the

termen between the single, very prominent tail and the tornus is strongly

indented and the inner margin is very pale cream, quite unlike all other

described Charaxes species in the region.

C. mars (from Sulawesi), C. madensis (from Buru) and C. elwesi (from the

Lesser Sunda Islands) all show some relationship to the new species. In all of

these species, except C. madensis, the costal third of the hindwing upperside

is darkened and the submarginal dark spots are represented as elongated

flecks. The male forewing upperside of C. marki is reminiscent of C.

madensis, having a dark brown ground colour with several bands of dull

orange-brown. Beneath, the colouration and pattern reflects C. elwesi but it is

much sootier than that species. The postmedian band configuration of C.

marki is similar to that of C. e/wesi but this band is much narrower, and

bowed towards the termen at both the tornus of the forewing and the apex of

the hind wing in C. marki, while it is comparatively straight in C. elwesi.

Genitalic characters are generally poorly diagnostic among the Indo-Pacific

Charaxinae (C. Müller, pers. obs.; Smiles (1982) for Polyura Billberg). The

U-shaped sociuncus (in dorsal view), short but sharp gnathos brachia,

sclerotised valvae and simple, strongly tapered aedeagus are all characteristic

of Indo-Pacific Charaxes. However, C. marki shows a number of distinctive

features when compared with C. mars, C. madensis and C. elwesi (Fig. 4),

features of the latter suggesting the closer relationship. The overall squat

appearance of the genitalia in dorsal view may be attributed to the broad

valvae with a thickened sclerotised hook apically as well as the rounded

sociuncus which lacks the pronounced uncus spines found in the other taxa.

The vinculum is very narrow and of uniform thickness in C. marki and the

saccus is simple and less bowed than in the other taxa. Additionally, the

juxta, viewed ventrally, is very long and tapered apically and the aedeagus is

irregular along its edges. Also, the short, evenly spaced spines along the

dorsal ridge of the aedeagus are thicker than in the other taxa examined.

Observations

The area in which C. marki was observed is a series of limestone ridges and

outcrops, clothed in dense vine scrub. The holotype was collected on the

summit of one of these limestone ridges and appeared to portray typical hill-

topping behaviour. Polyura galaxia galaxia Butler was a regular visitor to

these same ridge tops. Charaxes orilus was collected on lower sections of the

ridges and did not appear to exhibit hill-topping behaviour.

Acknowledgements

Mr Mark Lane is thanked for his assistance in the field during 2004, and for

his many contributions during 2002. Mr E.D. Edwards (ANIC) is thanked for

his generous advice, and Dr M.S. Moulds for helping with literature sources.

76 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

References

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

Melbourne & London; 416 pp.

HANAFUSA, H. 1985. Three new subspecies of Charaxes from south east Asia. /wase 3: 8-12.

MORINAKA, S. 1990. A new subspecies of Charaxes harmodius C. and R. Felder from Bali

(Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae). Bulletin of the Biogeographical Society of Japan 45; 87-90.

NISHIYAMA, Y. and OHTANI, T. 1981. New subspecies Charaxes ocellatus of Alor Island.

Memoirs of the Tsukada Collection 3: 31-32.

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

Academic Press, London; xvi + 736 pp, xxvi + 136 pls.

SMART, P. 1975. The illustrated encyclopedia of the butterfly world. Salamander Books,

London; 277 pp.

SMILES, R.L. 1982. The taxonomy and phylogeny of the genus Polyura Billberg (Lepidoptera:

Nymphalidae). Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History (Entomology) 44: 115-237, 5

text figs, plus 159 photographic figs.

TSUKADA, E. (Ed.) 1991. Butterflies of the South East Asian islands. 5. Nymphalidae (2).

Published by the author, Tokyo; 576 pp.

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2): 77-80 77

A NEW SPECIES OF POLYRHACHIS (AULACOMYRMA) EMERY

(HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE: FORMICINAE)

FROM PAPUA NEW GUINEA

RUDOLF J. KOHOUT

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

(e-mail: kohout@powerup.com.au)

Abstract

Polyrhachis (Aulacomyrma) enigma sp. n. is described and illustrated from Mt Missim, Papua

New Guinea.

Introduction

Ants of the subgenus Aulacomyrma Emery of Polyrhachis Fr. Smith are

largely restricted to New Guinea, with species occurring from the eastern

Indonesian islands of Aru and Misool, across mainland New Guinea, to the

Bismarck Archipelago, including New Britain and New Ireland. A recent

revision of the subgenus (Kohout, in press) recognised 36 species.

Subsequently, another species was discovered, represented by a single worker

and three dealate queens from Papua New Guinea. The worker superficially

resembles a member of the subgenus Cyrtomyrma Forel (where I had

originally placed it), but characters of the queens indicate that it is best placed

within Aulacomyrma. This remarkable new species is described below.

Methods

Photographs were taken using a ProgRes 3012 scanning digital camera

(Jenoptik) attached to a Leica MZ16 stereomicroscope. Images were then

processed using Auto-Montage (Syncroscopy, Division of Synoptics Ltd,

USA) and Photoshop (Adobe Inc., USA) software. Standard Measurements

and Indices: TL — Total length (the necessarily composite measurement of

the outstretched length of the entire ant measured in profile); HL = Head

length (the maximum measurable length of the head in perfect full face view,

measured from the anteriormost point of the clypeal border or teeth, to the

posteriormost point of the occipital margin); HW = Head width (width of the

head in perfect full face view, measured immediately in front of the eyes); CI

= Cephalic index (HW x 100/HL); SL = Scape length (excluding the

condyle); SI = Scape index (SL x 100/HW); PW = Pronotal width (greatest

width of the pronotal dorsum); MTL = Metathoracic tibial length (maximum

measurable length of the tibia of the hind leg). Measurements were taken

using a Zeiss SR stereomicroscope with an eyepiece graticule calibrated

against a stage micrometer. All measurements are expressed in millimetres.

Abbreviations of institutions (with names of curators) are: ANIC = Australian

National Insect Collection, Canberra (S.O. Shattuck, R.W. Taylor); BMNH

= The Natural History Museum, London (B. Bolton); MCZC = Museum of

Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge (S.P. Cover; QMBA

— Queensland Museum, Brisbane (C. J. Burwell, G.B. Monteith).

78 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

Polyrhachis (Aulacomyrma) enigma sp. n.

(Figs 1-3)

Types. Holotype worker, PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Morobe Prov., Mt Missim (Mt.

Misim on label), 07°20’S, 146°43’E, (no date of collection), Stevens. Paratypes: 3

dealate queens, Eastern Highlands, Mingende, 05°58’S, 144553" E, 5000 ft, 14.1.1968,

B.B. Lowery. Holotype in MCZC; 1 paratype each in ANIC, BMNH and OMBA.

Description. Worker. Dimensions: TL c. 6.05; HL 1.56; HW 1.50; CI 96; SL

1.72; SI 115; PW 1.15; MTL 1.93. Black; mandibles reddish-brown with

teeth, inner and outer borders and base narrowly lined dark brown. Antennae

dark brown with apex of last funicular segment distinctly lighter, yellowish-

brown. Mandibles with 5 teeth, reducing in length towards base. Anterior

clypeal margin widely and shallowly emarginate medially. Clypeus in profile

very weakly sinuate; posteriorly with rather vague, short, blunt, medial

carina; basal margin flat, laterally indicated by thin line. Frontal triangle

indistinct. Frontal carinae sinuate, rather short, with moderately raised

margins anteriorly, rather flat posteriorly; central area relatively wide with

weakly raised medial carina. Sides of head in front of eyes weakly concave,

converging towards mandibular bases; widely rounded behind eyes into

weakly convex occipital margin. Eyes rather small, moderately convex,

situated well forward from occipital corners; in full face view marginally

exceeding lateral cephalic outline. Ocelli absent. Pronotal humeri with

dorsally flattened triangular teeth, their lateral margins continued for a short

distance forming incomplete lateral pronotal margins. Mesosoma in profile

weakly convex; promesonotal suture distinct; mesonotum with weakly

indicated lateral margins, almost flat in profile; metanotal groove lacking;

propodeum laterally emarginate, with dorsum smoothly rounding into oblique

declivity. Petiole scale-like, with anterior face almost flat, posterior face

weakly convex; dorsal margin armed with pair of acute dorsal teeth and pair

of more slender, short, lateral spines; margins between dorsal teeth and lateral

spines.somewhat jagged, with additional pair of blunt denticles. Anterior face

of first gastral segment lower than height of petiole, with anterodorsal margin

widely rounding onto dorsum of segment. Mandibles at masticatory borders

longitudinally rugose, rather polished towards bases. Legs light orange-red

with distal ends of femora narrowly and proximal ends of tibiae more widely

black; tarsi mostly dark brown with apical segments distinctly lighter,

yellowish-brown. Whole body surfaces extremely finely shagreened, with

dorsum of head and mesosoma highly polished. Sides of pronotum with

numerous shallow striae directed obliquely towards very finely wrinkled

lateral lobes; mesonotum and propodeum with numerous, shallow, oblique

striae. Abundant shallow punctures scattered over most body surfaces.

Mandibles with a few short, curved and semierect hairs near masticatory

borders and along outer margins; towards bases with numerous, very short,

appressed hairs arising from pits. Clypeus with several short setae lining

anterior margin. All body surfaces with numerous, scattered, rather

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2) 79

Figs 1-3. Polyrhachis (Aulacomyrma) enigma sp. n., worker (1) frontal view of head;

(2) lateral view of head, mesosoma and petiole; (3) dorsal view of head, mesosoma

and petiole.

short, semierect or appressed hairs arising from shallow punctures and pits.

Posterior margins of gastral segments lined with medium length, erect hairs,

distinctly longer hairs concentrated around gastral apex. Leading edge of

antennal scapes with several short, erect hairs. Legs with only a few, medium

length hairs arising from ventral surfaces of femora and dorsal surfaces of

middle and hind tibiae.

Queen. Dimensions: TL c. 7.06-7.36; HL 1.75-1.81; HW 1.59-1.68; CI 91-

93; SL 1.68-1.84; SI 104-114; PW 1.25-1.31; MTL 1.93-2.03 (3 measured).

Black, with colour scheme virtually identical to that in worker. Very similar

to worker with usual characters identifying full sexuality, including three

ocelli and complete thoracic structure. Clypeus in profile straight, with blunt,

longitudinal carina medially; basal clypeal margin flat. Eyes more convex

than in worker, clearly breaking lateral cephalic outline. Pronotal humeri with

blunt triangular teeth; mesoscutum slightly wider than long with lateral

margins strongly converging anteriorly, forming narrowly rounded anterior

margin; median line very short, poorly indicated; parapsides distinct, rather

80 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

flat; mesoscutum in profile relatively low, widely rounding onto flat dorsum.

Mesoscutellum flat, not elevated above dorsal plane of mesosoma; metanotal

groove strongly impressed. Propodeum wide, strongly transverse, convex in

profile, laterally terminating into blunt angles; dorsum descending into

steeply oblique declivity in medially uninterrupted line. Petiole with dorsal

margin sharp, entire, laterally weakly rounding into short, acute,

posterolaterally curved spines. Subpetiolar process triangular. Anterior face

of first gastral segment low, smoothly rounding onto dorsum. Mandibles

rather distinctly, longitudinally rugose. Head, including clypeus with very

faint, longitudinal striae, more distinct between eyes and frontal carinae.

Mesosoma laterally with striae more distinct than those in worker;

mesoscutum anteriorly with longitudinal, medially converging, rather weakly

indicated striae. Propodeal dorsum distinctly, longitudinally striate with

declivity and petiole very finely, mostly transversely, reticulate. All dorsal

surfaces of head, mesosoma and gaster very finely shagreened, highly

polished, but not as shiny as in worker. Male and immature stages unknown.

