Coleoptera from Great Barrier Island and Mayor Island

COLEOPTERA FROM GREAT BARRIER ISLAND AND MAYOR ISLAND

By J. C. WATT

GREAT BARRIER ISLAND FAMILY ELATERIDAE (Click beedes) During the Field Club camp of mid-November 1954, SUB-FAMILY ELATERINAE sixty-tw'o species and sub-species were collected, chiefly * Corymbites olivascens Wh. One specimen from Hebe, by 'beating' flowering shrubs over a ground sheet; bark, Mt H.; one specimen from Manuka, Pt F. rotten logs and leafmould were not examined. Collecting C. agriotoides Sh. One specimen from Hebe, Mt H. Was confined to Port Fitzroy, the western side of Mt ? C. canaliculutus Br. One specimen on ground, Pt F. Hobson, Okiwi and Whangapoua Beach. These areas Lomemus pilicornis Sh. Five specimens from Hebe, Mt H. may be divided into four main types of habitat: Betarmonoides gracilipes Sh. One specimen, as above. (1) Manuka scrubland at Port Fitzroy and Okiwi and FAMILY TENEBRIONIDAE Kanuka forest at Port Fitzroy. (2) Sandhills at Whangapoua Beach. SUB-FAMILY HELAEINAE (3) Coastal Taraire forest at the north end of Whanga• * Cilibe humeralis Bates. One specimen under rock, poua Beach. Whang.

(4) Regenerating Kauri forest on Mt Hobson. SUB-FAMILY TENEBRIONINAE * Lorelus pubescens Br. Three specimens from base of SPECIES LIST: fallen Nikau sheath, one specimen from Hebe, Mt H. Species in both lists were identified from the collections FAMILY MELANDRYIDAE of the Aucldand Museum, Plant Diseases Division, Mt Albert; or from Brown's Manual. Hylobia arboricola Br. One specimen from Hebe, Mt H. FAMILY CARABIDAE (carnivorous ground beetles) FAMILY MORDELLIDAE SUB-FAMILY HARPALINAE Mordellistena neglecta Br. Common from Manuka, Pt F. Tribe Anchomenini and Okiwi. Ctenognathus bated Br. One specimen on ground, Pt F. FAMILY CHRYSOMELIDAE (Leaf beedes) C. latipennis Sh. Five specimens on ground, Pt F. SUB-FAMILY EUMOLPINAE Tribe Licinini Eucolaspis picticornis Br. Common from Manuka, Pt F Dichrochile cordicolle Br. One specimen under log, and Okiwi. Whang. * E. sculptus Br. Four specimens from Manuka, Pt F. Tribe Trechini and Okiwi. } Hypharpax abstrusus Bates. One specimen on ground, Pt F.; one specimen beaten from flowering Manuka, ? E. montana Br. Four specimens from Manuka, Pt F. Okiwi. and Okiwi. FAMILY TROGOSITIDAE SUB-FAMILY GALERUCINAE ? Leperina wakefieldi Sh. One specimen in base of fallen Luperus Sp. Two specimens beaten from Hebe, Mt H. Nikau sheath, Whang. FAMILY CERAMBYCIDAE (Long-horn beetles) FAMILY NITIDULIDAE SUB-FAMILY LAMIINAE Xenoscelis prolixus Sh. One specimen in base of fallen Xyloteles inornatus Br. One specimen from fallen Nikau Nikau sheath, Mt H. sheath, Whang. FAMILY CUCUJIDAE ? Stenellipsis bimaculata Wh. One specimen from flower• Cryptamorpha brevicornis Wh. One specimen in base of ing Hebe, Mt H. fallen Nikau sheath, Mt H. FAMILY CURCULIONIDAE (True weevils) FAMILY HYDROPHILIDAE ('water lovers') SUB-FAMILY OTIORRHYNCHINAE Rygmodus modestus Wh. Eight specimens on flower of Platyomida binodes Wh. One specimen from Kanuka, Cordyline banksii, Mt H. Mt H. FAMILY CANTHARIDAE (MALACODERMIDAE, SUB-FAMILY EUGNOMINAE TELEPHORIDAE) Aneugnomus picipennis (Br.). One specimen from Hebe, Asilis fulvithorax Br. One specimen beaten from flower• Mt H. ing Hebe, Mt H. Aneugnomus. Nine other species and varieties, five Asilis. Three species, one specimen of each, from Hebe, common, from Hebe, Cordyline banksii and other flower• Mt H. ing shrubs, Mt H. FAMILY MELYDRIDAE (MALACHIIDAE) ? Tysius amplipennis Pasc. Three specimens from Cordy• * Dasytes Sh. Four specimens beaten from flowering line banksii, Mt H. Hebe, Mt H. ? Hoplocneme cyanea Br. Three specimens from Cordy• * Halyles nigrescens Br. One specimen as above. line and Hebe, Mt H.

