Austral Entomology最新文献

Ambiguity over the features that differentiate two nominal species of baetid mayflies, Cloeon paradieniense Suter and C. tasmaniae Tillyard, in southeast Australia led to a detailed analysis of the morphology and meristics of specimens from Victoria, South Australia and, in particular, Tasmania, where both species have been reported. The data indicate a broad overlap in almost all features between the two taxa, suggesting they are synonymous (also supported by an analysis of CO1 sequences), but also diverse, with highly localised differences among sites, even on the scale of 10s of kilometres and within drainages, despite the broad distribution of the species, slight genetic differences between mainland and Tasmanian specimens, and evidence of significant aerial dispersal capability. We speculate that the localisation reflects gene pools at each site that are much smaller than expected due to some combination of temporally patchy recruitment within long reproductive seasons, strong founder effects in ephemeral habitats, dispersal and mortality schedules that differ with female reproductive strategies, and inbreeding due to facultative parthenogenesis. On the basis of their overlapping morphology and genetics, C. paradieniense is recognised as a junior synonym of C. tasmaniae.

Four new species of Sycorax Haliday, 1839 are described: Sycorax alumna sp. nov., Sycorax catarina sp. nov., Sycorax paranaensis sp. nov., and Sycorax striga sp. nov., with the females of Sycorax striga sp. nov. bearing characteristics that suggest haematophagous behaviour. Novel defining characters were used for the first time in a taxonomic work on the Sycoracinae. All described species were collected from parts of the Atlantic Forest in Southern Brazil, significantly expanding the distribution of the genus in South America. The morphology of the new species was compared with the known fauna of Sycoracinae, both Neotropical and from other biogeographical regions.

The genera of Miracinae, currently in something of a state of flux, are discussed with respect to their morphological and molecular attributes. Centistidea Rohwer, 1914 is treated provisionally as a valid genus, distinct from Mirax Haliday, 1833, based partly on propodeal morphology, though this is acknowledged to be an unstable character across the subfamily. Molecular data from two previous studies of Australian Miracinae are discussed. Centistidea albantennalis Liu & Polaszek, 2014 is newly recorded from Papua New Guinea. Two new species of Centistidea are described from Australia: Centistidea cellula Liu & Polaszek, sp. nov. and Centistidea paraillidops Liu & Polaszek, sp. nov. Two new species of Mirax: Mirax tasmaniensis Liu & Polaszek, sp. nov. and Mirax polita Liu & Polaszek, sp. nov. are described from Australia. Mirax arcicensis Slater-Baker & Fagan-Jeffries, 2022, M. caelicus Slater-Baker & Fagan-Jeffries, 2022 and M. supremus Slater-Baker, 2025 are transferred to Centistidea, hence the following new combinations Centistidea arcicensis (Slater-Baker & Fagan-Jeffries, 2022) comb. nov., Centistidea caelica (Slater-Baker & Fagan-Jeffries, 2022) comb. nov. and Centistidea suprema (Slater-Baker, 2025) comb. nov. A key to Mirax species of the world is provided, based mainly on published descriptions.

A new species of robber fly from New Caledonia, Promachus insolitus sp. nov., is described and illustrated. A new subgenus, Neocaledomachus subgen. nov., is also erected for the new species, which is distinguished from all other subgenera by the unique female ovipositor with enlarged cerci wedged into tergite 9 and the presence of ventro-lateral projections on tergite 9.

Biological collections are fundamental resources for biodiversity research, although they remain underutilised in many taxonomic efforts. In this study, we examine specimens deposited in the Entomological Collection of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZSP) to describe a new genus and species of cricket belonging to the tribe Neometrypini (Tafaliscinae). Annelotrypa gen. nov. and its type species, Annelotrypa xerophila sp. nov., are described based on specimens collected in the arboreal Caatinga of Bahia, Brazil. This taxon represents the first confirmed record of Neometrypini in this xerophytic biome. The new genus is diagnosed by a distinctive combination of morphological traits, including an elongated, cylindrical body; micropterous forewings that do not medially cover the meso- and metanotum; laterally flattened fore and mid femora approximately twice as thick as their corresponding tibiae; hind tibiae (TIII) with a subapical spur formula of 4/0 (inner/outer); and short, rounded cerci that do not exceed the hind femora. Detailed morphological descriptions, measurements, and illustrations of external features and genitalia for both sexes are provided. Additionally, an updated identification key to the genera of Neometrypini (excluding the taxonomically uncertain Nessa Walker, 1879) is presented. This study expands the known diversity and distribution of Neometrypini in South America and emphasises the importance of continued taxonomic work within Tafaliscinae, particularly in poorly sampled habitats such as the Caatinga.