Remarks. The holotype is the only available worker of this species and

nothing is known about its nesting habits. In general appearance, including

the scale-like petiole, it closely resembles some members of the subgenus

Cyrtomyrma. However, the shape of the head that almost completely lacks a

lateral carina, and the partially developed lateral margins of the pronotum and

mesonotum, exclude it from Cyrtomyrma. In particular, the queens closely

resemble some members of the recently established P. porcata-group of

Aulacomyrma (Kohout, in press) and their distinguishing characters,

including the poorly defined lateral margins of the mesosoma and the arcuate

dorsal margin of the petiole with short lateral teeth, support the placement of

P. enigma within this latter subgenus. In spite of the distance (about 260 km)

separating their collection localities, the holotype worker and paratype

queens share most of the specific morphological characters and I am

confident that they represent a single biological species.

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to Stefan Cover (MCZC), Steve Shattuck and Bob Taylor (both

ANIC) for unlimited access to the Polyrhachis collections in their care. This

work was supported by two Harvard University Ernst Mayr Grant Awards

allowing a visit to the MCZC. I am also indebted to Natalie Barnett (ANIC)

for help in obtaining the digital images and Chris Burwell (QMBA) for

commenting on a draft of the manuscript.

Reference

KOHOUT, RJ. (in press). Revision of the subgenus Aulacomyrma Emery of the genus

Polyrhachis Fr. Smith, with descriptions of new species. Memoirs of the American

Entomological Institute 78.

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2): 81-92 81

CLINAL VARIATION IN FEMALE HYPOLYCAENA PHORBAS

PHORBAS (FABRICIUS) (LEPIDOPTERA: LYCAENIDAE) AND

REVISION OF THE STATUS OF H. P. INGURA TINDALE

TREVOR A. LAMBKIN

Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, 665 Fairfield Road, Yeerongpilly,

Qld 4105 (Email: Trevor.Lambkin@dpi.qld.gov.au)

Abstract

Hypolycaena phorbas (Fabricius) from Queensland and the Northern Territory is reviewed.

Females were found to form a cline in Queensland, with predominantly pale forms occurring in

the south, progressing to mostly dark forms at the northern extremity of its range. This trend was

found to be unrelated to season. Dark specimens from the northern Torres Strait islands were

found not to differ from specimens from the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia,

and further evidence is provided to place H. p. ingura Tindale as a junior synonym (syn. n.) of H.

p. phorbas. There is no evidence to indicate that variation in males is also clinal, with male

variations found to occur randomly throughout the range of H. phorbas. The current known

distribution of the species in Torres Strait is summarised.

Introduction

Within Australia, Hypolycaena phorbas (Fabricius) occurs in a variety of

coastal and subcoastal habitats, extending from the Mitchell Plateau in

Western Australia, through the northern part of the Northern Territory and

into Queensland, including the northern Torres Strait islands (Braby 2000,

Lambkin ef al. 2005), the west coast of Cape York Peninsula (Hancock and

Monteith 2004) and the east coast from Cape York to Tannum Sands, just

south of Gladstone (Braby 2000). Two subspecies are recognized from

Australia; H. p. phorbas (Fabricius) is known from tropical Queensland,

while H. p. ingura Tindale is recorded from northern Western Australia and

northern areas of the Northern Territory (Braby 2000). The two subspecies

are distinguished primarily on the basis of the size of the central cream-

coloured patch on the upperside of the forewing in females. In H. p. ingura

this white patch is normally much less prominent and covered with blue-grey

scales, or sometimes absent (Tindale 1923, Braby 2000).

Prior to the mid 1970s, almost all known specimens of H. p. phorbas were

from mainland Queensland, south of Cape York Peninsula, and its coastal

islands (Braby 2000), with a relatively small number known north of

Cooktown (Waterhouse and Lyell 1914). Since then, more systematic

collecting of butterflies on Cape York Peninsula and in Torres Strait has been

undertaken, with many more specimens of H. p. phorbas now known from

Cape York Peninsula and many of the Torres Strait island groups (Braby

2000). In general, specimens of H. phorbas from the more northern Torres

Strait islands have been difficult to assign taxonomically (Braby 2000), a

problem compounded by the existence of a similar species, H. litoralis

Lambkin, Meyer, Brown & Weir, recently identified from the same islands

(Lambkin et al. 2005). The upperside facies of male H. p. phorbas are also

variable, with the upperside colouration of both wings varying from greenish-

82 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

blue to purple (Waterhouse and Lyell 1914), and with many specimens

possessing a variable area of white scales on the forewing in the area below

the sex brand, above vein 1A+2A. Braby (2000) reported that the upperside

colour of males in the southern end of the species' range tended to be darker

and duller blue. Parsons (1998) reported that both sexes of H. phorbas silo

Fruhstorfer from Papua New Guinea were also variable, with some males

also possessing white scales above vein 1A+2A.

An examination of specimens of both sexes of H. p. phorbas from

Queensland has indicated that female specimens north of Cooktown are, like

H. p. ingura, highly variable in the extent of the forewing cream patch, with

many specimens indistinguishable from H. p. ingura. Males of H. p. phorbas

are highly variable, even from the same geographical area, and therefore it is

difficult to assign particular colour forms to geographical areas. However, in

Queensland, the female variation appears to be clinal. In this paper, the

variation in the external upperside facies of female H. p. phorbas, in

particular the size and character of the central cream/bluish-grey patch of the

forewing, is documented, illustrated and analysed to determine if this

variation is clinal. Variation in males from Queensland and Northern

Territory/Western Australia is also reviewed in order to determine if they

form part of this cline. In light of the findings of this study, the status of H.

p. ingura is revised. Abbreviations used for specimen depositories and

collectors are listed in Appendix 1.

Methods and materials

A microscopic examination of the forewing patches of female H. phorbas

indicated that the patches consist of, when present, densely packed cream-

coloured scales, overlaid with a variable number of much sparser greyish-

blue scales. In this study, 318 females (Appendix 1) of H. phorbas from

mainland Queensland, Torres Strait, Northern Territory and Western

Australia were examined and, in general, almost all specimens could be

placed into one of three morphological groups. These groups were

categorised relative to the size and scale structure of the central forewing

patch, and the prominence of subterminal rings and extent of white and

bluish-grey scaling on the hindwing upperside. The specimens were further

grouped relative to their collection sites and placed into four nominated

geographical zones. The boundaries of these zones were designated to be

locations where morphological characters appeared to change. Specimens

within each morphological group from each geographical zone across the

species' range were counted and compared in order to determine if the

variation was clinal. As well, the month of capture for each specimen from

each morphological group in each geographical zone was tabulated in order

to detect any seasonal effect on morphology.

The morphological groups chosen (upperside of females) with distinguishing

facies were:

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2) 83

Morph group 1: Forewing with extensive area of cream scales (greater than

half the size of the patch), partly overlaid with a large area of dense bluish-

grey scales. Hind wing with prominent white and bluish-grey scales and with

prominent subterminal rings (Figs 1, 2).

Morph group 2: Forewing with restricted area of cream scales (less than half

the size of the patch), overlaid totally with a much larger area of dense

bluish-grey scales. Hind wing with reduced bluish-grey scales and with

prominent subterminal rings (Figs 3, 4).

Morph group 3: Forewing without cream or bluish-grey scales or with only a

dusting of scales. Hind wing without coloured scales and with white

subterminal rings markedly reduced or blurred (Figs 5, 6).

Another morphological group was identified (Figs 7, 8), but it was not

considered for the study as it was consistently rare across all geographical

zones (between 3 and 6 specimens per zone), and had no bearing on the

study. Its external facies were: forewing with large area of cream scales

without bluish-grey scales; hind wing without coloured scales and with

blurred subterminal rings.

The geographical zones designated across the species’ range were: Zone A -

coastal Queensland from Gladstone north to and including Cooktown; Zone

B - coastal Queensland from north of Cooktown to and including the

Thursday Island group of islands in Torres Strait, plus western Cape York

Peninsula; Zone C — central, eastern and northern Torres Strait islands; Zone

D - Northern Territory and northern Western Australia.

In addition, 123 males of H. phorbas (Appendix 2) from Queensland and the

Northern Territory/Western Australia were firstly grouped into the four

geographical zones. The specimens were then examined to determine if any

morphological characters, such as the extent or type of upperside colouration,

or the presence of white scales on the forewing in the area above vein

1A+2A, could be linked to the geographical zones.

Results

The number of females in each morphological category from each

geographical zone, and the percentage of each of the total, were grouped and

tabulated, including months of capture for all specimens (Table 1). The

majority of specimens (73.596) from the most southern region (Zone A) had

extensive areas of cream scales (morph group 1), with this feature

progressively diminishing in specimens from Zone B (44.6% of specimens),

to a very low frequency in the most northern regions (Zones C and D: 12.1%

and 5.696 respectively). Inversely, the frequency of the two darker morph

groups (2 and 3) progressively increased from south to north, to an extent that

the majority of specimens north of Cooktown (Zones B, C and D) had

generally dark upperside facies.

84 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

Figs 1-8. Hypolycaena phorbas, upperside of females. All figures to scale [forewing

lengths in parentheses]: (1) Iron Range, Old, 4-12.vii.1995, JWCD (ANIC) [18 mm];

(2) Thursday I., Qld, 23-30.vii.1983, TAL (TLIKC) [19 mm]; (3) Dauan I., Qld,

14.v.2001, AIK (TLIKC) [20 mm]; (4) Thursday I., 12.xii.1993, TAL (TLIKC) [19

mm]; (5) Dauan I., 28.1.2004, AIK (TLIKC) [20 mm]; (6) Darwin, NT, 1-22.iii.2003,

RPW (TLIKC) [17 mm]; (7) Dauan I., 3.v.2001, AIK (TLIKC) [18 mm]; (8) Yorke I.,

Old, 15.vi.1973, JWCD (ANIC) [17 mm].

Figs 9-24. Hypolycaena phorbas, upperside of males. All figures to scale [forewing

lengths in parentheses]: (9) Dauan I., Qld, 21.11.2004, TAL (TLIKC) [18 mm];

(10) Dauan I., 19.1.2004, TAL (TLIKC) [17 mm]; (11) Dauan I., 21.1.2004, TAL

(TLIKC) [17 mm]; (12) Dauan I., 29.12004, AIK (TLIKC) [18 mm]; (13) Cape

Wessell, NT, 26.vi.1973, JWCD (ANIC) [16.5 mm]; (14) East Point, Darwin, NT,

28.iv.-3.v.1993, AIK (TLIKC) [16 mm]; (15) Darwin, 1-22.iii.2003, RPW (TLIKC)

[15 mm]; (16) Kalumburu, WA, 13.v.1991, JWCD (ANIC) [15 mm]; (17) Thursday

L, Old, 12-15.iv.1992, TAL (TLIKC) [15 mm]; (18) Cape York, Qld, 21.x.1979,

JWCD (ANIC) [16 mm]; (19) Thursday I., 22.vi.1973, JWCD (ANIC) [17 mm];

(20) Thursday I., 23-31.vii.1983, TAL (TLIKC) [16 mm]; (21) Townsville, Qld,

20.xi.1984, PSV (TLIKC) [17 mm]; (22) Great Keppel T., Qld, 25.xii.2002, JSB

(SBC) [17 mm]; (23) Yeppoon, Qld, 3-4.i.1979, TAL (TLIKC) [19 mm];

(24) Allingham, Qld, 10.iii.1982, PW (DPIFC) [18 mm].

85

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

86 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

Table 1. Proportions and percentages of the three morph types of female H. phorbas

(318 specimens) occurring in four designated geographical zones in Queensland,

Northern Territory and northern Western Australia. Months of capture (i-xii) are

indicated for specimens in each morph group for each geographical zone.

Geographical zones Proportion and percentage in each morphology group*

[with months of capture]

Morph 1 Morph 2 Morph 3

(pale) (intermediate) (dark)

A: Gladstone to 36/49 73.5% 10/49 18.4% 4/49 8.1%

Cooktown [iii-vii, x-xii] [i, iii, v, xii] [xii, v]

B: Cooktown to 33/74 44.6% 38/74 51.4% 3/74 4Yo

Thursday I. group [ii-viii] [i-viii, xii] [vi-viii]

C: Torres Strait N of 13/107 12.1% 41/107 38.396 53/107 49.6%

Thursday I. [i-ii, iv-v, vii] [i-ii, iv-v, vii, ix] [i-ii, iv-vi, ix]

D: Northern Territory, 4/71 5.696 23/71 32.596 44/71 61.9%

Western Australia [i, iii, v] [i-vi, xii] [i-vii, xii]

* The numbers of specimens of the rarer morph that were not considered for the study

found in each geographical zone were: in Zone A - 4, B - 3, C - 4 and D - 6.

