The synonymy and distribution of the crenaticeps-group of Atractomorpha Saussure, 1862 (Orthoptera, Acridoidea, Pyrgomorphidae)

The general distribution of Atractomorpha australis Rehn, A. similis Bolívar and A. crenaticeps (Blanchard) in Australia and the South Pacific is discussed. Detailed synonymies and lists of known localities are given for each species, together with a distribution map. A. australis is confined to cooler, moister regions of Australia from eastern Victoria to south-western Queensland; A. similis is more tropical, occurring in the southern Moluccas, Timor, southern New Guinea and associated islands to northern and eastern Australia, but it extends, in suitable localities, as far south as central New South Wales, and, in inland areas, even to north-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia; A. crenaticeps , formerly thought to embrace both the above species, is restricted to the northern Moluccas, western and other parts of New Guinea north of and including the central mountain chains and associated islands to the north and west, and to the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands.     

Moss biogeography in the Tasman Sea region

Abstract

Panbiogeographic track analysis is applied to the distribution of several groups of mosses which occur in the New Zealand region. The analysis highlights areas of biogeographic interest (nodes) in the New Zealand region as follows: 1. New Guinea, 2. New Caledonia, 3. New South Wales/Queensland border in Australia, 4. northern New Zealand, 5. Rapa Island, 6. subantarctic New Zealand.

New Zealand is connected to these nodes by the following standard tracks: 1. New Guinea—New South Wales/Queensland border—Tasmania—subantarctic New Zealand, 2. New Guinea—New Caledonia—New Zealand—subantarctic New Zealand, 3. a central Tasman Sea transversal track; New South Wales/Queensland border—New Caledonia. Rapa Island is connected to the Tasman region by northern New Zealand and New Caledonia.     

Plasma thyroxine concentrations in grazing sheep in several areas of Australia

Plasma thyroxine concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay in plasma samples from 691 lactating ewes in 26 areas of New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania. Sheep sampled in New South Wales and Tasmania had significantly lower plasma thyroxine values (4.0 and 4.3 microgram/100 ml respectively) than those sampled in Queensland and Western Australia (5.4 and 5.3 microgram/100 ml respectively). However, sheep in some districts in southern Queensland also had low plasma thyroxine values. The areas where sheep had low plasma thyroxine values correlate well with areas where goitre has been previously reported, both in man and in domestic animals. This suggests that measurement of plasma thyroxine is probably a valid empirical method of assessing the relative iodine deficiency of grazing sheep and further that sheep grazing substantial areas of New South Wales, Tasmania and to a lesser extent Queensland may have thyroid dysfunction of varying degrees of severity. These findings could have implications for animal production in these areas.     

Amblyomma vikirri n. sp. (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae), a parasite of the gidgee skinkEgernia stokesii (Reptilia: Scincidae) from South Australia

All active stages of the tickAmblyomma vikirri n. sp. (Acari: Ixodidae) are described from the gidgee skinkEgernia stokesii, a widely distributed lizard in South Australia, western New South Wales, western Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. Thus far, the tick has been collected from this host only in the Flinders and Gawler Ranges of South Australia, plus a single record from Mt Dare in the far north of South Australia. Adults attach primarily on the tail and hind-back ofE. stokesii, while the larvae and nymphs prefer the ears and between the toes.     

Molecular evidence that fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis, Asteraceae) is of South African origin

ITS1 sequence data was obtained for fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) andS. lautus from Australia,S. madagascariensis andS. inaequidens from South Africa andS. madagascariensis from Madagascar. Despite the low level of variation (0.0–3.4%), these data further resolve the controversy concerning the identity and origin of fireweed. They confirm that fireweed is part of the South AfricanS. madagascariensis/S. inaequidens complex, and indicate that the infestation in Australia originated from South Africa as opposed to Madagascar. This will facilitate a resumption of biological control efforts in Australia and will direct surveys for control agents to South Africa.     

