THE AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGIST

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

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Cover: A male of Canungrantmictis morindana Brailovsky 2002 (Heteroptera:

Coreidae). This large (25-30mm) coreid bug is spectacular in appearance but

extremely cryptic in the field. Adults hang ventral side upwards among foliage of its

food plant, the twining vine Morinda jasminoides (RUBIACEAE). It was known

from a single old specimen labelled "northern NSW" in the British Museum until the

1980s when discovery of its food plant allowed it to be reliably collected and

described. It is now known to occur from Taree to Brisbane with an isolated

population at Carnarvon Gorge.

Illustration by Geoff Thompson, Queensland Museum.

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4): 145-154 145

PAUROPSALTA WALKERI, A NEW SPECIES OF CICADA

(HOMOPTERA: CICADIDAE: CICADINAE) FROM

NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

MS MOULDS! ‘and:@.L.. OWEN”

‘Entomology Deparment, Australian MEETA 6 col e St, Sydney, NSW 2010

i / (nae msmoulds(@bigpondie, Ay

“Universit of Connecticut Debeartincdah of ‘eeolog W an Í Evolutionary Biology,

N ViN: Eagleville Road, Storrs, CTA 269, USA

—“~—__ ———-sa jo

`N eet eens

Abstract SS AA

anne

Pauropsalta walkeri sp. n., a new species “Of cicada from the tribe Cicadettini, is described. Its

distribution extends through a wide area of northwestern Queensland and across the lower ‘Top

End’ of the Northern Territory. An analysis of its song is provided.

Introduction

The genus Pauropsalta Goding & Froggatt, 1904, was poorly documented

until Ewart (1989) partially reviewed the genus, describing ten new species

and with notes on others, including all Queensland species known at the time.

Moulds (1990) provided an overview of 13 species but excluding the ten new

species described by Ewart, which had been named only a few weeks earlier.

Additional notes on Queensland Pauropsalta species (mainly concerning

songs and distribution) have been published by Ewart (1990, 1998a, 1998b,

2001a, 2001b, 2005), Ewart and Popple (2001), Popple (2003), Popple and

Ewart (2002), Popple and Strange (2002) and Popple et al. (2008).

Despite the above publications, knowledge of 11 of the described species has

remained limited, nothing new having been published on them apart from

their brief original descriptions. The identities of these species will be

addressed in two forthcoming works: Moulds (in press) and Owen and

Moulds (in prep.). In the meantime, we describe here another new species

whose distribution is confined to the far north-west of Queensland and the

‘Top End’ of the Northern Territory.

Terminology for morphological features and higher classification follow

Moulds (2005).

The following abbreviations have been used for collections housing

specimens: AE — collection of A. Ewart; AM — Australian Museum, Sydney;

ANIC — Australian National Insect Collection; DE — collection of David

Emery, Sydney; GD — collection of George Davis, Hobart; JM — collection of

J. Moss, Brisbane; JO — collection of J. Olive; LP — collection of Lindsay

Popple; MSM — collection of M.S. Moulds, Kuranda; NHM — Natural History

Museum, London; NTM — Northern Territory Museum, Darwin; PH —

collection of Paul Hutchinson; OM — Queensland Museum, Brisbane; WAM —

Western Australian Museum, Perth.

146 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

Systematics

Family Cicadidae Latreille

Subfamily Cicadettinae Buckton

Tribe Cicadettini Buckton

Pauropsalta walkeri sp. n.

(Figs 1-10)

Types. Holotype 3, Walkers Ck, 35 km NNE of Normanton, Queensland, 2.i.1990,

M.S. and B.J. Moulds (AM). Paratypes: NORTHERN TERRITORY: 1 9, Coolabah

Ck, WNW of Top Springs, 16°26'S 131°39'E, 24.xii.1991, M.S. and B.J. Moulds; 1 ¢

(genitalia prep. PAU153), 17 km W of Roper Bar, 14°42.355'S 134°24.046'E, 25 m,

3.11.2006, Hill, Marshall, Moulds (MSM). 1 3, Cape Crawford roadhouse, 19.i.2004,

Hill, Marshall, Moulds (NTM). QUEENSLAND: 2 3, 2 92, Walkers Ck, 35 km

NNE of Normanton, 2.i.1990, M.S. and B.J. Moulds; 1 3, 18 km east of rd jct to

Croydon (at ~8 km S Normanton), 30.i.2002, A. Ewart (AE). 2 3d, 2 29, Walkers

Ck, 35 km NNE of Normanton, 2.i.1990, M.S. and B.J. Moulds (AM). 1 3, 1 9,

Walkers Ck, 35 km NNE of Normanton, 3.i.1990, M.S. and B.J. Moulds (ANIC). 2

33,2 99, Walkers Ck, 35 km NNE of Normanton, 2.i.1990, M.S. and B.J. Moulds

(DE). 1 3, 1 9, Walkers Ck, 35 km NNE of Normanton, 2.i.1990, M.S. and B.J.

Moulds (GD). 1 3, 1 9, Walkers Ck, 35 km NNE of Normanton, 3.i.1990, M.S. and

B.J. Moulds (JM). 2 6d, 2 99, Walkers Ck, 35 km NNE of Normanton, 2.1.1990,

M.S. and B.J. Moulds (JO). 2 dd, 2 29, Walkers Ck, 35 km NNE of Normanton,

3.i.1990, M.S. and B.J. Moulds (LP). 1 ĝ (genitalia prep. PAU151), Walkers Bend,

Flinders R., 60 km SSW of Normanton, 14.i.1986, M.S. and B.J. Moulds; 12 63 (one

genitalia prep. PAU150), 5 99, Walkers Ck, 35 km NNE of Normanton, 2.i.1990,

M.S. and B.J. Moulds; 17 33 (one genitalia prep. PAUS7), 21 99, same data except

3.11990; 4 33, 4 99, same data except 15.i.1992; 18 SS (one genitalia prep.

PAU152), 2 299, Beames Brook, Burketown/Gregory rd jnct., 20.xii.1991, M.S. and

B.J. Moulds; 1 2, Combo Waterhole Conservation Park, 140 km NW of Winton,

21°36'03.8"S 142°04'06.4"E, 11.11.2008, R.B. Lachlan (MSM). 1 3, 1 2, Walkers Ck,

35 km NNE of Normanton, 2.i.1990, M.S. and B.J. Moulds (NHM). 1 ĝ, 2 28,

Walkers Ck, 35 km NNE of Normanton, 3.i.1990, M.S. and B.J. Moulds (NTM). 2

33, 2 22, Walkers Ck, 35 km NNE of Normanton, 2.1.1990, M.S. and B.J. Moulds

(PH). 2 33, 2 99, Walkers Ck, 35 km NNE of Normanton, 3.i.1990, M.S. and B.J.

Moulds (QM). 1 ĝ, 1 2, Walkers Ck, 35 km NNE of Normanton, 2.i.1990, M.S. and

B.J. Moulds (WAM).

Description. Male (Figs 1, 3-5). Head a little narrower, or about the same

width as ampliate lateral margins of pronotal collar; dominantly black.

Postclypeus black, the most anterior part usually glossy and often bearing a

dull yellow spot; lateral and posterior margins edged dull yellow; transverse

ridges and central groove distinct. Anteclypeus black. Rostrum dark brown,

darkening towards a black apex; reaching to or just beyond apices of hind

coxae. Antennae dark brown to black. Supra-antennal plates usually glossy.

Thorax. Pronotum black with dull orange-yellow markings; anterior margin

and much of lateral margin narrowly edged dull orange-yellow; a muddy

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 147

Figs 1-2. Pauropsalta walkeri sp. n.: (1) male paratype, dorsal view, Walkers Creek,

Queensland; (2) female paratype, dorsal view, Walkers Creek, Queensland.

yellow fascia along midline not reaching pronotal collar; pronotal collar

between lateral angles dominantly orange-yellow, the anterior margin

narrowly edged black broadest around midline; lateral margin of pronotal

collar ampliate but restricted anterior to lateral angles. Mesonotum black with

orange-yellow markings; an orange-yellow marking on either side following

parapsidal sutures and extending to extremities of anterior arms of cruciform

elevation, these markings nearly straight along their outer edge, greatly

expanded inwards near centre but never meeting; lateral margin with an

orange-yellow sub-oval marking; lower ridge of forewing cavity muddy

yellow or brownish; midline usually partly marked by a narrow, dull orange-

yellow fascia that reaches neither pronotum nor cruciform elevation;

cruciform elevation dull orange-yellow (sometimes brown centrally and on

basal half to three-quarters of anterior arms and much less so on posterior

arms), otherwise black or yellowish brown. Metanotum glossy black at hind

wing base, remainder dull orange-yellow.

148 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

Legs. Forelegs mostly black or dark brown; femora dull yellow at distal ends

and a blurred dull yellow to brown dorsal fascia. Mid and hind legs tending

brown rather than black, femora dull yellow at distal ends; tibia with an

indistinct dull yellow band near proximal end; distal half tending dull yellow;

tarsi dull yellow to varying degrees, mostly on hind tarsi. Pretarsal claws

brown on proximal third or so, otherwise black. Meracanthus black with pale

yellow apex and lateral margin.

Wings. Hyaline. Forewing with fused stem of veins M and CuA not

complete, the veins abutted rather than fused as one; venation black or nearly

so except for pale yellow base of vein 1A; without infuscations; basal

membrane grey to black, sometimes with hints of brown. Hind wing normally

with 5 apical cells (rarely 6 or 4 and then only in one wing); venation brown

to black except for pale yellow 2A and 3A; light infuscation on wing margin

at distal end of vein 2A and between 3A and wing margin; plaga muddy

white to brown.

Opercula. More or less following margin of timbal cavity, widely separated,

not tightly closing tympanal cavities; more or less flat except for low rounded

swelling of epimeron 3; black with broad, pale, muddy yellow band around

distal margin and a narrow dull yellow edge in vicinity of meracanthus.

Timbals (Fig. 5). Pale grey to muddy white in colour, the ribs not heavily

sclerotised; four long ribs spanning the width of timbal membrane; short ribs

small; anterior membrane wide and completely lacking ribs, at its maximum

about as wide as three long ribs.

Abdomen rounded in cross section with epipleurites not reflexed inwards but

following curvature of abdomen. Black and orange. Tergite 1 black; tergite 2

mostly black, distal margin narrowly edged dull orange; tergites 3-7 edged

orange along their distal margins and almost entirely so sublaterally, anterior

margin orange-yellow but usually this pigment is hidden unless abdomen is

extended; tergite 8 dominantly black with only a little dull muddy orange

distally and ventrally. Sternite I dull orange; sternite II dull orange with small

suffusion of black at lateral extremities; sternites I-VIII orange.

Genitalia (Figs 3-4). Pygofer upper lobe long, in lateral view tending slender,

tapering to a narrow rounded apex, the distal third or so slightly tilted

ventrally. Basal pygofer lobe small, in lateral view broadly rounded. Median

lobe of uncus duck-bill shaped, tapering to a broad blunt apex. Claspers claw-

like, concave below. Aedeagus with pseudoparameres about as long as theca,

slender, flattened in cross section with distal portion gradually tapering to a

point, in lateral view positioned about level with thecal shaft and parallel with

it, in dorsal view almost parallel to each other but distally curved outwards to

about 90°; theca nearly parallel-sided, oval in cross section, apex in lateral

view sloping backwards ventrally, distal extremity extended into a pair of

delicate, rounded, dorsolateral flanges.

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 149

Figs 3-5. Pauropsalta walkeri, sp. n.: (3) male genitalia, lateral view; (4) the same,

ventral view; (5) left timbal showing ribs. Abbreviations: ant anterior part of timbal;

ap apodeme pit; bpl basal pygofer lobe; cl clasper; ir intercalary rib; /r long rib; ps

pseudoparamere; th theca; tp timbal plate; un uncus; upl upper pygofer lobe.

Female (Fig. 2). Similar to male. Abdominal segment 9 dull orange, much of

dorsal and half lateral surfaces brown, the brown extending distally in a short

linear projection to encompass dorsal beak. Ovipositor sheath long, extending

some 1.5 - 2.0 mm beyond apex of abdomen; dark brown to black.

Measurements. Range and mean (in mm) for 10 males and 10 females;

includes smallest and largest of available specimens. Length of body: male

150 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

15.1-19.5 (17.1); female 18.8-22.5 (20.1). Length of forewing: male 20.0-24.5

(22.7); female 22.2-25.6 (24.1). Width of forewing: male 6.1-8.0 (7); female

6.4-7.8 (7.1). Ratio width/length of forewing: male 3.0-3.5 (3.3); female 3.2-

3.7 (3.4). Width of head (including eyes): male 5.2-6.5 (5.9); female 5.8-6.9

(6.3). Width of pronotum (across lateral angles): male 4.9-6.1 (5.7); female

5.4-6.4 (5.9).

Distinguishing characters. Pauropsalta walkeri is similar in colour and size

to P. nigristriga Goding & Froggatt and, to a lesser degree, to P. infrasila

Moulds, P. extrema (Distant), P. melanopygia (Germar), P. e/gneri Ashton

and P. opacus Ewart.

Males and females of P. walkeri can be separated from these species, except

P. nigristriga, by the narrow yellow border to the postclypeus, which is just

as clear across the distal margin as it is along the lateral margins; this is not

so in the other aforementioned species where the distal margin is black or

partly so. P. walkeri differs from P. nigristriga in the length of the rostrum,

which reaches or passes the distal ends of the hind coxae; that of P.

nigristriga clearly falls short of the distal ends of the hind coxae.

Males of P. walkeri also differ from all the above species, except P. infrasila,

in having a very rounded abdomen in cross section, where the epipleurites

show no sign of reflexing inwards but are confluent with the curvature of the

abdominal walls. The male genitalia are also distinctive, the aedeagus has

pseudoparameres that are about as long as the theca, in lateral view

positioned about level with thecal shaft while in dorsal view almost parallel

to each other but distally curved outwards to about 90°; the theca is more or

less parallel-sided, oval in cross section, the apex in lateral view slopes

backwards ventrally and the distal extremity is extended into a pair of

delicate, rounded, dorsolateral flanges. While some of the features of the

pseudoparameres are shared with other species in varying combinations, the

pair of dorsolateral flanges at the distal end of the theca, rounded in shape

and not joined together by flanged tissue, are unique.

Etymology. Named after Frederick Walker (1820-1866), an early pioneer and

explorer of the Normanton/Burketown area where the species is common.

Walker was commissioned to search for the ill-fated Burke and Wills

expedition (no doubt the inspiration for the cicada names J//yria burkei and

Tryella willsi). Walker did not find Burke and Wills but he did find Camp

119, the last Burke and Wills camp before they turned south on their return

journey. Walker died of ‘Gulf Fever’ and is buried on Floraville Station,

between Burketown and Normanton. Note that the type locality of P. walkeri

is Walkers Creek, near Normanton, also named after Frederick Walker.