For all specimens examined there was no seasonal influence detected, that is

no correlation between month of capture and any morphological category in

any geographical zone. The size of the females examined varied within each

morphological category and geographical zone (forewing lengths 14-20 mm).

In summary, the review indicated that the upperside facies of female H. p.

phorbas became progressively darker moving in a northerly direction through

tropical Queensland and, in addition, specimens from the northern Torres

Strait islands contained similar proportions of each morph group to the

Northern Territory/Western Australia H. p. ingura specimens, and this trend

was not related to seasons.

The review of the males from each geographical zone indicated that they had

common features in all zones (Figs 9-24). In general, the uppersides were

highly variable, particularly in the extent, shade and intensity of the coloured

area, this colour varying from dark purple-blue through to aqua-green. The

relative size of the sex brand and the extent of white scaling in the area above

vein 1A+2A on the forewing, and the number of white subterminal rings on

the upperside of the hind wing, were also variable. Moreover, dark purple-

blue (Figs 9, 15, 19 and 23) and paler blue specimens (Figs 10, 13, 18 and

24), including specimens with white scaling in the area above vein 1A+2A of

the forewing (Figs 9, 16, 20 and 22), occurred in all zones. Forewing lengths

varied greatly (13-19 mm), as did the shape of the hind wings and, to a lesser

extent, the forewings, but none of these features was related to any particular

geographical zone. Four specimens were noteworthy in that they were

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2) 87

atypical of all other males examined (Appendix 2). These were: (i), Great

Keppel Island, Qld, 25.xii.2002, JSB (JSBC) — very restricted upperside

coloured areas, apical black ground colour of forewing meeting sex brand

(forewing length 17 mm) (Fig 22); (ii, Mt White summit, Coen, Qld,

6.vii.1976, GBM (QM) — small with white scaling covering almost all the

coloured areas of the forewings (14 mm); (iii), Sale R., WA, 16.v.1996, CGM

(CGMC) — small with grey-blue upperside (12 mm); (iv), Yeppoon, Qld,

27.x.1924, GB (QM) — small with very dull blue upperside (13 mm).

Discussion

Hypolycaena phorbas shares an obligate relationship with the weaver or

green tree ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera: Formicinae)

(Eastwood and Fraser 1999) and, consequently, the two species” distributions

are closely linked (Lokkers 1986, Shattuck and Barnett 2001, Braby 2000).

Lokkers (1986) studied the distribution of O. smaragdina in Australia and his

mapped data indicated that its distribution on mainland Australia closely

matched the known distribution of H. phorbas. He also found the ant in the

intervening gulf country region, between the Northern Territory and

Queensland, where H. phorbas has not yet been recorded.

All females of H. phorbas have the same dull greyish-black upperside ground

colour, but the extent of the central cream forewing patch, the amount of

bluish-grey scales that overlie the patch and the number and intensity of the

white subterminal rings on the hind wing vary greatly, even within the same

geographical zone. Despite this variation, there were distinct trends observed

which strongly indicates that female H. phorbas forms a cline in tropical

Queensland, with typical “pale” H. p. phorbas predominately occurring south

of Cooktown, with mostly darker specimens recorded northwards to the

southern Torres Strait islands, and with mainly very dark examples, typical of

H. p. ingura, found in northern Torres Strait. This cline is likely to extend to

southern coastal Papua New Guinea, where females also have the central

cream-coloured patch on the forewing highly variable in size and with dark

examples known from coastal towns opposite the northern Torres Strait

islands (E.D. Edwards pers. comm.).

Although this cline is evident in Queensland because of the known

continuous distribution of H. phorbas, from Tannum Sands to northern

Torres Strait, there are no collection records for this species from the gulf

country between the west coast of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland and

East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. In this particular area O.

smaragdina is known to occur (Lokkers 1986) and, considering the diverse

habitats that H. phorbas occurs in, its wide host range and its obligate

association with O. smaragdina, it is highly likely that H. phorbas has a

continuous distribution from southern coastal Papua New Guinea across

Torres Strait into Queensland, and from there through the gulf country to East

Arnhem Land, Darwin and northern Western Australia. With the above

88 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

evidence, and the fact that examples from northern Torres Strait and the

Northern Territory/Western Australia mostly fall into the same morph group,

the status of subspecies H. p. ingura is tenuous. Therefore, it is proposed here

that H. p. ingura Tindale be placed as a junior synonym (syn. n.) of H. p.

phorbas (Fabricius).

The upperside facies of all male H. phorbas examined were highly variable,

particularly in the upperside colour and in the presence of white scaling in the

forewing area above vein 1A+2A. Males from the southern end of its range

at Yeppoon, referred to by Braby (2000) as being darker and duller blue on

the upperside, were also recognised from other locations, even in the extreme

north of the range. As a result of this variability, no distinctive feature or

collection of features could be assigned to any geographical zone and no

progressive trends were detected. Overall, there was no evidence found to

indicate that the variation observed in males was clinal.

Oddly, the distribution of H. phorbas in Torres Strait is poorly documented,

with Braby (2000) offering only scant information on its distribution in this

region, although he presented a useful map of the region showing all the

island groups. Therefore, a summary of the current known distribution of H.

phorbas in Torres Strait is documented here. All recent collection records

since the 1970s indicate that it occurs on the Thursday Island group of islands

(i.e. Thursday, Prince of Wales, Horn and Hammond) (CGM, RBL and S.J.

Johnson [SJJ] collection records, De Baar 1988, Lambkin and Knight 1983),

on Moa and Badu Islands (Valentine and Johnson 1993, CGM and AIK

collection records), on the small, uninhabited islands of Suarji and Getullai

immediately east of Moa (De Baar 1988), on Yorke and Yam Islands in the

central eastern area of the strait (JWD and AIK collection records,

respectively) and in the far north of the strait near the Papua New Guinea

coastline on Saibai, Boigu and Dauan Islands (AIK, CEM, JFD, PSV, RPW,

SJJ, SSB and TAL collection records). Interestingly, despite extensive

collecting since the early 1980s on Darnley and Murray Islands in the far east

of the strait, there are still no collection records of H. phorbas from these two

islands aside from the early 20th century records of H. Elgner (Waterhouse

and Lyell 1914). In addition, H. phorbas is not known from neighbouring

Stephens Island. Interestingly, however, since the. commencement of this

collecting resurgence no O. smaragdina obligate butterfly species, nor the

ant, have been collected on Murray Island, and only Liphyra brassolis

Rothschild (Lycaenidae) (Johnson 1983), together with O. smaragdina (De

Baar 1988), are known from Darnley Island.

Acknowledgements

I thank the following for allowing examination of material held in their

collections: J.S. Bartlett, S.S. Brown, M. De Baar, J.F. Donaldson (including

the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Collection, Brisbane),

E.D. Edwards (Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra), C.E. Meyer,

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2) 89

C.G. Miller, G.B. Monteith (Queensland Museum, Brisbane) and R.P. Weir.

Appreciation is given to S.S. Brown, J.W. d'Apice, J.F. Donaldson, S.J.

Johnson, A.I. Knight, R.B. Lachlan, C.E. Meyer, C.G. Miller, P.S. Valentine

and R.P. Weir for providing collection records, and to E.D. Edwards for

information on H. p. phorbas in southern Papua New Guinea. J.S. Bartlett

gave valuable support in formatting and preparing the colour plates.

References

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

CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood; xx + 976 pp.

DE BAAR, M. 1988. Insects collected during a trip to Torres Strait 27 March to 10 April, 1987.

News Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Queensland 15: 107-117.

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

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

HANCOCK, D.L. and MONTEITH, G.B. 2004. Some records of butterflies (Lepidoptera) from

western Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. Australian Entomologist 31(1): 21-24.

JOHNSON, S.J. 1983. A brief look at the butterflies of Darnley Island. News Bulletin of the

Entomological Society of Queensland 11: 117-119.

LAMBKIN, T.A. and KNIGHT, A.I. 1983. Butterflies recorded from the Torres Strait and

northern peninsular regions in July, 1983. News Bulletin of the Entomological Society of

Queensland 11: 98-103.

LAMBKIN, T.A., MEYER, C.E., BROWN, S.S, WEIR, R.P., DONALDSON, J.F. and

KNIGHT, A.I. 2005. A new species of Hypolycaena C. & R. Felder (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

from Australia and its relationship with H. phorbas (Fabricius). Australian Entomologist 32(1):

17-35.

LOKKERS, C. 1986. The distribution of the weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius)

(Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in northern Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 34: 683-687.

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

Academic Press, London; xvi + 736 pp.

SHATTUCK, S.O. and BARNETT, N.J. 2001. Australian ants online (website). CSIRO

Entomology. http://ento.csiro.au/science/ants/formicinae/oecophylla/oecophylla.htm.

TINDALE, N.B. 1923. On Australian Rhopalocera. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal

Society of South Australia 47: 342-354, pls 28-30 (348).

VALENTINE, P.S. and JOHNSON, S.J. 1993. The butterflies of Moa Island, Torres Strait.

Victorian Entomologist 23 (6): 116-121.

WATERHOUSE, G.A. and LYELL, G. 1914. The butterflies of Australia. Angus and Robertson,

Sydney; vi 4 239 pp.

Appendix 1

Abbreviations of specimen depositories for Appendices 1-2 and Figures 1-24 are:

ANIC — Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra; CEMC - C.E. Meyer

Collection, Canberra; CGMC — C.G. Miller Collection, Lennox Head; DPIFC —

Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Collection, Brisbane; JFDC —

J.F. Donaldson Collection, Thornlands; JSBC — J.S. Bartlett Collection, Brisbane;

90 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

MDBC - M. De Baar Collection, Brisbane; QM — Queensland Museum, Brisbane;

RPWC — R.P. Weir Collection, Darwin; SSBC — S.S. Brown Collection, Bowral;

TLIKC — Joint T.A. Lambkin and A.I. Knight Collections, Brisbane.

Abbreviations of collectors recorded in Appendices 1-2 and Figures 1-24 are:

AIK — ALI. Knight; CEM — C.E. Meyer; CGM - C.G. Miller; DC — D. Cook;

DLH - D.L. Hancock; DW — D. Wilson; DY — D. Yeates; GB — G. Barnard;

GBM - G.B. Monteith; JCO — J.C. Olive; JFD — J.F. Donaldson; JSB — J.S. Bartlett;

JWCD - J.W.C. d'Apice; LRR — L.R. Ring; MDB — M. De Baar; PRS — P.R. Samson;

PSV — P.S. Valentine; PW — P. Wilson; RBL — R.B. Lachlan; RPW — R.P. Weir;

SRM - S.R. Monteith; SSB — S.S. Brown; TAL — T.A. Lambkin; WG — W. Graham;

WHM - W.H. Miskin.

