A note on the Megaloptera, Neuroptera and Mecoptera of Tuglo wildlife refuge, New South Wales

5 Pages·1993·1.6 MB·

by  C N Smithers

Aust. Ent. 20 (2) Aug 1993 67
A NOTE ON THE MEGALOPTERA, NEUROPTERA AND
MECOPTERA OF TUGLO WILDLIFE REFUGE, NEW SOUTH
WALES
C.N. SMITHERS
Department of Entomology, Australian Museum, P.O. Box A285, Sydney South, N.S.W., 2000
Abstract
Three species of Megaloptera, 32 species of Neuroptera and 2 species of Mecoptera are recorded
from Tuglo Wildlife Refuge, Hunter Valley, New South Wales. Preliminary data are provided on
adult flight periods based on collecting over several years and on one year of continuous use of a
Malaise trap.
Introduction
Tuglo Wildlife Refuge (32°14'S 151°16'E) is a property of about 214 ha
situated some 10 km south-west of Mt Royal and about 40 km due north of
Singleton, New South Wales. Its altitude is from 760 m to 320 m and the area
is of interest because of its intermediate position between Barrington Tops to
the north and the Hunter Valley to the south. This paper gives an account of
the Megaloptera, Neuroptera and Mecoptera found on the Refuge, collected
as part of a wider flora and fauna survey of the area.
The environment
Most of the Refuge consists of an irregular, steep-sided ridge running more or
less east-west, descending in a series of platforms to the western boundary
formed by Falbrook, a tributary of Glennies Creek which, in turn, runs into
the Hunter River. The northern slopes are affected by north-westerly winds,
resulting in hot, dry conditions in summer and harsh conditions in winter;
southerly winds provide a cooler influence in summer. The effects of these
winds are reflected in the vegetation pattern with the northern slopes
supporting dry sclerophyll and the sheltered southern slopes supporting
rainforest and wet sclerophyll. There are also areas of eucalyptus woodland
and grassland and a small area is undergoing horticultural development.
Summer temperatures are high, frost occurs in winter and there are occasional
light falls of snow.
Collection of data
Data were collected casually from the late 1970s, with more intensive
collecting from 1986 and by continuous operation of a Malaise trap, near the
rainforest in wet sclerophyll, from mid 1988 to mid 1989. Most of the
individually collected specimens were obtained by beating. This undoubtedly
introduces bias into the samples because small, active fliers, such as the
Coniopterygidae, tend to take flight when disturbed whereas some of the
Hemerobiidae will indulge in "death feigning" and lie immobile on the
beating tray. Capture by Malaise trap may be less biased and give a better
indication of flight activity but the combined data give areasonable indication
of seasonal activity of adults. Several hundreds of specimens were taken;
these will be deposited in the Australian Museum.
68
Aust. Entomologist 20 (2) Aug 1993

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70 Aust. Ent. 20 (2) Aug 1993
Discussion
Although the principal aim of the collections was to establish which species
are present on Tuglo Wildlife Refuge some information on periodicity of
flight activity can be gleaned from the collection data.
Megaloptera
Only five specimens were collected. Two of the species were taken only
once. All were taken between 5th November and 2nd February, the
specimens of A. plomleyi a considerable distance from the nearest running
water.
Neuroptera
Table 1 summarises data on collection of all material grouped by weeks.
These suggest that adult Neuroptera are most likely to been encountered from
late September to end of February. The main exceptions are Micromus
tasmaniae and Drepanacra binocula discussed below.
Coniopteryx orientalis and Neosemidalis farinosa accounted for 7696 of the
Coniopterygidae although the latter was collected on only two occasions and
never appeared in the trap. Most C. orientalis specimens, the commonest
coniopterygid, were taken in the trap.
Oedosmylus latipennis was taken only in two consecutive weeks in the trap
suggesting that it may have a relatively short flight period.
Mantispids were not common and only one specimen (Toolida infrequens)
was taken in the trap. All others were collected.
Most hemerobiids appear to have a fairly short adult flying season, mainly
from November to January. Drepanacra binocula is most active from mid
October to the end of January and was trapped and collected. This species
hibernates as adults in dried leaves and this accounts for collection of adults
by beating in July. M. tasmaniae, the most abundant and widespread
Australian hemerobiid, has a much earlier flight season than other
Neuroptera, appearing in the trap from mid July to mid January. Like D.
binocula this species hibernates as adults and this probably accounts for the
captures by beating in April and June.
Chrysopids were not abundant in the area and only two specimens were
trapped, the others being collected.
The small numbers of nymphids, myrmeleontids and ascalaphids taken make
comment unwarranted except to say that they appear to be active during the
short period of hot weather from mid December to the end of January.
Relatively little information is available on the flight periods of Australian
Neuroptera from specific localities. Mackey (1988) provides information on
myrmeleontids at Rockhampton, Queensland. The revisionary papers of New
(e.g. New 1980, 1981) provide useful collecting dates but these do not, of
course, relate to individual localities over a period.
Aust. Ent. 20 (2) Aug 1993 71
The data provided by the present general collection suggest that the active
periods vary considerably from species to species and further emphasise the
fact that our knowledge of the biology of these insects in Australia is very
limited. Considering the potential importance of Neuroptera as predators of
pest species detailed studies of their field biology should be given high
priority. It is hoped that this short note will encourage others to make more
detailed investigations.
Mecoptera
Only two species of Mecoptera were taken, one of which was trapped. H.
limnaeus was collected from late November to early January and T. pallida
collected and trapped only between mid March and mid April. Both species
have a short adult flying period and are seasonally segregated.
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank my wife for collecting all but a few of the specimens on
which this paper is based. I would also like to thank Heidi Marks and
Graeme Smithers for looking after the Malaise trap in my absence and Dr
T.R. New for comments on a preliminary draft of this note.
References
MACKEY, A.P. 1988. Phenology of some myrmeleontoid (Neuroptera) species from
Rockhampton (Central Queensland). Australian Entomological Magazine 15: 87-90.
NEW, T.R. 1980. A revision of the Australian Chrysopidae (Insecta: Neuroptera). Australian
Journal ofZ oology Supplementary Series 77: 1-143.
NEW, T.R. 1981. A revision of the Australian Nymphidae (Insecta: Neuroptera). Australian
Journal of Zoology 29: 707-750.