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.     

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.     

Australian species of Sinella (Sinella) Brook (Collembola: Entomobryidae)

Abstract  The Australian subgenus Sinella ( Sinella ) Brook is revised. Two species are recognised. A new species from New South Wales and South Australia, Sinella ( Sinella ) samueli , is described and the widely distributed species Sinella ( Sinella ) termitum Schött is redescribed based on examination of a specimen from the type series and fresh collections from a wide range of localities in south-eastern Australia. New patterns of chaetotaxy for the genus are described from these species.     

Aphis clerodendri Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), attendant ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and associates on Clerodendrum (Verbenaceae) in Australia

Abstract Aphis clerodendri Matsumura is newly recorded from Australia and is known from the Northern Territory, on islands in Torres Strait, and in rainforest in northern Queensland and New South Wales. It induces the formation of leaf pseudogalls on native species of Clerodendrum and is commonly attended by ants, which penetrate and may polydomously nest in the galls. Previously known only from eastern Asia, A. clerodendri can now be classified as native to Australia and Australasian in natural distribution. The species is also newly recorded from Papua New Guinea and Vietnam.     

Spread and potential distribution of Senecio madagascariensis Poir. (fireweed) in Australia

Abstract The potential distribution of the herbaceous weed Senecio madagascariensis Poir. (fireweed) in Australia was estimated using the Bioclimate Prediction System, BIOCLIM. Climate profiles for S. madagascariensis predicted that suitable areas occurred only in the south-eastern region of Australia. Its potential to spread outside these areas was assessed by comparing the present African and South American distributions of this species with that observed in Australia. The rate of spread of S. madagascariensis in New South Wales was exponential, although in some regions, such as the Gloucester River Valley, the rates had decreased because all farms had become infested. The results indicate that S. madagascariensis may spread and increase in abundance along the far south coast of New South Wales and in south-eastern Queensland. Coastal areas in eastern Victoria and as far north in Queensland as the Tropic of Capricorn may be invaded.     

Populations of North American bean thrips, Caliothrips fasciatus (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae: Panchaetothripinae) not detected in Australia

Abstract  Caliothrips fasciatus is native to the USA and western Mexico and overwintering adults are regular contaminants in the 'navel' of navel oranges exported from California, USA to Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. Due to the long history of regular interceptions of C. fasciatus in Australia, a survey for this thrips was undertaken around airports, seaports, public recreational parks and major agricultural areas in the states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia to determine whether C. fasciatus has successfully invaded Australia. Host plants that are known to support populations of C. fasciatus , such as various annual and perennial agricultural crops, urban ornamentals and weeds along with native Australian flora, were sampled for this thrips. A total of 4675 thrips specimens encompassing at least 76 species from a minimum of 47 genera, and three families were collected from at least 159 plant species in 67 families. Caliothrips striatopterus was collected in Queensland, but the target species, C. fasciatus , was not found anywhere. An undescribed genus of Thripidae, Panchaetothripinae, was collected from ornamental Grevillea (var. Robyn Gordon) at Perth (Western Australia) Domestic Airport, and is considered to be a native Australian species. This survey has provided valuable information on the background diversity of thrips species associated with various native and exotic plant species around major ports of entry and exit for four of five states in Australia. We suggest that the major reason C. fasciatus has not established in Australia is due to high adult mortality in navels that are kept at low storage temperatures (2.78°C) during an 18- to 24-day transit period from California to Australia.     

Australian Assassins, Part I: A review of the Assassin Spiders (Araneae, Archaeidae) of mid-eastern Australia

