Marie-Claude Larivière

The importance of urban reserves for conserving beetle communities: a case study from New Zealand

Urban reserves provide a major opportunity for conservation of indigenous biodiversity in the heavily urbanised landscape of Waitakere City (Auckland), New Zealand. However, there is little documented information on what indigenous fauna survives in these reserves. Beetle (Coleoptera) communities associated with two small, isolated urban reserves and two sites in a larger forest area within the Waitakere Ranges were sampled using pitfall traps and analysed. A total of 887 beetles, from 23 families and 89 recognisable taxonomic units were caught. The urban reserves had a marked reduction in species richness and abundance of beetles compared with the sites within the larger forest areas. Various environmental factors influencing the distribution of beetles across the sites were investigated. The most important factors were size of fragment, local forest cover and soil moisture. ‘Common’ species (>5 specimens in the total dataset) found in the Waitakere Ranges and small urban reserves, were either endemic or indigenous to New Zealand. Therefore, even though these reserves may be isolated from a larger, more continuous forest tract, they have considerable potential as reservoirs of beetle diversity in highly modified landscapes and the contribution of urban reserves to the local sustainability of beetle assemblages emphasises the importance of maintaining ‘green’ areas in and around cities.

Orius vicinus (Ribaut) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae), a predator of orchard pests new to New Zealand

Orius vicinus (Ribaut), previously known from the Palearctic region, is recorded from New Zealand. The species is briefly characterised, and important structural characters are illustrated. Notes are given on distribution and ecology, and current knowledge of bioecology is reviewed.

The conservation status of New Zealand Hemiptera

The conservation status of New Zealand Hemiptera is revised. One hundred and three taxa are added to the previous threat classification listing. Nine taxa are recorded as Nationally Critical: Aphis nelsonensis; Megoura stufkensi; Paradoxaphis aristoteliae (Aphididae); Umbonichiton jubatus; Umbonichiton pellaspis (Coccidae); Pimeleocoris roseus; Pimeleocoris viridis (Miridae); and two undescribed taxa near Anomalopsylla and Psylla aff. carmichaeliae (Psyllidae). These comprise the only Threatened taxa. Another 49 taxa are considered At Risk, one aphid is classified as Relict, 48 taxa in 14 families are ranked as Naturally Uncommon, and 67 taxa in 11 families are considered to be Data Deficient.

Composition and affinities of the New Zealand heteropteran fauna (including Coleorrhyncha)

Wises checklist (Bulletin of the Auckland Institute and Museum 11, 1977) of Hexapoda recorded 102 genera in 23 families of Heteroptera (including Coleorrhyncha) for New Zealand. The fauna currently (1997) totals 127 genera in 29 families. This paper provides an alphabetical checklist of families and valid genus-group names, along with the major bibliographic references documenting nomenclatural changes since 1977. For each family the numbers of genera recorded for New Zealand, Australia, and the world are compared, as well as the numbers of New Zealand and Australian endemics. No family is endemic to New Zealand but 36% of genera are endemic. The families Acanthosomatidae, Aenictopecheidae, Aradidae, Corixidae, Enicocephalidae, Lygaeidae, Miridae, Peloridiidae and Tingidae include laxa shared between New Zealand and other Southern Hemisphere land masses. Extant distribution patterns, in general, suggest an East Gondwana origin.

Zemacrosaldula , a new genus of Saldidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from New Zealand: taxonomy, geographic distribution, and biology

Zemacrosaldula, new genus, is described with Salda australis White, 1876, as type species, resulting in the following new combination Zemacrosaldula australis (White, 1876). Three new species are described: Zemacrosaldula kapekape new species, Z. whakarunga new species, Z. pangare new species. A revision of the taxonomy of all taxa is presented. Species are keyed. Morphological descriptions are provided together with illustrations emphasising the most significant diagnostic features of external morphology and male genitalia. Information is given on synonymy, type specimens, material examined, geographic distribution and biology.

Primary types of Heteroptera in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection: Enicocephalomorpha, Dipsocoromorpha and Cimicomorpha described from New Zealand before the year 2000.

Primary types of 67 New Zealand species of Heteroptera (Enicocephalomorpha, Dipsocoromorpha and Cimicomorpha) described before the year 2000 and deposited in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection (Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand), are listed. Full label information and complete bibliographic references are given for each. A map indicating type localities and a list of types localities is given.

Aoteasalda and Kiwisaldula , two new genera of Saldidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), with a key to New Zealand genera and a new synonymy in Zemacrosaldula

Aoteasalda new genus, is described with Saldula maculipennis Cobben, 1961, as type species, resulting in the following new combination Aoteasalda maculipennis (Cobben, 1961). Kiwisaldula new genus, is described with Saldula parvula Cobben, 1961, as type species. The following new combinations are made: Kiwisaldula parvula (Cobben, 1961); Kiwisaldula butleri (White, 1878); Kiwisaldula laelaps (White, 1878); Kiwisaldula stoneri (Drake & Hoberlandt, 1950). Two species are described as new: Kiwisaldula manawatawhi new species, Kiwisaldula porangahau new species. A lectotype is designated for Salda laelaps White, 1878. The holotype of Salda butleri White, 1878, and the type series of Saldula trivialis Cobben, 1961, and Saldula maculipennis Cobben, 1961, are documented. A new synonymy is established in the genus Zemacrosaldula (valid name listed after equal sign): Saldula trivialis Cobben, 1961 = Zemacrosaldula australis (White, 1876). A revision of the taxonomy of Aoteasalda and Kiwisaldula species occurring on New Zealands North Island and nearby offshore islands, is presented. Morphological descriptions are provided, with illustrations emphasising the most significant diagnostic features of the external morphology and male genitalia. Information is given on synonymy, type data, material examined, geographic distribution, and biology. Species of Kiwisaldula and genera of Saldidae recognised for New Zealand, are keyed.

First New Zealand record of the Australian species Hemiodoecus leai China, 1924 (Hemiptera: Peloridiidae); a hitchhiker on moss

The Australian mossbug Hemiodoecus leai China, 1924, is recorded for the first time in New Zealand based on repeated sampling from a self-sustaining population at Opoho Creek, Dunedin (South Island) since 2011. The history of the discovery of H. leai, probably accidentally introduced with moss used to transport fish ova from Tasmania, is summarised. A brief taxonomic treatment accompanied by illustrations and data on distribution, puts this discovery in context with the 2011 taxonomic review of New Zealand Peloridiidae published in the Fauna of New Zealand series. Biological notes based on field and laboratory observations are also provided.

Primary types of Heteroptera in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection: Pentatomomorpha described from New Zealand before the year 2000

Primary types of 48 New Zealand species of Heteroptera (Pentatomomorpha: Aradidae, Artheneidae, Cydnidae, Lygaeidac, Rhyparochromidae) described before the year 2000, and deposited in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection (Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand), are listed. Full label information and complete bibliographic references are given for each. A map and a list indicating type localities are provided.