Insects Of Red Mercury Island - Bookshelf Collection

81
INSECTS OF RED MERCURY ISLAND
by J.M. Johannesson*
SUMMARY
The following insects 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.
Order Archaeognatha
SPECIES LIST
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 (Metrosideros excelsa) 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 Rolypoly
Bay.
Aleocharinae
Specimen under dead log.
'Department of Zoology, University of Auckland.

Elateridae
? Ctenicera sp.
Cicindelidae
82
Larvae only, dug out of seaward cliff at south end of Rolypoly Ray.
Neocicindela sp.
Scraptiidae
Two larvae dug out of seaward cliff at south end of Rolypoly Bay.
Nothotelus sp.
Alleculidae
Omedes sp.
Two specimens on flax leaves.
Larvae dug out of cliff at north end of Rolypoly Bay.
Melyridae
Halyles nigrescens (Broun)
Apionidae
Specimen in leaf litter under flax bush.
Neocyba metrosideros (Broun)
Specimens in leaf litter.
Curculionidae
Praolepra infusca (Broun)
Specimens on leaves of Coprosma 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
Cicadidae
Nymphs under stone among flax bushes, at the top of the beach at
Rolypoly Bay.
Amphisalta sp.
Kikihia sp.
Exuviae only; in leaf litter.
Exuviae only; in leaf litter.

Order Phasmida
Phasmatidae
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Clitarchus 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 (Leptospermum scoparium).
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.

Ichneumonidae
Netelia ephippiata
A parasite on caterpillars. Specimen caught at night with a light trap.
S4
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)
Culicidae
Opifex fuscus
Specimen caught in light trap.
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.

Chironomidae - larvae in streams.
Heleidae larvae in streams.
Psychodidae - larvae in streams.
Order Lepidoptera
H5
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)
Tortricidae
Larva feeds on Coprosma spp.
"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
Lyonetiidae
family Pteridaceae.
Opogona (Hieroxestis) omoscopa
Iarva feeds on plant debris.

Oechophoridae
Gymnobathra flavidella (Meyr)
Larva feeds on dead wood, or dead bark.
Tineageriidae
Stathmopoda skelloni
Psychidae
Larve feeds on dead leaves on the ground.
Oeceticus omnivorus (I ercd.)
Order Trichoptera
Philanisidae
Philanisus plebeius
Larve found on manuka.
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.