Distribution (Fig. 6). Northern Territory, where it is known from just three

localities: Coolabah Creek near Top Springs, 17 km W of Roper Bar and

Cape Crawford roadhouse; and NW Queensland, in the vicinity of Burketown

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 151

and Normanton and some 140 km NW of Winton. Near Burketown it is

common at Beames Brook south of the town; from near Normanton it is

found along the Flinders River SSW of Normanton and at Walkers Creek

between Normanton and Karumba, where it is usually abundant. There are

records from mid December to early February.

Fig. 6. Pauropsalta walkeri sp. n. distribution.

Habitat. Usually in riverine trees (possibly only Myrtaceae) growing along

permanent fresh-water watercourses. Adults prefer the smaller branches and

are usually out of arm’s reach.

Song (Figs 7-10). Singing occurs during the heat of the day and at dusk. To

the human ear the song has a somewhat scraping tone and resembles a zick-

zick-zick repeated consistently. The song consists of a sequence of rapidly

repeated short phrases spaced at approximately 0.22 second intervals

(approximately 4.5 phrases per second) apart, each phrase consisting usually

of five distinct echemes. In most cases the first three echemes (but sometimes

there are two or four) are usually doublets, occasionally triplets. The last

echeme consists of multiple pulses, approximately 11-15 in number (Figs 7-

9). The distance between echemes decreases with time (Fig. 7). The echemes

152 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

forming each phrase gradually increase in amplitude over time (Figs 7-9).

Song frequency lies between approximately 2 and 10 kHz.

The sound recording used for Fig. 7 was made with a Sony Walkman cassette

recorder WM-D6C model using metal tapes and a Sennheiser K6/ME-66

microphone and for Figs 8-10 using a Marantz 670 digital flash recorder and

a Sennheiser ME-62 omnidirectional microphone mounted in a Sony PBR-

330 parabolic reflector.

paraan

oO i 4

Time (s)

0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.14 0.16

o } ' Background noise

3 | ek

ORs 0:20 0'4 98 0.65 0.8 mei) 0 tn 2 14 eG et tS ee? mee) Omn 04 a? 6

Time (s)

Background noise

N OO

Frequenicy (kHz)

UA CE UT Ri kK Se En A, ee a

Time (s)

Figs 7-10. Calling song of P. walkeri sp. n.: (7) oscillogram of a 10 seconds song

segment showing a long sequence of introductory short phrases and a trailing

conclusion, unfiltered; (8) oscillogram showing one phrase at a much expanded time

scale; (9) oscillogram showing a sequence of ten phrases; (10) sonogram at

corresponding time scale to figure 8 showing frequency range, unfiltered. Recording

used for Figure 7 by A. Ewart from a caged individual, ~8 km south of Normanton,

Queensland, 30.i1.2002; recording used for Figures 8-10 by D. Marshall from a field

individual, Cape Crawford roadhouse, Northern Territory, 19.i.2004.

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 153

Acknowledgments

Song recordings were made by Prof. Tony Ewart, Dr David Marshall and Ms

Kathy Hill who kindly allowed us to freely use them and who also assisted us

in compiling the oscillograms and spectrogram. For the line drawings we are

grateful to Sally Beech and Ivan Nozaic. The Northern Territory Parks and

Wildlife Commission kindly provided permits to collect specimens. We

thank the National Science Foundation for partial funding of this project from

grant numbers DEB 05-29679 and DEB 07-20664. C.L. Owen would like to

thank the Lawrence R. Penner Endowment Fund of the Connecticut Museum

of Natural History and the Society of Systematic Biologists Graduate Student

award, NSF DEB 10-11585, the Systematics Research Fund from The

Councils of the Linnean Society and the Systematics Association, and Chris

Simon for financial support. For helpful comments on the manuscript we

wish to thank Prof. Tony Ewart and two anonymous reviewers.

References

EWART, A. 1989. Revisionary notes.on the genus Pauropsalta Goding and Froggatt

(Homoptera: Cicadidae) with special reference to Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland

Museum 27: 289-375.

EWART, A. 1990. Status of the Germar and Leach types of Australian cicadas (Homoptera) held

at the Hope Entomological Collections, Oxford. Australian Entomological Magazine 17: 1-5.

EWART, A. 1993. Cicadas of the Heathlands region, Cape York Peninsula. Cape York

Peninsula Scientific Expedition Wet season 1992 Report. Royal Geographical Society of

Queensland. Volume 2: pp 135-147.

EWART, A. 1998a. Cicadas of Musselbrook Reserve. In: Musselbrook Reserve Scientific Study

Report. Geography Monograph Series 4: 135-138.

EWART, A. 1998b. Cicadas, and their songs, of the Miles-Chinchilla Region. Queensland

Naturalist 36: 54-72.

EWART, A. 2001a. Dusk chorusing behaviour in cicadas (Homoptera: Cicadidae) and a mole

cricket, Brisbane, Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 46: 499-510.

EWART, A. 2001b. Emergence patterns and densities of cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) near

Caloundra, south-east Queensland. Australian Entomologist 28: 69-84.

EWART, A. 2005. Cicadas of the Pennefather River-Weipa areas, October/November 2002, with

comparative notes on the cicadas from Heathlands, Cape York Peninsula. Gulf of Carpentaria

Scientific Report. Royal Geographical Society of Queensland. Pp 169-179.

EWART, A. and POPPLE, L.W. 2001. Cicadas, and their songs, from south-western

Queensland. Queensland Naturalist 39: 52-71.

MOULDS, M.S. 1990. Australian cicadas. New South Wales University Press, Kensington; 217

pp, 24 pls.

MOULDS, M.S. 2005. An appraisal of the higher classification of cicadas (Hemiptera:

Cicadoidea) with special reference to the Australian fauna. Records of the Australian Museum

57: 375-446. http:\vww.amonline.net.au/pdf/publications/1447_complete.pdf

MOULDS, M.S. In press. A review of the genera of Australian cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea).

Zootaxa.

154 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

POPPLE, L.W. 2003. Insect of the month. Sprinkler squeaker, Pauropsalta annulata. News

Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Queensland 31: 128-129.

POPPLE, L.W. and EWART, A. 2002. Cicadas Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadidae. Pp

113-118, in: Horton, E. (ed.), A Brisbane bushland: the history and natural history of Enoggera

Reservoir and its environs. Queensland Naturalists Club, Brisbane.

POPPLE, L.W. and STRANGE, A.D. 2002. Cicadas, and their songs, from the Tara and Waroo

Shires, southern central Queensland. Queensland Naturalist 40: 15-30.

POPPLE, L.W., WALTER, G.H. and RAGHU, S. 2008. The structure of calling songs in the

cicada Pauropsalta annulata Goding and Froggatt (Hemiptera: Cicadidae): evidence of

diverging populations? Evolutionary Ecology 22: 203-215.

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4): 155-160 155

NEW RECORDS OF BUTTERFLIES (LEPIDOPTERA:

HESPERIIDAE, NYMPHALIDAE) FEEDING ON OIL PALM

(ARECACEAE) IN WEST NEW BRITAIN, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

CHARLES F. DEWHURST! and W. JOHN TENNENT”

'PNG Oil Palm Research Association, Kimbe, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea

"Scientific Associate, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom

Abstract

This note confirms the presence of three butterfly species, Erionota thrax hasdrubal Fruhstorfer

(Hesperiidae), Taenaris phorcas (Westwood) and Elymnias cybele holofernes (Butler)

(Nymphalidae), feeding on oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) in West New Britain Province, Papua

New Guinea. One of these is a well known agricultural pest of banana plants; the other two

species do not appear to have been recorded previously from West New Britain.

Introduction

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq., Arecaceae) is the most important foreign

exchange earner of the main agricultural crops grown in Papua New Guinea

(PNG) and provides a secure livelihood for some 18,300 smallholder growers

and two large milling companies. While tettigoniid pests (Orthoptera:

Tettigoniidae) are the main insect pests feeding on palms, other species are,

or may become, pests of oil palm.

Three butterfly species found breeding on oil palm in West New Britain

Province (WNB) are discussed below: Erionota thrax hasdrubal Fruhstorfer

(Hesperiidae), Taenaris phorcas (Westwood) (Nymphalidae: Amathusiinae)

and Elymnias cybele holofernes (Butler) (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae).

Erionota thrax hasdrubal Fruhstorfer, 1910 (Figs 1-3)

The banana skipper is a large and distinctive member of the Hesperiidae.

Adults (Fig. 1) are brown with an arrangement of three pale orange-yellow

markings on the forewing; they are fast fliers, are most active at dawn and

dusk (crepuscular) and are occasionally attracted to light. According to

Parsons (1998), E. thrax (Linnaeus, 1767) appears to have been unknown in

Papua New Guinea prior to 1961 and, while still not common, has extended

its range in the country in recent years. Its appearance in Kimbe constitutes

the first record for West New Britain Province (WNB) and it has recently

been discovered on Goodenough Island in the D’Entrecasteaux Islands group,

in Milne Bay Province (W.J. Tennent, unpublished data). Voucher specimens

have been deposited in the PNGOPRA (Papua New Guinea Oil Palm

Research Association) reference collection.

Early stages

Larvae are covered with a white waxy substance and roll the leaf of the food

plant, hiding inside and emerging at night to feed. The pupa (Fig. 2) is also

covered with a white powdery wax and is active if touched; adults emerge

after about 14 days. Larvae and pupae are often heavily parasitized by

Brachymeria sp. (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae).

156 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

Figs 1-3. Erionota thrax hasdrubal: (1) adult; (2) empty pupal case; (3) banana plants

damaged by larvae on the Fly River near Kiunga, PNG [photo by Mark Wood].

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 157

Food plants

In some areas, Erionota thrax is a serious pest of bananas, shredding and

rolling the leaves. Larvae have also been reported feeding on Cocos nucifera

(coconut), Saccharum officinarum (sugar cane) (Corbet and Pendlebury

1992) and other monocotyledons such as Raphis and Metroxylon (Seitz

1927). Parsons (1998) did not record oil palm as a host. As the larva occurs

singly, serious damage is seldom caused to palm leaflets; however, bananas

may be heavily damaged by large infestations of larvae that cut and roll

sections of the leaves, giving the plant the appearance of being damaged by

wind (Fig. 3).

Status as a pest

Erionota thrax hasdrubal is not at present considered a pest of oil palm by

PNGOPRA.

Figs 4-7. Taenaris phorcas: (4-5) upperside of males; (6) upperside of female; (7)

underside of male. Note the empty pupal cases.

Taenaris phorcas (Westwood, 1858) (Figs 4-7)

There are several species of Taenaris Hübner in PNG, many of which are

difficult to separate (Lambkin 2010). Taenaris phorcas, the oil-palm owl, is

one of the most distinctive species, being darker overall than most other

Taenaris in the region and the only species recorded from the Bismarck

Archipelago (Parsons 1998, Tennent 2002). Adults (Figs 4-7) may be seen

flying, with a deceptively slow fluttering flight, through oil palm plantations,

often in quite deep shade; they are easily recognised by the white patches on

all four wings, clearly seen in flight. It has not been recorded previously from

West New Britain (Parsons 1998). Voucher specimens have been deposited

in the PNGOPRA reference collection.

158 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

Early stages

Larvae were found on an oil palm leaflet at Galai LSS (West New Britain),

where they fed communally in small groups. The pupa is pale green.

Food plants

Ackery (1988) noted that Taenaris host plants include cycads and species of

Arecaceae. Parsons (1998) noted that Ribbe (1895) found larvae of T.

phorcas (as Taenaris uranus Staudinger) feeding on a ‘low palm’.

Status as a pest

Taenaris phorcas is not at present considered a pest of oil palm by

PNGOPRA.

Elymnias cybele holofernes (Butler, 1882) (Figs 8-10)

Nominate E. cybele cybele C. & R. Felder, 1860, the spotted palmfly, is

widespread from the islands of Maluku in eastern Indonesia to New Guinea,

while E. c. holofernes is endemic to the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago;

it is recorded here, apparently for the first time, from West New Britain. The

adult (Figs 8-9) is uniformly dark brown on the upper surface and has white

spots on the underside, the larger white spot on the underside of the anterior

edge of the hind wing being noticeable. Voucher specimens have been

deposited in the PNGOPRA reference collection.

Early stages

There is no description of the larva in Parsons (1998). The fully grown larva

(Fig. 10) is green with yellow markings and two prominent tubercles, each

tipped with three black spines just behind the head, and two long projections

protruding from the posterior tip of the body. Pupae are pale green with a

double series of black spots running in parallel along the dorsal surface.

Food plants

A similar species, E. agondas Boisduval, 1832, has been reported feeding on

oil palm seedlings, banana leaves and Calamus caryotoides in PNG and

Australia (Merrett 1993, Wood 1984, Parsons 1998). Elymnias agondas

glaucopsis Staudinger, 1894, was reported as being abundant on oil palm by

the late R.N.B. Prior (Merrett 1993). A larva of E. cybele holofernes (Fig. 10)

was feeding on oil palm at Dami Oil Palm Research Station, West New

Britain, representing a previously unrecorded host plant for this species.

Status as a pest

Elymnias cybele holofernes is not at present considered a pest of oil palm by

PNGOPRA.

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 159

Figs 8-10. Elymnias cybele holofernes: (8) upper and (9) underside of adult male; (10)

last instar larva from Dami, West New Britain.

160 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

Acknowledgement

CFD would like to acknowledge input from Simon Makai, an enthusiastic

and sharp-eyed team member at PNGOPRA.

References

ACKERY, P.R. 1988. Hostplants and classification: a review of nymphalid butterflies.

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 33(2): 95-203.

CORBET, A.S. and PENDLEBURY, H.M. 1992. The butterflies of the Malay Peninsula. 4th

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

LAMBKIN, T.A. 2010. A review of Taenaris Hübner (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae:

Amathusiinae) in Queensland, together with first Australian records for T. myops kirschi

Staudinger and Elymnias agondas melanippe Grose-Smith (Satyrinae). Australian Entomologist

37(3): 77-92.

MERRETT, P.J. 1993. Life history of Elymnias agondas glaucopis (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae), a

pest of oil palm in Papua New Guinea. Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society 47: 229-235.

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

Academic Press, London; 736 pp, xxvi + 104 pls.

RIBBE, C. 1895. Einege noch nicht bekannte Raupen und Puppen von Schmetterlingen aus dem

deutschen Schutzgebeit in der Südsee. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, Iris 8(1): 105-115,

pls 1-3.

SEITZ, A. 1927. Grypocera. Pp 1027-1107, in: Seitz, A. (ed.), 1908-1928, Macrolepidoptera of

the World, 9, the Rhopalocera of the Indo-Australian Region [Die Grosse-Schmetterlinge der

Erde. Die Indo-Australischen Tagfalter (English language edition)]. 2 vols. Fritz Lehmann

Verlag, Stuttgart; 1197 pp, 175 pls.

TENNENT, W.J. 2002. Butterflies of the Solomon Islands: systematics and biology. Storm

Entomological Publications, Dereham, Norfolk; 413 pp, 90 pls.

WOOD, G.A. 1984. The life history of Elymnias agondas australiana Fruhstorfer (Lepidoptera:

Nymphalidae). Australian Entomological Magazine 11: 41-42.