58 Stephanorrhynchus attelaboides (Fab.). One specimen on (4) Rewa rewa forest, north end of crater. window, Pt F. (5) Kanuka forest, vicinity of Lake Aroarotamahine. * Pactola variabilis Pasc. One specimen from Hebe, Mt H. (6) Coastal forest and scrub at Oira and Otura Bays. Scolopterus tetracanthus Wh. Two specimens from Cordyline, Mt H. SPECIES LIST S. penicillatus Wh. Two specimens from Hebe, Mt H. ? S. pectoralis Br. One specimen from Cordyline, Mt H. FAMILY CINCINDELIDAE (Tiger beedes) Nyxetes bidens (Fab.). One specimen from Hebe, Mt H. Cincindela tuberculata Fab. One specimen, S.C.R., Ancistropterus quadrispinosus Wh. Two specimens from collected by E. N. Milligan. Cordyline, Mt H. FAMILY CARABIDAE (Carnivorous ground beedes) Amylopterus prasinus Br. One specimen from Hebe, Tribe Lebiini Mt H. Agonochila binotata Wh. One specimen from Kanuka, SUB-FAMILY APIONINAE L. Arô. Apion ulicis Forst. One specimen from Manuka, Pt F. FAMILY RHYSODIDAE SUB-FAMILY GRYPTORRHYNCHINAE Rhysodes propius Br. One specimen in rotten wood,, Tychanus gibbus Pasc. Variety. One specimen, which dead, T.O.P.; three specimens in rotten log, Oka. was almost completely denuded of scales, from Hebe, FAMILY STAPHYLINIDAE (Rove beedes) Mt H. Omalmm sp. One specimen on sandy beach, Opo. FAMILY SCARABAEIDAE Tachyusa fuscicornis Br. Four specimens in leaf mould, Nth. Crat. SUB-FAMILY DYNASTINAE (Rhinocerus beedes) Pericoptus truncatus (Fab.). Common (dead specimens), FAMILY TROGOSITIDAE Phycosecis discoidea Pasc. Common on sandy beach, Opo. Whangapoua Beach. P. atomaria Pasc. Common on sandy beach, Opo. SUB-FAMILY MELOLONTHINAE (chafers) FAMILY CUCUJIDAE Sericospilus Sp. One specimen flying in evening, Mt H. ? Silvanus unidentatus (Fab.). One specimen from dead Mr B. B. Given (Entomological Research Station) con• Rarigiora, Otura. siders that this is a new species and will publish a FAMILY EROTYLIDAE description of it in the near future. Holotype (male) Thallis pollita Wh. One specimen in leaf mould, Oira. deposited in Aucldand Museum. FAMILY CRYPTOPHAGIDAE Pyronata festiva (Fabr.). Common from flowering ? Cryptophagus rutilus Br. Four specimens from flower• Manuka, Pt F. and Okiw'i. ing Manuka, T.O.P.; one specimen from leaf mould, Chlorochiton prasinus (Broun). One specimen flying at Nth. Crat. dusk, Pt F. Cryptophagus sp. Three specimens from Manuka, L. Aro. (* = Species common to both Mayor and Great Barrier FAMILY COCCINELLIDAE (Ladybirds) lists. Pt F. = Pt Fitzroy; Mt H. — Mt Hobson; Whang. Rhizobius debilis Blanch. One specimen from Manuka, = Whangapoua.) Species not yet identified and not Oira, one from flowering Cyathodes, S.C.R. mentioned in the above list are from the following 7 Scymnus suffusus Br. Two specimens from flowering families: Staphylinidae (1 sp.), Dermestidae (1 sp.), shrub, Opo; common L. Aro. Melandryidae (1 sp.), Scarabaeidae (1 sp), Chrysomelidae FAMILY COLYDIIDAE (1 sp.), Curculionidae 1 sp.). } Recyntus exiguus Br. Common, beaten from Kanuka, L. Aro. MAYOR ISLAND FAMILY DERMESTIDAE (Bacon beedes) During the Field Club camp in mid-November, 1955, Trogoderma sp. One specimen from Manuka, S.C.R.; fifty-five species and sub-species were collected by 'beating' one specimen from Kanuka, L. Aro. and by examination of rotten wood, bark and leaf mould. Trogoderma sp. One specimen from Manuka, Opo. The underside of rocks, especially in the crater, Were also FAMILY MELYDRIDAE (MALACHIIDAE) examined, but, surprisingly, no Coleoptera were found. * Dasytes sp. Very common on flowering shrubs, Opo. Collecting was confined to the vicinity of Opo Bay, Oira * Halyles nigrescens Br. One specimen from flowering Bay, Otura Bay, south crater rim, Te Ohineiti Pa*, north Manuka, T.O.P.; one specimen from Kanuka, L. Aro. end of the crater, the vicinity of Lake Aroarotamahine, * See map on page 9. and the south end of the crater. No beedes were found FAMILY ELATERIDAE (Click beedes) SUB-FAMILY ELATERINAE in the last-named locality. The main types of habitat are: * Corymbites olivascens Wh. Three specimens from 1) Sandy beach at Opo and Oira Bays. Manuka, Opo. (2) Semi-cleared area near Opo Bay. Panspoeus guttatus Sh. One specimen from Manuka, (3) Manuka, Mingimingi and Five-finger scrub, very T.O.P. thick and stunted on ridges at Te Ohineiti Pa and Amphiplatys lawsoni Sh. Two specimens in leaf mould, south crater rim. Nth. Crat.

