THE AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGIST

ABN#: 15 875 103 670

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

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

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

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

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

is not included with membership of the society.

The Publications Committee

Editor: Dr A.G. Orr Editorial Co-ordinator

Assistant Editors: Dr C.J. Burwell Mrs S.G. Wright

Queensland Museum Business Manager

Dr F. Turco Dr G.B. Monteith

Queensland Museum (geoff.monteith@bigpond.com)

Subscriptions

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

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

For individuals: A$33.00 per annum in Australia.

A$40.00 per annum in Asia-Pacific Region.

A$45.00 per annum elsewhere.

For institutions A$37.00 per annum in Australia.

A$45.00 per annum in Asia-Pacific Region.

A$50.00 per annum elsewhere.

Please forward all overseas cheques/bank drafts in Australian currency.

GST is not payable on our publication.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF QUEENSLAND

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

at the CSIRO Long Pocket Laboratories, Indooroopilly at midday on the second

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

the Society's News Bulletin which also contains reports of meetings, entomological

notes, notices of other Society events and information on Members' activities.

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

Entomological Society of Queensland, P.O. Box 537, Indooroopilly, Qld, Australia,

4068.

Cover: This undescribed species of Myrmecoroides (Heteroptera: Miridae) is about 5

mm in length and occurs along the Great Dividing Range from southeast Queensland

to Victoria. It is found on native grasses. The species is sexually dimorphic, with

fully-winged males and short-winged females (illustrated here). All species of

Myrmecoroides are strongly ant-mimetic. This species is being described by Gerry

Cassis of the University of New South Wales and Michael Wall of the San Diego

Natural History Museum.

Illustration by Hannah Finlay.

Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1): 1-6 1

A REVIEW OF THE FRUIT FLY TRIBE TEPHRELLINI

(DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE: TEPHRITINAE)——

IN THE INDO-AUSTRALIAN REGION

D.L. HANCOCK (- 45 APR 2010

PO Box 2464, Cairns, Ol4870.

Abstract — ~

Eight gencra and 17 specics of Indo-Australian Tephritidae are placed in the tribe Tephrellini.

Pristaciura Hendel and Indaciura Hering are removed from synonymy with Oxvaciura Hendel

and /ndaciura is placed as a new synonym of Pristaciura, resulting in three new combinations:

P. formosae (Hendel), P. monochaeta (Bezzi) and P. xanthotricha (Bezzi). Pristaciura incisa

Hendel, stat. rev. is removed from synonymy with P. xanthotricha, with which it has been

widely confused. A key to the genera is included.

Introduction

The fruit fly tribe Tephrellini is a primarily Afrotropical group of generally

black flies with extensively black-patterned wings (Hancock 1990, 1991,

Hancock ef al. 2003). They are only moderately represented in the

Palaearctic, Oriental and Indo-Australian regions. The six groups of genera

recognised by Hancock (1990) were condensed to three groups by Hancock

et al. (2003), reflecting their host plant preferences of Acanthaceae,

Lamiaceae or Verbenaceae. Only the Metasphenisca and Sphaeniscus groups

occur in the Indo-Australian region; the Verbenaceae-feeding Munroella

group is entirely Afrotropical. Eight genera and 17 species (one undescribed)

are known from the region.

Key to Indo-Australian genera

1 Wing with only one hyaline indentation from costa beyond stigma [cell

sc]; two pairs each of frontal and scutellar setae ...... Sphaeniscus Becker

- Wing with two hyaline indentations from costa beyond stigma; three (or

more) pairs of frontal setae and one or two pairs of scutellar setae ........ 2

2 . Two pairs of scutellar setae (apicals and basals) ...............cc0ceereeeeees 3

- One pair of scutellar setae (basals only) ................ccccececeeeeeeeeenenees 4

3 Wing base with a narrow, complete dark costal band connecting with the

dark stigma; discal cell without isolated hyaline spots, at most with small

posterior indentations ara ea n A E Metasphenisca Hendel

- Wing base hyaline without a dark costal band; discal cell with two large,

roundedihyalineiSpotS Kera m EE serene serreen ies Pediapelta Munro

4 Wing with three narrow posterior hyaline indentations, the basal pair

extending weakly into discal cell; cell r4,5 without a large isolated hyaline

spot beyond apex of discal cell E E AET Tephraciura Hering

- Wing with posterior hyaline indentations not entering discal cell; cell r4+5

with a large isolated hyaline spot beyond apex of discal cell ............... 5

2 Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1)

5 Wing base largely dark, normally with a hyaline indentation across cell c

and base of cell rı; discal cell with one large isolated hyaline spot near

apex; frons with thick, pale pubescence .............. ccc A A cece ees ee eee e ees 6

- Wing base largely hyaline, at most with cell bc darkened or with a short,

isolated costal band; discal cell normally with two isolated hyaline spots;

frons without thick, pale pubescence ...............e cesses eee E E 7

Gmewo}pairsrofiorbitallsetackwer sates E teas Curticella Hardy

- Only one pair of orbital setae ......... eee eens Pristaciura Hendel

7 Wing base with a dark costal spot at apex of cell bc; four posterior

hyalinetindentationSes sss eee A EE ce hess. eaeea tres Tephrella Bezzi

- Wing base with cell bce darkened or with a short, isolated costal band;

three posterior hyaline indentations ...............cc E tence cece es 8

8 Wing base with cell be darkened; two pairs of orbital setae; ocellar setae

wellideveloped a a catkins meat Aciura Robineau-Desvoidy

- Wing base with a narrow costal band over cell be and basal half of cell c,

separated from stigma by a hyaline gap; only one pair of orbital setae;

Ocellarisetacavesti ial bese antennae stite eaten ttn ce res Oxyaciura Hendel*

* Not yet recorded but Oxyaciura tibialis (Robineau-Desvoidy) is known as

far east as Afghanistan and NW China (Xinjiang) and might occur within the

region.

The Indo-Australian fauna

Metasphenisca group of genera

Host plants are the flowerheads or seedpods of Acanthaceae.

Metasphenisca Hendel

Metasphenisca nigricans (Wiedemann) [= bifaria (Munro)] is known from

southern India (Hancock 2007) and Sri Lanka (Hering 1956). It has only two

hyaline indentations on the posterior margin of the wing, has been bred from

the pods of Barleria sp. (Munro 1947) and was illustrated by Munro (1947).

Metasphenisca reinhardi (Wiedemann) [= malayana Hering] is known from

Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand and Cambodia. It has three

hyaline indentations on the posterior margin of the wing and was illustrated

by Munro (1947) and Hardy (1973).

Tephraciura Hering

Tephraciura basimacula (Bezzi) [= basivitta Hering] is known from southern

India, including the Lakshadweep Islands, and Sri Lanka. The legs are mostly

black. Illustrated by Hering (1951).

Tephraciura pachmarica Agarwal & Kapoor is known from central India.

The legs are mostly yellow. Illustrated by Agarwal and Kapoor (1988).

Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1) 3

Sphaeniscus group of genera

Host plants are the flowerheads of Lamiaceae.

Aciura Robineau-Desvoidy

Aciura afghana (Hering) [= kashmirica Zaka-ur-Rab] is known from NE

Afghanistan and Kashmir, NW India (Hancock and McGuire 2002). It has

pale postocular setae. Illustrated by Hering (1961) and Zaka-ur-Rab (1977).

Curticella Hardy

Curticella approximans (Walker) is known from Sulawesi and West Papua in

Indonesia, mainland Papua New Guinea and Deslacs Island in the Bismarck

Archipelago. All head setae are dark and the third antennal segment is

comparatively elongate, four to five times longer than wide. Illustrated by

Hardy (1959, 1987).

Hendel (1915: 460) noted only 1 pair of orbital setae for C. approximans and

2 pairs for ‘Aciura’ formosae Hendel, presumably a lapsus as these species

have 2 and 1 pair of orbital setae respectively. This species differs little from

those placed in Pristaciura and the two genera are possibly synonymous.

Pediapelta Munro

Pediapelta ternaria (Loew) is an African species known in the Indo-

Australian region from a single specimen from SE Queensland, Australia

(Hancock and Drew 2003), where it appears to have been accidentally

introduced. It has dark postocular setae and four posterior hyaline

indentations on the wing. Collected on Ocimum suave in Africa (Munro

1947) and illustrated by Munro (1947) and Hancock and Drew (2003).

This and other African species currently included in Pediapelta Munro (see

Munro 1947, Hancock et al. 2003) differ from the genotype (P. spadicescens

Munro) in significant wing characters. In P. spadicescens the wing base is

infuscated and cell c has a dark costal patch medially, while the large hyaline

spot in cell ry,5 lies before, not beyond, the apex of the discal cell. These

characters suggest that all other species are currently misplaced and, as

Munro (1947) suggested, show a greater affinity with those placed in

Dicheniotes Munro. However, pending further study the current arrangement

is maintained.