Synopsis of Antitrogus Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthini)

Abstract The genus Antitrogus Burmeister is widely distributed in eastern Australia and, because some species are significant pests of sugarcane, pastures and pineapples, it has attracted considerable research interest. This paper reviews the systematics, biology, ecology and management of the genus. The morphology of the 22 known species is described and a further species, A. gubbi sp. n. from south-eastern Queensland which was previously confused with A. robertsi Britton, is described. These species clearly divide into two species-groups: (i) those from south-eastern Queensland, eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Australia, which sometimes have closely related species pairs; and (ii) a more diverse group of species from central and northern Queensland. The latter is linked to A. villosus Allsopp from western Victoria, and this may indicate that further species await discovery in western New South Wales. Known life cycles are of 1 or 2 years. Adults fly for short periods following rain in spring or summer and do not feed. Adult females tend to disperse poorly, and this, coupled with ephemeral and localised rainfall, has probably contributed to speciation. Larvae feed on the roots of grasses and other similar plants. Insecticides are widely used to control them in sugarcane, but are too expensive for use on pastures. Integrating new controls with an emphasis on cultural controls is seen as the best way of managing these pest species.     

Conservation genetics and species status of an endangered Australian dragon, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tympanocryptis pinguicolla</Emphasis> (Reptilia: Agamidae)

We present a phylogenetic and morphological study of the grassland earless dragon, Tympanocryptis pinguicolla, an endangered habitat specialist that occurs in a few isolated populations in eastern Australia. Tympanocryptis pinguicolla occurred historically in Victoria in south-eastern Australia, but has not been seen since 1990, and current populations are known in New South Wales and Canberra in south-eastern Australia. Recently, new populations identified as T. pinguicolla were discovered on the Darling Downs, Queensland. Translocation of individuals between these populations has been suggested as a conservation management strategy to maintain genetic diversity. To address this issue, we undertook a phylogenetic study of all major populations of T. pinguicolla using a 1838 bp region of mitochondrial DNA, incorporating ND1, ND2, COI and eight tRNA genes. We incorporated specialized degraded-DNA techniques to amplify DNA from historical museum specimens, as no extant tissue was available for Victorian populations. Our results, which include morphological analysis, provide convincing evidence that populations currently identified as T.␣pinguicolla do not comprise a monophyletic species, as the populations from the Darling Downs are more closely related to T. tetraporophora than to T. pinguicolla. In addition, we find that there is a significant level of haplotype divergence between populations of T. pinguicolla, indicating that these lineages separated at least 1.5 mya. Our results suggest translocation may not be an appropriate management strategy and our findings that Darling Downs populations are not T.␣pinguicolla will significantly influence the conservation management of this species in Queensland.     

Species status and population structure of the Australian Eucalyptus pest Paropsis atomaria Olivier (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

1 Paropsis atomaria Olivier represents an emergent pest of Eucalyptus plantations in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. Most prior studies on the biology and control of P. atomaria have centred on populations from Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, but the biological relationship between beetles from Canberra and those from up to 1500 km further north are unknown. 2 DNA markers were used to determine whether P. atomaria from Canberra are the same biological species as those from Eucalyptus forestry plantations in northern New South Wales and Queensland, where the beetle has become an important pest. Using the mitochondrial gene, cytochrome c oxidase I (COI), individuals collected from across the distribution of P. atomaria were investigated for haplotype diversity and levels of mitochondrial divergence. 3 Within P. atomaria, genetic distance averaged 0.5% across 23 unique haplotypes for 93 individuals, with an average of 14% difference between P. atomaria and the outgroup species, Paropsis obsoleta. Significant genetic structure was observed relative to geographical distribution, but not with respect to host plant species of origin. Greatest divergence was between the southern‐most sample site (Canberra) and northern sites in New South Wales and Queensland, indicating reduced gene flow between these regions. 4 Individuals from across eastern Australia belong to the same genetic species with population substructuring evident. Consequently, there is no evidence to suggest cryptic species complexes exist within the currently defined taxon. Continued implementation of control strategies for P. atomaria across its distribution is appropriate.     

