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INSECTS OF RED MERCURY ISLAND

by J.M. Johannesson*

SUMMARY

The following were identified from a collection made at Red Mercury Island in August, 1971. Sixty one species have been identified and a further thirteen have been placed in genera. In addition to these, numerous insects remain unidentified, particularly those belonging to the order Diptera. The collection has been deposited with the Entomology Division of the D.S.I.R.

SPECIES LIST

Order Archaeognatha Nesomachilus sp. near maoricus (Tillyard) Specimens found in leaf litter.

Order Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Odontria xanthosticta (White) Three adult females, caught at night in a light trap, after heavy rain. Cerambycidae Xylotoles griseus (I abr.) Specimen in leaf litter under a pohutukawa () tree. Xylotoles parvulus (White) Two specimens on flax (Phormium tenax) leaves at night. Xylotoles sp. Probably a geographical variant of sandageri (Broun) Two specimens in rolled flax leaves. Hybolasius sp. near crista (Fabr.) Specimen in leaf litter under a flax bush. Microlamia pygmaea (Bates) Specimen in leaf litter under a pohutukawa tree. Elmidae Larvae in streams. Helodidae Adults in streams. Carabidae Ctenognathus novaezelandiae (Fairmaire) Three specimens in leaf litter under stones beneath a pohutukawa tree, at the top of the beach at Rolypoly Bay. Staphylinidae Cafius quadriimpressus (White) Specimen on the ground among whitey-wood (Melicytus ramiflorus), at Roly- poly Bay. Aleocharinae Specimen under dead log.

'Department of Zoology, University of Auckland. 82

Elateridae ? Ctenicera sp. Larvae only, dug out of seaward cliff at south end of Rolypoly Ray. Cicindelidae Neocicindela sp. Two larvae dug out of seaward cliff at south end of Rolypoly Bay. Scraptiidae Nothotelus sp. Two specimens on flax leaves. Alleculidae Omedes sp. Larvae dug out of cliff at north end of Rolypoly Bay. Melyridae Halyles nigrescens (Broun) Specimen in leaf litter under flax bush. Apionidae Neocyba metrosideros (Broun) Specimens in leaf litter. Curculionidae Praolepra infusca (Broun) Specimens on leaves of sp. Sericotrogus subaenescens (Wollaston) Specimen in leaf litter. Irenimus compressus (Broun) Specimen on the ground among whitey-wood trees at Rolypoly Bay. Acalles intutus (Pascoe) Two specimens in leaf litter under a flax bush.

Order Hemiptera Near Ugyops (Paracona) pelorus (lennah) Specimen on leaves of Coprosma sp. Pentatomidae Cermatulus nasalis Specimen found on leaves of Coprosma sp. Miridae Specimen on leaves of Geniostema ligustrifolium. Gerridae Microvelia sp. Specimens found in streams. Cicadellidae Nymphs on leaves of Geniostema ligustrifolium. Fulgoridae Nymphs under stone among flax bushes, at the top of the beach at Rolypoly Bay. Cicadidae Amphisalta sp. Exuviae only; in leaf litter. Kikihia sp. Exuviae only; in leaf litter. 83

Order Phasmida hookeri (White) A penultimate male; on the bark of a pohutukawa tree.

Order Orthoptera Henicidae Hemiandrus similis (Ander) An adult female; under the bark of a pohutukawa tree. Rhaphidophoridae Neonetus sp. Male and female adults and nymphs; under the bark of pohutukawa trees and in dry leaf litter.

Order Dermaptera Labiduridae Anisolabis littorea (White) Specimens in cracks of cliffs by the sea, and under stones at the top of beach (above high tide level) at Rolypoly Bay.

Order Dictyoptera Blattidae Celatoblatta undulivitta (Walker) An adult female; under the bark of a pohutukawa tree.

Order Psocoptera Philotarsidae Haplophallus maculatus (Tillyard) Specimen from manuka ().

Order Odonata Zygoptera Xanthocnemis zelandica (Selys) An adult specimen; found dying by a stream at Lunch Bay. Nymphs were found in streams.

Order Collembola Possibly Entomobryidae Specimen in leaf litter. Tomoceridae ? Lepidophorella sp. Specimen in leaf litter.

Order Hymenoptera Formicidae Chelaner antarctica (formerly Monomorium) A nest was found under a stone, among flax bushes at the top of the beach. Braconidae A pan teles sp. (probably ruficrus) An internal, gregarious parasite of lepidopterous caterpillars. An adult male; caught at night with a light trap. S4

Ichneumonidae Netelia ephippiata A parasite on caterpillars. Specimen caught at night with a light trap. Bombidae Bombus terrestris (Lin.) Specimens caught flying over manuka. Vespidae Vespula germanica (I'ered.) Specimens caught flying along the beaches.