Pristaciura Hendel, stat. rev.

Indaciura Hering is regarded here as a new synonym of Pristaciura; the

relationship of its type species, Aciura formosae Hendel, with Pristaciura

incisa Hendel and ‘Oxyaciura’ monochaeta (Bezzi) was discussed by

Hancock (1990), who placed all three species in Oxyaciura Hendel.

However, the type species of Oxyaciura, O. tibialis, has a mostly hyaline

wing base (with a short, isolated costal band) and a strongly angled apex to

cell bcu; it appears to be more closely related to species placed in Aciura,

differing in the single pair of orbital setae and vestigial ocellar setae.

4 Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1)

In Pristaciura (and Curticella) the lateral vertical setae are weak or vestigial,

the ocellar setae are weak but distinct, the frontal pubescence is thick and

pale (thin and dark in Oxyaciura and its allies) and wing cell bcu is weakly

angled apically. Accordingly, Pristaciura is reinstated as a valid genus to

include five Indo-Australian species, with Curticella as its closest ally.

Pristaciura formosae (Hendel), comb. n. is known from Taiwan and the

Ryukyu Islands, Japan. It has the postocellar, paravertical and uppermost

occipital seta flattened and whitish, the postocular setae thin and black and

four posterior hyaline indentations on the wing; the first, in the middle of cell

cuy, is short and almost at right angles to the cell; the third, basally in cell m,

is relatively narrow and almost perpendicular. Illustrated by Shiraki (1968).

Formerly placed in Oxyaciura and type species of Indaciura.

Pristaciura incisa Hendel, stat. rev. is known from Sri Lanka, southern

India, southern Thailand, Vietnam, SE China (Hainan) and Java in Indonesia.

It differs from P. formosae in having only three posterior hyaline indentations

on the wing, that in the middle of cell cu, long and oblique. From both P.

formosae and P. xanthotricha (see below) it differs in having the postocular

setae also flattened and whitish and the posterior hyaline indentations

broader, with that in cell m distinctly curved posteriorly. Originally described

from Sri Lanka (Hendel 1928) and illustrated by Hardy (1973) and Wang

(1998) [both as P. xanthotricha]. Formerly placed as a synonym of P.

xanthotricha and type species of Pristaciura.

Pristaciura monochaeta (Bezzi), comb. n. is known from northern India and

Nepal; a record from Sri Lanka (Hardy 1971) is based on a headless male and

requires confirmation [cf P. incisa, above]. A record from SW China (Wang

1998) belongs elsewhere (see below). All the head setae are black and narrow

and there are three posterior hyaline indentations on the wing, that in the

middle of cell cu; long and oblique and that in cell m distinctly curved.

Illustrated by Bezzi (1913) and Hardy (1964). Formerly placed in Oxyaciura.

Pristaciura xanthotricha (Bezzi), comb. n. is known with certainty only from

the types from northern India and southern Burma; other records appear to be

misidentifications of P. incisa. It resembles P. formosae in having the

postocellar, paravertical and uppermost occipital seta flattened and whitish

and the postocular setae thin and black, and the posterior hyaline indentations

on the wing relatively narrow, that in cell m almost perpendicular (see Bezzi

1913). It differs from P. formosae in having the basal hyaline indentation in

cells c and r; narrow or absent and only three posterior hyaline indentations

on the wing, that in the middle of cell cu, long and oblique. Illustrated by

Bezzi (1913). Formerly placed in Oxyaciura or Indaciura.

An additional, undescribed species is known from southern China (Yunnan

and Hong Kong), characterised by the following combination of characters:

head setae as in P. xanthotricha; three posterior hyaline indentations on

Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1) 5

the wing, that in cell m distinctly curved, that in the middle of cell cu; short

and perpendicular; basal hyaline indentation in cells c and r; weak or absent;

alula brown. Illustrated by Wang (1998, as ‘Oxyaciura’ monochaeta).

Sphaeniscus Becker

Sphaeniscus atilius (Walker) is widespread in Southeast Asia from India to

Japan and East Timor and in the Pacific, including New Guinea, Australia

and New Caledonia. It has four posterior hyaline indentations on the wing

and no isolated discal spots. It breeds in Hyptis capitata in Malaysia (Hardy

1955) and Perilla frutescens in eastern Asia (Wang 1998) and was illustrated

by Hardy (1973, 1987) and Wang (1998).

Sphaeniscus binoculatus (Bezzi) is known only from Fiji, where it breeds in

Coleus blumei (Hancock and Drew 1994). It resembles S. atilius but has the

inner and outer of the four posterior hyaline indentations on the wing

interrupted to produce a pair of large, isolated discal spots. Illustrated by

Bezzi (1928) and Hardy (1955).

Sphaeniscus melanotrichotus Hering is known only from Sri Lanka. It

resembles S. atilius but has the basal half of the hind tibiae black, not yellow

and the basal dark transverse band on the wing is broader, occupying most of

cell c rather than just the apical half. Illustrated by Hering (1956).

Sphaeniscus quadrincisus (Wiedemann) is known from Taiwan, India, Sri

Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and Java in Indonesia. It has only three posterior

hyaline indentations on the wing. Collected on Ocimum sp. in Thailand

(Hancock and McGuire 2002) and illustrated by Hardy (1973, 1987).

Tephrella Bezzi

Tephrella decipiens Bezzi is known only from NE India and Burma. It has

pale postocular setae and was illustrated by Bezzi (1913) and Munro (1947).

Only females have been recorded.

References

AGARWAL, M.L. and KAPOOR, V.C. 1988. On a collection of fruit flies from India (Diptera:

Tephritidae: Tephrellini). Bulletin of Entomology (New Delhi) 29: 225-228.

BEZZI, M. 1913. Indian trypancids (fruit flics) in the collection of the Indian Muscum, Calcutta.

Memoirs of the Indian Museum 3: 53-175.

BEZZI, M. 1928. Diptera Brachycera and Athericera of the Fiji Islands. British Museum

(Natural History), London; viii + 220 pp.

HANCOCK, D.L. 1990. Notes on the Tephrellini-Aciurini (Diptera: Tephritidac), with a

checklist of the Zimbabwe species. Transactions of the Zimbabwe Scientific Association 64(5):

41-48.

HANCOCK, D.L. 1991. Tephrellini (Diptera: Tephritidae: Tephritinac) from Madagascar.

Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa 54(2): 173-184.

HANCOCK, D.L. 2007. The identity of ‘Trypeta’ nigricans Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae:

Tephritinae). Australian Entomologist 34(2): 49-50.

6 Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1)

HANCOCK, D.L. and DREW, R.A.I. 1994. Notes on some Pacific Island Trypetinae and

Tephritinac (Diptera: Tephritidae). Australian Entomologist 21(1): 21-30.

HANCOCK, D.L. and DREW, R.A.I. 2003. A new genus and new species, combinations and

records of Tephritinac (Diptera: Tephritidac) from Australia, New Zcaland and the South Pacific.

Australian Entomologist 30(4): 141-158.

HANCOCK, D.L. and McGUIRE, D.J. 2002. New species and records of non-dacine fruit flics

(Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidac) from south and southeast Asia. Steenstrupia 27(1): 1-17.

HANCOCK, D.L., KIRK-SPRIGGS, A.H. and MARAIS, E. 2003. New records of Namibian

Tephritidae (Diptera: Schizophora), with notes on the classification of subfamily Tephritinac.

Cimbebasia 18: 49-70.

HARDY, D.E. 1955. Sphaeniscus Becker and Euphranta Loew of the Oriental and Pacific

regions (Tephritidac-Diptera). Pacific Science 9(1): 77-84.

HARDY, D.E. 1959. The Walker types of fruit flics (Tephritidac-Diptera) in the British Muscum

collection. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Entomology 8(5): 159-242, pls 11-

16.

HARDY, D.E. 1964. Diptera from Nepal. The fruit flics (Diptera: Tephritidac). Bulletin of the

British Museum (Natural History), Entomology 15: 147-169.

HARDY, D.E. 1971. Diptera: Tephritidae from Ceylon. Entomologica Scandinavica

Supplementum 1: 287-292.

HARDY, D.E. 1973. The fruit flics (Tephritidae—Diptera) of Thailand and bordering countries.

Pacific Insects Monograph 31: 1-353.

HARDY, D.E. 1987. The Trypetini, Aciurini and Ccratitini of Indonesia, New Guinea and

adjacent islands of Bismarcks and Solomons (Diptera: Tephritidae: Trypetinac). Entomography

5: 247-373.

HENDEL, F. 1915. H. Sautcr’s Formosa-Ausbeute. Tephritinac. Annales Historico-Naturales

Musei Nationalis Hungarici 13: 424-467, pls viii-ix.