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) : 161-166 161

OBSERVATIONS ON SITE FIDELITY IN THE IMPERIAL

HAIRSTREAK, JALMENUS EVAGORAS (DONOVAN, 1805)

(LEPIDOPTERA: LYCAENIDAE), AT TOOROURONG

RESERVOIR, VICTORIA

MICHAEL F. BRABY

Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, GPO Box 4646, Darwin, NT 0801 and

Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200

Abstract

Long-term observations spanning more than 20 years are reported on a breeding colony of

Jalmenus evagoras (Donovan) at Toorourong Reservoir, Whittlesea, Victoria. The colony, which

is still extant, persisted at this site for at least 21 years (from December 1989 to February 2011)

and utilised a 7 m tall tree of Acacia melanoxylon for a minimum of 12 years and a likely

maximum of 15-24 years.

Introduction

The lycaenid butterfly Ja/menus evagoras (Donovan, 1805) occurs widely in

southeastern Australia (Braby 2000). Around Melbourne it is locally common

in eucalypt woodland and open woodland, favouring disturbed sites or those

in an early stage of ecological succession. A detailed review of the natural

history, behavioural ecology and evolutionary biology of the species was

provided by Pierce and Nash (1999) and, more recently, there have been

investigations into its population genetics and taxonomy (Eastwood ef al.

2006, Eastwood et al. 2008). The larvae exploit around 24 species of Acacia

and, on rare occasions, the mistletoe Amyema pendula (Eastwood 1999).

They are obligately attended by Iridomyrmex ants with at least six different

species recorded throughout the butterflies geographical range (Eastwood et

al. 2006) and, occasionally and atypically (usually only at the edges of

populations or during population expansions), by a few other genera of ants

(Pierce and Nash 1999). i

The butterfly has a spatially patchy (localised) distribution, largely because of

its dependence on suitable combinations of specific larval food plants and

attendant ants. Within a given landscape it may occur in a number of discrete

colonies, which possibly represent subunits of a metapopulation that are

interconnected by occasional dispersal events. Jalmenus evagoras typically

breeds on saplings of the larval food plant (<3 m high) that have colonies of

the appropriate species of ant and the preference by females to lay their eggs

on small plants appears to be related to the vertical foraging distribution of

the attendant ant (Smiley et al. 1988). Occasionally, however, the butterfly

breeds on taller, older trees up to 6-7 m high (Braby 1988).

The patchy distribution of J. evagoras is accompanied by strong site fidelity

(Pierce and Nash 1999). Not only do most adults remain faithful to their

breeding areas, but colonies often persist at the same sites for many years,

possibly for several decades. The precise longevity or temporal duration of

site occupancy, however, is not well documented. Indeed, among the

162 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

Australian Lycaenidae there are very little published data on the longevity of

colonies that comprise metapopulations — do these subunits persist for several

years, decades or centuries? Furthermore, it is not known for how long J.

evagoras exploits individual trees. Braby et al. (1992) noted that a colony of

the lycaenid Paralucia pyrodiscus (Doubleday, 1847) had persisted in the

Castlemaine Botanic Gardens in central Victoria for at least 90 years and

more recent observations and monitoring over the past 20 years indicate that

the colony is still extant at this site (Canzano et al. 2007).

In a previous account (Braby 1998), I reported preliminary observations

made on a breeding colony of the butterfly at Toorourong Reservoir near

Whittlesea, Victoria (37°28’42”S, 145°09°32”E; WGS84), a recreation park

at the base of Mt Disappointment in the Hume Range. At this site, the colony

had persisted in the area and exploited a particular tree for at least seven

years. Since that report I have made additional observations, now spanning

over a 20-year period. These observations are summarised below.

Observations

I first observed the colony of J. evagoras at Toorourong Reservoir on 28

December 1989. The butterfly was particularly abundant, breeding on many

shrubs (<3 m high) of Acacia mearnsii and A. melanoxylon in eucalypt

woodland with a grassy understorey that was regularly slashed. On one

particular tree of 4. melanoxylon (Fig. 1), growing near the road not far from

the entrance to the park, very large numbers of the butterfly were present.

The tree was approximately seven metres high and I estimated that there were

in excess of 250 individuals, comprising both pupae and adults. The pupae

were clustered in small groups on the terminal branches of the foliage and

were distributed over the entire tree; they were attended by a smaller species

of Iridomyrmex than the ant (Iridomyrmex complex A sp. B) recorded near

Melbourne by Eastwood et al. (2006). The adults flew around or alighted on

the outer foliage and the presence of such large numbers made an impressive

sight.

The site was revisited on 30 December 1991, 3 January 1993 and 26

December 1995 and, on each occasion, the species was still breeding on the

same tree, with numerous pupae and adults present. The following season, on

24 December 1996, numbers were considerably fewer, with a total of only 10

late instar larvae and pupae present, mostly on the foliage in the lower third

of the tree. However, it was noted that the early stages of the butterfly were

abundant on smaller saplings growing adjacent to the tree.

The site was not visited again until 23 November 2001. On this occasion, the

breeding colony was still visible and many larvae (>100) in various instars,

plus one prepupa, were recorded on the lighter green new foliage of the tall

A. melanoxylon tree. The larvae were distributed over the entire tree, from the

lowest branches within 1 m of the ground to the uppermost foliage at the

crown of the tree. Pupae and adults were absent, no doubt reflecting the fact

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 163

that the first (spring) generation had not yet completed its life cycle.

Numerous clusters of old pupal exuviae from the previous season (2000-01)

were also present. Larvae were also found on a nearby sapling of the food

plant (ca 3 m high) growing 5 m distant from the tree, as well as pupal

exuviae from the previous season.

I revisited the site on 1 March 2005, but on this occasion the butterfly was

absent. Moreover, the tree was showing early signs of senescence, with the

crown and upper third dead but the lower half still alive (Fig. 2). However,

despite the absence of early stages and adults, the attendant ant was present

on the tree and the butterfly still persisted in the area, breeding on many other

smaller acacias growing in the immediate vicinity.

Figs 1-2. Tree of Acacia melanoxylon, larval food plant of Jalmenus evagoras at

Toorourong Reservoir, Whittlesea, on which a breeding colony of the butterfly

persisted for at least 12 years, from 1989 to 2001. Figures show comparative changes

in tree condition: (1) 30 December 1991; (2) 1 March 2005.

Three seasons later, on 26 December 2007, the butterfly was still absent from

the tree, which was now dying, with only the lower third supporting green

foliage. Interestingly, despite an extensive search, only eggs, 10 pupae and a

few adults of the butterfly were found on nearby shrubs of A. mearnsii,

suggesting that the population had either crashed or largely moved to another

site. On 27 December 2009, the site was found to have been completely

destroyed by the Black Saturday fires of 7 February 2009, with all the

164 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

eucalypt overstorey trees killed and the understorey vegetation vaporised. I

was not able to determine if the butterfly colony was extant because the park

was closed to the public; however, given the intensity and severity of the

firestorm that swept through the park, it is doubtful that the early stages

would have survived. However, two years after Black Saturday on 26

February 2011, G. Paras (pers. comm.) visited the site and found J. evagoras

breeding abundantly on seedlings of A. mearnsii that had germinated

following the fire. Presumably, the butterfly had recolonised the site from

nearby unburnt patches.

Discussion

Reports of the longevity or temporal extent of site occupancy do not seem to

have been published previously for J. evagoras. In my experience in Victoria,

when this species exploits saplings less than three metres high, individual

food plants are used for only a few years and each season the butterfly

colonises new seedlings or regenerating plants as those from previous

seasons grow taller and apparently become unsuitable. Australian wattles are

frequently prone to early senescence due to insect attack (New 1984) and it is

well known that colonies of J. evagoras on individual acacias are ephemeral,

often lasting only a few seasons (N.E. Pierce pers. comm.). However, long-

term observations made at Toorourong Reservoir indicate that a breeding

colony or metapopulation subunit of J. evagoras can persist at a given site for

at least 21 years and, moreover, it can persist on a particular plant for a

minimum of 12 years. In New South Wales, R. Eastwood (pers. comm.)

recorded a colony of J. evagoras at a site at Menai, about 24 km south-west

of Sydney, persisting for at least 31 years from 1971 to 2002. During his last

visit, in December 2002, Eastwood (pers. comm.) noted that the colony was

still extant, despite the fact that the site had been transformed into a car park

for a new supermarket, most of the surrounding bushland had been converted

to housing and a highway with an overpass adjoined the site. Taken together,

these observations suggest colonies of J. evagoras can persist at breeding

sites for several decades, indicating high fidelity.

Exploitation of food plants greater than three metres high is unusual in this

butterfly (Pierce and Nash 1999). It is not known if such plants are colonised

by J. evagoras when they already have attained this height or if the butterfly

initially colonises the plants when they are saplings and then persists on them

for many years as they grow taller. The age of the seven metre high A.

melanoxylon tree was unknown, but given its height and diameter of the trunk

at breast height (ca 150 mm), together with local environmental conditions of

topography and rainfall, the plant may have been about 15 years old when it

was first noticed in 1989 (C. Beardsell pers. comm.). Given the large

numbers of individuals of J. evagoras present on the tree that season, the

butterfly might already have been breeding on it for at least one and possibly

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 165

several seasons. If the butterfly had colonised the tree when it was small and

young, then it may have been using the food plant for more than 10 years

prior to its detection in 1989. The butterfly abandoned the tree sometime

during the drought years between the 2001-02 and 2004-05 flight seasons,

indicating that it could have continued to breed on the tree for a maximum of

two more seasons after my last positive record in November 2001. Thus, it is

possible that J. evagoras was breeding on this particular tree for 15-24 years.

The factors governing site fidelity and exploitation of individual plants,

especially taller trees, would make an interesting study. Based on the work of

Smiley ef al. (1988), the foraging activity of the attendant ant possibly

determines the height/age of the larval food plants utilised. A testable

hypothesis, therefore, is that the taller food plants (>5 m high) are occupied

by a different species of attendant ant, whose vertical foraging activity is less

constrained compared with those ants that specifically associate with the

butterfly on smaller food plants (<3 m high). Alternatively, variation in

nutritional quality among taller food plants may be a factor and it is

interesting to note that the butterfly avoided using the tree during a period of

senescence in the mid to late 2000s. Pierce and Nash (1999) summarised

early experimental work that showed that females laid more egg masses on

plants with higher nitrogen content, which also had deeper green leaves,

compared with host treatments that were not fertilised.

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to G. Paras and C. Beardsell for information and R. Eastwood

and N.E. Pierce for sharing their unpublished field observations.

References

BRABY, M.F. 1988. New food plants for Jalmenus evagoras evagoras (Donovan) (Lepidoptera:

Lycaenidae). Australian Entomological Magazine 15: 33-34.

BRABY, M.F. 1998. Notes on the biology of some Hesperiidae and Lycaenidae in south-eastern

Australia. Victorian Naturalist 115: 4-8.

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

CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne; xx + 976 pp.

BRABY, M.F., CROSBY, D.F. and VAUGHAN, P.J. 1992. Distribution and range reduction in

Victoria of the Eltham Copper Butterfly Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida Crosby. Victorian

Naturalist 109: 154-161.

CANZANO, A.A., NEW, T.R. and YEN, A.L. 2007. The Eltham Copper butterfly Paralucia

pyrodiscus lucida Crosby (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): local versus state conservation strategies in

Victoria. Victorian Naturalist 124: 236-242.

EASTWOOD, R.G. 1999. An aberrant food-plant record for Jalmenus evagoras (Donovan)

(Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Australian Entomologist 26: 13-14.

EASTWOOD, R.G., BRABY, M.F., SCHMIDT, D.J. and HUGHES, J.M. 2008. Taxonomy,

ecology, genetics and conservation status of the pale imperial hairstreak (Jalmenus eubulus)

(Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): a threatened butterfly from the Brigalow Belt, Australia. Invertebrate

Systematics 22: 407-423.

166 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

EASTWOOD, R.G., PIERCE, N.E., KITCHING, R.L. and HUGHES, J.M. 2006. Do ants

enhance diversification in lycaenid butterflies? Phylogenetic evidence from a model

myrmecophile, Jalmenus evagoras. Evolution 60: 315-327.

NEW, T.R. 1984. A biology of Acacias. Oxford University Press in association with La Trobe

University Press, Melbourne; ix + 153 pp.

PIERCE, N.E. and NASH, D.R. 1999. The Imperial Blue, Jalmenus evagoras (Lycaenidae). Pp

279-315, in: Kitching, R.L., Jones, R.E., Scheermeyer, E., and Pierce, N.E. (eds), Biology of

Australian butterflies. Monographs of Australian Lepidoptera. Volume. 6. CSIRO Publishing,

Melbourne.

SMILEY, J.T., ATSATT, P.R. and PIERCE, N.E. 1988. Local distribution of the lycaenid

butterfly, Jalmenus evagoras, in response to host ants and plants. Oecologia 76: 416-422.

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4): 167-178 167

A NEW SPECIES OF SYNEMON DOUBLEDAY (LEPIDOPTERA:

CASTNIIDAE) FROM THE COLONA PLAINS, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

R. GRUND

9 Parkers Rd, Torrens Park, Adelaide, SA 5062

Abstract

Synemon colona sp. n. is described from the Colona plains, Far West Coast District of South

Australia. Adults are illustrated and compared with similar Synemon Doubleday species.

Introduction

The genus Synemon Doubleday, comprising day-flying sun-moths, presently

contains 24 recognised species (Edwards 1996) and there are at least a further

22 unnamed or unstudied possible species, subspecies, morphs or forms

(Douglas and Mariott 2003, Marriott 2003, Edwards 2006,- CSIRO 2009 [a

list of plesiotypes]). Most occur in the southern temperate habitats of the

Australian mainland, comprising woodlands, mallee and heathlands,

interspersed with grasslands, sedge-lands and rush-lands that contain the

larval hostplants. The open grassland plains of the Colona pastoral region on

the eastern Nullarbor Plain comprise such habitat, in which the spring flying

Synemon nais Klug is a known faunal component (CSIRO 2009, Grund

2009). However, the Nullarbor Plain has been poorly surveyed for

Lepidoptera during the autumn months. During a 2009 autumn survey of

butterflies in the area, the author (Grund 2010) found a very small colony of

undescribed sun-moths then comprising only females. The colony was again

investigated during the autumn of 2011, when it was then found to comprise

a large flight of newly emerged male and female adults; the author was also

able to determine some of their early stage biology. It has subsequently been

possible to show that these adults are closely related to members of the

Synemon collecta morphological species-group (Douglas 2008) and it will be

shown that they constitute a new species based on their morphology and

biological attributes. Although the Castniidae group is presently under an

extended review by E.D. Edwards (1996), the present author is not aware of

any other accessible, similar Synemon species and therefore this paper is

presented at this time to allow the information on this new species to be made

available to other lepidopterists.

Abbreviations used are as follows: SAMA — South Australian Museum,

Adelaide; ANIC — Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra; RG —

collection of R. Grund.

Systematics

The author has examined original and subsequent photographic images and

taxonomic descriptions of the three Synemon species currently included in the

S. collecta species-group and agrees with the nomenclature conclusions of

Edwards 1996. The three species and their synonyms are detailed below

(after Edwards 1996).