Collection data for 317 specimens of female H. phorbas examined and placed into

four geographical zones

ZONE A. QUEENSLAND: 2 99, Allingham, ex pupa, 10.iii. 1982, 25.11.1985, PW

(DPIFC); 2 99, Annan River, Cooktown, 31.v.1998, CGM (CGMO); 7 99, Cairns,

26.xii.1966 (1), 2.iv.1968 (2), 16.iv.1969 (1), 7.v.1969 (1), 28.v.1974 (2), JWCD

(ANIC); 2 99, Cairns, 12.xii.1963, 17.v.1971, CGM (CGMC); | 9, Cape Tribulation,

19.1v.1969, JWCD (ANIC); 2 99, Cardwell, WHM (QM); 1 $, Cardwell, 21-

23.xi.2004, MDB (MDBO); 1 9, Cooktown, 20.iv.1922, GB (QM); 1 9, Cooktown,

12.v.1992, JWCD (ANIC); 1 9, Cooktown, 7.v.1999, CGM (CGMC); 1 9, Crystal Ck,

41 km S of Ingham, 24.11.2002, CGM (CGMC); 1 9, Ellis Beach, 3.xii.1964, CGM

(CGMC); 1 9, Flying Fish Point, 24.iv.1987, AIK (TLIKC); 7 99, Gordonvale,

17.1v.1992 (1), 11.iv.1994 (1), 12.vi.1994 (2), 5.1.1995 (2), 8.vii.1998 (1), CEM

(CEMC); 1 9, larva coll. Home Hill, 30.1.1986, PRS (DPIFC); 1 9, Lake Placid,

Cairns, 21.xii.1963, CGM (CGMC); 1 9, Lucinda, 26.1.2002, CGM (CGMC); 1 9,

Port Douglas, 13.v.1973, CGM (CGMC); 1 9, larva coll. Port Douglas, 30.iv.1985,

PRS (TLIKC); 1 9, S. of Port Douglas, 21.iii.1975, MDB (MDBC); 1 9, Saunders

Beach, 17.iv.1992, LRR (CEMC); 1 9, same data except (RPWC); 3 99, Shute

Harbour, 13.xii.1966 (2), 29.11.1968 (1), JWCD (ANIC); 1 9, Townsville, 4.v.1983,

AIK (TLIKO); 1 ?, Townsville, 18.v.1983, SSB (SSBC); 2 99, Townsville, 10.v.1984,

20.xi.1984, PSV (TLIKC); 1 9, Trinity Beach, 20.v.1994, JCO (CEMC); | 9, Trinity

Park, 26.iv.1995, TAL (TLIKC); 1 9, West Hill Ck, 50 km S of Sarina, 11.xii.1983,

MDB (MDBC); 2 99, Second Bch, Yarrabah Pen., 29.xi.2004, MDB (MDBC); 2 99,

Yeppoon, 27.x.1924, 28.x.1924, GB (QM); 2 99, Yeppoon, 12.11.1987, AIK

(TLIKC).

ZONE B. QUEENSLAND: 1 9, Bamaga, 19-20.vi.1992, AIK (TLIKC); 3 99,

Bamaga, 30.vii.1998 (2), 7.vii.1998 (1), CEM (CEMC); | 9, 11 km S of Batavia

Downs, 30.vi.1975, GBM (QM); 8 99, Cape York, 26.iv.1969 (1), 29.iv.1969 (1),

11.vi.1973 (3), 21.v.1974 (1), 7-13.iv.1977 (1), 22.v.1992 (1), JWCD (ANIC); 1 9,

Cape York, 6.vi.1928, GB (QM); 1 9, Capsize Ck, 64 km N of Archer R., 17.vii.1975,

GBM (QM); 3 99, 15 km W of Captain Billy Ck, 5-12.1i.1976, GBM (QM); 1 9, 43

km NW of Cooktown, 13.viii.1977, CGM (CGMC); 2 99, 23 km N of Cooktown,

27.iv.1999, 28.iv.1999, CGM (CGMC); 1 9, 26 km W of Fairview Station, Coen Rd,

24.vii.1977, CGM (CGMC); | 9, Hibberd Pt, Weipa, 3-5.ii.1976, GBM (QM); | 9,

7 km N of Hopevale, 18.vii.1975, GBM & SRM (QM); 19, Iron Range, 10.viii.2001,

AIK (TLIKC); 2 99, Iron Range, 24.viii.1999, 10.vi.1982, CGM (CGMC); 1 9, Iron

Range, 4-12.vii.1995, JWCD (ANIC); 1 9, Iron Range, 7.vii.1999, RPW (RPWC);

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2) 91

1 9, Kowanyama, 10.1.1977, DLH (QM); 1 9, Stock Ck, 15 km E of Kowanyama,

13.1.1977, DLH (QM); 3 99, Lockerbie, 23.iv.-1.v.2004, CEM (CEMC); 1 9,

Lockerbie, 10.v.2003, SSB (SSBC); 1 9, 22 km N of Moreton, 2.vii.1975, GBM

(QM); 1 9, Musgrave, 23.v.1998, CGM (CGMC); 1 9, Normanby River crossing,

12.v.1992, JWCD (ANIC); 1 9, Rocky Pt, Weipa, 3-5.ii.1976, GBM (QM); 1 9,

Stewart R, 6 km W of Port Stewart, 19-20.vii.1975, GBM (QM); 6 99, Thursday

Island, Torres Strait, 22.vii.1983 (1), 24.vii. 1983 (2), 16-17.vi.1992 (1), 10.iv.2000

(1), 22.v.2001 (1), AIK (TLIKC); 17 99, Thursday I., 24-26.ii.2000 (2), 13.v.2001

(1), 24.iv.2001 (2), 4-5.v.2002 (1), 8.v.2002 (4), 9.v.2002 (1), 10.v.2002 (1),

13.v.2002 (1), 18.v.2002 (1), 20.v.2002 (1), 23.v.2002 (1), 26.v.2002 (1), CEM

(CEMO); 2 99, Thursday I., 30.iii.-2.iv.1984, JWCD (ANIC); 3 99, Thursday I., 3-

4.v.2002, RPW (RPWC); 3 99, Thursday I., v.2001, SSB (SSBC); 5 99, Thursday I.,

23.vii. 1983 (1), 12-15.iv.1992 (2), 12.xii.1993 (1), 25.iv.1995 (1), TAL (TLIKC).

ZONE C. QUEENSLAND (TORRES STRAIT): 1 9, airstrip, Badu Island,

11.vii. 1977, CGM (CGMC); 5 99, Boigu Island, 8-9.iv.1992, AIK (TLIKC); 3 99,

Boigu I., 8-9.iv.1992, TAL (TLIKC); 1 9, Boigu I., 12.iv.1992, TAL (MDBC); 21 99,

Dauan Island, 2.iv.2001 (2), 4.iv.2001 (2), 14.iv.2001 (1), 21.iv.2001 (1), 30.iv.2001

(1), 2.v.2001 (2), 3.v.2001 (3), 13.v.2001 (1), 14.v.2001 (1), 27.1.2004 (1), 28.1.2004

(2), 29.1.2004 (3), 30.1.2004 (1), AIK (TLIKC); 36 99, Dauan I., 11-17.iv.2001 (28),

19.iv.2001 (1), 21.iv.2001 (1), 27.iv.2001 (1), 28.iv.-2.v.2002 (4), 1.v.2002 (1), CEM

(CEMC); 6 99, Dauan L, 3-4.v.2002, RPW (RPWC); 2 99, Dauan I., 19.iv.2001,

25.v.2001, CEM (SSBC); 1 9, Dauan I., 26.iv.2002, SSB (SSBC); 6 99, Dauan I.,

17.1.2004 (1), 18.11.2004 (1), 19.11.2004 (1), 21.11.2004 (3), TAL (TLIKC); 6 99, Eet

Hill, Moa Island, 9-13.vii.1977 (4), 10.vii.1977 (1), 11.vii.1977 (1), CGM (CGMC);

3 99, St Pauls, Moa Island, 8.vii.1977, 14-17.vii.1977, 17.vii.1977, CGM (CGMC);

1 9, Moa Island, 27.v.1924, GB (QM); 3 99, Moa I., 9-13.vii.1977, GBM (QM); 1 9,

Moa I., 4.1.1975, RBL (SSBC); 8 99, Saibai Island, 10.iv.2001 (1), 19.iv.2001 (1),

7.v.2001 (2), 8.v.2001 (1), 22.v.2001 (1), 5.11.2004 (2), AIK (TLIKC); 1 9, Saibai I.,

2.v.2002, SSB (SSBC); 3 99, Saibai I., 28.ix.1992 (2), 22.1.1994 (1), TAL (TLIKC);

2 99, Yam Island, 18-20.vii.1977, GBM (QM); 1 9, Yam L, 11-12.vi.1992, AIK

(TLIKC); 1 9, Yorke Island, 15.vi.1973, JWCD (ANIC).

ZONE D. NORTHERN TERRITORY: 1 9, 10 km E of Adelaide R., 16.iv.1995, CEM

(SSBC); 2 99, Alyangula, 17-20.v.1982, 19-21.v.1982, JWCD (ANIC); 11 99,

Berrimah Research Stn, 10-20.1.2003, RPW (RPWC); 3 99, Bustard Island, 21.v. 1982,

JWCD (ANIC); 3 99, same data except CGM (CGMC); 1 9, Channel Island,

2.iv.1995, CEM (CEMC); 1 9, Casuarina, 14.1.1992, SSB (SSBC); 1 9, Darwin,

2.vii. 1973, JWCD (ANIC); 1 9, Darwin, 6.1.1987, CGM (CGMC); 3 99, Darwin,

20.iv.1991 (1), 8.11.1992 (2), DW (RPWC); 10 99, Darwin, ex larva, 1-22.iii.2003,

RPW (TLIKC); 4 99, Darwin, ex larva, 6-8.ii.2003, RPW (SSBC); 1 9, 130 km S of

Darwin, 1.v.1989, RPW (RPWC); 1 ©, Gunn Pt, 26.iv.1991, SSB (SSBC); 1 9,

Ininowinyin Gorge, via Oenpelli, 20.iv.1922, GB (QM); 1 9, Kakadu, 25-26.v.1986,

JWCD (ANIC); 5 99, Leanyer, 11.xii.1998 (1), 16.xii.1998 (1), 1.1.2000 (2),

10.11.2003 (1), RPW (RPWC); 1 9, Marrakai Rd, 70 km S of Darwin, 29.iii.1992,

DW (RPWC); 14 99, Palmerston, 2.iv.1995 (1), 16.iv.1995 (1), 18.iv.1995 (2),

19.1v.1995 (1), 22.iv.1995 (2), 23.1v.1995 (3), 26.iv.1995 (1), 28.iv.1995 (2),

25.v.1995 (1), CEM (CEMC); 1 9, Palmerston, 24.iv.1995, CEM (SSBC); 5 99,

Palmerston, 14.11.1992, SSB (SSBC); 1 9, Radon Ck, 14-16.vii.1979, GBM & DC

(QM); 2 99, Wessel, 26.vi.1973 JWCD (ANIC).

92 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 1 9, 37 km S of Kalumburu 3.vi.1990, CGM (CGMC);

1 2, Pascoe Island, West Kimberley, 30.v.1990 DY (QM).