Molecular relationships within Bostrychia tenuissima (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta)

Bostrychia tenuissima King and Puttock is restricted to southern Australia and New Zealand. Previous studies in Australia have revealed two distinct patterns in the presence of osmotically active polyols. Southern populations only have D-sorbitol whereas northern populations have both D-sorbitol and D-dulcitol. These polyol patterns lead to speculation on the ecotypic differentiation of these two population types. Using single-stranded confirmation polymorphism to rapidly score plastid haplotypes, plus DNA sequencing, a 100% congruence was found between polyol patterns and plastid haplotype. Analysis of 33 B. tenuissima isolates shows that the plastid relationships closely follow biogeo-graphic regions, with south-eastern Australia (southern NSW and Victoria) and South Australia and Tasmania having one haplotype and central and northern NSW having two alternate haplotypes. There is an overlap at the haplotype boundary just south of Sydney, New South Wales.     

Notes on the biology of the ant speciesMyrmecia dispar (Clark) (Hymenoptera: Formicidæ)

Myrmecia dispar (Clark) is found in the drier inland areas of New South Wales and southern Queensland in Australia. Its nests, which are situated adjacent to trees, have a distinctive structure of simple architecture. The composition of the colonies varies seasonally with little or no brood production during the colder months. Colony founding probably takes place in March, April, and/or May. Several myrmecophiles are found in nests ofM. dispar, and some of these are present in relatively large numbers.     

Pathotypes of Plasmodiophora brassicae, the cause of clubroot, in Australia

Variation in pathogenicity of Plasmodiophora brassicae in Australia was studied using the European Clubroot Differential series of brassica hosts. From 41 collections of P. brassicae originating from important vegetable brassica production regions in Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and New South Wales, 23 triplet codes were generated. These were more similar to populations of P. brassicae reported from the USA than those from Europe. The most common Australian pathotypes had triplet codes of 16/3/12 and 16/3/31 and were each assigned seven times to pathogen collections originating from three states of Australia. Other codes that occurred more than once were 16/2/31, which was assigned to six collections from four states of Australia, and 16/19/31, which was assigned twice to collections originating from Western Australia.     

Genetic Bottlenecks in Time and Space: Reconstructing Invasions from Contemporary and Historical Collections

Herbarium accession data offer a useful historical botanical perspective and have been used to track the spread of plant invasions through time and space. Nevertheless, few studies have utilised this resource for genetic analysis to reconstruct a more complete picture of historical invasion dynamics, including the occurrence of separate introduction events. In this study, we combined nuclear and chloroplast microsatellite analyses of contemporary and historical collections of Senecio madagascariensis, a globally invasive weed first introduced to Australia c. 1918 from its native South Africa. Analysis of nuclear microsatellites, together with temporal spread data and simulations of herbarium voucher sampling, revealed distinct introductions to south-eastern Australia and mid-eastern Australia. Genetic diversity of the south-eastern invasive population was lower than in the native range, but higher than in the mid-eastern invasion. In the invasive range, despite its low resolution, our chloroplast microsatellite data revealed the occurrence of new haplotypes over time, probably as the result of subsequent introduction(s) to Australia from the native range during the latter half of the 20^th century. Our work demonstrates how molecular studies of contemporary and historical field collections can be combined to reconstruct a more complete picture of the invasion history of introduced taxa. Further, our study indicates that a survey of contemporary samples only (as undertaken for the majority of invasive species studies) would be insufficient to identify potential source populations and occurrence of multiple introductions.     

Establishment of the biological control agent Hypocosmia pyrochroma for Dolichandra unguis-cati (Bignoniaceae) is limited by microclimate

