Rosa C. Henderson

Sodium monofluoroacetate and alternative toxins for possum control

Abstract Sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) is still an essential tool for possum control. We have reassessed the fate of this compound in the environment, and found no evidence of water contamination after large-scale possum control operations. The toxin is biodegradable in all living systems and will not accumulate in the food chain. Nevertheless, overreliance on a single toxin for a particular pest, such as 1080 for possum control, is unwise, and we are evaluating alternatives. Possums are susceptible to some non-anticoagulant toxins, including gliftor, cholecalciferol, calciferol, and alpha-chloralose. Of the anticoagulant toxins, brodifacoum is more effective than pindone. Integrated pen and field trials will determine the most cost-effective alternatives to 1080 for use in bait stations and for aerial application. Any alternative toxin will need to be subjected to the same scrutiny as 1080 for its environmental fate and impact on non-target species.

Invertebrate survey of a modified native shrubland, Brookdale Covenant, Rock and Pillar Range, Otago, New Zealand

Abstract This is the first published invertebrate survey focusing on a low‐altitude shrubland community in New Zealand. Invertebrates were collected from a remnant native shrubland (450 m) protected by the Brookdale Conservation Covenant, Rock and Pillar Range, Otago, New Zealand in late summer/autumn 1999. Sampling was carried out by beating 30 randomly chosen shrubs of each of two native species: Olearia bullata H. D. Wilson & Garnock‐Jones (Asteraceae) and Coprosma propinqua A. Cunn. (Rubiaceae). Fifty pitfall traps were also set under the same shrubs and on nearby open patches of exotic grassland. Three Phyla, six Classes, 25 Orders and approximately 280 species were recorded. An annotated list of taxa is presented, and plant/host associations plus other observations on the fauna are discussed. Approximately 90% of the identified species were endemic, emphasising the importance of such remnant habitats for the protection of New Zealands biodiversity.

Morphological variation and mating compatibility within the mealybugs Pseudococcus calceolariae and P. similans (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), and a new synonymy.

A laboratory study of isolines of Pseudococcus calceolariae (Maskell) and P. similans (Lidgett) collected from Hawkes Bay and Auckland, two widely separated regions in the North Island of New Zealand, threw doubt on the validity of the defining characters of these species. For P. similans, the number and position of oral rim tubular ducts varied widely and sometimes fell outside the defined limits for the species, and characteristic ‘stout abdominal setae’ were lost in the F1 generation. The morphological characters that separate one species from the other were manipulated by changing the temperature at which the mealybugs developed, such that cohorts of F1 sisters reared in the laboratory contained phenotypes of both P. calceolariae and P. similans. No impediments were found to breeding among populations of P. calceolariae and P. similans from Hawkes Bay and Auckland. All combinations of crosses between virgin females and males produced viable progeny. Those reared at 16°C laid more eggs than those reared at 23°C. The data did not suggest the existence of cryptic or sibling species, and contrasted with experiments elsewhere which quite clearly showed species incompatibility of closely related mealybugs. Examination of 160 ‘wild’ specimens of P. calceolariae from New Zealand, Australia and California (U.S.A.) and P. similans from New Zealand and Australia showed a morphological continuum from one species to the other. It is concluded that P. calceolariae and P. similans merely represent the phenotypic extremes of one widely polymorphic species, with the morphological characters of individual adults determined by the microenvironment in which they developed. Pseudococcus calceolariae is thus the senior synonym of P. similans.

Catalogue of the exotic armoured scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Diaspididae) in New Zealand.

Abstract An up‐to‐date catalogue of New Zealands exotic Diaspididae has been developed from studies of curated specimens and the literature. Twenty‐eight species are recorded as established by July 2002. Lepidosaphes pallida is recorded in New Zealand for the first time. Five new synonymies are proposed (with the senior synonym in parentheses): Chionaspis candida (= Chionaspis angusta; Mytilaspis eucalypti; Lepidosaphes ulmi var. novozealandica (= Lepidosaphes multipora); Fiorinia grossulariae 1884 (= Lepidosaphes ulmi); and Chionaspis xerotidis (= Pseudaulacaspis eugeniae). For the first time, literature records are shown to be erroneous for a further eight species, which are therefore considered to be not present in New Zealand. They are: Aspidiotus destructor, Ischnaspis longirostris, Lepidosaphes flava, Parlatoria pergandii, Parlatoria ziziphi, Pinnaspis strachani, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona, and Unaspis citri. An annotated list of all 36 species provides for each species a selective synonymy and a summary of some basic biological details, host plant range, geographical distribution, and environmental impact.

A review of the eriochiton spinosus (maskell) species‐complex (Eriococcidae: Coccoidea), including a phylogenetic analysis of its relationships

This paper revises a species‐complex in the eriococcid genus Eriochiton. In addition to E. spinosus (Maskell), about whose status there is still some uncertainty, the complex contains E. armatus Brittin and five new species, E. brittini, E. deboerae, E. dracophylli, E. dugdalei and E. pseudohispidus. Descriptions, illustrations and diagnostic keys are provided for most scale‐like stages of all seven species. The prepupa, pupa and adult male of Eriochiton are described for the first time; the structure of the latter confirms the placement of Eriochiton in the Eriococcidae. A phylogenetic study of the Eriochitonini concludes that it is monophyletic and suggests some evolutionary trends within the tribe. Neoeriochiton clareae is considered the most primitive known taxon in the Eriochitonini and its placement in a separate genus is discussed. Also discussed are the importance of the immature stages in scale insect taxonomy and the narrow host range of most species in this tribe.