Appendix 2

Collection data for 123 specimens of male H. phorbas examined

QUEENSLAND: 2 OO", Allingham, 10.iii.1982, 25.iii. 1985, PW (DPIFC); 4 oO’,

Bamaga, 27.vii.1983, 19-20.vi.1992, 3-8.v.1994 (2), AIK (TLIKC); 1 0%, Bamaga,

15.1v.1995, TAL (TLIKC); 2 00”, Boigu I., Torres Strait, 8-9.iv.1992, AIK (TLIKC);

1 0", same data except TAL (TLIKC); 2 00’, Cairns, 2.iv.1968, AD (ANIC); 4 00,

Cairns, 16.iv.1969, 25.xii.1969, 5.x.1970, 1.xii.1971, AWH (ANIC); 1 ©, Cairns,

28.v.1974, JWCD (ANIC); 3 oo’, Cape York, 29.iv.1969, 6.v.1969, 21.x.1979,

JWCD (ANIC); 1 ©”, Daintree, 16.v.1988, AIK (TLIKC); 14 00, Dauan I., Torres

Strait, 1.iv.2001, 3.iv.2001, 4.iv.2001, 10.iv.2001, 14.iv.2001, 2.v.2001, 9.v.2001,

10.v.2001, 11.v.2001 (2), 14.v.2001, 16.1.2004, 28.1.2004, 29.1.2004, AIK (TLIKC);

1 07, Dauan I., 4.iv.1990, JFD (JFDC); 23 00, Dauan I., 17.11.2004 (3), 18.11.2004

(3), 19.11.2004 (2), 21.11.2004 (15), TAL (TLIKC); 1 0, same data except (JFDC);

3 OO’, Flinders I., 5.1.1973, JWCD (ANIC); 1 0, Great Keppel I., 25.xii.2002, JSB

(JSBC); 3 00", Flying Fish Point, 25.iv.1982, 14.iv.1987, 21.iv.1987, AIK (TLIKC);

1 0”, Hull Heads, 27.iv.1978, TAL (DPIFC); 1 0, Iron Range, 26.v.-8.vi.1982, JWCD

(ANIC); 2 00", Moa I., Torres Strait, 15.iv.2001, 16.iv.2001, AIK (TLIKC); 1 ©, Mt

White summit, Coen, 6.vii.1976, GBM (QM); 3 OO, Portland Roads, 19.xii.1966,

2.v.1969 (2, JWCD (ANIC); 3 OO, Saibai I., Torres Strait, 28.ix.1992 (2),

14.13.2001, TAL (TLIKC); 6 OO", Saibai I., 10.iv.2001, 6.v.2001 (2), 7.v.2001,

15.11.2004 (2), AIK (TLIKC); 1 ©, Shute Harbour, 1.1.1967, RD (ANIC); 1 ©,

Thursday I., vii.1983, AIK (TLIKC); 2 oO, Thursday I., 23-31.vii.1983, 12-

15.iv.1992, TAL (TLIKC); 7 oO", Thursday I., 22.vi.1973 (5), 2.iv.1984 (2), JWCD

(ANIC); 4 00, Townsville, 20.xi.1984, PSV (TLIKC); 3 00”, Yeppoon, 27.x.1924,

GB (QM); 1 ©", Yeppoon, 3-4.1.1979, TAL (DPIFC); 1 0’, Yeppoon, 12.v.1995, AIK

(TLIKC); 1 ©’, Yorke I., Torres Strait, 16.vi.1973, JWCD (ANIC); 1 0, Yule Pt,

30.iv.1978, TAL (DPIFC).

NORTHERN TERRITORY: 1 ©, Bustard I., 21.v.1982 JWCD (ANIC); 3 OO,

Darwin, v.1983, WG (DPIFC); 6 00, Darwin, larva collected, 1-22.iii.2003, RPW

(TLIKC); 1 0, Darwin, 18-28.v.1986, JWCD (ANIC); 1 c, East Point, Darwin,

28.iv.1993, AIK (TLIKC); 1 ©”, Point Stuart, 6.vii. 1973, JWCD (ANIC); 1 ©’, Robin

Falls, 3.vii.1973, JWCD (ANIC); 1 ©, Rocky Bay, 3-7.v.1992, JWCD (ANIC);

2 00", Cape Wessel, 26.vi.1973, JWCD (ANIC).

WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 1 ©”, Kalumburu, 13.v.1991, JWCD (ANIC); 1 0, 37 km

S of Kalumburu, 12.v.1991, CGM (CGMC); 1 ©’, Sale R., 16.v.1996, CGM (CGMC).

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2): 93-102 93

NEW SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF RAPALA MOORE AND

DEUDORIX HEWITSON (LEPIDOPTERA: LYCAENIDAE) FROM

EAST TIMOR

D.A. LANE! and C.J. MÜLLER?

13 Janda Street, Atherton, Qld 4883

"Molecular Ecology Laboratory, Macquarie University, Ryde, NSW 2109

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

Abstract

Rapala aquamarina sp. n., R. christopheri sp. n., R. manea odemo subsp. n., R. varuna tacita

subsp. n. and Deudorix epijarbas timorleste subsp. n. are described and figured from East Timor.

They are compared with related Rapala Moore and Deudorix Hewitson taxa from the Indo-

Pacific region.

Introduction

Rapala Moore and Deudorix Hewitson are the two largest Indo-Pacific

genera of the lycaenid tribe Deudorigini. The genus Rapala contains several

dozen species that are essentially Southeast Asian in distribution, weakly

extending into the Palearctic and Australian regions. Within the Indo-Pacific

region, Corbet and Pendlebury (1978, 1992) recorded 14 species of Rapala

from Peninsula Malaysia, which were revised by Corbet (1939). Seki et al.

(1991) listed 12 species from Borneo, while only six species are known from

Sulawesi, east of Wallace's Line (Vane-Wright and de Jong 2003). D'Abrera

(1971, 1990) listed only R. varuna (Horsfield) from the Australian region, but

did not list R. varuna or any Deudorix species from Timor. Deudorix is

widely distributed in the Afrotropical, Oriental and Australian regions (Braby

2000). To date, no species of either Rapala or Deudorix is known or has been

recorded from Timor. During a recent visit to East Timor by one of us (DL,

in conjunction with Mark Lane) in 2004, four Rapala and one Deudorix

species were collected, which are discussed below.

Known species of Rapala, as in the related genus Deudorix, constitute both

‘blue’ and ‘orange’ species. All of the new Rapala taxa described here

represent “blue” species, except one, which clearly belongs to a group with

several representatives in Sulawesi and western Indonesia. The “orange”

species of Rapala were revised by Takanami (1992), who earlier (1989)

proposed a number of new synonyms and lectotypes for this group. Takanami

(1998) illustrated all known Southeast Asian species of Rapala, recognising

28 for the region.

The fauna of East Timor is poorly known, due mainly to extremely limited

access over the past thirty years. The recent independence of East Timor has

created an opportunity to gain access and observe some of the Lepidoptera

fauna there. Many detailed descriptions of Indo-Pacific Rapala and Deudorix

species have been published previously - where appropriate, the following

descriptions serve to highlight each species' distinguishing features.

94 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

The following collection acronyms have been used:: ANIC — Australian

National Insect Collection, Canberra; DLC — Private collection of D. A.

Lane, Atherton; CJMC — Private collection of C. J. Müller, Sydney.

Rapala aquamarina sp. n.

(Figs 1-4, 19)

Types. Holotype 0", EAST TIMOR: 5 km NW Bobonaro, 9?00'35"S, 124°17’E,

16.1.2004, D.A. & M.D. Lane (in ANIC). Paratypes. 1 ©, 1 9, same data as holotype,

but dated 15, 16.1.2004 (in DLC); 1 0”, same data as holotype but dated 15.1.2004 (in

CJMC).

Description. Male (Figs 1-2). Forewing length 15 mm. Head and eyes brown.

Thorax and abdomen aquamarine blue. Forewing upperside broadly black,

from basal 1/3 to tornus deep aquamarine blue; sex mark broad, light brown.

Hindwing upperside broadly deep aquamarine blue, termen narrowly edged

black; linear tail black, white tip; tornal lobe brown, a black central spot with

a black outer ring and blue scaling overlay. Forewing underside broadly

brown, termen edged darker brown; a faint subterminal band runs parallel to

termen; a broad brown submedian band, edged white, extends from costa,

directed towards inner tornus but not reaching dorsum; a short brown band

transverses end of cell. Hindwing underside broadly brown, dorsum area

slightly darker brown; a broad dark brown band, edged white, extends from

costa directed towards tornus for 3/4, then angling towards dorsum; white

edging in dorsal area more pronounced; tornal lobe black; faint tornal eyespot

black, edged white terminally; a faint subterminal brown line extends from

near apex to tornal eyespot.

Male genitalia (Fig 19, Genitalia slide ANIC 18572). Genitalic ring oval;

sociuncus U-shaped anteriorly in dorsal view, with prominent hump at base

of saddle, sociuncus rounded laterally; brachium long, thick but tapering

apically, strongly dipping downwards; valvae squat, bifurcated with rounded

apices; aedeagus elongate, flattened apically, canoe-shaped with three spine-

adorned folds.

Female (Figs. 3-4). Forewing length 15 mm. Head and body pale brown.

Wings broader and more rounded than in male; forewing upperside broadly

pale blue, termen and apex narrowly black; a very pale brown central area

extends from just beyond cell to CuA;. Hindwing upperside broadly pale

blue, tornal lobe and linear tail as in male. Underside as in male, but much

paler light brown ground colour.

Etymology. Named after the distinct aquamarine colouration of the male

upperside, which contrasts noticeably with the black forewing apex.

Comments. Rapala aquamarina is very distinctive, the male with an

upperside wing pattern, colouration and forewing sex mark reminiscent of an

unrelated Oriental lycaenid, Tajuria mantra (C. & R. Felder). In particular,

the lustrous, aquamarine colour of the male upperside is unique among

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2) 95

described Rapala species. The undersides of both wings bear a broader

median band than any other ‘blue’ Rapala, and the distinctive white basal

bordering to these bands is also unusual.

The genitalia of R. aquamarina show similarities to both R. varuna

(Horsfield) and R. manea (Hewitson), as well as to R. rhoecus de Niceville.

The sociuncus of all these taxa are very similar when. viewed dorsally. The

valvae of R. aquamarina are more squat, with thicker apices than other “blue”

Rapala species examined, and the aedeagus is particularly distinctive, being

canoe-shaped apically and possessing three folds bearing numerous regularly

spaced spines on their crests.

Rapala christopheri sp. n.

(Figs 5-8, 20)

Types. Holotype 0", EAST TIMOR: 10 km SW Dili, Mangroves, 22.1.2004, D.A. &

M.D. Lane (in ANIC). Paratypes: 1 9, same data as holotype (in ANIC); 7 oO", 7 99,

same data as holotype, but 7, 22.1.2004 (in DLC); 4 OO", 4 99, same data as holotype,

but 7, 22.1.2004 (in CJMC).

Description. Male (Figs 5-6). Forewing length 14-17 mm. Forewing

upperside broadly black extending along costa, termen and dorsum; a broad

central area rich orange that extends basally along and below cell, but not

reaching termen. Hindwing upperside basally black and extending along

dorsum to tornus and costa, but not reaching apex; outer 2/3 broadly rich

orange extending to termen; termen thinly edged black; linear tail black,

white tip; tornal lobe orange, with black centre, distally edged white; a

distinct pale brown sex mark above cell. Forewing underside broadly pale

brown, inner central area (mirror image of upperside rich orange) very pale

brown; a dark brown postmedian band extends from costa in a broad arc

towards, but not reaching, inner tornus; a small brown transverse bar extends

across outer cell; a faint brown subterminal band runs parallel to termen.

Hindwing underside broadly brown; a brown postmedian band extends from

costa, directed for 2/3 towards but not reaching tornus, then angling to

dorsum; that section of band meeting dorsum pale yellow brown, edged

white; a subterminal brown band extends parallel to termen from apex to

eyespot; eyespot centrally black, edged pale orange basally, edged white

terminally; dorsal lobe black, edged white terminally.

Male genitalia (Fig 20, Genitalia slide ANIC 18573). Genitalic ring oval;

sociuncus U-shaped anteriorly in dorsal view, sociuncus squared laterally,

pointed at apex; brachium long, thick but tapering apically, strongly dipping

downwards; valvae narrow, bifurcated both posteriorly and anteriorly, with

very long, tapered apices; aedeagus elongate, humped anteriorly and with

subtle, teeth-like processes at apex.

Female (Figs 7-8). Forewing length 16-18 mm. Wings broader and more

rounded than in male. Forewing and hindwing upperside broadly grey-brown,

96 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

Figs 1-18. Rapala and Deudorix spp., upper and undersides. (1-4) Rapala

aquamarina sp.n.: (1-2) male; (3-4) female. (5-8) Rapala christopheri sp.n.: (5-6)

CSS female. (9-12) Rapala manea odemo ssp.n.: (9-10) male; (11-12) female.

= apala varuna tacita ssp.n., male. (15-18 i ij i

ssp.n.: (15-16) male; (17-18) female. SM HOS pla tug nates

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2) 97

108 ^a oa "ENSIS:

Figs 19-22. Male genitalia of Rapala spp. (a) Genitalia with left valva removed,

lateral view, 20X; (b) aedeagus, lateral view, 22X; (c) sociuncus, dorsal view, 20X;

(d) valvae, ventral view, 20X. (19) R. aquamarina, genitalia slide ANIC 18572;

(20) R. christopheri, genitalia slide ANIC 18573; (21) R. manea odemo, genitalia

slide ANIC 18574; (21) R. varuna tacita, genitalia slide ANIC 18575.