HENDEL, F. 1928. Neue oder weniger bekannte Bohrflicgen (Trypetidac) meist aus dem

Deutschen Entomologischen Institut Berlin-Dahlem. Entomologische Mitteilungen 17(5): 341-

370.

HERING, E.M. 1951. Neue Fruchtflicgen der Alten Welt. Siruna Seva 7: 1-16.

HERING, E.M. 1956. Trypetidac (Dipt.) von Ceylon. Verhandlungen der Naturforschenden

Gesellschaft in Basel 67(1): 62-74.

HERING, E.M. 1961. Ergebnisse der Deutschen Afghanistan-Expedition 1956 der

Landessammlungen für Naturkunde Karlsruhe. Trypetidae (Diptera). Beiträge zur

Naturkundlichen Forschung in Sudwestdeutschland 19(3): 319-331.

MUNRO, H.K. 1947. African Trypetidae (Diptera). A review of the transition genera between

Tephritinae and Trypetinac, with a preliminary study of the male terminalia. Memoirs of the

Entomological Society of Southern Africa 1: i-viii, 1-284.

SHIRAKI, T. 1968. Fruit flics of the Ryukyu Islands (Diptera: Tephritidac). United States

National Museum Bulletin 263: 1-104.

WANG, X.-J. 1998. The fruit flics (Diptera: Tephritidac) of the East Asian Region. Acta

Zootaxonomica Sinica 21 (Supplement): viii + 338 pp, 265 figs, 41 pls.

ZAKA-UR-RAB, M. 1977. A new fruit fly of the genus Aciura R.D. (Diptera: Trypetidac) from

Kashmir. Journal of Entomological Research (New Delhi) 1(1): 86-88.

Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1): 7-10 7

RECORDS OF THE TRAMP ANT PYRAMICA MEMBRANIFERA

(EMERY) (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE: MYRMICINAE)

FROM AUSTRALIA

CHRIS J. BURWELL', AKIHIRO NAKAMURA! and ALAN N. ANDERSEN?

‘Entomology Section, Queensland Museum. PO Box 3300, South Brisbane, Old 4101 and

Environmental Futures Centre and Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan,

Qld 4111 (Email: chris.burwell@qm.qld.gov.au)

?CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, OIC Tropical Ecosystems Research Centre, PMB 44,

Winnellie, NT 0822

Abstract

New Australian distribution records for the tramp dacetine ant, Pyramica membranifera (Emery)

are provided. Previously recorded only from the Top End of the Northern Territory, the species

is now known to be widely distributed in subtropical and tropical Queensland, with records from

suburban Brisbane and the Blackall Range in SE Queensland, the Proserpine region in central

Qucensland, Cairns in northern Queensland and Heron Island in the southern Great Barrier Recf.

The Queensland records are predominantly from relatively disturbed environments, including

suburban and agricultural landscapes, suggesting that P. membranifera is introduced. Its wide

distribution suggests that it has been present in Australia for a considerable length of time, but its

cryptic nature and propensity to occur in disturbed habitats probably contributed to the delay in

its detection.

Introduction

Bolton (2000) revised the world species of Pyramica Roger, recording six

species from Australia. He provided a key to the Australian species in which

he also included the widespread tropical and warm-temperate tramp species

Pyramica membranifera (Emery), which was not known from Australia at the

time but which he suspected would eventually be found there (Bolton 2000).

Andersen et al. (2007) subsequently recorded P. membranifera from a patch

of monsoonal rainforest near Darwin in the Northern Territory. They

speculated that the species may be native to northern Australia, based on the

distance of the rainforest patch from the nearest urban centre (located

approximately 40 km south-east of Darwin) and its lack of human

infrastructure. However, additional records of P. membranifera from

Queensland and the Northern Territory suggest that the species is an

introduced tramp favouring disturbed environments.

Baroni Urbani and de Andrade (2007) considered Pyramica to be a junior

synonym of Strumigenys Smith and listed this species as Strumigenys

membranifera. However, until this synonymy is supported by additional

evidence, we follow Bolton (2000) and refer to the species as Pyramica

membranifera.

Pyramica membranifera (Emery)

(Figs 2-4)

Material examined. NORTHERN TERRITORY: 40 workers, Territory Wildlife Park,

40 km south-east of Darwin, 12°42’S, 130°59’E, 1i-iv.2007, monsoonal rainforest,

8 Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1)

Winkler sacks; 2 workers, Fogg Dam, 50 km SE Darwin, monsoonal rainforest,

extracted from litter taken from nest mounds of Orange-footed scrub fowl.

QUEENSLAND: 2 workers, 16°51738.3"S, 145°41713”E, Caravonica, Cairns,

19.v.2009, E. Moreau, R. Coleman, sample no. SSEA 433144; 1 queen, 20.519°S,

148.557°E, Proserpine, Thompson Creek, site XY15, closed forest, 6.xi.2007-

13.11.2008, 30 m, pitfall, [R] Raven, 15270; 12 workers, 23°26734.6"S,

151°55’02.1”E, Heron Island site 4, Pisonia grandis forest; day hand collect., nest in

soil beneath log, C.J. Burwell; 1 worker, Wootha, Maleny District, Blackall Range,

26°47°10"S, 152°48°30”E, iv.2004, litter extract, shaded experimental plot within

pasture matrix, A. Nakamura; 1 worker, [Brisbane], Chapel Hill, Cassandra St,

27°30’S, 152°57’E, 22-23.iii.2003, 150 m, C.J. Burwell, 51131 (QMT1 14635).

NT specimens in CSIRO Tropical Ecosystems Research Centre, Darwin; Qld

specimens in Queensland Museum, Brisbane; except 2 workers from Territory

Wildlife Park and 3 workers from Heron Island in Australian National Insect

Collection, Canberra and 1 worker from Caravonica in Plant Biosecurity Science

Collection, Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries, Cairns.

Figs 1-4. Pyramica membranifera (Emery). (1) known distribution in Australia; (2)

frontal view of head; (3) lateral habitus; (4) dorsal habitus. gtl = first gastral tergite;

iss = incurved spatulate seta projecting towards base of scape; mp = marginate

pronotum; ph = pronotal humerus. (Figs 2-4 of worker from Heron Island).

Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1) 9

Comments. Pyramica membranifera is widespread in Queensland, occurring

from northern (Cairns) and central (Proserpine) areas to southeastern

Queensland (Brisbane and the Blackall Range) (Fig. 1). It also occurs at

Heron Island, a coral cay in the southern Great Barrier Reef about 80 km off

the coast of Gladstone (Fig. 1).

In Australia, Pyramica membranifera can be easily identified using the key to

Pyramica species in Bolton (2000). It can be distinguished from other known

Australian Pyramica species by a combination of the following: leading edge

of scape with conspicuous row of projecting spatulate hairs, one or more of

which curves towards the base of the scape (Fig. 2, iss); pronotum laterally

margined (Fig. 3, mp), dorsum mostly smooth; pronotal humeri without

ai hairs (Fig. 4, ph); first gastral tergite without standing hairs (F ig. 3,

gtl).

Discussion

Pyramica membranifera is a very widely distributed, tropical and warm-

temperate tramp species (see Bolton 1983, 2000 for a summary of its

distribution). Brown and Wilson (1959) suggested it was native to Africa, but

Bolton (1983) considered its origin uncertain. Based on the relative isolation

and undisturbed nature of the patch of monsoonal rainforest in the Territory

Wildlife Park where P. membranifera was first recorded in Australia,

Andersen et al. (2007) suggested the species may be native to northern

Australia, like other tropical tramp ants in the Indo-Pacific region such as

Tetramorium lanuginosum Mayr, Cardiocondyla wroughtoni (Forel) and

Strumigenys emmae (Emery) (Andersen et al. 2007). The second known

Northern Territory locality (Fogg Dam) is also relatively undisturbed and

remote from an urban centre. However, other introduced species such as

Tetramorium simillimum (Smith) (Bolton 1977) and Monomorium floricola

(Jerdon) (Heterick 2001), were recorded from the Territory Wildlife Park site

(Andersen et al. 2007) and introduced species such as Paratrechina

longicornis (Latreille) also occur at Fogg Dam (A. Andersen unpublished

data).

In contrast to the Northern Territory records, the Queensland collections of P.

membranifera are mostly from disturbed habitats and there seems little doubt

that the species is introduced there. The Queensland localities include

suburban backyards, cattle pasture and degraded riparian vegetation within

areas grazed by cattle. On Heron Island, a single nest was located beneath a

Island has an ant fauna that is dominated by introduced tramp species, several

of which have invaded the closed Pisonia forest that dominates the vegetation

of the island (CJB unpublished data). This record suggests that the Northern

Territory populations may also be introduced.