Cat's claw creeper, Dolichandra unguis-cati (Bignoniaceae), a perennial woody vine native to tropical America, is a target for biological control in Australia and South Africa. The cat's claw creeper leaf-tying moth Hypocosmia pyrochroma (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) from tropical South America was released as a biological control agent for cat's claw creeper in Australia from 2007 to 2010. A total of 2,277 adults, 837 pupae and 77,250 larvae were released at 40 sites in Queensland and New South Wales. Releases were made mostly in open fields (85%), and at limited sites (15%) in insect-proof cages erected over naturally occurring cat's claw creeper infestations in the field. Sampling was conducted annually in spring and autumn to monitor the establishment and dispersal of H. pyrochroma. Establishment of H. pyrochroma was first noticed in 2012 at three release sites and since then the number of established sites has increased to 80 in 2020. Establishment was evident on both ‘short-pod’ and ‘long-pod’ forms of cat's claw creeper and was more widespread in sites where releases were made within insect-proof field cages (50%) than in sites with open field releases (9%). The moth was active from late spring to late autumn with peak larval activity in late summer. To date, all field establishments have been in areas predicted by a CLIMEX model as climatically suitable but restricted mostly to riparian environment (93% of establishment), where the moth has continued to spread from 1.5 to 23 km from release sites. In contrast, there is the only limited establishment and spread in non-riparian corridors, highlighting the role of microclimate (riparian) as a limiting factor for establishment and spread. Future efforts will focus on redistribution of the agent to river/creek systems where the moth is currently not present.     

Occurrence of the mayfly family Teloganodidae in northern New South Wales

Teloganodid mayfly nymphs, previously known in Australia only from south-eastern Queensland, have now been recorded from numerous localities in the coastal drainages of northern New South Wales (NSW) from the Barrington Tops district to the Richmond River system. The nymphs seem to be restricted to riffles in forest streams and occur over a wide altitudinal range with records up to 940 m. They appear identical to those of Austremerella picta Riek, but rearing to the adult is needed to be certain that they represent the same species. The apparent restriction of Australian Teloganodidae to southern Queensland and northern NSW poses a biogeographical puzzle.     

Frankliniella lantanae sp. n. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), a polymorphic alien thrips damaging Lantana leaves in Australia

Abstract  A new species of Frankliniella Karny, probably introduced to Australia from the Caribbean area, is described here as causing feeding damage to the young leaves of Lantana in south-eastern Queensland and northern New South Wales. The new species is unusual within this large, primarily Neotropical genus, in that it feeds only on leaves, not in flowers, and that adult females are either apterous or fully winged. Only 10 of the 160 described species of Frankliniella are known to exhibit wing reduction, and notes are given on these together with notes on the seven species of the genus that are not endemic to the New World. Life history studies, including sex and morph ratios, indicate that egg to adult can require as little as 12 d, but despite breeding well in greenhouses, the species is not known to develop large populations in the field in Australia.     

Historical biogeography of Australian Rhamnaceae, tribe Pomaderreae

Aim To discover the pattern of relationships of areas of endemism for Australian genera in the plant family Rhamnaceae tribe Pomaderreae for comparison with other taxa and interpretation of biogeographical history. Location Australian mainland, Tasmania and New Zealand. Methods A molecular phylogeny and geographic distribution of species within four clades of Pomaderreae are used as a basis for recognition of areas of endemism and analysis of area relationships using paralogy‐free subtrees. The taxon phylogeny is the strict consensus tree from a parsimony analysis of 54 taxa, in four clades, and sequence data for the internal transcribed spacer regions of ribosomal DNA (ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2) and the plastid DNA region trnL‐F. Results The biogeographical analysis identified five subtrees, which, after parsimony analysis, resulted in a minimal tree with 100% consistency and seven resolved nodes. Three sets of area relationships were identified: the areas of Arnhem and Kimberley in tropical north Australia are related based on the phylogeny of taxa within Cryptandra; the moister South‐west of Western Australia, its sister area the coastal Geraldton Sandplains, the semi‐arid Interzone region and arid Western Desert are related, based on taxa within Cryptandra, Spyridium, Trymalium and Pomaderris; and the eastern regions of Queensland, McPherson‐Macleay, south‐eastern New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, southern Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand are related based on Cryptandra, Pomaderris and Spyridium. Tasmania and NSW are related based entirely on Cryptandra, but the position of New Zealand relative to the other south‐eastern Australian regions is unresolved. Main conclusions The method of paralogy‐free subtrees identified a general pattern of geographic area relationships based on Australian Pomaderreae. The widespread distribution of clades, the high level of endemicity and the age of fossils for the family, suggest that the Pomaderreae are an old group among the Australian flora. Their biogeographical history may date to the early Palaeogene with subsequent changes through to the Pleistocene.     