98 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

noticeably darker along forewing costa and termen, and along upperside

veins. Hindwing tornal lobe centrally black, edged pale orange basally, edged

white terminally; linear tail black, white tip. Underside as in male, but basal

colour paler light brown.

Etymology. Named after Christopher Lane of Townsville, who was coerced

to endure many entomological excursions during his school years.

Comments. Rapala christopheri is a further ‘orange’ species, with broad

median bands on the underside of the wings in both sexes. Additionally, the

white discocellular markings on the underside of both wings and the

yellowish submarginal band on the hindwing underside allow separation from

other described ‘orange’ Rapala taxa. Both sexes of the Indo-Malayan R.

dieneces (Hewitson), R. damona Swinhoe and R. iarbus Fabricius are similar

to R. christopheri on the upperside, but each are easily distinguished from the

latter: R. dieneces has an ochraceous yellow-brown underside ground colour

(grey-brown in R. christopheri) and less pointed forewings in both sexes;

both R. damona and R. dieneces have reduced reddish areas in the upperside

of the wings, while R. iarbus has more extensive red colouration. However,

the most distinctive difference between R. christopheri and these species is

the much broader underside bands, which on the forewing are also more

strongly bowed and displaced basally. R. christopheri is the most

southeasterly known of the ‘orange’ Rapala species.

The male genitalia of R. christopheri are similar in form to other ‘orange’

Rapala species, especially in the strongly bifurcated posterior end of the

valvae. The sociuncus of R. christopheri is close to that of R. enipeus

Staudinger, while the valvae are most similar to those of R. dieneces. No

described species of Rapala has such finely tapered valva apices as in R.

christopheri.

Rapala manea odemo subsp. n.

l (Figs 9-12, 21)

Types. Holotype 0", EAST TIMOR: 5 km NW Bobonaro, 9900/35"S, 125°17°E,

14.1.2004, D.A. & M.D. Lane (in ANIC). Paratypes. | 9, same data as holotype (in

ANIC); 6 00, 5 99, same data as holotype, but 14, 16.1.2004; 1 0, Bobonaro, 1000

m, 9 00'08"S, 125 19'25"E, 11.1.2004, D.A. & M.D. Lane (all in DLC); 2 00, 4 99,

same data as holotype, but dated 14, 16, 20.1.2004 (in CJMC).

Description. Male (Figs 9-10). Forewing length 16-17 mm. Forewing

upperside broadly dark blue, apex and termen narrowly black; a distinct

trident sex mark straddles M3, CuA, and CuA. Hindwing upperside broadly

dark blue, tornal area edged white; tornal lobe black centre, edged white

distally, with pale orange patch basally; linear tail black, white tip. When

viewed obliquely, the lower forewing (below trident sex mark) and outer 2/3

of hindwing are rich iridescent blue. Forewing underside grey-brown;

postmedian band narrow, darker brown, edged white (more distinctly

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2) 99

apically); darker brown transverse band, edged white, across apex of cell.

Hindwing underside grey-brown, postmedian and median band darker brown,

edged white; where postmedian band meets dorsum it is edged white with

iridescent green overlay; a second iridescent green line from dorsum to just

above tornal lobe; tornal lobe black, edged white distally; eyespot black, with

basal orange brown patch, edged white distally; linear tail black, white tip.

Male genitalia (Fig 21, Genitalia slide ANIC 18574). Genitalic ring oval;

tegumen with prominent sharp crown laterally; sociuncus U-shaped

anteriorly in dorsal view, with pointed apices, rounded laterally; brachium

long, thick but tapering apically, strongly dipping downward; valvae pear-

shaped, bifurcated both posteriorly and anteriorly, with long, sharp apices;

aedeagus elongate, uniform thickness along entire length, with deep apical

suture.

Female (Figs 11-12). Wings broader and more rounded than in male.

Forewing length 17 mm. Forewing upperside broadly light blue; apex and

termen darker blue-black. Hindwing upperside broadly light blue, termen

narrowly edged black; tornal lobe and linear tail as in male. Underside similar

to male, but basal colour browner.

Etymology. Named after the district of Odemo, centred on the limestone

outcrop areas where this and many other species were encountered.

Comments. R. manea odemo is distinctive in having narrower wings than

other described subspecies, especially in the male which possesses very

pointed forewings. Additionally, the blue upperside is much lighter and more

sombre coloured, giving the trident sex mark in the postmedian area of the

male forewing a starker contrast. When viewed obliquely, the iridescent

sheen in also much less violet than in other subspecies. On the underside the

ground colour is dull grey (pearly-grey in most other subspecies) and the

white median band on both wings is more contrasting.

The male genitalia of R. manea odemo are also distinctive when compared

with described subspecies of R. manea from Southeast Asia, the valvae being

more pear-shaped and acute. The sociuncus apices are more sharply pointed

than in other subspecies and the aedeagus is simple, lacking the bulbous

anterior end seen in other subspecies examined.

Rapala varuna tacita subsp. n.

(Figs 13-14, 22)

Type. Holotype o", EAST TIMOR: Bobonaro 1000 m, 9?00'08"S, 125?19'25"E,

8.1.2004, D.A. & M.D. Lane (in ANIC).

Description. Male (Figs 13-14). Forewing length 16 mm. Forewing upperside

broadly rich blue, termen narrowly edged black. A distinct black sex mark

patch at end of cell. Hindwing upperside broadly rich blue, termen narrowly

edged black; linear tail black, white tip; tornal lobe black, with a basal

100 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

orange-brown patch, distally edged white. Forewing underside as in other

subspecies, but ground colour paler grey-brown, without any suffusion of

darker colour; eyespot black, basally edged orange; tornal lobe black, edged

white distally, edged pale orange basally; a pale blue patch lies between

tornal lobe and eyespot.

Male genitalia (Fig 22, Genitalia slide ANIC 18575). Genitalic ring oval;

tegumen with prominent crown laterally; sociuncus U-shaped anteriorly in

dorsal view, rounded laterally; brachium long, thick but tapering apically,

strongly dipping downward; valvae bifurcated posteriorly and with long,

rounded apices; aedeagus elongate, bulbous posteriorly and with long,

‘tongue-like’ process at apex.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. The name /acita refers to such a wide-ranging species having

been overlooked on the island of Timor for such a long period of time.

Translates to being understood, without being stated.

Comments. This subspecies is readily separable from other described

subspecies of R. varuna by its very light blue ground colour on the upperside

of both wings in the male. The sex brand is more restricted and the underside

ground colour is a more uniform medium grey-brown than in other

subspecies, which are generally darker and suffused with purple.

The male genitalia of this subspecies are similar to those of other R. varuna

subspecies examined, the aedeagus bearing the distinctive apical tongue,

characteristic of this species. The apex of the aedeagus is strongly bent

upwards, a character not as pronounced in other subspecies of R. varuna

examined.

Deudorix epijarbas timorleste subsp. n.

(Figs 15-18)

Types. Holotype 0", EAST TIMOR: 5 km NW Bobonaro, 9?00'35"S, 125°17°E,

15.1.2004, D.A. & M.D. Lane (in ANIC). Paratypes. 1 9, same data as holotype (in

ANIC); 2 O'O’, 2 99, same data as holotype, but dated 15, 16.1.2004 (in DLC).

Description. Male (Figs 15-16). Forewing length 18 mm. Forewing upperside

broadly black along costa, termen and dorsum. Inner central area below cell

rich orange red; some orange red areas straddling and below anal vein.

Hindwing upperside basally black for 1/3 and extending across to apex; outer

2/3 rich orange red, veins dusted with black scaling; tornal lobe orange, black

center, edged black with white fringe distally; a green spot at tornus in upper

tornal lobe; linear tail black, white tip. Forewing underside dark brown,

postmedian band darker brown, edged white; dark transverse band at end of

cell edged white; a faint subterminal dark brown band, faintly edged white

terminally. Hindwing underside dark brown; median and postmedian dark

brown bands edged white; white edging more pronounced at dorsum; tornal

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2) 101

lobe black, faintly edged white; eyespot black, edged by an outer orange ring;

an iridescent light green band above terminal lobe.

Female (Figs 17-18). Wings broader and rounder than in male. Forewing

length 18 mm. Forewing upperside broadly dark brown, costa and apex

darker brown; a central area for inner 1/3 below cell orange-brown.

Hindwing upperside broadly dark brown; a series of orange-brown spots

(variable in number and size) extends along termen from tornus; tornal lobe

orange-brown, black central spot, edged black with outer white fringe; linear

tail black, white tip. Underside as in male; orange ring to eyespot broader

than in male.

Etymology. Named from one of the Tetun names for East Timor — Timor

Leste, also referred to as Timor Lorosae.

Comments. D. epijarbas (Moore) is widely distributed from India and

Taiwan, through Indonesia to New Guinea, northeastern Australia and the

islands of the southwestern Pacific (Braby 2000). The status of some of these

populations is uncertain and a revision of this and related Indo-Pacific species

is needed. Compared with described subspecies of D. epijarbas from Borneo,

Sulawesi, Maluku, New Guinea and Australia, the three collected males of D.

epijarbas timorleste are a richer orange-red, with reduced areas of red,

especially below the forewing anal vein. The three collected females all have

à broad central forewing area and hind wing areas of orange-brown, both

features infrequently and only faintly indicated in other subspecies.

Discussion

The ‘blue’ and ‘orange’ Rapala taxa in the Indo-Pacific appear to form two

distinctive groups, separable by their external facies and male genitalia. The

structure of the sociuncus, valvae and aedeagus emphasise this grouping. In

the blue species of Rapala, the sociuncus is fairly constant, being strongly U-

shaped when viewed dorsally, while it is rounded apically in lateral view.

Similarly, the valvae are similar in all species examined and are generally

pear-shaped with thickened apices. The anterior end of the aedeagus is highly

diagnostic among the blue Rapala taxa. In R. aquamarina the apex of the

aedeagus is flattened laterally and is distinctive in its canoe-shape, bearing

folds with multiple spines, unlike other Rapala genitalia examined. R. manea,

R. varuna and R. rhoecus appear related to R. aquamarina but the males of

these taxa are all lustrous purple-blue above and the forewing sex mark is

trident in form, while that of R. aquamarina is a circular patch of differently

coloured scales.

Male genitalia of the orange Rapala species also reflect a distinct grouping.

In these taxa, the valvae are strongly bifurcated, both posteriorly and

anteriorly, but the form of the generally long apices is most diagnostic. In

particular, these are very fine and tapered in R. christopheri. In lateral view,

the shape of the sociuncus in Indo-Pacific orange Rapala taxa are distinctive

102 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

in that the posterior ‘face’ is very straight, giving a pointed appearance to the

sociuncus apex. With the exception of an undescribed orange Rapala species

from the Moluccas (CJMC), all taxa have strongly U-shaped sociuncus when

viewed dorsally. In all orange Rapala genitalia examined, the apex of the

aedeagus bears variably pronounced teeth, which are bent backwards, and the

tip of the aedeagus is more sharply pointed than in blue Rapala taxa.

The mangrove habitat of R. christopheri is reminiscent of R. cowani Corbet

from Singapore, Peninsula Malaysia and Borneo. However, R. cowani

appears more closely related to the Sulawesi endemic R. ribbei Rober in its

morphological characters. R. ribbei, R. enipeus Staudinger and R. dioetas

(Hewitson) were all taken on several occasions by one of us (CM) in

intertidal forest bordering mangroves at various localities in Sulawesi.

Acknowledgements

We particularly wish to thank Mr Mark Lane for his contributions during

2002, and for his contributions and company in the field during 2004. Mr

E.D. Edwards (ANIC) is thanked for his generous advice, and Dr M.S.

Moulds is thanked for much help with literature sources.

References

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TAKANAMI, Y. 1992. Notes on some species of the genus Rapala (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

from Sulawesi, with the description of a new species. Tyó to Ga 43: 193-202.

TAKANAMI, Y. 1998. Genus Rapala (Lycaenidae) of the Southeast Asian Islands. Butterflies

19: 41-57.