The Assassin Spiders of the family Archaeidae are an ancient and iconic lineage of basal araneomorph spiders, characterised by a specialised araneophagic ecology and unique, 'pelican-like' cephalic morphology. Found throughout the rainforests, wet sclerophyll forests and mesic heathlands of south-western, south-eastern and north-eastern Australia, the genus Austrarchaea Forster & Platnick, 1984 includes a diverse assemblage of relictual, largely short-range endemic species. With recent dedicated field surveys and significant advances in our understanding of archaeid biology and ecology, numerous new species of assassin spiders have been discovered in the montane sub-tropical and warm-temperate closed forests of mid-eastern Australia, including several rare or enigmatic taxa and species of conservation concern. This fauna is revised and 17 new species are described from south-eastern Queensland and eastern New South Wales: Austrarchaea alanisp. n., Austrarchaea aleenaesp. n., Austrarchaea binfordaesp. n., Austrarchaea christopherisp. n., Austrarchaea clyneaesp. n., Austrarchaea cunninghamisp. n., Austrarchaea dianneaesp. n., Austrarchaea harmsisp. n., Austrarchaea helenaesp. n., Austrarchaea judyaesp. n., Austrarchaea mascordisp. n., Austrarchaea mcguiganaesp. n., Austrarchaea milledgeisp. n., Austrarchaea monteithisp. n., Austrarchaea platnickorumsp. n., Austrarchaea ravenisp. n. and Austrarchaea smithaesp. n. Adult specimens of the type species, Austrarchaea nodosa (Forster, 1956) are redescribed from the Lamington Plateau, south-eastern Queensland, and distinguished from the sympatric species Austrarchaea dianneaesp. n. A key to species and a molecular phylogenetic analysis of COI and COII mtDNA sequences complement the species-level taxonomy, with maps, habitat photos, natural history information and conservation assessments provided for all species.     

One new genus and three new species of Orsillinae (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) from Australia

Abstract  Two new species of Nysius Dallas, N. orarius sp. n. and N. tasmaniensis sp. n. are described from New South Wales and Tasmania (Australia), respectively. A new monotypic genus, Reticulatonysius , with type-species R. queenslandensis sp. n. is described from Queensland, and its systematic relationship with other orsilline genera is discussed.     

NORTHERN RECORDS OF THE GENUS CULISETA FELT IN AUSTRALIA WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

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Culiseta arenivaga sp.n., described from females from Fraser Island, Queensland, provides the northernmost record of Culiseta in Australia. C. arenivaga has postspiracular setae and it is compared in text and figures with the other species known from Queensland, C. antipodea Dobrotworsky, and with the other species possessing postspiracular setae, C. littleri (Taylor), C. inconspicua (Lee), and C. atra (Lee), of which the first two are the only species known from New South Wales. Postspiracular setae are reported in C. inconspicua for the first time. C. littleri is recorded from northern New South Wales and geographical variation in this species is discussed. The unusual palmate empodium of C. antipodea females is described and figured. Relationships within the genus are considered and an austral origin for the genus is suggested.     

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.     

A new species of the genus Hydrodroma Koch, 1837 (Acari, Hydrachnidia, Hydrodromidae), with a key to the hitherto known six species of the genus in Australia

The genus Hydrodroma Koch, 1837 in Australia consists of six species, the newly described Hydrodroma meridionalissp. n. included. The new species is described from 45 sampling sites from running waters in Queensland, Victoria, New Southern Wales, Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia. Furthermore, a key for the identification of species of Hydrodroma occurring in Australia is given.     

Two new egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) of the wood borer Agrianome spinicollis (Macleay) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), a pest of pecans in eastern Australia

Abstract Baeoanusia xanthopleuron sp. n. and Avetianella coombsi sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) are described from New South Wales and Queensland. Photomicrographs are provided to illustrate morphological characters of both species, and their systematic position is discussed on the basis of their morphology and biology. Both species are egg parasitoids of the wood borer Agrianome spinicollis (Macleay), an important pest of pecans in eastern Australia.     

Helminth communities of pademelons, Thylogale stigmatica and T. thetis from eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea

Gastrointestinal helminths were collected from pademelons of the genus Thylogale (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) in eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea. Examined were 12 Thylogale stigmatica stigmatica and 13 T. s. wilcoxi, the latter subdivided into eight specimens from the northern limit of their distribution and five from southern areas, all from eastern Queensland, Australia, one T. s. oriomo from Papua New Guinea and ten T. thetis from southeastern Queensland and northern New South Wales, Australia. Six species of cestodes and 40 species of nematodes were found. The helminth community of T. s. stigmatica was similar to that found in northern specimens of T. s. wilcoxi, while differences from the helminth community present in southern T. s. wilcoxi could be accounted for by parasites acquired from sympatric T. thetis. Thylogale thetis harboured a community of helminths distinct from but related to that in T. stigmatica. The evidence suggests that all subspecies of T. stigmatica examined share a common helminth community, but that in areas of sympatry, T. stigmatica and T. thetis share some of their parasites.     