168 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

Synemon collecta Swinhoe, C. 1892. (Type data; p 151, Pl VII fig 16. Holotype at

Oxford University Museum (OUM) , provenance ‘North Australia’). Also

documented in: Strand 1911; Edwards 1996, 2006; Douglas and Marriot 2003;

Marriot 2003; Douglas 2008; Edwards and Ferguson 2009.

Synemon selene Klug, [J.C.F.] 1850. (Type data; p 249, figs 3, 4. Syntype[s] at

Zoological Museum Berlin (ZMB) 3 9, ‘Adelaide [Region ex H. Behr Coll]’.

Syntype images are also displayed in Douglas 2008). Boisduval 1875; Westwood

1877; Kirby 1892; Strand 1911; Edwards 1996, 2006; Douglas and Marriot 2003;

Marriot 2003; Douglas 2008.

syn. Synemon adelaida Swinhoe, C. 1892. (Type data; p 154, Pl VII fig 10.

Syntype[s] OUM 3 Q, ‘Adelaide’). Strand 1911; Edwards 1996, 2006; Douglas

2008. (S. adelaida was synonymized under S. selene by Strand 1911, as first

reviser).

Synemon theresa Doubleday, E. 1846. (Type data; p 517, Insects P1 3 fig 6. Syntypes

Natural History Museum London (BMNH), [Australia]). Angas 1847; Klug 1850;

Walker 1854; Boisduval 1875; Butler 1877; Westwood 1877; Tepper 1882; Kirby

1892; Swinhoe 1892; Strand 1911; Edwards 1996; Douglas and Marriot 2003; Marriot

2003; Douglas 2008.

syn. Synemon mopsa Doubleday, E. 1846. (Type data; p 518, Insects Pl 3 fig 7.

Syntype[s] BMNH, Australia [South Australia]). Klug 1850; Walker 1854;

Boisduval 1875; Butler 1877; Westwood 1877; Tepper 1882; Kirby 1892; Swinhoe

1892; Strand 1911; Edwards 1996. (S. theresa and S. mopsa were published

simultaneously by Doubleday. They were synonymized and priority given to S.

theresa by Klug 1850 as first reviser; refer Edwards 1996).

syn. Synemon obscura Tepper, 1882. (Type data; p 35, P1 III fig 5. Syntype[s] lost,

originally collected ~1866 at Lyndoch, South Australia [SA]). Kirby 1892; Strand

1911; Edwards 1996.

syn. Synemon livida Tepper, 1882. (Type data; p 35, P1 III fig 6. Syntype[s] Ẹ lost,

originally collected ~1866 at Lyndoch, SA). Kirby 1892; Strand 1911; Edwards

1996. (S. obscura and S. livida were synonymized with S. theresa by Edwards

1996, as first reviser).

Synemon colona sp. n.

(Figs 1-8, 18-23)

Types. Holotype 3, SOUTH AUSTRALIA: labelled ‘Colona, Yalata AL, SA,

21.iii.2011, R. Grund, RA2774 [DNA leg sample]’ (in SAMA). Paratypes (Figs 3-8):

labelled ‘Colona, Yalata AL, SA, R. Grund’; 19, 24.iii.2009; 44, 19, 19.iii.2011;

55, 49, 20.11.2011; 63, 3, 21.iii.2011 (in RG); 14, 20.iii.2011; 19, 24.iii.2009 (in

ANIC).

Description. Body: head brown above; thorax and anterior two segments of

abdomen dark brown-black above, remaining dorsal part of abdomen brown;

thorax grey below; abdomen pale grey below with a paler transverse line at

the segment joints; frons brown above, white below; head with large dorsal

ocelli; labial palpi white scaled, very short, protruding about halfway across

eye (viewed ventrally), ascending, apical segment short barrel shape, distal

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 169

Figs 1-8. Synemon colona sp. n., upper and undersides: (1-2) holotype male (m) wing

expanse 26 mm; (3) paratype (p) (m) dark form 26 mm; (4) paratype (p) (m) pale form

26 mm; (5-6) paratype (p) typical form (f) 26 mm; (7) paratype (p) (f) dark form 26

mm; (8) paratype (p) (f) pale form (worn) 26 mm.

end constricted; proboscis absent; eyes smooth, reflective eye pattern pale

grey Type III when alive; antennae reach beyond the discal cell (dc) end or

about 0.6 the length of the forewing (FW) costa, shaft scaled, dark brown

black above, paler beneath becoming white near club, narrowly ringed white

170 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

at each segment joint, club broad, mucronate, dark brown-black above, white

below, mostly scaled but with a small black nudum area near tip underside

(UNS); legs brown above, grey below, epiphysis present, tibial spurs 0,2,4.

Wing venation: similar to S. plana Walker (Fig. 1, p 283 in Common 1990),

but veins M, CuP and the small basal fork of 1A+2A (of the FW) are only

partially developed; FW discal cell about 1/2 length of costa, distal end open

between veins M1 and M2, bases of veins R1, R2, R3+R4+R5 originate from

the discal cell, R4 and R5 stalked, bases of M1 and R3+R4+R5, and also

bases of M2 and M3 nearly connate at discal cell; hindwing (HW) frenulum

one-spined (male), distal end of discal cell open between veins M1 and M2,

bases of M3 and CuA1 nearly connate at discal cell. Wing morphology: FW

narrow, length 14 mm, upperside (UPS) background colour dark brown but

brown scales become whitish basad causing a washed or speckling effect,

margin narrow dark grey-brown edged basally with some white scaling, a

large white discal cell-end spot of roughly equilateral triangular shape with

one apex pointing towards the wing apex, a series of white arrowhead-shaped

median spots pointing basad slightly offset distally with respect to the (dc)

cell-end spot occur in spaces (cells) M3 to CuP but weakly developed in the

latter, the white spot in space M3 becomes brownish distad and is confluent

with the brownish white terminal spot, a series of white arrowhead-shaped

postmedian spots pointing basad occur in spaces from M2 to near the costa, a

series of brownish white rectangular shaped terminal spots occur next to the

dark marginal line, becoming more elongate and more diffuse in the tornal

zone from space M2, a wash of white scaling in cell spaces in basal half of

wing from the (dc) to the inner margin, FW veining is conspicuously marked

dark brown of variable intensity; HW UPS background colour is brown, the

subbasal and inner margin area paler, the tornus area overlaid with orange

scaling, margin narrow dark brown, a small obscure yellow-orange (dc) end

spot, a broad diffuse postdiscal area of brownish yellow-orange colour in

spaces M1 to CuA2 divided by diffuse dark brown veining, dark brown

diffuse macular subterminal spots in spaces M1, M2, CuA1, CuA2, the latter

two joined and the spot in CuA2 also divided by a thin longitudinal yellow-

orange line, the spots in M1 and CuA2 may respectively be opened anteriorly

or posteriorly to the background colour depending on glint; FW UNS

background colour dark brown, paler basad, inner margin areas greyish (but

overlain with orange scaling adjacent to HW margin), upperside postdiscal

pale spots generally displayed beneath as diffuse (brownish) yellowish

orange markings split by dark brown veining, in the FW the (dc) cell end spot

is rectangular, the apical terminal spots are whitish, and the distal inner

margin area is yellowish-orange; in the HW the postdiscal yellowish-orange

area is very diffuse and dull, the macular spots larger, the terminal apex pale

markings are whitish, the pale diffuse median spot in space M3 is confluent

with the terminal spot, the dark veining conspicuously separates the pale

terminal area into mostly rectangular spots; termens on both wings UPS and

UNS are generally pale brown with a darker central area.

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 171

Figs 9-16. Synemon spp., upper and undersides. (9-13) S. theresa: (9) typical

morphology (m) (broad FW) 34 mm Waterfall Gully (WG) SA 8.1.1997; (10) ‘mopsa’

morphology (m) (narrow FW) 30 mm WG SA 23.1.1998; (11) typical form (f) 32 mm

Morialta SA 23.i.2011; (12) pale form (f) 34 mm Morialta SA 23.i.2011; (13) dark

form (f) 36 mm Stoneyfell SA 30.xii.1940. (14) S. collecta (f) SE Qld. Sept-Oct. (15-

16) S. selene: (15) dark form similar to syntypes (m) 50 mm Two Wells SA 4.iii.1948;

(16) pale form (f) 50 mm Two Wells SA 4.1ii.1948.

172 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

Male genitalia (n = 4) (Figs 19-23). Of simple design. Tegumen smooth,

short and broad viewed from above, sides compact touching the costa of the

valves, top of tegumen has a gradual slope posteriorly to weakly fuse with

uncus, latter short broad viewed from above, shallow from side, longer than

tegumen, constricted next to tegumen, dorsal surface has gradual down-slope

posteriorly, edges rolled over distally creating lateral bulges, then taper

quickly to a blunt posterior point, uncus with long peripheral setae, the

fultura superior is exposed in the area below the uncus and incorporates

adjacent to each side of the anal tube a horizontal chitinous scaphial plate

(gnathos or socii) that is not fixed to either the tegumen or uncus (gnathos

complex), the plate has variable shape but is usually elongate wedge shape

broadening posteriorly. Valve broad and simple from side view, almost

square, all margins except the anterior side, thick and inrolled to the anellifer,

anterior edge slightly concave posteriorly, the ventral margin (sacculus +

harpe) is nearly straight, the dorsal anterior margin (costa) is initially

angulate, then down-slopes posteriorly at a very shallow rate before slightly

enlarging at the ampulla-cucullus area before it abruptly changes ventrally

(with the cornice rounded) to a near-vertical sloped posterior margin, the

ventral third of this margin then forms into a posteriorly directed short harpe

(valvula) that tapers gradually inline with the sacculus margin ending in a

short slightly upturned and sometimes slightly inturned (n = 1) pointed spine,

some very long setae on the ampulla and sacculus margins. The vinculum is

moderately wide and only sclerotized ventral of the tegumen, the dorsal hinge

of the valva extends from the valva and attaches to the posterior margin of

the vinculum, the anterior edge of the sclerotized vinculum slightly overlaps

and merges with the apex angularis of the tegumen, the vinculum broadens at

its base and in-coils posteriorly to form a bridge acting jointly as a ventral

articulation point for the valves and a juxta support for the aedeagus. The

aedeagus is short but large, massive, tubular of uniform thickness, curved

downwards posteriorly, the dorso-posterior sclerotized edge slants at a

shallow straight angle to a point ventrally, nearly reaching the posterior edge

of the valve, the posterior vesica does not have obvious cornuti, the aedeagus

enlarges considerably at its anterior end in the vertical plane (‘phallobase’ of

Edwards ef al 1999) with the dorsal part bulbous and the ventral coecum part

only partially bulbous, the latter abuts into a specialised concave area of the

saccus-vinculum, the proximal orifice opening is anterior or slightly ventro-

due to the curve of the aedeagus; on the dorsal side of the prezonal aedeagus

between the diaphragm and the bulbous enlargement is a large bulbous

‘penile-cornutus’ (Fig. 20) (on 3 specimens).

Figs 17-27. (17) S. ‘collecta’ (m) 36 mm, Shelley, Vic. 31.xii.1999. (18) eggs of S.

colona, 4 and 5 ridged. (19-27) male genitalia, views. (19-23) S. colona: (19) lateral

(specimen 1); (20) lateral (spec 2) (showing the ‘penile-cornutus’); (21) ventral (spec

1); (22) dorsal (spec 1); (23) anterior (spec 1). (24-25) S. theresa lateral and ventral,

WG, SA. (26) S. ‘collecta’ lateral, Shelley, Vic. (27) S. selene lateral, Two Wells, SA.

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) j 173

174 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

Egg (n = 48, Fig. 18): Elongate ellipsoidal spindle shape (average 1.62 x 0.76

mm), with four (or sometimes five) prominent equi-spaced longitudinal

ridges converging at each end of the egg (e.g. Fig. 10, Common and Edwards

1981). There are numerous (average 31), less prominent very fine transverse

ridges or striae that form an interlocking disjunction at the longitudinal ridges

(e.g. Fig. 2, Common and Edwards 1981). Each end of the egg constricts to a

blunt point, one of which (usually the more pointed) contains the micropyle,

the same end from which the larvae normally eclose. Eggs are laid singly on

their sides, pale yellow when freshly laid, later turning white near eclosion,

which occurred 40 days after oviposition. The ovipositor of the female is

typically very long, and the distal end very bristly.

Etymology. Named after the historic homestead near the type locality.

Distribution. Presently known from only a small area of grassland near

Colona Homestead on Yalata Aboriginal Land in the Far West Coast Region

of South Australia (SA). The species was observed in flight on 23 March

2009 and again from 19-21 March 2011.

Hostplant. Eggs were laid on small stunted plants of Austrostipa eremophila

and A. scabra (Poaceae).

Habitat. Found flying in broad-acre Austrostipa eremophila grasslands

bounded by mallee Eucalyptus woodland. Other common grassland flora

comprised Austrostipa scabra, Austrodanthonia spp. and Lomandra effusa.

Comments. Morphology of the males is highly variable, further compounded

as they can occur in both dark and pale forms and consequently the degree of

maculation and the intensity of colour can vary from one male to the next

(Figs 3-4); the holotype is the ‘typical’ form. The brownish scaling on white

areas can also be lost due to wear, which accentuates the white colour.

Females have a morphology similar to males that is much paler and better

defined and can also occur in both dark and pale forms (Figs 5-8).

Taxonomic diagnosis

Synemon colona is a small species (FW length ¢ 11-14 mm, 2 10-15 mm)

having a very similar morphology to the adult Synemon species belonging to

the S. collecta species-group, particularly in the FW UPS having the cryptic

pattern of white striae on a dark brown background and a white spot at the

end of the discal cell, as described more fully above. While the basic pattern

layout for the species is stable, individual specimens are prone to variability,

a trait seemingly afflicted on all species-group members. The latter are also

defined by their primary larval hostplants being native grasses (Poaceae)

belonging to the genera Austrodanthonia and Austrostipa (Edwards 2006,

Douglas 2008). Adults do not have a functional proboscis for feeding.

Species-group males also have a similar form of genitalia morphology, a

feature often carried into other species of Austrodanthonia-Austrostipa

feeding Synemon, such as S. nais and S. plana. However, the former differs

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 175

from S. colona by the adults having a functional proboscis and the latter

differs by having distinct morphological differences. (Good coloured

photographic images of S. nais, S. plana and the S. collecta species-group can

be found in Marriott 2003, Douglas 2008, CSIRO Entomology 2009 and

Edwards and Ferguson 2009).

Morphological and extra trait differences between S. colona and other

species-group members can be summarized as follows:

Synemon theresa (Figs 9-13) is closest to S. colona in wing morphology and

also has very short labial palpi and no proboscis. However, it normally flies

during the summer in SA, although there is a single Adelaide record for early

March. The FW UPS in S. theresa has a slightly better developed veined

pattern that is more complex than found in S. colona. In darker forms, the

apical portion of the white postmedian band tends to be connected to the

terminal pale area by pale scaling adjacent to the dark veins, producing a

series of five dark, elongate, ocelli-like intra-spacial spots that are not clearly

obvious in S. colona. The terminal white spots and the pale elongate area in

space M3 of S. colona are not well developed in S. theresa. The discal cell-

end white spot is conspicuously smaller in S. theresa and of quadrate shape

rather than triangular, with the apical edge usually concave. There is a large,

elongate, triangular dark mark in the discal cell immediately basad to the

white cell-end spot that is only weakly developed along vein M in S. colona.