59 FAMILY TENEBRIONIDAE Acalles sp. One specimen collected as above. Allanalcis sp. One specimen from Manuka, Opo. SUB-FAMILY ULOMINAE Uloma tenebrionoides Wh. Two specimens in rotten log, SUB-FAMILY COSSONINAE Oira. Sericostrogus subaenescens Woll. Five specimens from Rangiora, Otura; two from Manuka, Opo; one from SUB-FAMILY HELAEINAE Kanuka, L. Aro. * Cilibe humeralis Bates. One specimen under log, Opo, Novitas nigrans Br. Two specimens from Kanuka, L. Aro. collected E. N. Milligan. 7 Phloeophagosoma rugipenne Br. One specimen from SUB-FAMILY TENEBRIONINAE dead Rangiora, Opo. * Lorelus pubescens Br. One specimen from Manuka, L. Aro. FAMILY SCARABAEIDAE SUB-FAMILY MELOLONTHINAE (Chafers) FAMILY CISTELIDAE ? Odontria sylvatica Br. Two specimens attracted to light, Tanychilus sophorae Br. One specimen on tree trunk, Opo. T.O.P.; one specimen L. Aro, collected by J. S. Edwards. * Pyronata festiva (Fab.). Very common, beaten from flowering shrubs, Opo. FAMILY ANTHICIDAE (Ant-like beedes) SUB-FAMILY APHODIINAE Anthicus obscuricornis Br. One specimen from Manuka, Saprosites communis Br. One specimen in rotten log, Oira. Oira. FAMILY CHRYSOMELIDAE (Leaf beedes) Aphodius granarius (L.). One specimen attracted to light, Opo. SUB-FAMILY EUMOLPINAE * Eucolaspis scidptus Br. Common from flowering (* Species common to both lists. Otura = Otura Bay; Cyathodes and Manuka, T.O.P.; common from Manuka, Oira = Oira Bay; Opo == Opo Bay and vicinity; Oira; two specimens from Cyathodes, S.C.R.; very S.C.R. = south crater rim; Nth. Crat. = north end common on Manuka, Opo; one specimen from Manuka, of crater; T.O.P. = Te Ohineiti Pa; L. Aro. = vicinity L. Aro. of Lake Aroarotamahine. Species unidentified and not mentioned in the above list, from the following families, FAMILY CERAMBYCIDAE (Long horn beedes) were also collected: Staphylinidae (3 spp.), Melydridae Navomorpha Uneatum (Fab.). Observed by J. S. Edwards (1 sp.), Elateridae (1 sp.), Curculionidae (1 sp.). on trunks of Pinus silvestris (?), L. Aro. All specimens are in the author's collection unless N. sulcatum (Fab.). One specimen from Rewarewa otherwise stated. flower, S.C.R. Xyloteles griscus (Fab.). One specimen on Pohutukawa trunk, Opo; two specimens from Entelea, Opo. DISCUSSION X. nanus Bates. One specimen from dead Rangiora, The purpose of this discussion is to compare the coleop• Otura. terous populations from two areas of New Zealand, a 7 X. parvulus Wh. One specimen as above. task that has not been attempted before. It is difficult Xyloteles. Two other species, two specimens of each. to make a comparison for a number of reasons. Although the habitats examined on Great Barrier were fairly FAMILY ANTHRIBIDAE (Primitive weevils) restricted, the population would be expected to bear a Anthribus sp. One specimen from Manuka, Oira. closer relationship to that of the Coromandel Peninsula than to that of Mayor Island. It is also relatively difficult FAMILY CURCULIONIDAE (True weevils) to define clear-cut types of habitat and to correlate these SUB-FAMILY OTIORRHYNCHINAE for the two islands. Catoptes obliquesignatus Bohem. One specimen from Those few species that occur in both lists are common Manuka, Oira; three specimens from flowering Cyathodes, and generally distributed. Cilibe humeralis is abundant S.C.R. on the coasts of islands in the Hauraki Gulf and is stated SUB-FAMILY EUGNOMINAE by Hudson (1934) to be 'common under stones, above * Pactola variabilis Pasc. One specimen from dead Rangi• high-water mark, on all beaches around Wellington'. ora, Otura. Lorelus pubescens is often found inTallen Nikau sheaths or can be beaten from shrubs on the mainland near SUB-FAMILY APIONINAE Aucldand. Eucolaspis sculptus is very abundant during Apton metrosideros Br. Two specimens from Manuka, the summer and appears to be generally distributed T.O.P.; one from Manuka, Oira; two from leaf mould, throughout New Zealand. Pactola variabilis and Pyronata Nth. Crat. festiva are also generally distributed. The latter species SUB-FAMILY CRYPTORRHYNCHINAE is perhaps New Zealand's commonest chafer and is often Acalles sp. Six specimens from dead Rangiora, Otura. referred to as a 'green ladybird'.

