Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
Bryan (1941 and 1942) reported that insects were abundant, but of few species. These
included flies, moths, leafhoppers, green bugs and spiders.
Kohls (1966) described a new species of tick, Ixodes amersoni n. sp, from a fairy tern, Gygis
alba, at Rawaki (Phoenix) in 1965 (see also Amerson 1968). Additional tick specimens were
collected from white terns on Rawaki (Phoenix) in 1966 (Amerson 1968).
Amerson (1968) lists the bird hosts for the tick, Ornithoros capensis and the O. capensis
group in Rawaki (Phoenix) (see Table III-3.11 above).
Maa (1968) reported the Hippoboscidae (Diptera), Olfersia aenescens, from Rawaki
(Phoenix) collected from the following birds: Puffinus nativitatis, Pterodroma alba, Phaeton
rubricauda, and Anous stolidus.
Maa (1968) reported the Hippoboscidae (Diptera), Olfersia spinifera, from Rawaki (Phoenix)
collected from Fregata minor.
Maa (1968) reported the Hippoboscidae (Diptera), Olfersia pusilla, O. aenescens, and O.
spinifera from Abariringa (Canton), Birnie, McKean, Orona (Hull), and Rawaki (Phoenix).
Garnett (1983) reported several insects on Rawaki (Phoenix):
1) Nephrosyne argentatus
2) Halipeuris bulweri
3) Halipeuris heraldicus
4) Halipeuris mirabilis
5) Halipeuris spadix
6) Trabeculus hexakon
7) Naubates harrisoni
8) Saemundsonia albemarlensis
9) Saemundsonia sydneri
10) Saemundsonia sp.
11) Colpocephalum angulaticeps
12) Frogatiella aurifasciata
13) Iectinopygus gracilornis
14) Iectinopygus sp.
15) Quadraceps birostris
16) Quadraceps separatus
17) Quadraceps sp.
18) Actornithophilus incisus
19) Austromenopon atrofulvum
20) Austromenopon sp.
21) Protorhinus phoenix
22) Olfersia spinifera
23) Olfersia aenescens
Pierce et al (2006) reported on the occurance of ants on Abariringa (Kanton), Birnie,
Enderbury, McKean, Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki (see Table III-3.12 above). None of
these species were considered invasive.
D. OTHER INVERTEBRATES
Anderson (2002) noted that no pre-historic faunal extinctions have been recorded yet for the
Phoenix Islands.
ABARIRINGA (CANTON, KANTON)
Hermit crabs were found on Abariringa (Canton) (Bryan 1934, 1941, and 1942; Donaggho
1953). Ellis (1937) noted that occasionally thousands would congregate into a few square
yards.
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