The broad range of the species within tropical and subtropical Queensland

(Fig. 1) suggests that it has been in Australia for a considerable length of

10 Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1)

time. The fact that it has not been detected until recently probably stems from

two factors: firstly, P. membranifera is a small, cryptic, soil and litter-

inhabiting species that is difficult to collect as it rarely falls into pitfall traps

and is not easily collected by hand, due to its habit of remaining motionless

when disturbed and, secondly, the species appears to favour disturbed sites

such as suburban gardens and pastures, habitats that are rarely targeted for

survey by myrmecologists.

Acknowledgements

We thank Geoff Thompson and Karin Koch (Queensland Museum) for their

skilful preparation of the figures of the worker specimen and the distribution

map respectively. Thanks also to Andrew McDougall (Queensland Parks and

Wildlife Service) for the opportunity for Queensland Museum staff to

conduct fieldwork on Heron Island, and the Electric Ant Control Centre

(EACC — Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries) team for sending the

specimens from Cairns.

References

ANDERSEN, A.N., VAN INGEN, L.T. and CAMPOS, R.I. 2007. Contrasting rainforest and

savanna ant faunas in monsoonal northern Australia: a rainforest patch in a tropical savanna

landscape. Australian Journal of Zoology 55: 363-369.

BARONI URBANI, C. and DE ANDRADE, M.L. 2007. The ant tribe Dacetini: limits and

constituent genera, with descriptions of new species (Hymenoptera, Formicidac). Annali del

Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria (Genova) 99: 1-191

BOLTON, B. 1977. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptcra: Formicidac). The genus

Tetramorium Mayr in the Oriental and Indo-Australian Regions, and in Australia. Bulletin of the

British Museum (Natural History) Entomology 36: 67-151.

BOLTON, B. 1983. The Afrotropical dacctine ants (Formicidac). Bulletin of the British Museum

(Natural History) (Entomology) 46: 267-416.

BOLTON, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacctini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute.

65: 1-1028.

BROWN, W.L. Jr and WILSON, E.O. 1959. The evolution of the dacctine ants. Quarterly

Review of Biology 34: 278-294.

HETERICK, B.E. 2001. Revision of the Australian ants of the genus Monomorium

(Hymenoptera: Formicidac). /nvertebrate Taxonomy 15: 353-459

Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1): 11-12 11

PLATYPLEURA TEPPERI GODING & FROGGATT, 1904

(CICADOIDEA: CICADIDAE), A MADAGASCAN CICADA

ERRONEOUSLY RECORDED FROM AUSTRALIA

M.S. MOULDS

Entomology Dept, Australian Museum, Sydney, NSW 2010 (Email: msmoulds@bigpond.net.au)

Abstract

The identity of the cicada Platypleura tepperi Goding & Froggatt, 1904 is resolved. It is not an

Australian species, but a junior synonym of the Madagascan Yanga guttulata (Signorct, 1860).

Introduction

Platypleura tepperi was described by Goding and Froggatt (1904) from

‘Northern Territory, Australia’ from three specimens supposedly collected by

J.G. Tepper, then entomologist at the South Australian Museum (SAM). Only

a single specimen could be traced, a syntype male in the SAM (Figs 1-7).

Although this specimen has long been considered of doubtful Australian

origin (Burns 1957), its true origins have never been clarified. I have recently

re-examined the SAM specimen and it has become clear that it is in fact a

synonym of the Madagascan species Yanga guttulata (Signoret, 1860).

Fig. 1. Male syntype of Platypleura tepperi, SAM. Approximately 1.2 x natural size.

Yanga guttulata (Signoret)

Platypleura guttulata Signoret, 1860: 178, pl. 4.

Yanga guttularis [sic]: Distant, 1905: 196.

Yanga guttulata: Distant, 1906: 17.

Platypleura tepperi Goding & Froggatt, 1904: 568-69. Male syntype in SAM, labelled

‘N.Territory’, ‘[?]:8’, ‘Platypleura Tepperi/ God.&Fr/ NorthernTerritory’;

examined. Syn. n.

The SAM syntype of P. tepperi is unfortunately in poor condition, with faded

colour, damaged hind wings and damaged genitalia. However, there is no

doubt that the wing and body markings, colour and morphology match

perfectly those of Y. guttulata, as do the male genitalia (Figs 2-5), although

the latter do not always clearly delineate Yanga Distant spp. in Madagascar.

12 Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1)

Figs 2-7. Male syntype of Platypleura tepperi. (2-3) genitalia in lateral and ventral

views; (4-5) aedeagus in lateral view and basal plate in lateroventral view; (6-7) fore

and hind wings showing venation.

Acknowledgements

Michel Boulard (MNHN, Paris), Martin Villet (Rhodes University,

Grahamstown) and Mick Webb (NHM, London) helped in determining the

identity of P. tepperi. Peter Hudson kindly lent the syntype and Ivan Nozaic

did the drawings.

References

BURNS, A.N. 1957. Check list of Australian Cicadidac. Entomologischen Arbeiten aus dem

Museum Georg Frey 8: 609-678.

DISTANT, W.L. 1905. Additions to a knowledge of the homoptcrous family Cicadidac.

Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1905: 191-202, pl. 11.

DISTANT, W.L. 1906. A synonymic catalogue of Homoptera. Part 1. Cicadidae. British

Museum, London. Pp. i-iii, 1-207. Facsimile reprint 1966, Johnson Reprint Corp., New York.

GODING, F.W. and FROGGATT, W.W. 1904. Monograph of the Australian Cicadidac.

Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 29: 561-670, pls 18-19.

SIGNORET, V., 1860. Faunce des Hémipteres de Madagascar. Ire partic. Homoptéres. Annales

de la Société entomologique de France (3)8: 177-206, pls 4-5.

Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1): 13-20 13

THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE HAWK MOTH LANGIA TROPICUS

MOULDS (LEPIDOPTERA: SPHINGIDAE) TOGETHER WITH NEW

DISTRIBUTION RECORDS FOR THE SPECIES

D.A. LANE! and M.S. MOULDS?

'3 Janda Street, Atherton, Qld 4883 (Email: d.l.lane@bigpond.net.au)

?6 Victor Place, Kuranda, Qld 4881 (Email: msmoulds@bigpond.net.au)

Abstract

The carly stages of the hawk moth Langia tropicus Moulds are described from northern

Queensland and aspects of the species’ biology are discussed. All known larval food plants are

members of the coarse-lcaved Flame Trees that occur throughout the dry monsoonal tropics of

northern Australia, namely Brachychiton chillagoensis Guymer, B. albidus Guymer and B.

paradoxus Schott & Endl. (Sterculiaccac). New distribution records from Western Australia and

northern Queensland are included.

Introduction

Langia tropicus Moulds, 1983 has been recorded from a wide area across

northern Australia, from Kununurra in northeastern Western Australia, across

the northern third of the Northern Territory, and in northern Queensland from

near Georgetown, Chillagoe and the Coen district (Moulds 1983). From a

period commencing in the early 1990s, larvae of Langia tropicus have been

collected regularly by one of us (DAL) from the Chillagoe district, where

they were found feeding on the coarse-leaved Flame Tree Brachychiton

chillagoensis Guymer and reared through to adults. Subsequently, larvae

were also found feeding on the closely allied Brachychiton albidus Guymer

at the Newcastle Range, 60 km east of Georgetown, from near Mt Surprise,

and from Undara National Park, south-west of Mount Garnet, and on

Brachychiton paradoxus Schott & Endl. from near Coen, also in northern

Queensland. However, it was only recently that we were able to observe and

photograph all larval instars, again from the Chillagoe district, allowing the

complete life history to be documented.

New distribution records

WESTERN AUSTRALIA: | <3, Great Western Hwy, 100 km SE of Derby,

31.xii.1985, M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 1 9, Wyndham, 5.i.1966, M.S. & B.J. Moulds.

QUEENSLAND: 1 9, York Downs, 50 km E of Weipa, 28.xii.1983, M.S. & B.J.

Moulds; 3 £, 2 99, Archer River xing, 60 km N of Coen, 29.xii.1983 and 9.i.1988,

M.S. & B.J. Moulds; 1 2, 50 km S of 40 Mile Scrub, 29.xii.2007, Dennis Kitchin; |

3, 4 km N of Mt Surprise, bred/larva, 15.11.2005, D.A. Lane; 2 final instar larvae

observed (both parasitised by tachinid flies), Undara National Park, 12.ix.1999, D.A.

Lane.

The above records extend the previously recorded distribution from the

eastern Kimberley to the western Kimberley in Western Australia and in

Queensland north from Coen to the Archer River and York Downs (some 50

km E of Weipa) on Cape York Peninsula and south-east to the Mt Surprise

district (Mt Surprise, Undara and 50 km south of 40 Mile Scrub).

