Geodorcus auriculatus

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Geodorcus auriculatus
COLE Lucanidae Geodorcus auriculatus f.png
Female, illustrated by Des Helmore
COLE Lucanidae Geodorcus auriculatus m.png
Male, illustrated by Des Helmore
Status NZTCS SP.svg
Sparse (NZ TCS) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Lucanidae
Genus: Geodorcus
Species:
G. auriculatus
Binomial name
Geodorcus auriculatus
(Broun, 1903) [2]
Synonyms
  • Lissotes auriculatus Broun, 1903 [2]
  • Dorcus auriculatus Holloway 1961 [3]

Geodorcus auriculatus is a large flightless stag beetle that is found in the southern part of the Coromandel Peninsula and on Mount Te Aroha in the Kaimai range of New Zealand.

Contents

Description

G. auriculatus observed on Mt. Te Aroha Te Aroha stag beetle 02.jpg
G. auriculatus observed on Mt. Te Aroha

Geodorcus auriculatus are large dull to glossy black or brownish black beetles. Their exoskeleton is covered in dots and minute hairs with four inconspicuous ribs. The length for male specimens ranges from 21 to 29 mm. This length includes their impressive mandibles. Female beetles have much less variation in their size, ranging in length from 19–20 mm. Their smaller mandibles allow them to be distinguished from male beetles. Their head is widest behind the eyes and distinctly depressed and smooth in males, less so in female beetles. [3]

Distribution

Geodorcus auriculatus is found from Manaia on the western side of the Coromandel Peninsula to Mount Te Aroha in the Kaimai range, south of the Coromandel. They can be found from near sea level to 950m on Mount Te Aroha. [3]

Habitat and diet

Adult beetles have been found under fallen logs in the moist layer of decaying wood between a log and the soil underneath it. Forest types vary and include canopies of tawa, rimu, northern rata, kauri, red and hard beech. [4] Like other Geodorcus species G. auriculatus spends its entire life in cool damp environments such as under logs and rocks, emerging at night to feed on sappy exudations from trees or other plants. [3]

Conservation

Like all Geodorcus species, G. auricualtus is protected under Schedule 7 of The 1953 Wildlife Act, making it an offense to hunt, kill or possess a specimen. [5] The known range of this species has been greatly extended by repeated surveys by the Department of Conservation. The surveys followed it gaining the conservation status of 'endangered' to give it legal protection from collectors. Like other Geodorcus species that live on the North or South Island of New Zealand, rats possums and pigs are threats to the species as prey or to its habitat. [3] Habitat loss by deforestation for logging or mining has also caused a loss of all beetle fauna within this species range. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stag beetle</span> Family of insects

Stag beetles are a family of about 1,200 species of beetles in the family Lucanidae, currently classified in four subfamilies. Some species grow to over 12 centimetres, but most to about 5 cm (2 in).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaimai Range</span> Mountain range in North Island of New Zealand

The Kaimai Range is a mountain range in the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of a series of ranges, with the Coromandel Range to the north and the Mamaku Ranges to the south. The Kaimai Range separates the Waikato in the west from the Bay of Plenty in the east.

<i>Lucanus cervus</i> Species of beetle

Lucanus cervus, known as the European stag beetle, or the greater stag beetle, is one of the best-known species of stag beetle in Western Europe, and is the eponymous example of the genus. L. cervus is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List.

<i>Lucanus formosanus</i> Species of beetle

Lucanus formosanus is a stag beetle which is endemic to Taiwan, and grows to a length of 45–80 millimetres (1.8–3.1 in). Like other species in the Lucanid family, L. formosanus exhibits distinct sexual dimorphism and subsequent external morphological allometry in males. Males of the species develop mandibles of various forms depending on geographic location; i.e. northern, central, and southern morphs.

<i>Cyclommatus</i> Genus of beetles

Cyclommatus is a genus of the family Lucanidae, also known as the stag beetle. The majority of the species from the genus Cyclommatus are located in Southeast Asia, though some species are found in China and Taiwan as well. The genus Cyclommatus also consists of three subgenera: Cyclommatus, Cyclommatinus and Cyclommatellus. Each subgenera contains 80, 24 and 3 species respectively. In total, the genus Cyclommatus consists of a total of 134 species, though more are still being discovered to this day.