60 PHOTOGRAPH: J. C. WATT

SOME COLEOPETRA FROM GREAT BARRIER ISLAND AND MAYOR ISLAND

1. Ctenognathus batesi Broun. 7. Corymbites olivascens White. 2. Cilibe (Phumeralis Bates). 8. Ctenognathus latipennis Sharp. 3. Nyxetes biclens (Fab). 9. Uloma tenebrionoides White 4. Rhysodes proprius Broun. 10. Xyloteles griseus Fabricius. 5. Tychamis gibbus Pascoe. 11. Eucolaspis picticornis Broun. 6. Scolopterus tetracanthus White.

61 The Poor Knights Islands. View of Aorangi looking southwards from Tawhiti Rahi. Mammoth Island and Aorangaia can be seen on the skyline. PHOTOGRAPH: O. PETERSEN Further collecting would probably show that other Agonochila is common in Australia and Tasmania and species occur on both islands. For example: Cincindela was probably introduced to New Zealand at the end of tuberculata is common on sunny exposed banks, Phycosecis the nineteenth century (Britton, 1941). Ctenognathus discoidea and P. atomaria are common on sandy beaches, batesi is one of the most abundant carabs in the vicinity Uloma tenebriouoides is very common in rotten logs, and of Auckland,, while the other carabs from Great Barrier various species of Xyloteles and Acalles are common on are also generally distributed in the Auckland area. The dead and withered branches. None of the habitats where absence of weak-flying or apterous Carabidae is difficult the above species normally occur were closely examined to explain, since typical habitats were examined and on Great Barrier. Some types of habitat present on Great apterous species from other families e.g. (Cilibe numeralis) Barrier are absent on Mayor Island: Pericoptus truncatus were collected. is found only on sand hills of ocean beaches, while Several species occurring on Mayor Island are of Xenoscelis prolixus and Crytamorpha brevicornis are interest in that, according to Hudson, they either have generally associated with the Nikau palm which does a very local distribution or are rare. These are Rhysodes not occur on Mayor Island. The most similar type of propius, Silvanus unidentatus, Thallis pollita, Panspoeus habitat found on both islands is Leptospermum scoparium guttatus (New Zealand's smallest elaterid), Amphiplatys (Manuka) scrub, while the Leptospermum ericoides lawsoni ('very rare') and Anthicus obscuricomis. Simi• (Kanuka) forest in the Mayor Island crater may be com• larly from Great Britain Ancistropterus quadrispinosus and pared to that between Port Fitzroy and Mt Flobson. The Ghlorochiton prasinus are fairly rare, while the specimen abundant beetles from Manuka scrub are: Mordellistena of Sericospilus sp. is probably unique to date. neglecta, Eucolaspis spp., and Pyronata festiva on Great As far as the author knows, except for a few species Barrier; and Eucolaspis sculptus, Dasytes sp. and Pyronata described by Broun from Great Barrier, the above are festiva on Mayor Island. Abundant