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Rosemary Gillespie is a Professor in insect biology in the Department
of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at the University of California,
Berkeley. Her research focuses on understanding evolutionary patterns
and processes among populations and species. Rosemary’s primary focus
is on islands, particularly remote hotspot islands of the Pacific. Hotspot
archipelagoes – in which islands emanate from a single volcanic hotspot
from which they are progressively carried away by a geological plate –
allow her to examine how communities have changed over time and thus gain
insight into the nature of processes shaping communities over evolutionary
time. Rosemary is the keynote speaker for the symposium on “Hotspots
and Cold spots”.
Dennis O’Dowd is a Reader in Biological Sciences in the Australian
Centre for Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, at Monash University
in Melbourne Australia. His current research interests include the impacts
and management of biological invasions, especially on islands. An understanding
of the importance of mutualism and indirect interactions in biotic communities
has been a quest throughout his research career. He also has an interest
in biosecurity policy and recently produced a National Threat Abatement
Plan for Tramp Ants for the Australian government. Dennis is the keynote
speaker for the symposium on “Island Biosecurity” and will present
a paper titled “101 reasons why biosecurity is important: invasional
meltdown on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean”.
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Snapshots of NZ Entomology
The ribbonwood anthribid Hoherius meinertzhageni,
This endemic New Zealand beetle is commonly found on lacebarks
and ribbonwoods. The males have very long antennae. Within the
pupa, the antennae are neatly coiled on each side of the flattened
rostrum. They are known to occur in the North Island from Auckland
to Wellington, and as far south as the Mackenzie in the South
Island, with one record from the Southland coast.
Adapted from Holloway (1982)
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©Landcare Research |
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Snapshots of NZ Entomology
The beach scale insect Sarococcus fagi
William Maskell described this bi-coloured beech mealybug in
1891. Cox (Fauna of NZ 11, 1987) added three more green-coloured
species to this endemic Nothofagus-feeding genus.They can
generally be found on N. fusca, N. menziesii and
N. solandri in forests throughout New Zealand. The photo
is of an S. fagi female collected at the Harwoods Hole
Track carpark in North-west Nelson. She is facing down towards
the leaf petiole, with her antennae tucked in beside the head,
and her four white wax tail filaments protruding from the posterior
end.
By Rosa Henderson
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©Landcare Research |
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Snapshots of NZ Entomology
The peppercorn scale, Epelidochiton piperis
William Maskell named this species piperis in 1882, after the
plant Macropiper or pepper tree. The genus name, Epelidochiton,
means "freckled skin" because females develop a sclerotised
patch under each plate area of the test. Peppercorn scale prefers
warmer parts of New Zealand, and has not been found south of the
Nelson area. Unlike most other native soft scales, it is able
to withstand urban environments, and can be found living on puriri
trees in Auckland parks and gardens. It is known from at least
fifteen different host plants. The photo is of a female and two
young instars
By Rosa Henderson
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©Landcare Research |
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Snapshots of NZ Entomology
The fern scale, Pseudaulacaspis phymatodidis
This endemic armoured scale (Diaspididae) is common on many different
ferns in New Zealand, from ground dwellers, tree ferns, hanging
ferns to filmy ferns. William Maskell gave it the specific name
phymatodidis in 1880, during a period when long-winded names were
the norm. Unfortunately it later was put into the equally long-named
genus Pseudaulacaspis, but luckily it is restricted to ferns and
we can use its common name and avoid the scientific mouthful.
The photo is of a recent collection by Ross Beever, from Pitt
Island, Chathams.
By Rosa Henderson
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©Landcare Research |
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Snapshots of NZ Entomology
The broom seed beetle, Bruchidius villosus (L.)
Introduced for biocontrol of broom, Cystisus scoparius,
adult beetles are commonly found inside broom flowers. Females
lay pale coloured, elongate eggs singly on the outside of green
seed pods, and a single larva develops inside an individual seed.
Adult beetles escape from dry, blackened pods when they dehisce
in summer. This beetle also develops on tree lucerne (tagasaste)
(Chamaecytisus palmensis or Cytisus proliferus).
By Pauline Syrett
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©Landcare Research |
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Snapshots of NZ Entomology
The Pit Island longhorn, Xylotoles costatus Pascoe
Early records of this longhorn are all from Pitt Island and Chatham
Island, but more recently it has been seen only on Rangitira.
and is believed to be extinct on the larger islands. Larvae feed
on Coprosma chathamica, and adults have occasionally been
seen climbing trunks of Coprosma trees at night. The species
is regarded as endangered, and is classed as Nationally Critical.
By Rowan Emberson
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©Landcare Research |
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