Horelophus walkeri

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Horelophus walkeri
COLE Hydrophilidae Horelophus walkeri.png
Status NZTCS NE.svg
Nationally Endangered (NZ TCS) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Hydrophilidae
Genus: Horelophus
Species:
H. walkeri
Binomial name
Horelophus walkeri
d'Orchymont, 1913
New Zealand (relief map).png
Disc Plain red.svg
Nelson
Disc Plain red.svg
Marlborough
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Buller
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Locations of Horelophus walkeri in New Zealand

Horelophus walkeri is a small water scavenger beetle that is endemic to New Zealand. It is found in the South Island in the West Coast, Nelson, Buller and Marlborough regions. The preferred habitat of this species are the moss and crevices within the splash zone of waterfalls sourced from fast flowing, clear, cool waterways. The larvae of this species are carnivorous while the adults are herbivores or scavengers. In 2012 the Department of Conservation classified this beetle as Nationally Endangered.

Contents

Description

Horelophus walkeri Horelophus walkeri 57888187 (2).jpg
Horelophus walkeri

This species was first described in 1913 by Armand d'Orchymont [2] from two specimens collected in Reefton, New Zealand. [3] The beetle is 2.1–3.1 mm long with a glossy brown to black body. The pronotum and elytra have translucent pale brown margins. Its small eyes are pale and protrude from its head. Its head, pronotum and elytra are covered in small and shallow punctures. The elytra have a distinctive depression. This species, was thought to have primitive characteristics, and originally placed in its own subfamily of Horelophinae. [4] More recently, it was placed within the tribe Anacaenini, though H. walkeri remains the only species within the genus Horelophus [5]

Distribution and habitat

Specimens have been collected from waterfalls at sunny sites in Nelson, Buller and Marlborough. Sites in Marlborough include Dead Horse Creek, near Canvastown and tributaries of the Pelorus River, near Pelorus Bridge. In Nelson, this beetle has been collected from Deepwater Creek, near Lyell and catchments flowing into the Wangapeka and Owen Rivers. All locations were waterways that were fast flowing, clear and cool. The riverbeds consisted of fine sedimentary rocks. The locations mostly have open canopies among beech forest. Horelophus walkeri can be found on wet rocks or hiding within moss, crevices and shaded areas within the spray zone of a waterfall. Commonly, it is found walking on wet rocks, rather than submerged like water scavenger beetles that live in similar habitats. [4]

Behaviour

This species hides within moss and crevices in the splash zones of small waterfalls. It is likely that they feed on algae on the smooth and wet rock surfaces in these locations. Whilst adult water scavenger beetles are normally herbivores or scavengers, larvae are carnivorous. [3] Considering that they are not found at sites with closed canopies, it is likely that they use polarised light, reflecting from the surfaces of rocks under waterfalls for finding suitable locations. Their long wings indicate that they are capable of flight. [4]

Conservation

Few collections had been made of this species until 2012. [1] Surveys for this species may assist in understanding its specific habitat requirements. Currently, it has not been located in any river catchments in Nelson City, indicating that populations may not be sustained in urban environments. [4] In 2012, Horelophus walkeri was added to the list of nationally endangered beetles in New Zealand. [6] [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Spercheus</i> Genus of beetles

Spercheus is a genus of aquatic beetles which are placed in a family of their own, Spercheidae within the Hydrophiloidea. About 20 species are known from around the world except the Nearctic with the majority being from the Oriental and Afrotropical Realms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrophilidae</span> Family of beetles

Hydrophilidae, also known colloquially as water scavenger beetles, is a family of beetles. Aquatic hydrophilids are notable for their long maxillary palps, which are longer than their antennae. Several of the former subfamilies of Hydrophilidae have recently been removed and elevated to family rank; Epimetopidae, Georissidae, Helophoridae, Hydrochidae, and Spercheidae. While the majority of hydrophilids are aquatic, around a third of described species are terrestrial, mostly belonging to the subfamily Sphaeridiinae.

<i>Georissus</i> Genus of beetles

Georissus, also called minute mud-loving beetles, is the only genus in the beetle family Georissidae. They are tiny insects living in wet soil, often near water. They are found on every continent except Antarctica.