species from the the only published records from Great Barrier and Mayor Kanuka forest are Mordellistena,' Eucolaspis and Pyronata Islands. Definite conclusion cannot be made regarding on Great Barrier; and Scymnus suffusus and Recyntus the relationships of these island faunas without further on Mayor Island. collecting, both on the mainland directly opposite and the The forest on Mt Hobson is dominated by Kauri islands themselves. However, this paper should be use• QAgathis australis^), and the coleopterous population is ful as a guide to future work on these and other outlying fairly typical of this type of rain-forest habitat in Novem• islands. ber, when there are a member of species of Hebe and REFERENCES other shrubs bearing flowers with copious supplies of Broun, T. (1880-93): 'Manual of the New Zealand nectar. Typical species from this habitat are Aneugnomus Coleoptera', Colonial Museum, Wellington. spp., the spiny weevils QScolopterus, Nyxetes, Amylop- Broun, T. (1908): 'Revision of the New Zealand terus, Ancistropterus^) and other members of the sub• Cossonidae', Trans. N.Z. Inst.; 41, 151-215. family Eugnominae; also Asilis, Dasytes and Rygmodus. Broun, T. (1910-21): N.Z. Inst. Bull. 1. The author has not collected on the Coromandel Penin• Britton, E. B (1941): 'The Carabidae (Coleoptera) of sula in November, but the general impression gained New Zealand, Part II. Lebiini and Pentagonicini'. from museum specimens and the similarity of vegetation Proc. R. Ent. Soc. Lond. 10 (10), 185-196. is that the beetle faunas of Great Barrier and the Coro• Given, B. B. (1952): 'A Revision of the Melolonthinae mandel Peninsula are probably closely related. The of New Zealand. Part I: The Adult Beedes.' coleopterous fauna of Mayor Island is probably similar ,. N.Z.D.S.I.R. Bull. 102. to that of areas of coastal scrub between Waihi and Hudson, G. P. (1934): 'New Zealand Beedes and Their Tauranga. Larvae', Ferguson and Osborn Ltd, Wellington. The only carab found on Mayor Island, Agonochila binotata, is a flying species generally found on shrubs ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS or under bark. Hudson (1934) states that it was 'for• The author wishes to thank Mr E. G. Turbott and merly quite a common species, but now apparently very Dr D. Spiller for the use of the collections of the Auck• rare'. This species is at present fairly common, at least land Museum and the Plant Diseases Division for identi• in the vicinity of Aucldand, which may suggest some fication of material, and also Mr B. B. Given Dor type of periodic cycle in the numbers of this beede. identification of the Great Barrier Melolonthinae. He However, Hudson's remarks possibly apply only to the also wishes to thank Dr J. G. Pendergrast of the Zoology vicinity of Wellington, so this does not necessarily follow. Department for assistance in preparation of the plate.