J. S. Dugdale

Recording specimen localities in New Zealand: An arbitrary system of areas and codes defined

New Zealand is divided into 29 approximately equal‐sized arbitrary areas, and their boundaries are defined and mapped. A 2‐letter code is given for each area. The system is designed primarily for use on specimen labels of the New Zealand National Arthropod Collection, and introduces a more reliable basis for the sorting and documentation of specimens.

Area codes for recording specimen localities in the New Zealand subregion

Abstract For the New Zealand mainland, 29 previously published two‐letter codes defining collection areas are reviewed, with their boundary definitions. An additional eight area codes are here defined for the outer islands of the New Zealand subregion: Kermadec Islands (KE), Three Kings Islands (TH), Chatham Islands (CH), The Snares Islands (SN), Auckland Islands (AU), Campbell Island (CA), Antipodes Islands (AN), and Bounty Islands (BO). More general area codes are added for the North Island (NO), South Island (SO), New Zealand (NZ), and the Ross Dependency (RO) in Antarctica. The main purpose of the codes is to facilitate retrieval and documentation of specimens.

Insect predation of seeds of native New Zealand woody plants in some central South Island localities

Abstract Samples of fruit collected from woody plants in central South Island lowland forests, showed that nine species were more or less heavily affected by insect seed predation (more than 10% of seeds and up to 63% eaten in some samples). One obligate seed-eater each occurred in seven of these; the rest had two or more. Two were also attacked by facultative seed-eaters. A further eight species of plants were affected to a lesser degree by obligate or facultative seed-eating insects. Moth larvae from nine families and ten genera are the main seed eaters, but weevils are important for some plant species.

DNA barcoding of the endemic New Zealand leafroller moth genera, Ctenopseustis and Planotortrix

Molecular techniques such as DNA barcoding have become popular in assisting species identification especially for cryptic species complexes. We have analysed data from a 468‐bp region of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene from 200 specimens of 12 species of endemic New Zealand leafroller moths (Tortricidae) from the genera Planotortrix and Ctenopseustis to assess whether the DNA barcoding region can distinguish these species. Among the 200 sequences analysed, 72 haplotypes were recovered, with each genus forming a separate major clade. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic methods were used to test whether species fell into reciprocally monophyletic clades. The optimal phylogeny showed that four species within the genus Ctenopseustis (C. obliquana, C. herana, C. filicis and C. fraterna) and three within Planotortrix (P. octo, P. excessana and P. avicenniae) are polyphyletic. Shimodaira–Hasegawa tests rejected a null hypothesis of monophyly for the species C. obliquana, C. herana, P. octo and P. excessana. Comparisons of within and between species levels of sequence divergence for the same set of seven species showed cases where maximum levels of within‐species divergence were greater than some levels of between‐species divergence. DNA barcoding using this region of the COI gene is able to distinguish the two genera and some species within each genus; however, many species cannot be identified using this method. Finally, we discuss the possible reasons for this polyphyly, including incomplete lineage sorting, introgression, horizontal gene transfer and incorrect taxonomy.

Diet and life history variation in the sympatric lizards Oligosoma nigriplantare polychroma and Oligosoma lineoocellatum

Abstract We investigated life history traits (body sizes, sexual maturity, sexual dimorphism, clutch size) and dietary preferences in the sympatric lizards, Oligosoma nigriplantare polychroma and Oligosoma lineoocellatum (Scincidae). One‐hundred and forty O. n. polychroma and 153 O. lineoocellatum were collected for a twelve month period. Our results show that these sympatric species have different life history traits, notably in body size, size at maturity, and reproductive output. O. n. polychroma were smaller (51.72 mm adult males, 56.74 mm adult females) than O. lineoocellatum (70.70 mm adult males, 76.30 mm adult females). Size at maturity was determined by logistic regression models of snout‐vent length (SVL) for both species. O. n. polychroma reached sexual maturity at a relatively smaller SVL (42.21 mm) than O. lineoocellatum (62.11 mm), and had a larger mean clutch size (5.79) than O. lineoocellatum (3.82). There were some differences in diet, although both species consumed a wide range of prey, ...