14 Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1)

Food plants and habitat

All known larval food plants are members of the coarse-leaved Flame Trees

(Sterculiaceae) that occur throughout the dry monsoonal tropics of northern

Australia, namely Brachychiton chillagoensis, B. albidus and B. paradoxus.

In the Chillagoe district, Langia tropicus favours the extensive limestone

outcrop areas where its food plant B. chillagoensis grows as a small to

medium-sized tree in and on the verges of vine scrub thicket areas that

predominately straddle the limestone outcrops. These trees defoliate during

the dry season, but following the first wet season storms they respond with a

fairly rapid flush of fresh leaf growth.

In the Newcastle Range area, approximately 55-60 km east of Georgetown,

and at Mt Surprise, the habitat is more open compared with that of the

Chillagoe district, but contains an equally widespread occurrence of coarse-

leaved Brachychiton food plants, often growing in steep and rocky gullies or

escarpment areas where fires rarely reach, allowing the plants to maintain a

stronghold. In the Undara district the food plants predominately grow along

the collapsed lava tubes in vine scrub habitat.

The group of coarse-leaved Flame Trees includes many other species found

across the range of L. tropicus and it is likely that several of these also will be

found to be host plants. Such species include B. vitifolius (Bailey) Guymer

and B. muellerianus Guymer from the Laura and Coen districts respectively

in northern Queensland, B. megaphyllus Guymer from the Northern

Territory, and B. incanus R.Br. and B. fitzgeraldianus Guymer, both from the

Wyndham and Kununurra districts of northern Western Australia.

Description of early stages

Egg (Fig. 1). Pale yellow in colour, smooth and glossy to the naked eye;

subspherical, being slightly elongate and slightly flattened top and bottom;

approximately 1.9 mm long, 1.7 mm wide and 1.5 mm high.

First instar larva (Fig. 2). Pale green with pale dull yellow head. Meso- and

metathoracic segments wrinkled with transverse rings of folded flesh of

similar size, the meso- and metathorax each comprising six such folds,

abdominal segment 1 seven folds and abdominal segments 2-7 each with

eight; each fold with many small protuberances arranged along its width and

each terminating with a minute, fine seta microscopically bifurcate at apex; a

row of tubercles along the length of larva either side of dorsal surface largest;

these tubercles each carrying a primary seta and arranged as a fused pair mid

length on meso- and metathorax, two each evenly spaced on abdominal

segments 2-7. Prothoracic shield pale green, indistinct, with 10 primary

tubercles spaced more or less evenly around perimeter, each terminating in a

fine seta microscopically bifurcate at apex. Head rounded, with many small

white tubercles barely discernable; vertex smooth and rounded; ocelli black;

antennae muddy pale yellow; mouthparts muddy pale yellow with apices of

Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1) 15

mandibles black. Thoracic legs, prolegs and anal prolegs (claspers) pale

green. Claspers and anal plate with scattered small tubercles as on body, a

submedian pair of these on anal plate much larger than any other, elongate,

formed from a fusion of three tubercles, each with a long seta. Spiracles pale

green, similarly coloured to thorax and abdomen.

Caudal horn dull pale yellow; slender, approximately 1.5-1.6 mm long;

barely curved forwards or straight; throughout its length densely covered in

numerous microscopic spine-like tubercles that are similarly coloured to shaft

of horn; apex of horn minutely bifurcate, the branches sometimes tending

brown, wide apart, very short, conical, aligned in the transverse plane and

terminating in a fine almost colourless seta; a few (about 3-5) tubercles that

are a little smaller than terminal bifurcation on distal quarter or so of shaft.

Length on hatching approximately 6 mm; length at maturity approximately 9

mm. Width of head capsule approximately 1.2 mm. Duration approximately

3-4 days.

Second instar larva. Pale green with pale muddy green head. Thoracic and

abdominal segments folded into multiple transverse fleshy rows with small

protuberances, setae as in first instar. Head with many small, pointed, white

tubercles (similar to those on body) scattered over surface; vertex bearing a

pair of pale yellow conical tubercles either side of coronal suture, larger than

any other tubercles on head; ocelli black, antennae muddy pale green;

mouthparts muddy pale green with apices of mandibles jet black. Prothoracic

shield similar to that of first instar. Thoracic legs, prolegs and anal claspers

pale muddy green. Anal plate with scattered small white tubercles as on

body, a pair of these at base either side of midline much larger than any other.

Spiracles pale green, similarly coloured to thorax and abdomen.

Caudal horn pale brown; approximately 2.4 mm long; bearing many very

small sharply-pointed tubercles mostly similarly coloured to shaft but a few

black or nearly so; apically bifurcate, the branches much longer than any

tubercle, directed outwards at 45° or slightly less.

Length at maturity at rest approximately 12 mm. Width of head capsule

approximately 1.8 mm. Duration approximately 4 days.

Third instar larva. Similar to second instar. Vertex of head bearing a pair of

bright orange conical tubercles clearly larger than all others on the head, one

either side of coronal suture, these directed straight up and parallel to each

other and each terminating in a microscopic seta.

Caudal horn very pale brown; 3.5 mm long; shaft bearing many short, sharply

pointed, conical tubercles of slightly different lengths, most very pale brown

but some black; apically bifurcate, the branches no longer than the largest

tubercles on shaft, black on their apical half or so, otherwise brown to very

pale brown.

16 Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1)

Figs 1-7. Early stages of Langia tropicus. (1) egg; (2) first instar larva; (3-4)

fourth instar larva: (3) lateral view; (4) dorsal view; (5-7) fifth instar larva:

(5) head frontal view; (6) head and prothoracic shield dorsal view; (7) eighth

abdominal segment, anal plate and caudal horn, oblique view

Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1) 17

Figs 8-11. Early stages of Langia tropicus (continued). (8-10) fifth instar larva: (8)

lateral view; (9) dorsal view; (10) close up of head and thoracic segments, showing

strategically placed tachinid fly eggs; (11) pupa: lateral, dorsal and ventral views.

18 Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1)

Length at maturity at rest approximately 20 mm. Width of head capsule 2.6

mm. Duration approximately 5 days.

Fourth instar larva (Figs 3-4). Pale green with head a slightly darker green.

Thoracic and abdominal segments folded into multiple transverse fleshy

rows, each with many small protuberances along its length, these tubercles

dull white in colour, all of similar size, conical, and all terminating in a

minute simple seta. Prothoracic shield pale bluish green, not sclerotized,

bearing eight prominent, bright pink, short, conical tubercles of similar size,

each capped white, and more or less evenly spaced across the width of the

shield. Head with many small white tubercles (similar to those on body)

scattered over surface; vertex of head bearing a pair of conical tubercles, pale

pink but tending white apically, clearly larger than any other on the head;

ocelli inconspicuous, black or brown; antennae pale green; mouthparts pale

green with apices of mandibles jet black. Thoracic legs, prolegs and anal

prolegs (claspers) pale muddy green. Anal plate muddy pale green, with pink

conical tubercles similar to those on prothoracic shield but not quite as large

and not quite as brightly coloured, these more or less evenly spaced mostly

around perimeter but 3 interior. Spiracles turquoise, those on abdominal

segments a little darker.

Caudal horn pale pink; straight, long (approximately 7.5 mm), slender and

gradually tapering to a point; shaft bearing many short, sharply pointed,

conical tubercles of slightly different lengths, most similarly coloured to

shaft, pale pink but a few black; apically bifurcate, the branches a little longer

than the largest tubercles on shaft, pale pink, V-shaped.

Length at maturity at rest approximately 35-45 mm. Width of head capsule

4.9 mm. Duration approximately 6 days.

Fifth instar larva (Figs 5-10). Head, thorax and abdomen pale green over a

little more than dorsal half, ventral remainder pale greyish green; non glossy;

mesothorax, metathorax and abdominal segments 1-7 divided into transverse

fleshy rings. Mesothorax, metathorax and abdomen bearing a pale yellow

subdorsal stripe from about anterior of mesothorax to anterior of abdominal

segment 8 at which point it abruptly terminates; sometimes a spot of similar

colour on abdominal segment 8 near distal end of pale yellow abdominal

stripe; yellow pigmentation also narrowly encircling abdominal spiracles

somewhat irregular in outline; the distal fleshy fold of mesothorax,

metathorax and abdominal segments 1-7 dull pink, most obvious on

abdominal segments. Head in frontal view rounded, slightly broader towards

base, apical protuberances present in earlier instars absent, pale green with a

broad white stripe down the length of each cheek continuing to antennae;

median region with a narrower white stripe of slightly less intensity either

side of coronal suture and along frontal sutures, frontoclypeal triangle white

or greenish white; ocelli mostly translucent white or pale green but usually

three distinctly brown; antennae whitish; mouthparts tending white with

Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1) 19

apices of mandibles jet black. Prothoracic shield pale bluish green, not

markedly sclerotized, bearing eight prominent (collar like), bright pink, short,

conical tubercles of similar size, each capped white, and more or less evenly

spaced across the width of the shield along its posterior margin; anterior

margin with very small white tubercles and some even smaller tubercles

scattered elsewhere. Anal plate light bluish green with bright pink conical

tubercles similar to those on prothoracic shield, these more or less evenly

spaced, most around perimeter but three interior. Prothoracic spiracles

turquoise, abdominal spiracles deep bluish green, all with a narrow black

vertical midline reaching almost full length. Thoracic legs and ventral prolegs

entirely pale greyish green; anal prolegs (claspers) light bluish green with

bright pink conical tubercles scattered over surface similar to those on anal

plate; crotchets brown.