The UNS pattern of S. theresa is comparable with S. colona, but in the latter

the dark veining tends to be more obvious and the HW yellow-orange areas

less developed. The pale elongate area in HW space M3 of S. colona is not

well developed in S. theresa. The larva hostplants of S. theresa are primarily

Austrodanthonia, whereas they are Austrostipa for S. colona.

In S. theresa there is also a propensity for the discal cell origin of FW veins

R3+R4+R5 and M1, M2 and M3, and HW veins M3 and CuA1 to be

noticeably separate, whereas in S. colona they tend to be connate. Males of S.

theresa often have broad forewings (Fig. 9), which were not seen in S. colona

males where all had narrow forewings. Although S. co/ona is compatible in

size with S. theresa, it is on the smallest side of the latter's size range, (a

phenomena also seen in the cryptically similar S. discalis Strand and S.

parthenoides R. Felder). Synemon theresa currently has not been recorded

any further west in SA than the east sides of St Vincent and Spencer Gulfs.

Synemon collecta (Figs 14, 17) and its complex-members comprise at least

two documented members (Douglas 2008, Edwards and Ferguson 2009): (1),

a pale-morph population from eastern Queensland (nominotypical) and

warmer regions of northeastern NSW; and (2), a dark-morph population from

Victoria and the cooler tableland areas of NSW (S. ‘Armidale’ of CSIRO

2009) that was treated as S. collecta by both Douglas (2008) and Edwards

and Ferguson (2009). They collectively have a long flight season from spring

to mid autumn, although in local populations the flight season is usually short

176 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

(CSIRO 2009). The FW UPS striate pattern of white markings of the

complex-members is usually more prominent than in S. co/ona and the discal

cell-end white spot is conspicuously narrow, often almost two-spotted, and

slants across the discal cell-end at an angle that readily separates S. collecta

complex-members from the other species-group members. The HW UNS in

the females is yellow-orange and there is a clear series of black subterminal

spots that readily separate them from S. colona. Synemon collecta is larger

than S. co/ona, being nearly comparable with S. se/ene (the FW length of S.

collecta is about 18-22 mm). S. collecta does not have a functional proboscis

and the antennae club nudum is brown as in S. selene. The S. collecta

complex currently has only been recorded from the eastern states of

Australia. In this paper the ‘Shelley’ morph from Victoria (S. ‘collecta’ in

this paper) has been studied in preference to the nominotypical morph due to

the more proximal location of the former in relation to S. colona.

Synemon selene (Figs 15-16) also flies in autumn but differs from S. colona

by being twice the size of the latter (the FW length of S. selene is about 18-26

mm). In South Australian S. se/ene, the FW UPS band of pale terminal spots

has its distal edge clearly scalloped rather than straight and postdiscal veining

is always pale, rather than always dark as in S. colona and S. theresa. The

elongated pale spot in FW space M3 is absent. S. se/ene has a rudimentary

non-functional proboscis and the antennae club nudum is brown, rather than

always black as in S. colona and S. theresa. Synemon selene currently has not

been recorded any further west than the Adelaide Plains area in SA.

It is in the male genitalia (Figs 19-27) of the species-group members that

apomorphic differences are noted. The chief apomorphy is the shape of the

valva, which in S. colona is essentially ‘square’ in side view (Figs 19-20) but

elongate in other species-group members (implying also a relatively longer

aedeagus), with the dorsal margin gradually down-sloping posterior of the

costa. The posterior end of the uncus is pointed in S. colona (Fig. 23) and S.

selene but weakly divided in S. ‘collecta’ and S. theresa (Fig. 25). A dorsal

‘penile-cornutus’ (Fig. 20) on the prezonal sheath is often seen in S. colona

but is not seen in other species-group members. Other male genitalia

differences from S. colona include: (1), in S. theresa (Figs 24-25) the

tegumen and harpe are relatively narrow and longer, the angulate valva costa

is more exaggerated and the vinculum is broader next to the dorsal hinge area

of the valva, where the vinculum sends across the joining plate rather than the

reverse as in S. colona; (2), in S. ‘collecta’ the posterior ampulla margin of

the valva is partially ‘serrated’ (Fig. 26), the costa is rounded rather than

angular, the aedeagus tube constricts anteriorly, the enlarged parts of the

‘phallobase’ are not bulbous, the tegumen and scaphial plate are relatively

much broader, the vinculum is narrow and is noticeably continuous anterior

of the tegumen with no free apex angularis. (In nomino-typical S. collecta

from southeastern Queensland, the posterior ampulla margin of the valva was

not ‘serrated’ and there are some other minor genitalia differences between it

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 177

and the Shelley morph, based on Edwards et al. 1999 and a poor SAMA male

genitalia slide); (3), in S. selene (Fig. 27) the hyaline part of the fultura

superior between the scaphial plate and the uncus-tegumen is very

conspicuous, the uncus is noticeably elongated, the vinculum is very broad

next to the dorsal valva hinge (c.f S. theresa), the vinculum is strongly bent

adjacent to the apex angularis, the aedeagus ‘phallobase’ is present but the

dorsal enlargement is weak, while the ventral enlargement of the coecum is

strongly bulbous ventrally, reaching down to abut the floor of the vinculum-

saccus, where the latter acts as a juxta support for the aedeagus in lieu of the

weaker juxta development of the posterior-coiled ‘saccus’ also present in this

species.

The similarity of the male genitalia structure indicates that the four taxa

studied belong in the same genus, while distinctive differences within the

genitalia and other traits and morphologic attributes as defined above indicate

that they have reached unique morpho-taxonomic species status.

Biology

The observed biology of S. colona will be collated into a separate paper at a

later date.

Acknowledgments

Specimens collected by the author in SA were obtained under permit number

U23970 issued by the Department for Environment and Heritage. The author

is grateful to Peter Hudson for access to the SAMA Castniidae collection, to

Len Willan, photographer of the images for S. collecta displayed on the

CSIRO Entomology website ‘Australian Moths Online’, for permissions to

use his images in this paper and to Graham Wurtz for the donation of the

male S. ‘collecta’ specimen from Shelley, Victoria. Host grasses were

identified by Rosemary Taplin at the State Herbarium of South Australia.

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(eds), Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood; 529 pp.

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butterflies. Vol. 1: Evolution, systematics and biogeography. de Gruyter, Berlin; 491 pp.

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Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4): 179-196 179

DOES THE PHASMID EURYCANTHA CALCARATA LUCAS, 1869

(PHASMIDA: PHASMATIDAE) OCCUR IN AUSTRALIA?

G.B. MONTEITH! and C.F. DEWHURST”

‘Queensland Museum, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane, Old 4101

°PNG Oil Palm Research Association Inc., Dami Research Station, PO Box 97, Kimbe,

West New Britain, Papua New Guinea

Abstract

The New Guinea pest phasmid Eurycantha calcarata Lucas is listed from Australia on the basis

of very old specimens in European museums labelled ‘Thursday Island’ and ‘Endeavour River’.

These specimens have no supporting documentation and passed through the hands of dealers at a

time when those ports were trading centres for New Guinea ships. Intensive modern collecting

has not confirmed the species at either locality. It is recommended that it be excluded from the

native Australian fauna and that Australian pet trade livestock be subject to quarantine action.

Introduction

The phasmid genus Eurycantha Boisduval, 1835, includes large, heavy-

bodied, flightless, spiny stick-insects from the New Guinea region. Males

have powerful opposable spurs on the hind legs, used in defence. Females

have a rigid, projecting ovipositor. Their impressive appearance means they

are often illustrated and discussed in the semi-popular literature and Æ.

calcarata Lucas, 1869 (Figs 1-2) has entered the pet trade in the northern

hemisphere under the common name Giant Spiny Stick Insect (Brock 1992,

1999). The eggs of E. calcarata are advertised for sale by mail order by many

non-Australian hobbyist websites, though their import into Australia is illegal

without a valid import permit (Quarantine Act 1908 (Sections 5(1) and

13(1)(d), (e) and (f)), Quarantine Proclamation 1998 (Part 6, Division 2,

Section 37)). As with most phasmids, they feed on many plant species and

some have become pests of tropical crops (PNGOPRA 1990, Kumar 2001).

Eurycantha is one of a complex of genera of phasmids of similar body form

from the SW Pacific, popularly called ‘tree lobsters’. They have been lumped

together as the subfamily Eurycanthinae, which recently has been shown on

morphological and molecular grounds to be polyphyletic but adaptively

convergent in form (Buckley et al. 2008). Eurycantha species, however, form

a natural group and are geographically circumscribed. There are currently 10

species recognised (Brock 2011, van Herwaarden 1998), all from the island

of New Guinea and/or adjacent islands and archipelagos, extending as far

east as the Solomon Islands. All were described more than 100 years ago and

most published locality records for them are imprecise, usually expressed as a

land mass or political unit rather than as discrete localities.

Kirby (1904) described Eurycantha sifia Kirby, based on two males and two

females, labelled ‘Thursday I’, in the Natural History Museum, London. This

was the first putative record of Eurycantha from Australian territory and

subsequent checklists, catalogues and textbooks included it as Australian

(Key 1991, Vickery 1983, Balderson ef al. 1998). Brock and Hasenpusch

180 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

(2007) examined the types of E. sifia and synonymised it under E. calcarata,

a species described from the Solomon Islands and recorded from the

Bismarck Archipelago and (arguably) the New Guinea mainland (Brock

2011); they did not report further Australian specimens. Later, Brock and

Hasenpusch (2009) reported ‘museum specimens from the Endeavour River

in far north Queensland’ and placed map distribution points on Thursday

Island and, on the Australian mainland, at Cooktown on the Endeavour River.

The Australian Faunal Directory website (2011) lists both localities but with

reservations as follows: ‘Australian records are probably spurious’. It

includes an in litt. quote from Paul Brock that one interpretation is that:

‘Thursday Is and/or Endeavour River are valid locations, there has been

little collecting in either and the species may be localised. The Endeavour

River is a long stretch of seldom visited land and the insects are nocturnal,

so would not easily be found.’

The Australian Quarantine Inspection Service website takes a harder line:

‘The erroneous publication of the species in “The Complete Field Guide

to Stick and Leaf Insects of Australia” led many to argue it is present in

Australia. There are no collections from Australia in over 100 years.

Those labelled as Australian from the 1800s in the Natural History

Museum, London and Vienna Natural History Museum are dubious. This

species has not been found during extensive field collections in North

Queensland. Pending independent confirmation of E. calcarata in the wild

in Australia, it is considered an exotic species’ (AQIS 2011).

Despite these reservations on the legitimacy of the early records of

Eurycantha from Australia, live E. calcarata appeared for sale in the

Australian pet trade in early 2010. Enquiries revealed unsubstantiated claims

that the original breeding stock had been collected by unnamed ‘backpackers’

at a locality described as ‘near Hopevale’, which is on the Endeavour River.

If true, this claim verifies 100+ year old records based on isolated, poorly

documented specimens in European museums and validates the natural

occurrence of a known pest insect in Australia, despite the fact that it has

never appeared in a pest situation in Australia. If false, this claim perpetuates

a scientific fraud that the species is endemic to Australia and prevents

quarantine action being taken against the possible illegal introduction of an

important pest into Australia.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the validity of the old specimens in

the two European museums and to assess the likelihood that E. calcarata

could have persisted uncollected for 100+ years at Thursday Island or the

Endeavour River. This is assessed in the light of our knowledge of the

geography and biogeography of the region and of the extent of collecting that

has occurred there.

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 181

10mm

1 =

2 10mm

Figs 1-2. Eurycantha calcarata Lucas. (1) male; (2) female. (Photos from PaDIL

website with permission).

The geographical/political/quarantine context of the region

Cape York Peninsula is the northernmost part of the Australian mainland and

is separated from the southern coast of mainland New Guinea by the 150 km

wide Torres Strait. Thursday Island is just off the northern tip of this

Peninsula and the Endeavour River exits to the sea 600 km further south on

its east coast. Torres Strait is sparsely scattered with small islands, which are

almost all Australian territory because the Australian political border extends

to within a few kilometres of the New Guinea coast. The administrative and

shipping centre for Torres Strait is Thursday Island, which lies in the centre

of a group of islands 15-30 km from the Australian mainland.

182 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

Cape York Peninsula and most Torres Strait islands have low topography and

dry environments subject to severe monsoonal dry seasons, which contrast

strongly with the high-rainfall, mountainous New Guinea mainland. The

biota of the two land masses is also strikingly different (Walker 1972,

Darlington 1971). The relatively low degree of faunal similarity between

New Guinea and Australia is largely because of their very different

environments and the few New Guinea species that have dispersed to

Australia are largely concentrated in the small patches of rainforest on Cape

York Peninsula, which function as ‘islands’ of NG elements in a ‘sea’ of

Australian plants and animals (Kikkawa ef al. 1981). The greatest

concentration of New Guinea species in Australia is in lowland rainforests at

Iron Range, which is on the Peninsula about halfway between Thursday

Island and the Endeavour River (Monteith 1997).

There were already strict legal restrictions on the import of live animals into

Australia across its international boundaries under Quarantine laws but the

threat of pest animals being carried from New Guinea to the Australian

mainland, by island-hopping human traffic through the Australian waters of

the Torres Strait, led to quarantine zones being introduced in 1985 to prevent

movement of live animals from Australian-owned Torres Strait islands to the

mainland and, also, from the northern to the southern parts of the Peninsula

(Quarantine Act 1908 Sections 5(1) and 5A, Quarantine Proclamation 1998

Part 6, Division 4, Section 56A(1)).

Biology and pest status of Eurycantha species

The biology of E. calcarata was studied in the field and laboratory at

Kerevat, East New Britain by Bedford (1976a, b) and observations on captive

populations were given by Brock (1992, 1999) and Brock and Hasenpusch

(2009). One of the present authors (CFD) has extensive experience of two

Eurycantha species as pests of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacquin) in two

provinces of Papua New Guinea, on both the mainland (Eurycantha insularis

Lucas, 1869) and West New Britain (E. calcarata).

Eurycantha calcarata is a large, heavy-bodied, wingless insect with females

reaching about 15 cm in length and males about 12 cm (Figs 1-2). It spends

the day, often close to the ground, in quiescent aggregations of mixed sex

(Figs 3-4). Clusters of adults are found in daytime shelters under bark and

fallen trunks or in tree holes, especially of Kleinhovia hospita L.

(Malvaceae), and among palm inflorescences. At night, they leave day-time

shelters and climb shrubs and trees to feed on foliage, where they are very

conspicuous to collectors such as entomologists and herpetologists using

head-mounted spotlights to search foliage. The nymphs often remain on the

food plant in the daytime, relying on camouflage for protection (Fig. 9).