New species of Asphalidesmus Silvestri, 1910 from Australia (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Dalodesmidea)

Asphalidesmus allynensissp. n. and Asphalidesmus dorrigensissp. n. are described from New South Wales, Asphalidesmus otwayensissp. n. from Victoria, and Asphalidesmus bellendenkerensissp. n., Asphalidesmus carbinensissp. n., Asphalidesmus magnus sp. n. and Asphalidesmus minorsp. n. from Queensland. The previously endemic Tasmanian genus Asphalidesmus Silvestri, 1910 is now known from 16°S to 43°S in eastern Australia, a north-south range of ca 3000 km. Asphalidesmus spp. throughout this range are very similar in overall appearance. Three of the new species are able to coil in a tight spiral.     

Parasitism of the lucerne pest Sitona discoideus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and non-target weevils by Microctonus aethiopoides Loan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in south-eastern Australia, with an assessment of the taxonomic affinities of non-target hosts of M. aethiopoides recorded from Australia and New Zealand

Abstract  The braconid parasitoid Microctonus aethiopoides Loan has been released in Australia and New Zealand for biological control of the lucerne pest Sitona discoideus Gyllenhal. In New Zealand, the parasitoid attacks a number of endemic weevil species. A survey of Curculionoidea found in and near lucerne in south-eastern Australia was carried out to investigate whether similar non-target parasitism was occurring, and to relate this to levels of parasitism found in the target host, S. discoideus . Some of the original M. aethiopoides release sites were particularly targeted in the survey of 25 sites in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. Almost 2500 weevils were collected, of which over 90% were S. discoideus , with the remaining 197 other weevils comprising 29 species found at 15 of the 25 sites. Parasitism of S. discoideus by M. aethiopoides occurred at 12 lucerne sites, with levels ranging from 0 to 25%. A single incidence of parasitism of a species of an Australian native weevil Prosayleus sp. by M. aethiopoides was recorded. No parasitism of any other weevil species was observed. The taxonomic affinities between Sitona and native Australian and New Zealand weevils are discussed, concluding that non-target host range in M. aethiopoides may be determined more by ecological factors than by taxonomic affinities among its hosts.     

Revision of the genus Menippus Clark in Australia (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae)

Abstract  The genus Menippus is revised for Australia, with six species, three of which are new: M. cynicus Clark, M. darcyi sp. nov. , M. ewani sp. nov. , M. fugitivus (Lea), M. sufi sp. nov. and M. yulensis (Jacoby) comb. nov. (from Diorhabda Weise). Menippus yulensis was described from New Guinea. This species and M. darcyi were formerly confused in Australia with M. fugitivus , which is now considered endemic to Lord Howe Island. The species formerly considered M. fugitivus and protected under the Threatened Species Conservation Act, New South Wales, is now named M. darcyi . A key is provided for the Australian species of Menippus and a lectotype designated for M. yulensis . The composition of Menippus is discussed and three non-Australian species are transferred to this genus: M. inconspicua (Jacoby) comb. nov. (from Diorhabda Weise); M. laterimaculata (Jacoby) comb. nov. ; and M. marginipennis (Jacoby) comb. nov. (from Galerucella Crotch). A revised checklist of Menippus species is given. The recorded foodplants of Menippus are species of Celtis (Ulmaceae).     

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.     

Revision of the genus Innobindus Jacobi (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae) with the description of six new species and comments on other Australian Brixiini genera

Abstract  Australian planthoppers of the genus Innobindus Jacobi are revised. A lectotype for Innobindus multimaculatus Jacobi is designated and six new species of Innobindus are described: I. alternans , I. collessi , I. licinus , I. marginatus , I. robinae and I. unicornis . Maps of the known distribution for the species of Innobindus are presented and discussed. The Australian Brixiini fauna, which appears to be restricted in distribution to Queensland and New South Wales, comprises a further two genera: Solonaima Kirkaldy and Undarana Hoch & Howarth. The majority of Brixiini, including Innobindus , is non-cavernicolous; however, eight species within the genera Solonaima and Undarana have adapted to life in lava tubes and limestone caves. A key to genera and a checklist of the Australian species are presented.     

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.