Caudal horn straight, conical, very short, approximately 1.5-1.7 mm long;

salmon pink in colour, tending glossy; surface smooth, lacking noticeable

tubercles and setae even at magnification (x50) except at apex; apex smooth

and rounded with two very fine short setae spaced apart’ and angled at about

30° to midline.

Length of mature larva at rest approximately 65 mm (male), 75 mm (female).

Width of head capsule approximately 6.5 mm (male), 7.5 mm (female).

Duration approximately 8-9 days.

Pupa (Fig. 11). Length 42-50 mm. Dark brown, smooth and glossy; head

bluntly rounded and lacking protruding features; abdominal segment | totally

lacking pits; abdominal segments 2-8 each with a single row of deep pits near

anterior margin; abdominal segments 8-10 with many very small pits

scattered across surface, most dense on segment 10. Cremaster black; glossy;

gnarled; terminating in a linear projection about 0.5 mm long, the apex of

which carries a small cluster of gnarled rounded protuberances.

Biology

At Chillagoe, the first adults of Langia tropicus emerge following the flush of

fresh growth induced by the onset of wet season rains, usually in mid to late

December. Adults are nocturnal and remain active throughout the wet season,

usually until late March.

Eggs are deposited singly, usually on the underside and rarely on the

upperside, of fresh but well developed leaves usually a short distance from

the leaf margin. Oviposition occurs only on coarse-leaved Brachychiton

species, never on the smooth-leaved Brachychiton diversifolius R.Br., which

also grows in the Chillagoe limestone outcrops along with the host tree B.

chillagoensis. Extensive searching of B. diversifolius has never revealed signs

of Langia tropicus larvae, or any sign of eggs.

During all instars, larvae rest and feed on the underside of leaves, usually

resting along the midrib vein. In this position they are remarkably well

20 Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1)

camouflaged, with their colouration closely matching and blending with the

pale colouration of the underside leaf pattern.

Larval parasitism by tachinid flies was observed. The flies oviposited on late

or final instar larvae, their eggs being placed on the head or thoracic

segments so that the larvae could not reach them with their mouthparts. In

some other species of Sphingidae, such as Daphnis placida (Walker) (DAL

pers. obs.), final instar larvae have been observed to forcibly remove tachinid

eggs with their mouthparts. The observed parasitised Langia tropicus larvae

reached pupation, but the fly larvae exited through the pupal walls and

pupated in the surrounding soil. Further, several L. tropicus eggs were

observed that appeared to have been parasitised by a small wasp species, as

the eggs had died and darkened in colour and, being darker, were quite

visible on the pale green leaf undersides.

Final instar larvae leave the food plant trees to pupate. They first turn a dull

purplish colour, then wander off in search of a suitable pupation site. In

captivity, such purplish larvae were placed in plastic containers with a sand

base 150 mm deep. Some larvae began to burrow fairly quickly after being

placed while others continued to roam over the surface for up to two hours.

All eventually burrowed up to 100 mm deep in the sand, where they formed a

cell lined with silk and sand particles in which they pupated. It is not known

exactly where larvae pupate in the wild, but it is assumed that wild larvae

would behave similarly to captive larvae and pupate below ground. The

limestone outcrops around Chillagoe contain many suitable pupation sites,

both with deep soil deposits or rock crevices filled with soil and leaf litter,

but searches of such places have failed to produce any pupae. It is believed

that Langia tropicus are able to diapause over the dry season as pupae, as

several pupae in captivity have undergone a seasonal diapause of up to 14

months, with emergence following local hot, wet conditions after a long dry

winter.

Acknowledgements

Garry Sankowsky of Tolga is sincerely thanked for his plant identifications

and knowledge of the numerous coarse-leaved Brachychiton species of

northern Australia. The company of Graham Wood in the field during the

mid 1990s is also acknowledged.

Reference

MOULDS, M.S. 1983. A new species of Langia Moore (Lepidoptera: Sphingidac) from northern

Australia. Australian Entomological Magazine 10: 75-79.

Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1): 21-24 21

A NEW SPECIES OF STENUS LATREILLE (COLEOPTERA:

STAPHYLINIDAE) FROM AUSTRALIA

V. PUTHZ

Burgmuseum Schlitz, Naturwissenschaftliche Abteilung, Vorderburg 1, D-36110 Schlitz,

Germany

Abstract

Stenus necopinus sp. n. is described from northern Queensland, Australia, bringing to 30 the

number of Stenus Latrcille specics in Australia.

Introduction

The Stenus Latreille fauna of Australia was revised nearly 40 years ago

(Puthz 1970); additional information has been published by Puthz (1972,

1975, 1977), Hawkeswood (1987), Reid (1997) and Porch (2008). A recent

revision of the collection of the Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC,

Canberra) brought one male of a new species to light, increasing the total

number of Australian Stenus to 30.

Stenus necopinus sp. n.

(Figs 1-2)

Type material. Holotype 6, QUEENSLAND [Cape York Peninsula]: 5 km S Batavia

Downs, Malaise trap, 11.xii.1992-15.i.1993, P. Zborowski (in Australian National

Insect Collection, Canberra).

Description. Length: 6.6 mm (forebody: 2.8 mm). Measurements (in mm):

head width: 0.99; average distance between eyes: 0.58; pronotal width: 0.71;

pronotal length: 0.93; greatest width of elytra: 1.13; greatest length of elytra:

1.30; sutural length: 1.08. Blue-metallic, elytra with violet tint, strongly

shiny, forebody coarsely and moderately densely punctate, abdominal

punctation coarse and moderately dense anteriorly, becoming much finer and

much sparser posteriorly; pubescence long, semi-erect. Antennae, maxillary

palpi and legs yellowish, apices of tarsal segments slightly infuscate. Clypeus

metallic, labrum dark brown to light brown, pubescence long, divergent.

Male. Anterior sternites simple. Sternite 8 with a deep apical excision to

almost half length (Fig. 2). Sternite 9 finely serrate apically. Tergite 10

rounded, apical margin nearly smooth. Aedeagus (Fig. 1), median lobe

narrowly triangular with a small apicodorsal tooth; internal sac strongly

sclerotized, broadly tubular; parameres much longer than the median lobe,

widened in anterior third, with 3 groups of setae: about 11 fine setae apically,

7-9 fine setae internally and 11 strong and very long densely set setae

medially.

Head distinctly narrower than elytra, frons broad, shallowly concave, lateral

furrows very shallow, indistinct, median portion less broad than each of the

lateral portions, nearly flat; punctation coarse and moderately dense, diameter

of punctures as large as apical cross section of antennal segment 3, interstices

Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1)

mostly smaller than diameter of punctures, as large or slightly larger on

posterior median portion and on a small area near posterior eye margins.

Antennae long and slender, when reflexed nearly the last two segments

extending beyond the posterior margin of pronotum; penultimate segments

twice as long as broad.

Pronotum much longer than broad, broadest in posterior third, sides from

there very slightly convex anteriorly, shallowly concave posteriorly;

punctation slightly coarser than on frons amd moderately dense, diameter of

punctures slightly larger than apical cross section of antennal segment 3,

interstices mostly distinctly smaller than diameter of punctures; no delimited

unpunctured areas present.

Elytra broader than head, somewhat longer than broad, subquadrate,

shoulders rectangular, sides slightly widened, narrowed in posterior fifth,

posterior margin deeply emarginate; sutural impression short and shallow,

humeral impression indistinct; punctation as coarse as on frons but on

average sparser, interstices mostly larger than diameter of punctures,

becoming smaller laterally. Fully winged.

Abdomen cylindrical, immarginate, basal constrictions of first segments

deep, tergite 7 with a broad membranous fringe apically; punctation of tergite

3 coarse and dense anteriorly, becoming less coarse and less dense

posteriorly, on the following tergites strongly decreasing in coarseness and

density, punctures on tergite 7 finer than one eye facet near dorsal eye

margin, interstices four times and more as large as punctures; tergite 10 only

with few scattered punctures.