Although there are over 400 described species of jumping plant lice and lerp insects (Psylloidea) from Australia, there remain many undescribed species, and those that feed on certain host plants are generally poorly known. Here, we examine the free-living Acizzia Heslop-Harrison, 1961 associated with hop bush, Dodonaea spp. (Sapindaceae), with the national Bush Blitz programme being the key source of specimens from arid and semi-arid locations across Southern Australia. A CO1 molecular phylogeny, a 5% divergence threshold, an Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) analysis and morphological assessment were used to delineate species' boundaries. This resulted in a well-supported consensus for the existence of nine species. Of these, one species is redescribed, A. dodonaeae (Tuthill, 1952), and eight are recognised as new: A. brevis Taylor & McClelland sp. nov., A. hexandrae Taylor & McClelland sp. nov., A. incerta Taylor & McClelland sp. nov., A. lobulatae Taylor & McClelland sp. nov., A. stenozygae Taylor & McClelland sp. nov., A. tenuis Taylor & McClelland sp. nov., A. uncino Taylor & McClelland sp. nov. and A. viscosae Taylor & McClelland sp. nov. These results are discussed in regard to future research on Acizzia systematics, its host–plant relationships and levels of host specificity.

Environmental conditions crucially influence species presence, distribution, population dynamics and phenology. Global warming and land use changes exacerbate these conditions, converting wetlands into terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems and altering biotic communities. Ground-dwelling beetles support key ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling, pest control and seed dispersal. Despite previous studies on beetle diversity under various management practices, research on the ecological niches of beetles in Argentinian wetlands is limited. This study evaluates the influence of microhabitat-scale environmental variables on ground-dwelling beetle niches in modified wetlands in the Lower Delta of the Paraná River. Wetland replacement with planted forests alters the natural hydrological regime causing environmental changes. Six habitat types, categorised by tree species, land use and stand age, were studied. Beetles were collected using pitfall traps over 2 years, while environmental variables and vegetation structure were also measured. We recorded 45 beetle species within the Carabidae and Aphodiinae (Scarabaeidae). Hydrophilic species like Meraulax alatus, Loxandrus audouini and Lomanoxoides bitubericolis were primarily found in willow plantations and mature silvopastoral areas, where soil moisture is suitable, while species with greater ecological plasticity, like Paranortes cordicollis and Pachymorphus striatulus, thrived in poplar plantations. We conclude that structural and functional changes in this modified wetland landscape, induced by water management, planted forest species and livestock presence, generate different environmental conditions that act as environmental filters, shaping the occurrence of species according to their specific habitat requirements. Understanding and characterising beetle species niches is therefore crucial in preserving the ecological function and biodiversity of this wetland landscape.

This study reports the first confirmed occurrence of the Australian bee Hylaeus (Gnathoprosopis) euxanthus (Cockerell) in Argentina. The identification is supported by collected specimens reared from trap nests and photographic records from the iNaturalist platform. Observations on nesting behaviour, pollen provisioning and associated parasitoids are presented. Pollen analysis of brood cells revealed a preference for exotic Myrtaceae species. The study also records an endoparasitoid, Coelopencyrtus hylaei Burks (Encyrtidae). These findings highlight the importance of citizen science in detecting alien bee species.

Polyphagous tropical fruit flies of the genus Bactrocera are generally assumed to undergo continuous breeding on the basis that hosts and temperature are not limiting. However, in their endemic monsoonal rainforest habitats, breeding hosts are not always available, and repeatable seasonal population depression for Bactrocera species has been documented. This has led to a recent hypothesis that some species in the genus may undergo seasonal reproductive arrest during the year. Working with outdoor-maintained mixed-sex colonies at a subtropical site, we documented changes in Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) female reproductive status and fecundity over time, with an emphasis on the period from May to August (winter), when population numbers in the field decline and then rebuild. Based on dissection, female flies emerging in mid-May did not contain mature eggs in the ovaries until mid-July, while sperm in the spermathecae was not observed until early August. Based on day degree accumulation and normal development, sexual maturation should have occurred by mid-June; that it did not provides evidence for delayed sexual development acting independently of ambient temperature. Fecundity was greatly suppressed in July compared to egg production in spring and summer, and mating was again delayed. Flies surviving from May through to September laid 70% of the egg load of new-generation spring flies emerging and had a similar egg fertility, showing large reproductive potential of ‘old’ flies. The results support a hypothesis for a seasonal break in breeding by B. tryoni that is not solely temperature related.

Biosecurity is increasingly challenged by emerging horticultural pest insects, coupled with increasing pathways for incursions. The so-called ‘Réunion’ planthopper, Euroxenus vayssieresi (Hemiptera: Issidae) appears to be a new emerging invasive horticultural pest species that is spreading across tropical regions around the world. Its true origins, pathways, hosts and impacts on plants are largely unreported. Here we report the first two detections of E. vayssieresi within the Australian region, in tropical locations over 1600 km apart, suggesting rapid long-distance human-mediated movement. Additionally, we provide the first global account of the horticultural impacts of the planthopper. We model the climatic suitability for the planthopper across the world, highlighting where this pest is most likely to establish if introduced. Silent or cryptic invasions by poorly detected, but rapidly expanding invertebrate species such as the Réunion planthopper represent ongoing challenges for biosecurity monitoring, emphasizing the importance of both sufficient surveillance to detect such cryptic pest species, and taxonomic resources capable of facilitating early detections of cryptic invasions.