The rise and fall of manuka blight scale: a review of the distribution of Eriococcus orariensis (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae) in New Zealand

The decline in abundance and distribution of the manuka blight scale insect, Eriococcus orariensis Hoy, between the 1950s and 1997/99 is described. Manuka blight was discovered about 1937 in the Orari Gorge, Mid-Canterbury, and by 1958 had become widespread throughout New Zealand. Despite intensive searches in 1997/99, the scale was found on only five out of 27 samples of manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) from 23 sites around New Zealand. A dramatic decline of manuka blight scale, and its displacement by the less noxious species, Eriococcus leptospermi Maskell, in a period of little more than 40 years has occurred. This survey shows that in recent years sooty mould is mainly caused by E. leptospermi rather than E. orariensis.

Relationships among felt scale insects (Hemiptera : Coccoidea : Eriococcidae) of southern beech, Nothofagus (Nothofagaceae), with the first descriptions of Australian species of the Nothofagus-feeding genus Madarococcus Hoy

Species of southern beech (Nothofagus) have been studied extensively because of their importance in understanding southern hemisphere biogeography. Nothofagus species support a diverse assemblage of insect herbivores, including more than 30 described species of felt scales (Eriococcidae). We reconstructed the phylogeny of the Nothofagus-feeding felt scales with nucleotide sequence data and morphology. All but one of the exclusively Nothofagus-feeding species included in the analyses were recovered as a monophyletic group. This clade comprised the genera Chilechiton Hodgson & Miller, Chilecoccus Miller & Gonzalez, Intecticoccus Kondo, Madarococcus Hoy (except for M. totorae Hoy), Sisyrococcus Hoy and several species of the genus Eriococcus Targioni Tozzetti. The genera Eriococcus and Madarococcus were not recovered as monophyletic. Here we revise Madarococcus. We expand the concept of the genus, provide a key to the adult females of the 31 species of Madarococcus and, for each named species, provide revised synonymies and any new collection or taxonomic information. We recognise the genus from Australia for the first time and describe the adult females of six new Australian species: Madarococcus cunninghamii Hardy & Gullan, sp. nov.; M. meander Hardy & Gullan, sp. nov.; M. megaventris Hardy & Gullan, sp. nov.; M. moorei Hardy & Gullan, sp. nov.; M. occultus Hardy & Gullan, sp. nov., and M. osculus Hardy & Gullan, sp. nov. We also describe the first-instar nymphs of M. cunninghamii, sp. nov., M. meander, sp. nov. and M. moorei, sp. nov. We transfer 17 species into Madarococcus from Eriococcus: M. argentifagi (Hoy), comb. nov.; M. cavellii (Maskell), comb. nov.; M. chilensis (Miller & Gonzalez), comb. nov.; M. detectus (Hoy), comb. nov.; M. eurythrix (Miller & Gonzalez), comb. nov.; M. fagicorticis (Maskell), comb. nov.; M. hispidus (Hoy), comb. nov.; M. latilobatus (Hoy), comb. nov.; M. maskelli, (Hoy), comb. nov.; M. montifagi (Hoy), comb. nov.; M. navarinoensis (Miller & Gonzalez), comb. nov.; M. nelsonensis (Hoy), comb. nov.; M. nothofagi (Hoy), comb. nov.; M. podocarpi (Hoy), comb. nov.; M. raithbyi (Maskell), comb. nov.; M. rotundus (Hoy), comb. nov. and M. rubrifagi (Hoy), comb. nov. We transfer two species from Sisyrococcus into Madarococcus: M. intermedius (Maskell), comb. nov. and M. papillosus (Hoy), comb. nov. One species, M. totarae (Maskell), is excluded from Madarococcus, but cannot at present be placed in another genus and is listed as ‘M.’ totarae incertae sedis. We report the first collection of an eriococcid, M. osculus, sp. nov., on the deciduous beech, Nothofagus gunnii. With respect to biogeography, the results of our phylogenetic analysis are congruent with those obtained from recent analysis of Nothofagus; Australian and New Zealand species of Madarococcus form a monophyletic group to the exclusion of the South American species, suggesting that long-distance dispersal has played an important role in shaping the distributions of both the Nothofagus-feeding felt scales and their hosts.

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.

Review of the gall-inducing scale insects of New Zealand (Hemiptera: Coccoidea), with a guide to field identification.

Some species of scale insects induce distinctive galls on their host plants. This can make field identifications relatively easy, avoiding laborious slide-mounting and specialist identification. Thirteen species of felt scales (Eriococcidae), four species of armoured scales (Diaspididae) and two soft scale species (Coccidae) inhabit galls in New Zealand. Photographs are provided for the galls of 12 species of eriococcids, three diaspidids and two coccids. A table is provided for field identification.

A new genus and species of felt scale (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae) from epiphyte communities of northern rata (Metrosideros robusta Cunn.: Myrtaceae) canopy in New Zealand

The adult female, 2nd-instar female and 1st-instar nymph of a new genus and species of felt scale insect Affeldococcus kathrinae (Eriococcidae) are described from epiphyte mats in the high canopy of northern rata trees. The material was collected from two study sites on the west side of the South Island, New Zealand: Bullock Creek, Punakaiki, and at the start of the Heaphy Track near Karamea. This new species is unlike any others in the New Zealand fauna and apparently shares convergent features with the cactus-feeding Dactylopius species (Dactylopiidae), and possibly some relationship with the Australian genus Phacelococcus Miller. An additional couplet is provided to include this new genus in the key to genera of Eriococcidae present in New Zealand.