<i>Helophorus</i> Genus of beetles

Helophorus is the only genus in the beetle family Helophoridae within the Hydrophiloidea. They are small insects, found mainly in the Holarctic region, but two or three species also live in the Afrotropical region, Central America and one in the Indomalayan region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pelorus Bridge</span> Place in Marlborough, New Zealand

Pelorus Bridge is a tiny locality in Marlborough, New Zealand where the Rai River meets Pelorus River. State Highway 6 crosses the Pelorus River at Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve, which was used as one of the film locations for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. You can take a guided kayak tour to experience this Hobbit filming location.

<i>Hydrophilus palpalis</i> Species of beetle

Hydrophilus palpalis is a species of water scavenger beetles belonging to the Hydrophilinae subfamily.

<i>Helobata</i> Genus of beetles

Helobata is a mostly Neotropical genus of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It contains 13 described species, one of which is broadly distributed, reaching North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acidocerinae</span> Subfamily of beetles

Acidocerinae is a subfamily in the family Hydrophilidae of aquatic beetles, and it contains over 500 species in 23 genera.

<i>Amychus granulatus</i> Species of beetle

Amychus granulatus, commonly known as the Cook Strait click beetle, is a large flightless click beetle in the family Elateridae.

Oosternum is a genus of water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae. There are more than 20 described species in Oosternum.

Phaenonotum is a genus of water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae. There are about nine described species in Phaenonotum.

<i>Acidocerus</i> Genus of beetles

Acidocerus aphodioides is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is the only species in the genus Acidocerus. It is known only from Mozambique.

<i>Berosus pulchellus</i> Species of beetle

Berosus pulchellus, is a species of water scavenger beetle found in Oriental, Australasian, Afrotropical and Palaearctic regional countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Japan, Iran, Cambodia and Australia.

Cercyon (Clinocercyon) lineolatus, is a species of water scavenger beetle found in several Oriental and Oceanian countries.

Cercyon (Paracycreon) subsolanus, is a species of water scavenger beetle found in Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Coelostoma (Holocoelostoma) stultum, is a species of water scavenger beetle widely distributed in Palearctic and Oriental realms from West Pacific towards Indian Ocean, such as China, Taiwan, Andaman Islands, Myanmar, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mascarene Islands, Nicobar Islands, Oman, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Vietnam.

<i>Coelostoma vitalisi</i> Species of beetle

Coelostoma (Coelostoma) vitalisi, is a species of water scavenger beetle found in China, Taiwan, Japan, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.

<i>Agraphydrus</i> Genus of beetles

Agraphydrus is a genus of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae represented by 205 described species. It is distributed across the Afrotropical, Australasian, and Indomalayan realms.

<i>Helopeltarium</i> Genus of beetles

Helopeltarium is a genus of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae represented by only one species. It is known only from Myanmar.

<i>Novochares</i> Genus of beetles

Novochares is a primarily Neotropical genus of water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae represented by 15 described species, one of which is thought to be introduced in Florida in the United States of America.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Leschen, R. A. B.; Marris, J. W. M.; Emberson, R. M.; Hitchmough, R. A.; Stringer, I. A. N. (2012). "The Conservation Status of New Zealand Coleoptera". New Zealand Entomologist. 35 (2): 91–98. doi:10.1080/00779962.2012.686311. S2CID   219566068.
  2. ↑ d'Orchymont, Armand (1937). "Check List of the Palpicornia of Oceania (Coleoptera, Polyphaga)" (PDF). Occasional Papers of Bernice P. Bishop Museum. 13: 155.
  3. 1 2 Klimaszewski, J.; Watt, J.C. (1997). "Coleoptera: family-group review and keys to identification" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand Ko Te Aitanga Ρeρeke O Aotearoa. 37: 168. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-01-26. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Fikacek, Martin; Leschen, Richard; Newton, Alfred; Gunter, Nicole (2012). "Horelophus walkeri rediscovered: Adult morphology and notes on biology (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae)". Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae. 52: 129–146.
  5. ↑ Short, Andrew Edward Z.; Fikáček, Martin (October 2013). "Molecular phylogeny, evolution and classification of the Hydrophilidae (Coleoptera): Classification of the Hydrophilidae". Systematic Entomology. 38 (4): 723–752. doi:10.1111/syen.12024.
  6. ↑ "Horelophus walkeri Orchymont, 1913". nztcs.org.nz. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
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