Because it is wingless (thus unable to find mates by flight), long-lived and

gregarious, the species seldom exists in very low numbers. If it occurs in an

area then it is normally conspicuous and, in West New Britain, adults are

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 183

Figs 3-4. Eurycantha calcarata Lucas at Namova VOP, West New Britain. (3)

PNGOPRA technician Simon Makai with daytime clusters of adults found in oil palm

plantation; (4) detail of adult cluster beneath piece of rotten Kleinhovia trunk. (Photos

by C.F. Dewhurst, PNGOPRA).

184 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

commonly seen crossing roads. When disturbed, males draw attention by

presenting a vigorous threat display (Fig. 5) using their enlarged hind legs

armed with sharp spines (Figs 1, 6) (Bedford 1976b); they will also evert an

anal gland, which produces a foul-smelling defence secretion. Females have a

long beak-like ovipositor used to insert eggs into soft substrates such a moss,

soil or rotten wood (Fig. 7), or they simply drop them to the ground where

they look like frass (Fig. 8). The species is very different in appearance from

other Australian phasmids and would readily attract the attention of field

biologists if seen in Australia.

Eurycantha calcarata was described from ‘San Georges’ in the Solomon

Islands (Lucas 1869) but most modern records are from the Bismarck

Archipelago, particularly New Britain; no authentic specimens are in the

PNG National Insect Collection from mainland New Guinea. Throughout its

confirmed range, E. calcarata occurs in high-rainfall, lowland rainforest and

adjacent plantations. It feeds on many plants in nature and has been

maintained in captivity on temperate plants such as Rubus, Quercus, etc

(Brock and Hasenpusch 2009). In Papua New Guinea it was first noted as an

oil palm pest in West New Britain (Figs 10-11) in 1994 (PNGOPRA 1994)

and was called the Oil Palm Stick Insect. It has now become an important oil

palm pest, known locally in WNB as “wel kindam” (S. Makai pers. comm.).

It also attacks coconut (Brock and Hasenpusch 2009), cacao (Bedford 1976a,

Kumar 2001), native palms (PNGOPRA 1981), bananas, Heliconia and

Croton (S. Makai pers. comm.). It is illustrated with the status of an ‘exotic

quarantine pest’, under the common name of ‘Giant Spiny Stick Insect’, on

the Australian Government’s PaDIL website (McCaffrey 2011). The genus

Eurycantha clearly has a propensity for palms and two other species, E.

horrida Boisduval, 1835 and E. insularis have also gained pest status on oil

palm in Papua New Guinea (Brock 2011, PNGOPRA 1990, 1991, 1992),

with the latter a regular pest in plantations on the mainland and referred to as

the ‘Oil Palm Stick Insect’.

Reliability of the putative Australian specimens in overseas museums

The six specimens that form the basis for the Australian distribution points

for E. calcarata of ‘Thursday Island’ and ‘Endeavour River’ mapped by

Brock and Hasenpusch (2009) are considered here. All are presumed to have

been collected in the late 1800s but lack information such as dates, precise

localities, collectors’ names and ships’ names, normally required to

authenticate specimens used for significant new geographic records. At the

presumed time of collection, Thursday Island, Somerset (Thursday Island’s

mainland predecessor as government station for Torres Strait until 1877) and

Cooktown (on the Endeavour River) were the only settlements/ports in the far

north of Queensland (Bolton 1963). This was an era of exploratory voyages

from Australia to New Guinea by adventurers, prospectors, traders, pearlers

and missionaries. These three settlements were frequent ports of call before

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 185

‘

ANATS

ISAS

Figs 5-7. Eurycantha calcarata Lucas at Malilimi Plantation, West New Britain. (5)

adult male in aggressive posture; (6) detail of spines on male hind leg; (7) adult

female laying eggs into a mossy log. (Photos by C.F. Dewhurst, PNGOPRA).

186 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

and after these forays. It was also an era when showy, bizarre specimens and

ethnographic items were brought back by crew and passengers who knew that

wealthy European collectors and museums would pay well for them

(Monteith 1987). Packages of specimens were often trans-shipped at

Thursday Island or Cooktown to larger vessels bound for Europe and it is

well known that these often received the locality of the port of trans-shipment

rather than where they were collected. In May 1874, the British scientific

ship Challenger spent a week at Somerset. In the expedition’s final report

their anthropologists bemoaned the problem of mis-attributed ethnographic

items in the following terms, which highlight the confused milieu of trading

which existed in these frontier ports:

‘Cape York is a sort emporium of savage weapons and ornaments. Pearl-

shell gathering vessels (‘pearl-shellers’ as they are called) come to

Somerset with crews which they have picked up at all the islands in the

neighbourhood, from New Guinea, and from all over the Pacific, and they

bring weapons and ornaments from all these places with them. Moreover,

the Murray Islanders visit the port in their canoes, and bring bows and

arrows, drums, and such things for barter. The water police stationed at

Somerset deal in these curiosities, buying them up and selling them to

passengers in the passing steamers, or to other visitors. Hence all kinds of

savage weapons have found their way into English collections, with the

label ‘Cape York’ (Thomson 1895, Vol 1, part 2, p. 541).

There is no reason to believe that a similar situation did not pertain with

biological specimens such as showy insects, or that the situation did not

continue at Thursday Island just a few years later. Some collectors, such as

the notorious John and James Cockerell (active in Torres Strait and New

Guinea 1867-73), systematically mislabelled specimens because they could

get a better price for exotic localities (Ingram 1986). They were bird

collectors but also collected thousands of insects (Whittell 1954).

Missionaries were also sending specimens and artefacts back from New

Guinea mission stations. The London Missionary Society (LMS) was active

in Torres Strait from 1871 and used Thursday Island as a base to service their

missions in New Guinea (Lacey 1972). Queensland Museum anthropologist

Michael Quinnell advises (in itt.) that many New Guinea artefacts and curios

were erroneously labelled Thursday Island because LMS missionaries sent

goods aboard the missionary vessels E/langowan and John Williams, which

plied between the various mission stations. Thursday Island was the point at

which LMS goods, letters, reports etc were trans-shipped to the UK. All these

factors mean that unsubstantiated records from these particular north

Queensland ports from the 1800s must be treated with great caution.

Specimens in the Natural History Museum, London

The purported ‘Thursday Island’ records of E. calcarata are the four

identically labelled syntypes of the synonym Æ. sifia Kirby, 1904, in the

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 187

AN i BAGS hee RA S)

Figs 8-11. Eurycantha calcarata Lucas at Namova VOP, West New Britain. (8) egg,

length 7-8 mm; (9) nymph resting on oil palm foliage in day time; (10) oil palm

plantation stripped by phasmid feeding; (11) detail of phasmid feeding on oil palm

leaflets. (Photos by C.F. Dewhurst, PNGOPRA).

Natural History Museum (NHM), London. The specimens and their labels

were illustrated by Brock (2011), the latter reading ‘Thursday I’ on one side

and ‘80.83’ on the other (Figs 12-13). This code number is an NHM

accession number indicating that the specimens were received in 1880 and

were the 83rd accession that year (G. Beccaloni pers. comm.). Curiously, the

type series of two other species of phasmids, viz. the two types of

Neopromachus sordidus (Kirby, 1896) and the holotype of Leprocaulinus

insularis (Kirby, 1896) are also in NHM and bear identical ‘Thursday I/

80.83’ labels, in the same handwriting as those of E. sifia. This indicates that

all three were received in the same batch of specimens in 1880. The

accession number and locality are written in the same handwriting on the

same label, indicating that they are not original field labels but were applied

at the NHM. All three genera of phasmids in this batch are diverse in New

Guinea but are not known from the Australian mainland; this sounds a

warning that the whole batch may have actually originated in New Guinea.

For one of these three species (L. insularis), Kirby’s (1896) description stated

‘collected by the late Rev. R. Toy’ and Brock (2011) indicated Toy as

188 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

collector for both L. insularis and N. sordidus. Robert Toy was an English

missionary and naturalist based in Madagascar from 1862 to 1879, passing

away on the ship home in 1880, but who never visited Torres Strait or New

Guinea (London Missionary Society 1885, Southcott 2004). This seemed

anomalous until, on checking the original NHM register on our behalf,

George Beccaloni (pers. comm.) found that Kirby (followed by Brock) had

mistakenly taken the name of Toy from the record for Accession 80.82, the

line above 80.83, which indeed refers to an accession of Madagascan insects

(including no phasmids) donated by Toy’s widow in 1880, the year of his

death. The correct data for Accession 80.83 relates to a batch of specimens

from ‘Thursday Island, S. New Guinea’ that consisted of 13 Orthoptera, 3

Hemiptera, 2 Blattaria and 6 Lepidoptera, presented by E. Gerrard Junfior].

At that time phasmids were regarded as part of the Orthoptera. It should be

noted that this original register entry links Thursday Island incorrectly with

‘S. New Guinea’, so there might have been confusion about localities at the

outset for this consignment.

r fis

o) Dr \

}

a... |

Eurycantha x Eurycantha m \ yh

sifia Kirby g + sifia Kirby ?

BMNHŒ) #844956 BMNH(E) #844956 13 l

Figs 12-13. Labels of syntype of Eurycantha sifia Kirby in the Natural History

Museum, London. (12) showing upperside of original label; (13) showing underside

of original label. (Photos by Paul D. Brock, copyright NHM, London).

Edward Gerrard Jnr, who presented the phasmids to the NHM, was the

principal of Edward Gerrard and Sons, a London firm which operated from

1853 to 1962 (Morris 2004). His father, Edward Gerrard Snr, was employed

as an NHM taxidermist from 1841 to 1890. The firm were principally

taxidermists, buying shipments of exotic skins and bones and mounting them

up for sale to museums and wealthy private collectors. This was a lucrative

business then and there was great competition among similar firms for choice

shipments, with considerable secrecy and subterfuge about suppliers and

localities (P.A. Morris pers. comm.). Gerrards also dealt in ethnographic

items and supplied both Torres Strait and New Guinea items to the British

Museum (S. Davies pers. comm.). A logical and feasible scenario is that

Gerrards acquired a batch of poorly documented items from a supplier on

Thursday Island, perhaps under similar circumstances to those tellingly

described in the Challenger report. This shipment, when unpacked in

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 189

London, included a batch of NG insects, unwanted by Gerrards, which were

then donated to the NHM, perhaps via Edward Gerrard Snr who worked

there, gaining, somewhere in transit, a Thursday Island provenance in error.

The Australian status of these ‘Thursday I’ specimens of all three phasmid

species needs to be evaluated in this light, but certainly it appears to be very

tenuous. Only Leprocaulinus insularis has any Australian credibility, through

arguably conspecific nymphs being taken on Lizard Island (P.D. Brock pers.

comm.). This is not the case for E. calcarata, the subject of this paper.

Specimens in the Vienna Natural History Museum

The Endeavour River record for E. calcarata is based on ‘some museum

specimens from Endeavour River’ (Brock and Hasenpusch 2009). Paul Brock

(pers. comm.) advises that these are two identically labelled specimens in the

Vienna Natural History Museum (Fig. 14), which were also the basis for

Redtenbacher’s (1908) listing of ‘Australien’ for the species. Their printed

labels read: ‘Endeavour River, Nd. Queensland, H. Rolle, Berlin, SW 11’. Dr

Martin Baehr (pers. comm.), coleopterist at the Munich Museum, advises that

this label is one used by an insect dealer named Hermann Rolle (1864-1929),

who operated in Berlin from 1889 until about 1921/22 when his stock passed

to another dealer, E. Le Moult, in Paris (Horn and Kahle 1937). Dr Baehr

reports problems with the credibility of Herman Rolle’s label data and he

himself has dealt with American species of Carabidae bearing Rolle’s

‘Endeavour River’ labels, identical to those of the phasmids (Baehr 2008).

Insect dealers of that era commonly bought and resold packages of specimens

of doubtful provenance brought back by travellers whose motives were often

monetary rather than scientific. Clearly, the Vienna Museum specimens of E.

calcarata have passed through commercial hands before being lodged in the

museum and the veracity of the original locality is questionable.

Fig. 14. Forebody and label of specimen of Eurycantha calcarata in the Natural

History Museum of Vienna. Inset shows detail of label. (Photo by Paul D. Brock).

190 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

Could Eurycantha have been overlooked by modern collectors?

We have shown here that there are serious doubts about the real provenance

of the 1800s specimens of E. calcarata with Australian labels in overseas

museums. If the species does occur in Cape York Peninsula or Torres Strait,

we also need to assess the likelihood that it would have been rediscovered by

subsequent collectors. One of us (GBM) has spent a career as curator of the

two major insect collections in Queensland (University of Queensland;

Queensland Museum), has led more than 40 field expeditions to north

Queensland since 1964 and has a keen interest in the history of collecting in

the region (Monteith 1987).

Australia has many major insect collections, comprising millions of

specimens collected over the last 150 years. Those that have significant

holdings from Cape York Peninsula include the CSIRO Australian National

Insect Collection (Canberra), the Queensland Museum (Brisbane), the

Queensland Primary Industries Insect Collection (Brisbane and Cairns), the

University of Queensland Insect Collection (now at Queensland Museum)

and the AQIS/NAQS Quarantine Survey Collections (Cairns). All of these

institutions have done substantial insect survey work in the Peninsula over

many years. None has specimens of E. calcarata from Australia. The area has

also been intensively collected by herpetologists and mammalogists, who use

night searching with head-mounted spotlights as a standard method. None has

reported the presence of Eurycantha.

It has been suggested that Æ. calcarata may be ‘localised’ near Thursday

Island or the Endeavour River, which may be ‘seldom visited’ and ‘little

collected’ (Australian Faunal Directory 2011). These two localities are

discussed separately.

Thursday Island

Thursday Island is a tiny island 2 km in diameter and 3.5 km? in area, lying

140 km from New Guinea and 15 km off the Australian coast. It comprises

low, domed hills covered with dry eucalypt forest and with just a few higher

gullies having a few hectares of poor, deciduous rainforest. The island is

subject to an extreme monsoonal climate and is very dry for most of the year,

with no streams or natural water bodies. Its habitat contrasts strongly with the

wet lowland rainforest where E. calcarata occurs in New Guinea. The island

was used as a safe anchorage from the 1860s and became the official

government administration centre for the whole of Torres Strait from 1877,

with 200 pearling ships based there from 1883 into the early 1900s. It has

been continuously occupied since then and today has a population of more

than 2000, serviced by regular shipping and several flights per day.

Thursday Island has been the marshalling centre for numerous scientific

expeditions over the years. The German biologist Richard Semon spent

several weeks on Thursday Island in 1892 (Semon 1899). The Haddon

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 191

Expedition from Cambridge University worked in Torres Strait for 7 months

in 1898. A notable insect collector, H.G. Elgner, visited the island many

times from 1906 to 1911 and supplied thousands of specimens to Australian

collectors and museums (Waterhouse and Lyell 1914, Moulds 1977). The

Australian Museum biologists Cogger and Cameron worked there for weeks

in the 1970s. One of the authors (GBM) has collected in the rainforest on

Thursday Island on three occasions. In recent years the island has been the

base for dozens of butterfly collectors monitoring New Guinea species in

Torres Strait. None of these activities has revealed Eurycantha.