Legs long and slender, metatarsi more than half as long as the metatibiae

(ratio 26:48), first segment slightly longer than the two following segments

combined, distinctly longer than the last segment; segment 3 and 4 deeply

bilobed.

The whole insect is shining without any microsculpture.

Discussion. This new species belongs to the coeruleus-group (Puthz 1970:

56) and may be the sister species of S. coeruleus Waterhouse, which it

strongly resembles. It may be distinguished by the semi-erect pubescence (in

S. coeruleus it is much more erect), finer and sparser abdominal punctation,

less densely punctate elytra and by the male sexual characters (cf. Figs 3 and

4).

Stenus necopinus differs from all other Australian Stenus with immarginate

abdomen, bilobed tarsi and bluish-metallic lustre (S. platythrix Puthz, S.

pseudocoeruleus Puthz, S. improbus Puthz) by the complete lack of

microsculpture and the male’s sexual characters.

Etymology. Since the Stenus fauna of Australia is fairly well known, the new

species was unexpected = (Lat.) necopinus.

Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1) 23

1 3 4

Figs 1-4. Stenus spp. (1-2) S. necopinus sp. n., holotype male: (1) aedeagus, ventral;

(2) sternite 8, ventral. (3-4) S. coeruleus, male from Dorrigo, NSW: (3) sternite 8,

ventral; (4) aedeagus, ventral. Scale bars = 0.1 mm (1=4; 2=3).

Acknowledgement

My thanks are due to Tom Weir (ANIC, Canberra) for the loan of the

material.

References

HAWKESWOOD, T., 1987. Beetles of Australia. North Ryde, NSW & London; 248 pp.

PORCH, N., 2008. First record of Stenus Latreille (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Steninac) from

Tasmania, Australia. Co/eopterist's Bulletin 62: 62.

PUTHZ, V., 1970. Revision of the Australian species of the genus Stenus Latreille (Coleoptera:

Staphylinidac). Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria 31: 55-80.

eo |]

24 Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1)

PUTHZ, V., 1972. Corrections and additions to revision of the Australian species of the genus

Stenus Latreille (Coleoptera. Staphylinidae). Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria 33:

109-110.

PUTHZ, V., 1975. An additional Stenus from Australia (Coleoptera, Staphylinidac) 100th

contribution to the knowledge of Steninae. Fieldiana (Zoology) 65: 85-88.

PUTHZ, V., 1977. Zwei neue australische Stenus (Parastenus)-Arten (Colcoptera,

Staphylinidac) 157. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Steninen. Nouvelle Revue d'Entomologie 7: 33-37.

REID, C.A.M., 1997. New records of the genus Stenus Latreille (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in

Australia. Australian Entomologist 24: 119-126.

Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1): 25-27 25

RANGE EXTENSION AND BEHAVIOURAL OBSERVATIONS FOR

DOLESCHALLIA BISALTIDE (CRAMER) (LEPIDOPTERA:

NYMPHALIDAE: NYMPHALINAE)

T.J. SHAKESPEARE, Z.J. SHAKESPEARE and T.P. SHAKESPEARE

158b Gaudrons Road, Sapphire Beach, NSW 2450

(Email: ThomasShakespeare@gmail.com) `

Abstract

Records of a southern extension of range are provided for Doleschallia bisaltide (Cramer)

collected in and around Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. Previously unreported behaviour is

also noted.

Introduction

Between December 2007 and May 2009, multiple specimens of Doleschallia

bisaltide (Cramer) (Fig. 1) were captured in and around Coffs Harbour,

northeastern New South Wales. Specimens were also observed frequenting a

garden in Sapphire Beach, Coffs Harbour on a daily basis during February

and April 2008 and again between February and April 2009. A number of

specimens were captured at this location, which borders the Orara East State

Forest, at an altitude of 100 m and 2 km west of the coastline. Previously

unreported behaviour was also observed at this location.

Fig. 1. Doleschallia bisaltide at rest on 6 m high canopy of Eucalyptus sp

26 Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1)

Fig. 2. Locale at Sapphire Beach and net extension used to capture specimens

in canopy.

Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1) 27

Observations

NYMPHALIDAE

Doleschallia bisaltide (Cramer)

Specimens were observed at numerous locations around Coffs Harbour, New

South Wales. These locations include the coastal Moonee Beach Nature

Reserve, Sapphire Beach bordering the Orara East State Forest, at various

locations in Bonville, and bordering the Bongil Bongil National Park south of

Coffs Harbour. These records extend the known range of the species

approximately 90 km further south than the previously reported locality of

Grafton (Braby 2000, Common and Waterhouse 1981). Specimens were

observed most commonly between February and April in both 2008 and

2009.

At Sapphire Beach, the species’ status, using the system suggested by Braby

(2004), was local but common. At the other locations the status was local and

rare. Specimens at Sapphire Beach could be observed daily between 1400

and 1630h perched at a height of 6 m on the west-facing canopy of several

Eucalyptus spp, or occasionally on power lines. Specimens were always

observed in the same part of the canopy, at the same time each day and in full

sun. At other times or when cloudy, specimens were rarely observed.

Specimens were almost always perched on the upper side of the leaf, head

down, with wings at 45° (Fig. 1). The exception was that specimens observed

on power lines always rested with their wings fully open at 180°. When

disturbed by passing Lepidoptera, specimens frequently followed the passing

species, then flew rapidly over the canopy to eventually alight on the same or

nearby leaf. In the same garden, one specimen was observed at 0800h flying

rapidly to alight briefly on flowers of various species, in full sun. On

occasion, at dusk (around 1800h), specimens could also be observed rapidly

circling a large Eucalyptus sp. at heights between 6 and 12 m. All specimens

captured and observed appeared to be in perfect condition. Specimens resting

on the canopy were easily caught with an insect net attached to a pool

cleaning pole (Fig. 2), carefully approaching the adult from behind. Adults

were rarely disturbed before being netted using this technique.

References

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

CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood; xx + 976 pp.

BRABY, M.F. 2004. The complete field guide to butterflies of Australia, CSIRO Publishing,

Collingwood; xx + 340pp.

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

Angus and Robertson, Sydney; xiv + 682 pp.

28 Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1)

A SOUTHERN RANGE EXTENSION FOR NACADUBA KURAVA

PARMA WATERHOUSE & LYELL (LEPIDOPTERA:

LYCAENIDAE)

A.S. MOORE

379 Lake Innes Drive, Wauchope, NSW 2446

(Email: antonymoore56@yahoo.co.uk)

Abstract

A southern range extension is provided for Nacaduba kurava parma Waterhouse & Lyell to Port

Macquarie, New South Wales.

Introduction

Braby (2000) recorded the distribution of the White-banded line-blue,

Nacaduba kurava parma Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914, to Grafton in

northeastern New South Wales. This range was recently extended south to

Coffs Harbour by Shakespeare et al. (2009).

New record

LYCAENIDAE

Nacaduba kurava parma Waterhouse & Lyell

A fresh adult male was collected in regenerating littoral rainforest near

Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie, New South Wales on 12 May, 2009. This

record extends the southern range limit by 140 km.

References

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

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

SHAKESPEARE, T.J., SHAKESPEARE, Z.J. and SHAKESPEARE, T.P. Range extensions for

two specics of Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera) to Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. Australian

Entomologist 36(1): 6.

Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1): 29-31

THE FIRST RECORD OF CEPHONODES PICUS (CRAMER)

(LEPIDOPTERA SPHINGIDAE) FROM SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

MURDOCH DE BAAR

10 Hereford Street, Corinda, Qld 4075 (Email: debaar@powerup.com.au)

Abstract

A southern distribution extension to Brisbane, SE Queensland, is presented for Cephonodes

picus (Cramer), previously known from northern Australia and the Indo-Australian region.

Introduction

Cephonodes picus (Cramer) has a wide distribution across the Oriental and

Australian regions, but in Australia it was considered to be confined to the

extreme north of Australia (I.F.B. Common pers. comm.) and in the northern

tropics of Queensland (E.D. Edwards pers. comm.). C. picus has since been

recorded in Australia as far south as Rockhampton, central Queensland

(Moulds 1998). This paper further extends the distribution for C. picus to

Brisbane, southern Queensland.

While bee hawk moths, Cephonodes Hiibner spp. and humming-bird hawk

moths, Macroglossum Scopoli spp. were being studied in a suburban garden

at Corinda, Brisbane (see De Baar 2007), a larva (Fig. 1), which differed

from those of C. hylas australis Kitching & Cadiou and C. kingii (W.S.

Macleay), was noted feeding on leaves of a Gardenia (Gardenia augusta,

Rubiaceae). This larva was bred through to an adult C. picus.