VANE-WRIGHT, R.I. and de JONG, R. 2003. The butterflies of Sulawesi: annotated checklist

for a critical island fauna. Zoologische Verhandelingen, Leiden 343: 3-267, figs 1-14, pls 1-16.

Australian Entomologist, 2006,33 (2): 103-110 103

FIELD OBSERVATIONS ON THE ECOLOGY OF THE GOLDEN

SUN MOTH, SYNEMON PLANA WALKER (LEPIDOPTERA:

CASTNIIDAE)

M. F. BRABY'? and M. DUNFORD?

!School of Botany and Zoology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200

"Present address: Biodiversity Conservation Division, Department of Natural Resources,

Environment and the Arts, PO Box 496, Palmerston, NT 0831

?Environment ACT, Arts Heritage and Environment, PO Box 144, Lyneham, ACT 2602

Abstract

Surveys for the distribution and relative abundance of the golden sun moth, Synemon plana

Walker, were carried out in remnant grasslands of Macgregor West in western Belconnen, ACT.

These surveys revealed that S. plana is concentrated mainly along the Ginninderra Creek

corridor and its drainage lines, with the highest density of sun moths occurring in an open-

grassland flood plain comprising improved pasture where the putative larval food plant, Nassella

neesiana (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth (Chilean needle grass) (Poaceae), grows as the dominant

species. The flood plain habitat and the sun moth's association with this perennial exotic grass

from South America are both unique in terms of current ecological knowledge of this threatened

castniid. Supplementary observations made at Reid in central Canberra, ACT, strongly suggest

that Bothriochloa macra (Steud.) S.T. Blake (redleg grass) is also utilised. Further studies are

needed to determine larval diet breadth and food plant preferences of S. plana, and to clarify the

extent to which the species utilises introduced perennial grasses, in order to provide an effective

conservation management plan.

Introduction

The golden sun moth, Synemon plana Walker, is currently listed as *Critically

Endangered’ nationally, and ‘Endangered’ in all States and Territories where

it occurs. It is limited to native temperate perennial grasslands and grassy

open woodlands in southeastern Australia, and has been a flagship species for

the conservation of these habitats.

Prior to European settlement, S. plana was widespread within this broad

geographic area; historical records show it has been recorded from many

localities from near Bathurst, New South Wales (NSW), through the

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Victoria, to Bordertown, South

Australia (Edwards 1993, 1994). However, as a direct result of habitat loss

and degradation, its area of distribution has contracted substantially, with

only a limited number of relatively small, isolated populations surviving

within the now very fragmented landscape (Douglas 1993, 2004, Clarke and

O'Dwyer 1997, O'Dwyer and Attiwill 1999, ACT Government 2005).

Possibly less than 196 of the original breeding habitat now remains and weeds

heavily degrade much of this. Clearing and habitat modification, particularly

the conversion of native perennial grasslands for agriculture, either by

ploughing or with the introduction of pasture grasses, are the primary factors

responsible for the widespread loss of native habitat, particularly in NSW and

Victoria. Urban and industrial development has also contributed to habitat

loss and fragmentation (ACT Government 2005).

104 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

Prior to 2000, S. plana was known only from 12 sites in the ACT (Clarke and

O’Dwyer 1997, Clarke and Dunford 1999) but, between 2002 and 2004, one

of us (MD) located a number of additional sites in the ACT (sites being

defined on the extent of their discontinuity with other habitat patches, and/or

according to land tenure).

Currently, S. plana is recorded from 31 sites within the ACT and from 42

sites in NSW, all within 85 km of the northern and northeastern borders of

the ACT (ACT Government 2005, Department of Environment and

Conservation NSW 2005, M. Dunford unpublished data). These sites vary in

size and quality: of the ACT sites, 14 (45%) are relatively small (< 10 ha,

with a combined total area of about 50 ha), and some are possibly no longer

extant, while 17 (55%) sites are considerably larger (> 10 ha, with a

combined total area of about 740 ha). However, ACT Government (2005)

estimates that only about 20% of grassland patches where the species is

known to occur in the ACT are protected in reserves, although this is likely to

increase to around 25%. Eight of the ACT sites are significant in terms of the

extent of the breeding area and/or relative abundance, and have high

conservation value (ACT Government 2005). All sites in the ACT and nearby

areas in NSW occur below 700 m.

The life history and larval food plants of S. plana, and indeed for the genus

Synemon Doubleday, are poorly recorded in the literature, with only S.

magnifica Strand described in detail (Common and Edwards 1981, Edwards

et al. 1999). The food plants of Synemon comprise various monocotyledons,

including Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Ecdeiocoleaceae and Lomandraceae

(Edwards 1996, Edwards et al. 1999).

The putative larval food plants of S. plana include species of native perennial

grasses in the genera Austrodanthonia H.P. Linder (wallaby grass) and

Austrostipa S.W.L. Jacobs & J. Everett (speargrass) (both Poaceae). In the

ACT, the preferred species is apparently Austrodanthonia carphoides

(Benth.) H.P. Linder (Edwards 1990, 1993), although at some sites where this

grass is absent or in very low abundance other species are almost certainly

utilised (A. Rowell pers. comm.). In Victoria, S. plana is associated with

several species of Austrodanthonia (Douglas 1993, O'Dwyer and Attiwill

1999), as well as Austrostipa scabra (Lindl.) S.W.L. Jacobs & J. Everett in

the Wimmera (F. Douglas unpublished data). The larvae of S. plana, like

many other Australian castniids, feed underground on the roots.

Here, we report on general observations made on the habitat preference and

putative larval food plant of S. plana at a hitherto unknown site in Macgregor

West, ACT, which one of us (MFB) first located in December 2002. The site

occurs 3 km south-west of an extant colony in the Dunlop Grasslands Nature

Reserve of western Belconnen. Additional observations made at a site in Reid

in TI Canberra, first recorded in November 2003 by MD, are also

included.

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2) 105

Field observations

Macgregor West

Field surveys for the presence and relative abundance of Synemon plana were

conducted in remnant grasslands of the Macgregor West district (35?12'S,

149°00’E; 560 m a.s.l.) in western Belconnen, ACT, during 7, 17 December

2003 and 5, 11-22 December 2004 (Braby 2005). These surveys revealed that

S. plana was abundant and widespread in the area (total breeding area ca 70

ha) and more extensive than the colony nearby at Dunlop Grasslands Nature

Reserve, the only other known extant site in western Belconnen. However,

the population was found to be concentrated mainly along Ginninderra Creek

and its drainage lines, with the core breeding area occurring in an open

grassland flood plain comprising improved pasture (Fig. 1). This flood plain

habitat stretched as a broad linear strip, approximately 700 m long by 100-

200 m wide, along the Ginninderra Creek corridor north-west to the

confluence of Gooromon Creek, and then continued more narrowly (ca 30-40

m wide) for about 1 km south-west along Ginninderra Creek towards the

ACT/NSW border.

Within the flood plain habitat, patrolling males of S. plana were noted to be

strongly associated with extensive patches of introduced Chilean needle

grass, Nassella neesiana (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth (Poaceae), formerly

known as Stipa neesiana Trinius & Ruprecht (Jacobs and Everett 1996). This

grass species is the dominant plant in the flood plain habitat at Ginninderra

Creek (Rowell 2005). Subsequently, 12 empty pupal shells (5 of which were

collected, 1 lodged in ANIC) were discovered protruding out of the soil

amongst tussocks of N. neesiana in various locations along the flood plain

(Fig. 2). In each case, no other species of grass, native or introduced, was

found near the pupal shells, indicating that N. neesiana is probably used as a

larval food plant in the Ginninderra Creek flood plain.

A second, smaller, concentration of sun moths was found to occur in open

grassland comprising degraded native pasture on higher sloping ground in

Macgregor West, about 300 m west of Ginninderra Creek. The larval food

plant was not determined in this habitat; however, the slopes are dominated

by Austrostipa bigeniculata (Hughes) S.W.L. Jacobs & J. Everett, with

Austrodanthonia comprising only a small component (Rowell 2005).

Reid

At St John's Anglican Church, Reid (35?17'S, 149°08’E; 570 m a.s.l.) in

central Canberra, ACT, a female S. plana was observed emerging from its

pupal shell at 1115 h (EDST) on 14 November 2003. The specimen was

captured and held for about 25 minutes while it expanded and dried its wings,

and then released. The pupal case was noted protruding from a plant of

Bothriochloa macra (Steud.) S.T. Blake (redleg grass), a native species

endemic to southeastern Australia. Nine empty pupal shells (1 lodged in

ANIC) were subsequently discovered protruding from within, or directly

106 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

adjacent to, tussocks of B. macra on 22 November 2003. In each case, the

nearest other grass species was 30 cm or more from the pupal shell. A further

four pupal shells were found closely associated with B. macra on 8 December

2005, when several females were also observed ovipositing at the base of this

species between 1300-1400 h (EDST). The St John's Anglican Church site

comprised a small (ca 0.2 ha), fragmented and highly disturbed urban

remnant patch of grassland dominated by B. macra, Trifolium spp. and

Paspalum dilatatum Poir.

NET

Figs 1-2. Synemon plana ecology at Ginninderra Creek, Macgregor West, ACT: (1)

open grassland flood plain habitat, with patches of Nassella neesiana in foreground;

note cattle grazing in background. (2) pupal exuvium protruding from tussock of N.

neesiana. Photos: M.F. Braby.

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2) 107

Discussion

The presence of Synemon plana in an open grassland flood plain ecosystem

and its association with Nassella neesiana, an exotic grass introduced from

South America, closely related to Stipa L. and more distantly related to

Austrostipa (Gardner et al. 1996, Jacobs and Everett 1996), represent a

unique situation that contrasts markedly with all other known sites of S. plana

throughout its range (Edwards 1994, Douglas 2004, ACT Government 2005).

The density of sun moths in this flood plain habitat is also extremely large;

for example, during the peak flight period in mid December 2004, close to

1200 individuals were counted along a 650 m x 50 m transect in the

Ginninderra Creek flood plain (Braby 2005). Much of the habitat in the flood

plain has been grazed by cattle (Fig. 1), which have significantly reduced

both the plant biomass and competition from other weeds, creating conditions

beneficial to S. plana, although in early 2005 cattle were excluded from the

area (Rowell 2005).

Further long-term studies are needed to determine if the occurrence of S.

plana in the flood plain represents the normal situation or is an unusual

(short-term) response to extreme dry conditions that have occurred over the

past three seasons (2002-2005). S. plana also occurs in significant numbers in

the central drier slopes of Macgregor West, a short distance from Ginninderra

Creek; it is possible that this secondary area serves as an important breeding

habitat during wetter years when the flood plain may be potentially

unsuitable for larval survival.

Although the presence of pupal shells provides only circumstantial evidence,

it is highly likely that S. p/ana is utilising, as larval food plants, N. neesiana

at the Ginninderra Creek flood plain in Macgregor West and Bothriochloa

macra at the St John's Anglican Church site in Reid, particularly since the

larvae are believed not to move underground between roots of adjacent grass

tussocks (F. Douglas pers. comm., A. Rowell pers. comm.). Moreover, in the

former habitat, Austrodanthonia comprises a relatively minor component

(< 5% cover) whereas N. neesiana is the dominant species, growing in

relatively large patches with up to 70% cover abundance in surveyed quadrats

(Rowell 2005). Similarly, at the latter site, Austrodanthonia comprises less

than 10% cover (M. Dunford unpublished data).

In the Ginninderra Creek flood plain, N. neesiana has possibly displaced

much of the native grasses normally utilised by S. plana. Presumably, S.

plana has been able to supplement or even switch its larval diet to a related

but non-indigenous plant. Such a switch, however, does not necessarily imply

that S. plana is dependant on N. neesiana; nor has it adapted to a range of

other introduced grasses, many of which are weeds in the Australian

landscape. On current knowledge, S. plana should be regarded as an

ecological specialist dependent on a narrow range of native grasses

(Austrodanthonia, Austrostipa, Bothriochloa) and, in some circumstances,

108 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

also utilises an introduced grass (Nassella) when the native grasses have been

significantly depleted. Clearly, further studies are needed on the ecological

requirements of S. plana and to clarify the extent to which the sun moth

utilises N. neesiana.