Order Diptera Coelopidae Chaetocoetopa littoralis (Button) Specimens caught at night with a light trap. Anisopodidae Anisopus neozelandicus (Schiner) Specimens caught at night with a light trap. Limoniidae ? Limonia (Idioglochinia) sp. Specimens caught at night with a light trap. Sapromyzidae Sapromyza neozelandica (Tonnor and Malloch) Specimens caught flying through bush during the day, and at night with a light trap. Poecilohetaerella antennata (Harrison) Specimen caught in light trap. Culicidae Opifex fuscus Larvae and pupae in pools high up on beach, adults flying around beach at night. Trypetidae Tephritis sp. nr. thoracica (Malloch) Specimen caught in light trap. Calliphoridae Calliphora quadrimaculata Specimens caught in light trap. Calliphora laemica Specimens caught in light trap.

Specimens from the following families were also obtained: Muscidae - adults; and larvae in streams. Mycetophilidae - adults.

? Ceratopogonidae - adults. Tipulidae - adults. Limoniidae - adults. Stratiomyidae - larvae in streams. Dixidae - larvae in streams. H5

Chironomidae - larvae in streams. Heleidae larvae in streams. Psychodidae - larvae in streams.

Order Lepidoptera

All the specimens collected, except one, were adults, caught in a light trap at night, or caught Hying through the bush during the day. Geometridae Gelonia dejectaria (Walk) Larva feeds on most non-coniferous shrubs and large-leaved trees. Austrocidaria similata (Walk) Larva feeds on Coprosma spp. Selidosema suavis (Butl.) Larva feeds on all forest trees and shrubs. Helastia venipuncta Larva feeds on low herbs, often semi-succulent. Helastia lucidata (Walk) Larva feeds on low herbs. Epicyme rubropunctaria (Dbld.) Larva feeds on Haloragis spp. Poecilastnena pulchraria (Dbld.) Larva feeds on manuka and Cyathodes spp. Helastia rosearia (Dbld) Larva feeds on herbs. Helastia cineraria (Dbld.) Larva feeds on herbs. Phrissogonus testulatus (Guen.) Larva feeds on the flowers and fruit of shrubs. ' 'Eucymatoge'' gobiata (Feld) Larva feeds on Coprosma spp. Tortricidae "Batodes" jactatana (Walk) Larva feeds on dying foliage. Ctenopseustis obliquana (Walk) Larva feeds on all vegetation. "Capua" semiferana (Walk) Larva feeds on dead leaves on the ground. Tineidae Lindera tessellata Dryadaula myrrhina (Meyrick) Pyralidae Scoparia sp. nr. meliturga Larva feeds on mosses. Musotima nitidalis (Walk) Larve feeds on Histiopteris incisa; also probably feeds on other ferns of the family Pteridaceae. Lyonetiidae Opogona (Hieroxestis) omoscopa Iarva feeds on plant debris. Oechophoridae Gymnobathra flavidella (Meyr) Larva feeds on dead wood, or dead bark. Tineageriidae Stathmopoda skelloni Larve feeds on dead leaves on the ground. Psychidae Oeceticus omnivorus (I ercd.) Larve found on manuka.

Order Trichoptera Philanisidae Philanisus plebeius A marine caddis fly. Male and female adults were caught in a light trap. Polycentopodidae Polyplectropus puerilis A fresh-water caddis fly. An adult female was caught in a light trap, and larvae and pupae were found in streams. Rhyacophilidae Psilochorema mimicum Larvae and pupae in streams. Psilochorema sp. Larvae in streams Helicopsyche albescens Larvae in streams.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Dr J.C. Watt of the Entomology Division, D.S.I.R., Nelson, for the identification of the Coleoptera, and for the help he has given me in the preparation of this article. I would also like to thank Dr G.W. Ramsay, Dr G. Kuschel, Dr N.A. Martin, Dr E.W. Valentine, Dr J.S. Dugdale, and Dr A.C. Eyles, all of the Entomology Division, D.S.I.R., Nelson, for the identification of specimens. I am grateful to Mr D.R. Cowley of the Zoology Dept., University of Auckland, and to Mr K.A.J. Wise of the Auckland Institute and Museum, for the identification of Trichoptera. 1 also wish to thank Mr G. Watson for the collection and identification of fresh-water larvae and pupae.