Differential responses of vertebrate and invertebrate herbivores to traits of New Zealand subalpine shrubs

Plant traits are influenced by herbivore diet selection, but little is known about how traits are affected by different types of herbivores. We related eight traits of 27 subalpine shrub species in South Island, New Zealand, to damage of these shrubs by introduced red deer (Cervus elaphus) and native invertebrate herbivores using phylogenetically explicit modeling. Deer preferentially consumed species that grew quickly, were low in foliar tannins, or had high leaf area per unit mass. However, these traits did not trade off against each other; rather, they could be related to different multivariate defense strategies. Although the proportion of leaves damaged by leaf-chewing invertebrates also increased with stem growth, invertebrates did not damage the same fast growing species as those preferred by deer. Other traits may also be important in determining herbivore preferences, as suggested by the high proportion of variation in herbivory explained by phylogeny. Last, we found that the composition of invertebrate herbivore communities was more similar among closely related shrubs, and consequently, the range of invertebrate-plant associations may change if introduced deer shift plant composition toward slow-growing species. Overall, our results demonstrate the importance of herbivore type and coevolved interactions for the adaptive significance of plant traits.

Non-target species selection for host-range testing of Mastrus ridens

The approach taken to selecting non-target species for host-range testing of Mastrus ridens (= M. ridibundus auct.) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), a proposed biocontrol agent for codling moth, Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in New Zealand, is described. An initial list of potential hosts was developed, derived from a combination of phylogenetic/taxonomic affinity to codling moth, ecological similarity to codling moth, and ‘safeguard’ or environmental considerations. The species selected, all in the family Tortricidae, were: Cydia succedana and Grapholita molesta (both exotic species in the sub-family Olethreutinae, tribe Grapholitini), the endemic “Argyroploce” chlorosaris (unassigned in the Olethreutinae), and the endemic Ctenopseustis obliquana and Planotortrix octo (both of which are common pest species in the sub-family Tortricinae, tribe Archipini).

Chrysorthenches new genus, conifer‐associated plutellid moths (Yponomeutoidea, Lepidoptera) in New Zealand and Australia

Abstract Chrysorthenches new genus is erected for 10 species (8 New Zealand, 2 Australian from Tasmania) with host plants in the conifer families Podocarpaceae and Cupressaceae. Chrysorthenches differs in 12 characters—most notably its lack of socii and gnathos, the form of the sternum 9 lobe, and in cocoon structure—from Orthenches Meyrick, in which previously described species were placed. The two Tasmanian species have 1‐segmented maxillary palpi, a specialised condition contrasting with the 4‐segmented, scaled condition in New Zealand species. The genus is presumed to predate spreading of the Tasman Sea floor. The genus is assigned to Plutellidae of authors within the Yponomeutoidea. Included species are Orthenches porphyritis Meyrick, 1886 (type species, New Zealand), O. drosochalca Meyrick, 1905 (New Zealand), O. glypharcha Meyrick, 1919 (New Zealand), O. polita Philpott, 1918 (New Zealand), O. virgata Philpott, 1920 (New Zealand) (5 new combinations); and C. argentea Dugdale (New Zealand), C. haloc...

The world's thinnest caterpillar? A new genus and species of Batrachedridae (Lepidoptera) from Sporadanthus ferrugineus (Restionaceae), a threatened New Zealand plant.

Houdinia flexilissima, gen. nov., sp. nov. is described from peatlands in the North Island of New Zealand. The extremely narrow larvae mine and pupate in the living stems of Sporadanthus ferrugineus de Lange, Heenan & Clarkson, (Restionaceae), a large endemic rush. Eggs, larvae, pupae and adults are fully described and illustrated. The systematic placement of this autapomorphic taxon is discussed in detail, and it is assigned within Gelechioidea to Batrachedridae on the basis of characters shared with a taxon currently placed in Batrachedra. Because of its morphological distinctiveness, as well as threats to the habitat of its very local host plant, H. flexilissima, gen. nov., sp. nov. is considered a species of high conservation status.

The invertebrate fauna of epiphyte mats in the canopy of northern rata (Myrtaceae: Metrosideros robusta A. Cunn.) on the West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand

Abstract The range of microhabitats and microclimatic conditions provided by epiphytes has been linked to the high diversity of invertebrates in many forest canopies worldwide, but comparably little is known about the invertebrate fauna in this habitat in New Zealand. This study compiled an inventory of the invertebrate fauna of epiphyte mats in the canopy of northern rata (Myrtaceae: Metrosideros robusta A. Cunn.) at two study sites on the West Coast of the South Island. A total of 242 069 invertebrate specimens was collected over one year, representing 4 phyla, 9 classes and more than 160 families, 225 genera and 446 species. At least 10 new species and 3 new genera were identified, while 5 species were recorded outside their known geographical range. Epiphyte mats provided habitat for an invertebrate fauna, highly diverse and abundant both taxonomically and functionally, dominated in terms of abundance by Acari, Collembola and Hymenoptera (largely ants), and in terms of feeding guilds by epiphyte grazers and ants. As the first inventory of this taxonomic depth and breadth compiled for New Zealand forest epiphyte habitats, this study provides important baseline data for the conservation of biodiversity in New Zealands indigenous forests.