The association of S. plana with N. neesiana is of biogeographical interest

because the castniids have a Gondwanan distribution pattern, with disjunct

occurrences in Australia, Central and South America, and Asia (Edwards et

al. 1999). Members from Australia and Central and South America belong in

the subfamily Castniinae, while those from Asia are currently placed in the

subfamily Tascininae.

The Castniinae are composed of two tribes: the Synemonini, which are

restricted to Australia, and the Castniini, which are endemic to Central and

South America. [The Castniinae have recently become established in the

Mediterranean through accidental introduction: Sarto I Monteys et al. 2005].

Both of these tribes are believed to be monophyletic and represent vicariant

sister groups that differentiated after the break-up of southern Gondwana

(Australia-Antarctica-South America) (Holloway and Hall 1998). It is

therefore possible that the association of Synemon (endemic to the Australian

Region) with Nassella (endemic to the Neotropical Region) may reflect an

historical biogeographic relationship between the castniids of Australia and

South America.

In South America, N. neesiana occurs widely in the cool montane areas of the

Andes in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina, as well as in the temperate

areas of southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay (Missouri Botanic Garden

2005). In Chile, however, it is rare and restricted, currently protected and

listed as a threatened species (A. Ugarte pers. comm.). Nassella is not known

to serve as a larval food plant for the Neotropical castniids, but food plants

(all monocots, including the families Arecaceae, Bromeliaceae, Marantaceae,

Musaceae, Orchidaceae, Poaceae) have been recorded for only a few species

of Castniini (Edwards et al. 1999, Sarto I Monteys et al. 2005), most of

which occur in tropical forest. Only one species, Castnia eudesmia Gray,

which feeds internally on the flower stems of Puya chilensis Molina

(Bromeliaceae), is known to occur in the temperate areas of Chile (A. Ugarte

pers. comm.).

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Fabian Douglas, Ted Edwards, Alison Rowell and David

Hogg for comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript, help with literature

and information, and advice on the biology and conservation of the golden

sun moth. Justin Armstrong assisted with collection of pupae, and Alfredo

Ugarte (Santiago) kindly provided biological information on Chilean needle

grass and the Castniini of South America.

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2) 109

References

ACT GOVERNMENT. 2005. À vision splendid of the grassy plains extended: ACT lowland

native grassland conservation strategy. Action Plan No. 28. Arts Heritage and Environment,

Canberra; 128 pp.

BRABY, M.F. 2005. Distribution and provisional management plan of the golden sun-moth,

Synemon plana (Lepidoptera: Castniidae), in remnant grasslands of Macgregor West, ACT. A

report prepared for Purdon Associates Pty Ltd, on behalf of the ACT Planning and Land

Authority, Canberra; 20 pp.

CLARKE, G.M. and DUNFORD, M. 1999. Survey of the Belconnen naval transmitting station

Jor the endangered golden sun moth, Synemon plana. A report prepared for Wildlife Research

and Monitoring, Environment ACT, Canberra; 9 pp.

CLARKE, G.M. and O'DWYER, C. 1997. A survey of native grassland sites in southeastern

New South Wales for the endangered golden sun moth, Synemon plana. A report prepared for the

Threatened Species Unit, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, southern zone; 45 pp.

COMMON, I.F.B. and EDWARDS, E.D. 1981. The life history and early stages of Synemon

magnifica Strand (Lepidoptera: Castniidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 20:

295-302.

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION NSW. 2005. Draft NSW and

National recovery plan for the golden sun moth Synemon plana. Department of Environment and

Conservation, Queanbeyan, NSW; 20 pp.

DOUGLAS, F. 1993. The conservation status, distribution and habitat requirements of diurnal

Lepidoptera in central and western Victoria (Part 1: Family Castniidae). Unpublished report to

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Melbourne, Victoria; 40 pp.

DOUGLAS, F. 2004. A dedicated reserve for conservation of two species of Synemon

(Lepidoptera: Castniidae) in Australia. Journal of Insect Conservation 8: 221-228.

EDWARDS, E.D. 1990. Belconnen naval station harbours endangered moth. ACT National

Parks Association June 1990: 16-17.

EDWARDS, E.D. 1993. Golden sun moth. Australian Natural History 24(6): 16-17.

EDWARDS, E.D. 1994. Survey of lowland grassland sites in A.C.T. for the golden sun moth,

Synemon plana. Report to the Wildlife Research Unit, ACT Parks and Conservation Service,

Canberra; 43 pp.

EDWARDS, E.D. 1996. Castniidae. P. 138, in: Nielsen, E.S., Edwards, E.D. and Rangsi, T.V.

(eds), Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Australia. Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera,

Volume 4. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne; xiv 4 529 pp.

EDWARDS, E.D., GENTILI, P., HORAK, M., KRISTENSEN, N.P. and NIELSEN, E.S. 1999,

The cossoid/sesoid assemblage. Pp 181-197, in: Kristensen, N.P. (ed), Lepidoptera, moths and

butterflies. Volume 1. Evolution, systematics and biogeography. de Gruyter, Berlin; x + 491 pp.

GARDNER, J., JESSOP, J.P. and SYMON, D.E. 1996. The escape of Stipa papposa. Journal of

the Adelaide Botanic Gardens 17: 173-176.

HOLLOWAY, J.D. and HALL, R. 1998. SE Asian geology and biogeography: an introduction.

Pp 1-23, in: Hall, R. and Holloway, J.D. (eds), Biogeography and geological evolution of SE

Asia. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden.

JACOBS, S.W.L. and EVERETT, J. 1996. Austrostipa, a new genus, and new names for

Australasian species formerly included in Stipa (Gramineae). Telopea 6: 579-595.

110 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

MISSOURI BOTANIC GARDEN. 2005. TROPICOS-VAST specimen data base.

http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search-vast

O'DWYER, C. and ATTIWILL, P.M. 1999. A comparative study of the habits of the golden sun

moth Synemon plana Walker (Lepidoptera: Castniidae): implications for restoration. Biological

Conservation 89: 131-141.

ROWELL, A. 2005. Macgregor West: vegetation mapping and assessment of golden sun moth

habitat. A report prepared for Purdon Associates Pty Ltd, on behalf of the ACT Planning and

Land Authority, Canberra; 8 pp.

SARTO I MONTEYS, V., AGUILAR, L., SAIZ-ARDANAZ, M., VENTURA, D. and MARTI,

M. 2005. Comparative morphology of the egg of the castniid palm borer, Paysandisia archon

(Burmeister, 1880) (Lepidoptera: Castniidae). Systematics and Biodiversity 3: 179-201.

Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2): 111-112 111

FIRST RECORD OF EUCHRYSOPS CNEJUS (FABRICIUS)

(LEPIDOPTERA: LYCAENIDAE) ON CHRISTMAS ISLAND,

INDIAN OCEAN

ANDREW A. E. WILLIAMS and DAVID ALGAR

Department of Conservation and Land Management,, W.A. Wildlife Research Centre,

PO Box 51, Wanneroo, WA 6065

Abstract

The spotted pea-blue, Euchrysops cnejus cnejus (Fabricius), is recorded for the first time from

Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

Introduction

Christmas Island (10°30’S, 105°35’E) is located in the Indian Ocean, about

360 km south of the Indonesian island of Java, and some 1400 km northwest

of Western Australia. It covers an area of approximately 137 km? and much

of the island supports tropical rainforest. Its butterfly fauna is incompletely

known, the first specimens being collected there by officers of HMS Flying

Fish (Butler 1887). Since then, a number of lepidopterists have visited the

island, progressively adding to the list of known species. Moulds and Lachlan

(1987) summarised the history of collections reported from Christmas Island

up to that time and added seven more species to the list. The most recent

additions are Papilio memnon L. (Braby 2000, Moulds and Humphrey 2000)

and Appias olferna Swinhoe (Lambkin and Knight 2004).

r

Figs 1-4. Euchrysops cnejus cnejus from Christmas Island. (1-2) male upper and

underside; (3-4) female upper and underside.

112 Australian Entomologist, 2006, 33 (2)

In October-November 2004, one of us (DA) visited the island and made

opportunistic collections of butterflies. Among the specimens collected were

a male and a female Euchrysops cnejus (Fabricius), a species not previously

known from the island. These two specimens were flying with a number of

Zizina otis (Fabricius) around small black-flowered peas growing at a

disturbed roadside site. This brings the total number of butterfly species

known from Christmas Island to 24.

Euchrysops cnejus cnejus (Fabricius)

Material examined. CHRISTMAS ISLAND: 10%, 19, 4.xi.2004, D. Algar (in WA

Dept. of Conservation and Land Management [CALM] Lepidoptera collection).

Comments. The above specimens (Figs 1-4) are relatively small (wingspan of

male 25.5 mm, of female 26.0 mm) but the hindwing underside markings are

unmistakable. Smaller and lighter in colour than E. c. cnidus Waterhouse &

Lyell from the Kimberley region of northwestern Australia, they more closely

resemble E. c. cnejus, a subspecies which occurs widely in Indonesia, and we

tentatively include these specimens with the latter subspecies.

The status of E. cnejus on Christmas Island is uncertain. It might be a recent

arrival but, given that the collecting effort in the past has not been great, and

sporadic seasonally, it could well have been overlooked. The fact that the two

collected specimens were active around a black-flowered pea strongly

suggests that this is its larval food plant. In Australia, E. c. cnidus food plants

are all members of the pea family Fabaceae (Braby 2000). Indeed, four of the

lycaenid butterflies previously recorded from Christmas I., Prosotas dubiosa

(Semper), Catochrysops panormus (C. Felder), Lampides boeticus (L.) and

Zizina otis, also utilise food plants in this family (Braby 2000, 2004).

Acknowledgements

We thank the Department of the Environment and Heritage for permission to collect

on Christmas Island and Michael Braby for helpful advice on the original manuscript.

References

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CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood; xx + 976 pp.

BRABY, M.F. 2004. The complete field guide to butterflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing,

Collingwood; x + 340 pp.

BUTLER, A.G. 1887. Lepidoptera. Pp 522-523, figs 4-5, in: Günther, A., Report on a zoological

collection made by officers of H.M.S. ‘Flying Fish’ at Christmas Island, Indian Ocean.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1887: 507-526.

LAMBKIN, T.A. and KNIGHT, A.J. 2004. The occurrence of Appias olferna Swinhoe (Lepid-

optera: Pieridae) on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Australian Entomologist 31(2): 81-82.

MOULDS, M.S. and LACHLAN, R.B. 1987. The butterflies (Lepidoptera) of Christmas Island,

Indian Ocean. Australian Entomological Magazine 14(4-5): 57-66.

MOULDS, M.S. and HUMPHREY, M. 2000. First record of Papilio memnon L. (Lepidoptera:

Papilionidae) from Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Australian Entomologist 27(2): 31-38.

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THE AUSTRALIAN

Entomologist

Volume 33, Part 2, 16 June 2006

ERE

CONTENTS

BRABY, M.F. AND DUNFORD, M.

Field observations on the ecology of the golden sun moth, Synemon plana Walker

(Lepidoptera: Castniidae).

KOHOUT, RJ.

A new species of Polyrhachis (Aulacomyrma) Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae:

Formicinae) from Papua New Guinea.

LAMBKIN, T.A.

Clinal variation in female Hypolycaena phorbas phorbas (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera:

Lycaenidae) and revision of the status of H. p. ingura Tindale.

LANE, D.A. AND MÜLLER, CJ.

A new species of Charaxes Ochsenheimer (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

from East Timor.

LANE, D.A. AND MÜLLER, C.J.

New species and subspecies of Rapala Moore and Deudorix Hewitson

(Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from East Timor.

MILLER, C.G.

A further record of Apaturina erminea (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae:

Apaturinae) from Australia.

NEWLAND, G.

Effects of land disturbance on butterflies (Lepidoptera) on a hilltop at Murwillumbah,

New South Wales.

WILLIAMS, A.A.E. AND ALGAR, D.

First record of Euchrysops cnejus (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean.

ISSN 1320 6133