Fig. 1. Cephonodes picus larva from Corinda, Brisbane.

30 Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1)

Figs 2-3. Cephonodes spp. (2) C. picus from Corinda, showing apical spine on tibia of

foreleg; (3) C. hylas showing reduced apical spine on tibia of foreleg.

Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1) 31

New record

Cephonodes picus (Cramer)

(Figs 1-2)

Material examined. QUEENSLAND: | specimen, Corinda, Brisbane, collected larva

15.1i1.2008, feeding on leaves of Gardenia (Gardenia augusta, Rubiaceae), pupated

19.iii.2008, emerged 6.iv.2008, M. De Baar (in De Baar collection, Brisbane).

Comments. Several larvae, representing three sphingid species, were

collected on 15.111.2008, feeding on a Gardenia (Gardenia augusta,

Rubiaceae) in my garden. Two of these larvae proved to be Cephonodes

hylas australis and C. kingii; the third was bred through to C. picus. The larva

(Fig. 1) differs from that of C. hylas by having a broad, whitish dorsal band

(this being more greenish in C. Aylas) and lacking a thin, darkish lateral line

(sometimes present on the C. hylas larva). The C. picus larva was collected

from an established garden plant present in our yard since 1984, with no

likelihood of introduction from the north via, for example, a potted plant.

The adult of C. picus is extremely similar to that of C. hylas but differs in

having a strong projecting spine on the apex of the fore tibia (Fig. 2), whereas

the fore tibial spine of C. hylas is poorly developed (Fig. 3) (1.F.B. Common,

pers. comm.).

I had previously suggested the possible presence of this species in Brisbane,

because of its similarity to C. Aylas and thus being potentially overlooked (De

Baar 2007).

Acknowledgements

I wish to thank Ted Edwards and Max Moulds for their discussions on C.

picus, and the late Ian Common for personal communications during the

1970s.

References

DE BAAR, M. 2007. Bee hawk moths Cephonodes spp. and humming-bird hawk moths

Macroglossum spp. in suburban Corinda, Brisbane, southeast Queensland. News Bulletin of the

Entomological Society of Queensland 35(2): 35-37. [Abstracted in Australian Entomologist

35(1): 36 (2008)]

MOULDS, M. 1998. New larval food plants for Australian hawk moths (Lepidoptera:

Sphingidac). Australian Entomologist 25(1): 13 —22.

32 Australian Entomologist, 2010, 37 (1)

RECENT LITERATURE

Compiled by Max Moulds (msmoulds@bigpond.net.au) & Editor

BELL, K.L. and PHILIPS, T.K.

2009 New species of the myrmecophile Polyplocotes Westwood (Colcoptera: Ptinidac) from South

Australia. Australian Journal of Entomology 48(1): 15-24.

FLETCHER, M.J. and MOIR, M.L.

2009 Budginmaya eulae gen. ct sp. nov., a myrmecophilous planthopper (Hemiptera:

Fulgoromorpha: Flatidac) from Wester Australia. Australian Journal of Entomology

48(1): 36-39.

GLOAG, R., SHAW, S.R. and BURWELL, C.

2009 A new species of Syntretus Foerster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Euphorinac), a parasitoid of

the stingless bee Trigona carbonaria Smith (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponinac).

Australian Journal of Entomology 48(1): 8-14.

JENNINGS, J.T., AUSTIN, A.D. and BASHFORD, R.

2009 First record of the woodwasp family Xiphydriidae from Tasmania with a description of a

new species and host record. Australian Journal of Entomology 48(1): 25-28.

JENNINGS, J.T., AUSTIN, A.D. and SCHIFF, N.M.

2009 The Australian endemic woodwasp genus Austrocyrta Rick (Hymenoptera: Xiphydriidac).

Australian Journal of Entomology 48(1): 29-35.

LEYS, R. and WATTS, C.H.S.

2008 Systematics and evolution of the Australian subterranean hydroporine diving beetles

(Coleoptera: Dytiscidae). /nvertebrate Systematics 22: 217-225.

MATTHEWS, E.G. and BOUCHARD, P.

2008 Tenebrionid beetles of Australia: descriptions of tribes, keys to genera, catalogue of

species. Australian Biological Resources Study; viii + 398 pp.

NAHRUNG, H.F., DUFFY, M.P., LAWSON, S.A. and CLARKE, A.R.

2008 Natural enemies of Paropsis atomaria Olivier (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidac) in south-eastern

Queensland cucal;ypt plantations. Australian Journal of Entomology 47(3): 188-194.

ROBINSON, W.A.

2008 Selection and sharing of sheltered nest sites by ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in grasslands

of the Australian Capital Territory. Australian Journal of Entomology 47(3): 174-183.

STAUB, C.G., DE LIMA, F. and MAJER, J.D.

2008 Determination of host status of citrus fruits against the Mediterrancan fruit fly, Ceratitis

ne (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Australian Journal of Entomology 47(3):

TAYLOR, G., GOLLNOW, B. and WORRALL, R.

2008 A new species of Cerotrioza Crawford (Hemiptera: Triozidac) damaging New South Wales

Christmas Bush, Ceratopetalum gummiferum, in castem Australia. Australian Journal of

Entomology 47(4): 330-335.

TAYLOR, G.S. and DAVIES, K.A.

2008 New species of gall flics (Diptera: Fergusoninidac) and an associated nematode (Tylenchida:

Neotylenchidae) from flower bud galls on Corymbia (Myrtaceae). Australian Journal of

Entomology 47(4): 336-349.

WATTS, C.H.S., HANCOCK, P.J. and LEYS, R.

2008 Paroster peelensis sp. nov.: a new stygobitic water beetle from alluvial gravels in northern

New South Wales (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae). Australian Journal of Entomology 47(3): 227-

31.

ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTICES

Items for insertion should be sent to the editor who reserves the right to alter,

reject or charge for notices.

NOTES FOR AUTHORS

Manuscripts submitted for publication can either be submitted as hardcopies

or electronically. Three copies (double spaced text and illustrations) of

hardcopy manuscripts should be submitted. Manuscripts submitted in digital

format should be sent in Microsoft Word. Digital illustrations should be sent

initially as low resolution images in a separate Word file, as low resolution

JPEGs, or as low resolution PDF files, with figure numbers indicated clearly

for each figure. Digital manuscripts may be sent via email to

susan.wright(@qm.qid.gov.au. Hardcopy manuscripts and digital manuscripts

on CD or DVD should be sent to:

The Editor

The Australian Entomologist

P.O. Box 537,

Indooroopilly, Qld, 4068

Authors should refer to recent issues for layout and style. All papers will be

forwarded to two referees and the editor reserves the right to reject any paper

considered unsuitable.

It is Magazine editorial policy that usage of taxonomic nomenclature will

comply with the mandatory provisions of the International Code of

Zoological Nomenclature.

Papers longer than twenty printed pages will normally not be accepted.

Publication costs are as follows: cost per printed page, or part thereof, $20

(black & white) and $50 (colour). These costs include the supply of a pdf

copy of the paper and 10 hardcopy reprints to the senior author. Papers

occupying one printed page or less may be accepted without charge if no

reprints are required. Reprints may be supplied for one page papers at the

normal cost, by arrangement. Page charges may be reduced at the discretion

of the Publications Committee. An application for reduction must be made,

with reasons, at the time of acceptance of the manuscript.

Printed by ColourWise Reproductions, 300 Ann Street, Brisbane, 4000.

THE AUSTRALIAN

Entomologist

Volume 37, Part 1, 26 March 2010

BURWELL, C.J., NAKAMURA, A. AND ANDERSEN, A.N.

Records of the tramp ant Pyramica membranifera (Emery) (Hymenoptera:

Formicidae: Myrmicinae) from Australia.

DE BAAR, M.

The first record of Cephonodes picus (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae)

from southern Queensland.

HANCOCK, D.L.

A review of the fruit fly tribe Tephrellini (Diptera: Tephritidae:

Tephritinae) in the Indo-Australian region.

LANE, D.A. AND MOULDS, M.S.

The life history of the hawk moth Zangia tropicus Moulds Lepidoptera:

Sphingidae) together with new distribution records for the species.

MOORE, A.S.

A southern range extension for Nacaduba kurava parma Waterhouse &

Lyell (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).

MOULDS, M.S.

Platypleura tepperi Goding & Froggatt, 1904 (Cicadoidea: Cicadidae), a

Madagascan cicada erroneously recorded from Australia.

PUTHZ, V.

A new species of Stenus Latreille (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) from

Australia.

SHAKESPEARE, T.J., SHAKESPEARE, Z.J. AND SHAKESPEARE, T.P.

Range extension and behavioural observations for Doleschallia bisaltide

(Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Nymphalinae).

RECENT LITERATURE

ISSN 1320 6133