Crossing the Tasman Sea: Inferring the introduction history of Litoria aurea and Litoria raniformis (Anura: Hylidae) from Australia into New Zealand

Abstract The amphibian fauna of New Zealand consists of three native species (Leiopelma spp.), and three Litoria species introduced from Australia in the last 140 years. We conducted a molecular phylogeographical study that aimed to identify the Australian origins of two species, Litoria aurea and Litoria raniformis. We used partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (cox1) gene from 59 specimens sampled from across the range of both species to identify the probable source populations for the New Zealand introductions, and to describe the current genetic diversity among New Zealand Litoria populations. Our genetic data suggest that L. aurea was introduced into the North Island of New Zealand from two regions in Australia, once from the northern part of coastal New South Wales and once from the southern part of coastal New South Wales. Our data indicate that L. raniformis introductions originated from the Melbourne region of southern Victoria and once established in the South Island of New Zealand, the species subsequently spread throughout both islands. In addition, we found a distinct haplotype in L. raniformis from Tasmania that strongly suggests, contrary to earlier reports, that this species was not introduced into New Zealand from Tasmania. Finally, we identified two very distinctive mitochondrial lineages of L. raniformis within the mainland Australia distribution, which may be previously unrecognized species.     

Genetic population structure of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus microcarpus suggests high gene flow in south-eastern Australia

Pisolithus are ectomycorrhizal fungi that associate with roots of numerous plant species in natural and plantation forests worldwide. Despite the fact that Pisolithus spp. are present in plantation forests in many countries, knowledge of the genetic population structure of Pisolithus spp. remains limited. In this study, we have tested the hypothesis that a propensity for long-distance spore dispersal in Pisolithus microcarpus, along with the widespread distribution of potential eucalypt and acacia plant hosts in south-eastern Australia facilitates gene flow that limits population differentiation. Five polymorphic simple sequence repeat markers were used to investigate the population structure of P. microcarpus. Isolates were grouped according to geographical origin and isolate genotypes were analysed among the geographical populations. Pairwise F _ST estimates indicated limited genetic differentiation among the geographical populations. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that most of the genetic variation present was within geographical populations, with only 1.3% of the genetic variation among P. microcarpus geographical populations. This was particularly pronounced for four geographical populations within a ca 7,000 km² area New South Wales, which were each separated by <100 km and appeared to be genetically homogeneous. The lack of population structure is suggested to be due to a high degree of gene flow, via basidiospores, between the New South Wales geographical populations.     

Induction of sexual forms in the rose aphid Macrosiphum rosae

The rose aphid, Macrosiphum rosae (L.), was tested for its ability to produce sexual forms on rose leaves, after induction by environmental conditions in the field and in the laboratory. Clones were collected in Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany, and in south-eastern New South Wales, Australia. The German clones all produced sexual forms, while the response of the Australian clones was weak. There appeared to be a bias in the sex ratio towards females: This is discussed in developmental terms. The environmental and genetic factors influencing the response are considered.     

The leaf-tying moth Hypocosmia pyrochroma (Lep., Pyralidae), a host-specific biological control agent for cat's claw creeper Macfadyena unguis-cati (Bignoniaceae) in Australia

Abstract:  Cat's claw creeper, Macfadyena unguis-cati , a major environmental weed in coastal and sub-coastal areas of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia is a target for classical biological control. Host specificity of Hypocosmia pyrochroma Jones (Lep., Pyralidae), as a potential biological control agent was evaluated on the basis of no-choice and choice larval feeding and survival, and adult oviposition preference tests, involving 38 plant species in 10 families. In no-choice tests, larval feeding and development occurred only on cat's claw creeper. In choice tests, oviposition and larval development was evident only on cat's claw creeper. The results support the host-specificity tests conducted in South Africa, and suggest that H. pyrochroma is a highly specific biological control agent that does not pose any risk to non-target plants tested in Australia. This agent has been approved for field release by relevant regulatory authorities in Australia.