<i>Hexarthrius parryi</i> Species of beetle

Hexarthrius parryi, the fighting giant stag beetle, is a species of large stag beetles. It belongs to the genus Hexarthrius of the tribe Lucanini. It is classified under the subfamily Lucaninae of the stag beetle family Lucanidae.

<i>Lamprima aurata</i> Species of beetle

Lamprima aurata, the golden stag beetle, is a species of beetle in the family Lucanidae. In Tasmania, this species is referred to by the common name of Christmas beetle, a name that is normally used for beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, genus Anoplognathus.

<i>Paralissotes reticulatus</i> Species of beetle

Paralissotes reticulatus, also called the New Zealand reticulate stag beetle, is a native species of stag beetle from New Zealand. Although they do have wings they are flightless.

<i>Geodorcus helmsi</i> Species of beetle

Geodorcus helmsi, known as New Zealand giant stag beetle or Helms's stag beetle, is a large, slow-moving, flightless stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Geodorcus</i> Genus of beetles

Geodorcus is a genus of beetles belonging to the family Lucanidae. They are endemic to New Zealand. All Geodorcus species are protected under Schedule 7 of The 1953 Wildlife Act, making it an offense to hunt, kill or possess a specimen.

<i>Geodorcus capito</i> Species of beetle

Geodorcus capito is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It is endemic to the Chatham Islands in New Zealand.

<i>Geodorcus alsobius</i> Species of beetle

Geodorcus alsobius, or Moehau stag beetle, is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It is found only on Mt Moehau, the highest mountain in the Moehau Range on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand.

<i>Geodorcus ithaginis</i> Species of beetle

Geodorcus ithaginis, the Mokohinau stag beetle, is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It was described by Thomas Broun in 1893 after being discovered in the Mokohinau Islands by Andreas Stewart Sandager, a lighthouse keeper on the islands. The species survives only on the small unnamed island "Stack H", in a patch of vegetation the size of a living room, and is in extreme danger of extinction.

Geodorcus montivagus is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It is known from only one female specimen found on the Victoria Range in New Zealand. It was found in tussock at 1,220 metres (4,000 ft) above sea level.

<i>Geodorcus novaezealandiae</i> Species of beetle

Geodorcus novaezealandiae is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It is the type species and smallest member of the genus Geodorcus. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Geodorcus philpotti</i> Species of beetle

Geodorcus philpotti is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It was named by Major Thomas Broun after Mr A. Philpott, who discovered it at Hump Ridge near Invercargill. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Geodorcus servandus</i> Species of beetle

Geodorcus servandus is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It was discovered by P.R. Kettle in December 1960 and this holotype specimen is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. It was first described by Beverley Holloway in 2007. Its type location is Mount Tuhua summit, near Lake Kaniere on the West Coast of New Zealand. The name servandus is a Latin word meaning "[something] to be preserved, conserved, looked after".

<i>Geodorcus sororum</i> Species of beetle

Geodorcus sororum is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It was discovered in 1973 by Mr. A. Wright on an expedition to Middle Sister Island/Te Awanui, one of The Sisters Islands/Rangitatahi which are part of the Chatham Islands in New Zealand. This holotype specimen is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. It was first described by Beverley Holloway in 2007. The name sororum is translated from Latin to mean "belonging to the sisters".

<i>Aegus chelifer</i> Species of beetle

Aegus chelifer, is a species of stag beetle found in Indo-Malaya regional countries.

References

  1. ↑ Leschen, R.A.B; Marris, J. W.M.; Emberson, R. M.; Nunn, J.; Hitchmough, R. A.; Stringer, I. A.N. (July 2012). "The conservation status of New Zealand Coleoptera" (PDF). New Zealand Entomologist. 35 (2): 91–98. doi:10.1080/00779962.2012.686311. S2CID   219566068 . Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 Broun, T. "Descriptions of new Genera and Species of New Zealand Coleoptera". The Annals and Magazine of Natural History: Including Zoology, Botany, and Geology: 615–616. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Holloway, B.A. "Lucanidae (Insecta: Coleoptera)" (PDF). Landcare New Zealand. Landcare Research. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 Sherley, Greg; Green, Chris; Owen, Keith (1994). "Distribution, conservation status and some features of the natural history of Dorcus Stag beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae)" (PDF). Science and Research Series (75). Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  5. ↑ "Wildlife Act 1953". New Zealand Legislation. Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
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