Thursday Island and the rest of Torres Strait have been subject to very

intensive insect monitoring in recent years because of the dire threat of

quarantine incursions of medical and agricultural pests from New Guinea.

Both federal and state agencies (AQIS, NAQS, DPI, Biosecurity, etc)

undertake regular surveys in the area and reference collections are maintained

in Cairns. On every populated island there are indigenous quarantine officers

drawn from the resident population who maintain constant watch for possible

pests such as Eurycantha. Coconut trees, a known food plant for Eurycantha,

are common on all islands and are regularly inspected; however, Eurycantha

has never been located on Thursday Island or elsewhere in the Torres Strait.

Even if it were there, it could not be legally transported through the

Quarantine Zones to mainland Australia without appropriate permits.

Endeavour River

The Endeavour River is a tiny stream only 35 km long. At its mouth is the

busy town of Cooktown, founded in 1873 during a gold rush, once with

10,000 inhabitants, now with 1500. At its head, 25 km away, is the town of

Hopevale, population 750. A busy road joins the two and a highway links

Cooktown with Cairns; it is a shipping port and is serviced by several flights

per day. More than 1000 people live in the Endeavour valley outside the

towns, mostly along the stream where land has been divided into acreage

blocks. The mouth of the Endeavour is a large mangrove estuary, inundated

by marine tides and hostile for Eurycantha. The upper valley of the

Endeavour River is largely grassy eucalypt forest with much heath on sand

and sandstone substrates. Some strips of littoral rainforest, the only possible

Eurycantha habitat, border the river in favourable places and these are places

where most potential observers reside. The climate is strongly monsoonal

with a pronounced 8-month dry season. The region does not have the

orographic rain systems which bring round-the-year rain to the closely

adjacent and well-studied Wet Tropics zone (Stork and Turton 2008), south

of Cooktown, which does have habitats and climate amenable to Eurycantha

but where the species demonstrably does not occur.

The Cooktown area is famous for nature-based activities and there is a high

degree of local interest in natural history. There is a local natural history

museum. Tour guides lead visitors on eco-tourism activities. Several local

192 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

families are famous for their knowledge, through several generations, of local

fauna and regularly send specimens to the Queensland Museum. A local

bushwalking club has natural history as a strong theme. For 35 years, the

legendary naturalist Charles Tanner operated a fauna park beside rainforest

on the upper Endeavour River and scoured the district. His property is now

the residence of an experienced field biologist who frequently hosts other

biologists who study the area. No one has ever reported Eurycantha.

The Cooktown/Endeavour River area is one of the best collected areas of

Australia. The earliest intensive collecting in Australia occurred there when

James Cook repaired his ship Endeavour there for seven weeks in 1770 and

his naturalists searched the surroundings. They collected hundreds of species

of insects, still preserved in London’s Natural History Museum (Musgrave

1954-55). In 1982-83, CSIRO Entomology conducted several major

expeditions in the Endeavour River valley to try to recollect the insects taken

on Cook’s visit. There have been scores of other scientific expeditions to the

area over the years, collecting animals and plants for museums. Eric

Mjöberg, from the Swedish Museum, spent weeks there around 1910

collecting thousands of insect specimens (Mjöberg 1916). He worked closely

with aboriginals who brought him interesting specimens. If a spectacular

insect such as Eurycantha occurred there it would have been known to the

aborigines. An expedition from Harvard University visited in 1932 and again

in 1958 (Darlington 1961), concentrating particularly on ground insects that

live in the same habitat that Eurycantha would likely occupy. The massive

American Archbold Expedition, supported by staff from the Queensland

Museum, spent weeks there in 1948 (Brass 1953). In more modern times, the

Queensland Museum and the Australian Museum ran a series of joint

expeditions to the area in the 1970s, under the first round of ABRS funding

(Queensland Museum 1977). From the 1970s to the end of the 1990s, one of

the authors (GBM) led numerous visits by teams of entomologists to the

Cooktown area and the adjacent rainforested Bloomfield and Tribulation

coastlines, as well as surveying all the rainforest tracts of Cape York

Peninsula. These visits made extensive use of headlight searching at night,

the best technique for finding Eurycantha. The area has also been the target

of intense collecting by frog and reptile specialists from the Queensland

Museum, the University of Queensland and James Cook University during

the 1990s as part of the program of the CRC for Tropical Rainforest Ecology

and Management. Herpetologists target exactly the habitats and resting

situations favoured by Eurycantha. Untold numbers of individual biologists

have also visited the Cooktown area over the years, each pursuing their own

interest. No Eurycantha has been detected during any of this collecting.

Eurycantha species are known to favour palms as foodplants. The Cooktown

area has the richest palm flora in Australia, with 18 well studied species

(Covacevich and Covacevich 1980), but no Eurycantha has been reported

from the area.

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 193

Discussion

The foregoing collation of information has attempted to assess the likelihood

that Eurycantha phasmids occur naturally on either Cape York Peninsula or

the islands of Torres Strait. The following points have been made:

1. Thursday Island and Cooktown (Endeavour River) were Australian ports of call for

exploratory vessels visiting New Guinea in the late 1800s. Goods trans-shipped were

often attributed to the port of trans-shipment rather than the place of origin.

2. The purported ‘Thursday Island’ specimens of E. calcarata in the NHM, London

have no date or collector provenance and were presented by a commercial taxidermy

firm known to be dealing in New Guinea items via Thursday Island.

3. The purported ‘Endeavour River’ specimens of E. calcarata in the Vienna Museum

have no date or collector provenance and passed through the hands of an insect dealer

in Berlin who is known to have used the ‘Endeavour River’ label for specimens from

other parts of the world.

4. Both Thursday Island and the Endeavour River are accessible, heavily populated

areas which have been intensively collected over the 130 years since the purported

original collections of E. calcarata, but the species has not been recollected.

5. E. calcarata does not naturally occur in highly localised, cryptic populations but is

gregarious and conspicuous, easily located using headlights that are standard tools of

modern survey biologists.

6. In New Guinea, Eurycantha phasmids occur in wet, lowland rainforests and

plantations with rain at most times of the year. Thursday Island and Endeavour River

are localities with long, stringent dry seasons and little rainforest and are not

amenable to Eurycantha.

7. Normal biogeographic patterns for the occurrence of New Guinea rainforest

elements in Cape York Peninsula is that they occur primarily in the rich lowlands of

Iron Range and to a lesser extent elsewhere. The purported distribution of Eurycantha

at the 600 km-separated, dry sites of Thursday Island and Endeavour River, but not at

Iron Range, runs counter to this pattern.

8. E. calcarata occurs in the Bismarck Archipelago, to the east of New Guinea, with

no unequivocal records from the mainland where other species of the genus occur. If a

species of Eurycantha did occur in north Queensland it would be expected to be one

of the species from the adjacent NG mainland, not E. calcarata.

9. E. calcarata has exhibited pest behaviour in several parts of Papua New Guinea,

particularly on palms. If the species does occur in Australia then it is anomalous that it

has not shown pest behaviour, especially in areas of high palm diversity such as

Cooktown.

Conclusion

We conclude that E. calcarata is not native to Australia and should be

deleted from catalogues and faunal lists for the continent until such time as

properly documented occurrence is demonstrated. A corollary to this is that

cultures of the species being maintained in Australia for the pet trade should

be regarded as illegal imports of pest potential and be terminated accordingly.

194 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

Acknowledgements

Many people gave information, advice and help. Bill Crowe advised on

quarantine regulations. Susie Davies and Michael Quinnell gave details of the

1800s ethnographic trade in Torres Strait. Pat Morris gave advice on the

trading activities of Gerrard & Sons. Deane Woruba and Sharon Agavua

examined specimens for us in the PNG National Insect Collection with

permission of Dr Amanda Mararuai. Ken Walker provided photos from the

PaDIL website. George Beccaloni gave information from the NHM registers

and Judith Marshall helped locate specimens. Paul Brock read the MS and

gave permission to use his photographs of museum specimens. Federica

Turco helped with the illustration layouts.

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Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4): 197-200 197

EPINETTYRA SETOSA PERMKAM & HANCOCK, AN

AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVE OF TRIBE PHASCINI

(DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE: PHYTALMIINAE)

DAVID L. HANCOCK

8/3 McPherson Close, Edge Hill, Cairns, Qld 4870

Abstract

Epinettyra setosa Permkam & Hancock, described from northern Queensland as an aberrant

species of tribe Trypetini in subfamily Trypetinae, is transferred to tribe Phascini in subfamily

Phytalmiinae. It is the only known Australian representative of an otherwise New Guinea tribe

that also includes Gressittidium Hardy.

Introduction

When Epinettyra setosa Permkam & Hancock (Figs 1-2) was described from

northern Queensland, it was placed in an isolated position within the tribe

Trypetini in the large and then poorly defined subfamily Trypetinae

(Permkam and Hancock 1995). Subsequently, Korneyev (1999) divided the

Trypetinae as then recognised into two distinct subfamilies, Phytalmiinae and

Trypetinae. Han (1999) discussed the tribe Trypetini in greater detail and

suggested that Epinettyra Permkam & Hancock appeared closer to tribe

Acanthonevrini (in subfamily Phytalmiinae) than to true trypetines.

Korneyev (1994) proposed the subfamily Phascinae, later regarded as a tribe

Phascini within the Phytalmiinae (Korneyev 1999), to include the following

New Guinea genera: Diarrhegmoides Malloch, Othniocera Hardy,

Paraphasca Hardy, Phasca Hering and Xenosophira Hardy. Hancock and

Drew (2003) added Stigmatomyia Hardy to the tribe and Hancock (2011) also

included the putative Sumatran species Paraphasca biangulata (de Meijere).

Distinguishing features of the tribe include the wing pattern, bare

spermathecae with a nipple-like apex and, except in Paraphasca, a dorso-

ventrally compressed and distally tapered aculeus of the ‘piercing’ type

(Korneyev 1999). To these may be added the shape of the wing veins,

particularly the often strongly curved apical portion of vein M.

A re-examination of the characters of Epinettyra suggests that Han’s (1999)

assessment of a phytalmiine relationship was largely correct and that it

properly belongs in tribe Phascini. Comparative descriptions and illustrations

may be found in Hardy (1980, 1986) and Permkam and Hancock (1995).

Discussion

The following characters of Epinettyra are shared with at least some (and in

some cases all) other genera of Phascini: large, conspicuous labellum;

enlarged third antennal segment; arista short-plumose (not bare as originally

described); fine pubescence on frons; only 1 pair of frontal setae, as in

Stigmatomyia arcuata Hardy and some specimens of Othniocera aberrans

Hardy; weak ocellar setae; face almost vertical with protruding epistome;

intrapostalar setae absent, as in Diarrhegmoides hastatum Malloch and

198 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

Gressittidium flavicoxa Hardy; only 2 pairs of scutellar setae, as in

Xenosophira; wing veins R23, R4+s and M undulate and R4+5 setulose; R-M

crossvein near middle of cell dm and below stigma, as in Stigmatomyia and

Gressittidium Hardy; oblique dark band across apical part of vein M; stigma

very dark; leg setation (especially of the fore femur and hind tibia) as

described for Xenosophira by Hardy (1980) and illustrated for Phasca

trifasciata Hardy by Hancock and Drew (2003); surstyli elongate; aculeus

dorso-ventrally compressed and apically acute with no or only microscopic

subapical setulae; three mushroom-shaped spermathecae with slender necks

and a tapering apical protuberance, very similar to those of Paraphasca.

Distinguishing generic characters include: 1 pair of orbital setae rather than 2

pairs; scutum, scutellum and abdomen densely setulose; no distinct costal

spine above apex of vein Sc; cell bcu extension short and broad; dark,

inverted V-shaped band of wing reduced to a single oblique band across vein

M, the band across DM-Cu crossvein reduced to a very faint infuscation most

evident across apex of vein Cu;; there is also a very pale tint to almost all of

cell dm. The absence of the costal spine might also occur in Paraphasca

biangulata (de Meijere) (see Hancock 2011) and it is reduced in

Gressittidium, which on balance of characters (including wing shape, pattern

and venation, scutal pattern, leg setation and labellum) is also referable to

tribe Phascini. The mesonotum is also densely setulose in Gressittidium (see

Hardy 1986).

The above characters of Epinettyra, particularly the large labellum, curvature

of the wing veins, enlarged third antennal segment, apically protuberant

spermathecae and piercing aculeus, indicate a closer relationship with tribe

Phascini than any other group of Tephritidae. The curvature of vein M is

weakest in Phasca and distinct in the remaining genera.

Although the inverted V-shaped wing band, regarded as a possible

synapomorphy of tribe Phascini by Korneyev (1999), is reduced to a simple,

almost straight band across vein M with only a trace of the band across the

DM-Cu crossvein in Epinettyra, the presence of at least this band in all

known species of Phascini, plus the large labellum and curved wing veins,

appear to be diagnostic characters of the tribe and separate it from all other

tribes currently included in subfamily Phytalmiinae. The shape and

orientation of the wing band is similar to that of Stigmatoyia arcuata and

Xenosophira vibrissata Hardy, differing in being united with the costal band.

The pale scutum, lacking the 3 longitudinal yellow vittae against a black

background typical of most genera, is similar to that seen in Paraphasca and

some Othniocera species, while the position of the R-M crossvein, setose

mesonotum and lack of a distinct costal seta above the apex of vein Sc

suggest a relationship with Gressittidium. Accordingly, Epinettyra setosa

(known from Atherton and Iron Range) is here transferred to the Phascini as

the only known Australian representative. Nothing is known of its biology.

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 199

Figs 1-2. Epinettyra setosa, holotype male: (1) dorsal view; (2) lateral view.

Photographs by Federica Turco (Queensland Museum, Brisbane).

200 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

Acknowledgement

I thank Federica Turco (Queensland Museum, Brisbane) for the photographs.

References

HAN, H.-Y. 1999. Phylogeny and behavior of flies in the tribe Trypetini (Trypetinae). Pp 253-

297, in: Aluja, M. and Norrbom, A.L. (eds), Fruit flies (Tephritidae): ORY and evolution of

behavior. CRC Press, Boca Raton; xviii + 944 pp.

HANCOCK, D.L. 2011. A note on the identity of Colobostrella biangulata de Meijere (Diptera:

Tephritidae: Phytalmiinae). Australian Entomologist 38(2): 89-90.

HANCOCK, D.L. and DREW, R.A.I. 2003. New species and records of Phytalmiinae (Diptera:

Tephritidae) from Australia and the south Pacific. Australian Entomologist 30(2): 65-78.

HARDY, D.E. 1980. The Sophira group of fruit fly genera (Diptera: Tephritidae:

Acanthonevrini). Pacific Insects 22: 123-161.

HARDY, D.E. 1986. Fruit flies of the subtribe Acanthonevrina of Indonesia, New Guinea, and

the Bismarck and Solomon Islands (Diptera: Tephritidae: Trypetinae: Acanthonevrini). Pacific

Insects Monograph 42: 1-191.

KORNEYEV, V.A. 1994. Reclassification of Palaearctic Tephritidae (Diptera). Communication

2. Vestnik zoologii 27(1): 3-17. [in Russian].

KORNEYEV, V.A. 1999. Phylogenetic relationships among higher groups of Tephritidae. Pp

73-113, in: Aluja, M. and Norrbom, A.L. (eds), Fruit flies (Tephritidae): phylogeny and

evolution of behavior. CRC Press, Boca Raton; xviii + 944 pp.

PERMKAM, S. and HANCOCK, D.L. 1995. Australian Trypetinae (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Invertebrate Taxonomy 9: 1047-1209.

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4): 201-203 201

A NEW SPECIES OF SCAPTIA (MYIOSCAPTIA) MACKERRAS

(DIPTERA: TABANIDAE: PANGONIINAE) FROM QUEENSLAND,

AUSTRALIA

GREG DANIELS

University Insect Collection, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland,

St Lucia, Old 4072

Abstract

A new species of Scaptia Walker is described: S. (Myioscaptia) ferromontana sp. n. from Iron

Range, Cape York Peninsula, Queensland.

Introduction

Seven species of the endemic genus Scaptia (Myioscaptia) Mackerras were

recorded from Australia by Mackerras (1960), with an additional species, S.

(M.) inopinata being described by Fairchild and Mackerras (1977). The

subgenus has a distribution along coastal eastern Australia from

Cairns/Kuranda in northern Queensland south to Jarvis Bay in southern New

South Wales (Mackerras 1960: fig. 21). One species is known from

southwestern Western Australia. The new species runs to couplet 2 in

Mackerras’ 1960 key but differs in having a non-metallic scutum and

abdominal sternites. The new species significantly increases the known

distribution of the subgenus approximately 600 km northwards.

Scaptia (Myioscaptia) ferromontana sp. n.

(Figs 1-6)

Types. Holotype 9, AUSTRALIA (QUEENSLAND): ‘Eclectus’, Iron Range, 12°44’S

143°15’E, 28.xii.1995, G. and A. Daniels (Australian Museum). Paratype 9, same

data (Australian Museum).

Diagnosis. A small, Hemipyrellia-like species, with a mostly black abdomen

with blue reflections, black thorax with a pair of grey dorsocentral vittae,

with flat, yellow-brown palpus, femora mostly black, tibiae and tarsi whitish;

vein Ry without appendix; cell rs narrowed but not closed. Length 9.5-10.4

mm.

Description. Female (Figs 1-6). Head: Eyes uniformly brown-black in life;

with brownish black ommatrichia. Frons and ocellar tubercle covered with

ashy tomentum, through which the blackish, indistinct callus is visible, and

with black setae; lower part slightly protuberant. Subcallus greyish fawn,

paler around antennae; parafacial with brown and grey reflections and

inconspicuous brown setae; face dark brown, with thin greyish tomentum and

black setae. Antenna: Scape pale greyish yellow, pedicel more yellowish,

setae on both black; flagellum yellowish brown. Palpus with Ist segment

brownish yellow and black setae; 2nd broad, flat, leaf-like, brownish yellow,

with inconspicuous marginal black setae. Beard mostly black.

202 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

Figs 1-6. Scaptia (Myioscaptia) ferromontana sp. n. female. (1) antenna; (2) palpus;

(3) head, anterior view; (4) head, lateral view; (5) dorsal view; (6) wing.

Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4) 203

Thorax: Scutum black becoming orange laterally, with sparse grey tomentum

and a pair of grey dorsocentral vittae; scutellum black but with an indication

of orange; setae on disc black, golden-orange along lateral margin;

notopleural setae golden-orange with a few black elements dorsally; supra-

and postalar tufts mostly orange-yellow; marginal scutellar setae mostly

golden-orange. Pleura brownish orange, darkening ventrally; pleural setae

golden-orange, except on the katepisternum, which has black setae.

Legs: Femora brownish-black, pale yellowish apically, black setose; tibiae

and tarsi entirely pale yellow, yellow setose.

Wing: Hyaline; stigma dark brown; veins orange-brown; vein R4 without

appendix; cell R5 narrowed at wing margin.

Abdomen: First tergite orange with orange setae, second tergite orange

anteriorly becoming black posteriorly, setae on disc black, becoming orange

laterally, third tergite narrowly orange anteriorly becoming black with blue

reflections posteriorly, mostly black setose, remaining tergites black with

blue reflections with black setae. First sternite orange, second tergite orange

anteriorly becoming black with blue reflections posteriorly, third tergite

narrowly orange anteriorly becoming black with blue reflections posteriorly,

remaining tergites blue-black, with black setae.

Comments. The closest location for another species of Scaptia (Myioscaptia)

is at Kuranda, some 600 km south of Iron Range, where S. (M.) violacea

(Macquart) and S. (M.) inopinatus Fairchild & Mackerras occur. Scaptia

(Myioscaptia) ferromontana can immediately be distinguished from both

species in lacking the shining blue-green/violet reflections on the thorax and

abdomen. Extensive collecting (light trapping, hand netting and malaise

traps) at Iron Range by the author over many years yielded only two

specimens of this species. Both were attempting to bite about the ankles.

References

FAIRCHILD, G.B. and MACKERRAS, I.M. 1977. A new species of Scaptia (Myioscaptia)

from northern Queensland (Diptera: Tabanidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of

Washington 79: 53-56.

MACKERRAS, I.M. 1960. The Tabanidae (Diptera) of Australia III. Subfamily Pangoniinae,

tribe Scionini and supplement to Pangoniini. Australian Journal of Zoology 8: 1-152.

204 Australian Entomologist, 2011, 38 (4)

BOOK REVIEW

A field guide to the butterflies of Singapore by Khew Sin Khoon. Ink on

Paper Communications Ltd, 2010; xxv + 342 pp. Price (in Australia) $50.

ISBN 978 981 08 7018 8 (paperback).

The city state of Singapore is home to nearly 300 species of butterfly. Perhaps this

richness should come as no surprise for a place which styles itself as the ‘Garden

City’ and which lies just off the tip of the Malay Peninsula, itself boasting nearly 1000

species; nonetheless it is an impressive total given Singapore’s small area of just 900

km? and largely urban environment.

This charming book is the first ever to depict almost all species currently known from

Singapore. A glossy production in standard octavo field-guide format, it begins with a

concise but adequate introduction to the butterflies, covering the topics of

nomenclature, adult morphology, early stages, ecology and behaviour, where to find

butterflies in Singapore (together with a map of local hotspots) and the techniques of

butterfly watching and photography. A lot of information is packed into a very few

pages. A section on how to use the book explains clearly the conventions adopted

with regard to describing abundance, habitat, speed of flight and other information.

There follows a family by family, subfamily by subfamily, species by species account.

Typically, each species receives a single page, with two pages for the highly

polymorphic Papilio memnon agenor (Linnaeus, 1758). Half the page is devoted to a

large scale portrait of the species, typically perching or feeding, occasionally in flight.

Virtually every one of these main photos is stunning. In many cases, particularly in

the smaller species, individual rows of scales may be discerned, a level of resolution

that was almost unobtainable using film. The main image is supplemented by two

thumbnail photos, generally showing a different posture and frequently the opposite

side of the wings to those depicted in the main portrait. Each species is identified

primarily by an English common name. Many of these have been in use for years but

a few are of more recent coinage. However, all are evocative and appealing and give

the impression that they have established their worth by natural selection within the

very active Singapore butterfly interest group. Australian readers may be surprised to

find that Graphium agamemnon (Linnaeus, 1758) is known as ‘The Tailed Jay’ and

‘The Palm Dart’ is not Cephrenes augiades (C. Felder, 1860) but Telicota augias

(Linnaeus, 1763). In finer print is given the full trinomial designation with author and

date, its abundance class, ranging from common to very rare, and its wingspan in mm.

(Here forewing length would have been a more useful measure, especially as most

species are photographed with wings folded). Habitat is indicated by one of four

icons: Urban, Parks and Gardens, Forests, Mangroves/Coastal. Speed of flight is

shown on a five point scale from slow to fast. Larval hostplants are listed in another

small box (with family names sometimes wrongly italicised). A brief text describes

habits, habitats and salient identification features. The formula is extremely easy to

use and much information can be obtained for little effort. For ease of reference the

six families have a colour code visible along the fore edge of the book when closed.

The book is very definitely aimed at the butterfly watcher and photographer, rather

than the collector. Not a single photograph of a dead butterfly appears within its

pages. It will, however, surely become indispensable to every local enthusiast and

interested visitor to the island state and be useful elsewhere in the region.

Albert Orr

THE

AUSTRALIAN

ENTOMOLOGIST

VOLUME 38

2011

Published by:

THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF QUEENSLAND

THE AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGIST

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

annually by the Entomological Society of Queensland. The journal 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 is not included with membership of the Society.

The Editorial Panel

Editor: Dr D.L.Hancock

Assistant Editors: Dr C.J. Burwell

Queensland Museum

Dr F. Turco

Queensland Museum

Editorial Co-ordinator Dr F. Turco

Business Manager: Dr G.B.Monteith

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ISSN 1320-6133

Printed for The Entomological Society of Queensland

by ABC Printing, Brisbane

THE AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGIST

Contents: Volume 38, 2011

BAEHR, M.

New species of the genera Melisodera Westwood, Rhaebolestes

Sloane and Moriodema Castelnau from Australia (Coleoptera:

Carabidae: Psydrini)

BASHFORD, R. and RAMSDEN, N.

The effect of a new pitfall trap design on the capture abundance

of three arthropod taxa

BRABY, M.F.

Observations on site fidelity in the Imperial hairstreak, Jalmenus

evagoras (Donovan, 1805) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), at

Toorourong Reservoir, Victoria

BRABY, M.F., DOUGLAS, F. and WILLAN, R.C.

The nomenclature of Ogyris halmaturia (Tepper, 1890)

(Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

BROWN, S.S., MEYER, C.E., KNIGHT, A.I. and BROWN, A.L.

A mosaic gynandromorph of Cressida cressida cressida (Fabricius,

1775) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) from Torres Strait, Queensland

BROWN, S.S., WEIR, R.P., MEYER, C.E. and SAMSON, P.R.

First record of Jamides aleuas pholes Fruhstorfer, 1915 (Lepidoptera:

Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae) from northern Cape York Peninsula,

Australia, with notes on its life history

BURWELL, C.J., MCDOUGALL, A., NAKAMURA, A. and

LAMBKIN, C.L.

New butterfly, hawkmoth (Lepidoptera) and dragonfly (Odonata)

records from vegetated coral cays in the southern Great Barrier

Reef, Queensland

DANIELS, G.

A new species of Scaptia (Myioscaptia) Mackerras (Diptera:

Tabanidae: Pangoniinae) from Queensland, Australia

DEWHURST, C.F. and TENNENT, W.J.

New records of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae, Nymphalidae)

feeding on oil palm (Arecaceae) in West New Britain, Papua New

Guinea

GRUND, R.

A new species of Synemon Doubleday (Lepidoptera: Castniidae)

from the Colona Plains, South Australia

HANCOCK, D.L.

A note on the identity of Colobostrella biangulata de Meijere

iii

129

161

201

155

167

(Diptera: Tephritidae: Phytalmiinae)

HANCOCK, D.L.

An annotated key to the species of Acanthonevra Macquart

and allied genera (Diptera: Tephritidae: Acanthonevrini)

Epinettyra setosa Permkam & Hancock, an Australian

representative of tribe Phascini (Diptera: Tephritidae: Phytalmiinae)

HOPKINSON, M.

New distribution records for several butterfly species, including

Deudorix democles (Miskin) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), from

western Cape York Peninsula

KALLIES, A. and MOLLET, B.

A new species of forester moth from Victoria (Lepidoptera:

Zygaenidae: Procridinae)

MONTEITH, G.B.

Maternal care, food plants and distribution of Australian

Oncomerinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Tessaratomidae)

MONTEITH, G.B. and DEWHURST, C.F.

Does the phasmid Eurycantha calcarata Lucas, 1869 (Phasmida:

Phasmatidae) occur in Australia?

MOULDS, M.S. and OWEN, C.L.

Pauropsalta walkeri, a new species of cicada (Homoptera:

Cicadidae: Cicadinae) from northern Australia

ORR, A. and FLIEDNER, H.

Notes on the correct spelling of species-group names of

Australian butterflies (Lepidoptera)

THEISCHINGER, G., MILLER, J., TANG, C., KROGH, M. and

POPE, E.

The benefits of using both adult and larval stoneflies (Plecoptera) in

environmental surveys: an example from New South Wales with a

summary of the Australian stonefly fauna

WEIR, R.P., MEYER, C.E. and BROWN, S.S.

Notes on the biology of Ogyris zosine (Hewitson, 1853) (Lepidoptera:

Lycaenidae: Theclinae), including the first record of the purple

female form from the Northern Territory, Australia

BOOK REVIEW

RECENT LITERATURE

Publication dates: Part 1 (pp 1-48) 25 March 2011

Part 2 (pp 49-96) 14 June 2011

Part 3 (pp 97-144) 5 September 2011

Part 4 (pp 145-204) 28 November 2011

109

197

179

145

101

204

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 be submitted as either 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. High resolution TIFFs or JPEGs (300 dpi at print size) must

be provided at the time of acceptance of the manuscript. Digital manuscripts

may be sent via email to federica.turco@qm.qld.gov.au Hardcopy

manuscripts and digital manuscripts on disc should be sent to:

The Editorial Co-ordinator

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 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 not normally be accepted.

Publication costs are $25 per page. This covers unlimited use of colour

which is encouraged. 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.

Further information for authors is given on the ESQ website at

http://www.esq.org.au/Authors%20guide%201.html

Printed by ABC Printing, 31 Depot Street, Banyo, 4014.

THE AUSTRALIAN

Entomologist

Volume 38, Part 4, 28 November 2011

Co NT ENTS

BRABY, M. F.

Observations on site fidelity in the Imperial Hairstreak,

Jalmenus evagoras (Donovan, 1805) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae),

at Toorourong Reservoir, Victoria

DANIELS, G.

A new species of Scaptia (Myioscaptia) Mackerras

(Diptera: Tabanidae: Pangoniinae) from Queensland, Australia

DEWHURST, C. F. and. TENNENT, W. J.

New records of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae,

Nymphalidae) feeding on oil palm (Arecaceae) in West New Britain,

Papua New Guinea

GRUND, R.

A new species of Synemon Doubleday (Lepidoptera: Castniidae)

from the Colona Plains, South Australia

HANCOCK, D. L.

Epinettyra setosa Permkan & Hancock, an Australian representative

of Tribe Phascini (Diptera: Tephritidae: Phytalmiinae)

MONTEITH, G.B. and DEWHURST, C.F.

Does the phasmid Eurycantha calcarata Lucas, 1869

(Phasmida: Phasmatidae) occur in Australia?

MOULDS, M.S. and OWEN, C.L.

Pauropsalta walkeri, a new species of cicada

(Homoptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae) from northern Australia

BOOK REVIEW

A field guide to the butterflies of Singapore, Khew Sin Khoon.

VOLUME 38 CONTENTS

ISSN 1320 6133