Phaulacridium marginale

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Phaulacridium marginale
Phaulacridium marginale 38387794.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Caelifera
Family: Acrididae
Subfamily: Catantopinae
Tribe: Catantopini
Genus: Phaulacridium
Species:
P. marginale
Binomial name
Phaulacridium marginale
(Walker, 1870)
Distribution of Phaulacridium marginale in New Zealand.jpg
Distribution of P. marginale throughout mainland New Zealand using iNaturalist observations (Research Grade) as of September, 2021
Synonyms
List
  • Phaulacridium luteum (Hutton, 1898)
  • Caloptenus inscitus (Walker, 1870)
Phaulacridium marginale, New Zealand grasshopper Phaulacridium marginale P1140442b.jpg
Phaulacridium marginale, New Zealand grasshopper
Phaulacridium marginale, New Zealand grasshopper Phaulacridium marginale P1140440b.jpg
Phaulacridium marginale, New Zealand grasshopper

Phaulacridium marginale is a small species of short-horned grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is endemic to New Zealand where it is found in low elevation open habitat throughout North Island, South Island, Stewart Island and on many smaller islands. [1] [2]

Contents

Distribution and habitat

Phaulacridium marginale is widespread throughout New Zealand. It is commonly found on open lowland grassy flats and sand dunes. [3] It is also found on the sub-alpine zone to an altitude of 1,350 metres (4,430 ft) on the Ragged Range ( 43°14′47″S171°06′10″E / 43.246436°S 171.102778°E / -43.246436; 171.102778 ). It is not uncommon on roadsides in exotic grass and in built-up areas near Wellington and Christchurch. This Phaulacridium genus prefers open spaces where they are able to thermoregulate their bodies through basking (also known as sunning). [1]

This common lowland short-horned grasshopper species is also present on many of New Zealand's offshore islands. It has been reported on Little Barrier Island (Hauturu), Great Barrier Island (Aotea), and the Hen and Chicken Islands (is also likely to be on other offshore islands). [4] It has even been found on the Chatham Islands, approximately 850km east of New Zealand. [5]

Species description

Morphology

The wings on Phaulacridium marginale are micropterous (small wings) between 1–3 millimetres (0.039–0.118 in) making this species flightless like most of New Zealand grasshoppers. However, fully winged adults (89% adults female and 11% adults male [6] ) are extremely rare and can be found throughout New Zealand. The obvious benefits of having macropterous wings is to increase survivability by escaping adverse local conditions, colonizing new areas and a more effective way to escape predators. It is not clear what causes the micropterous P. marginale to produce fully developed wings in New Zealand. A possible trigger for this could be if individuals are put under a large amount of stress from harmful local conditions during the final instar.

Male body length 10–15 millimetres (0.39–0.59 in); Female body length 20–30 millimetres (0.79–1.18 in).

Phaulacridium marginale exhibits colour polymorphism with two basic patterns: striped and unstriped. Unstriped forms are commonly brown, whereas the striped form has white pigmented stripes with black edgings on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the abdomen and pronotum. Intermediate forms have also been reported. Independent from patterned polymorphs, P.marginale also has variable body colouration ranging from brown to green tones, with green tones being less common. [7]

Male and females are sexually dimorphic in size, with females generally being larger than males. [1]

Genus

Phaulacridium is an Australasian genus found in Australia and New Zealand, where there are currently five known species. Two species, Phaulacridium crassum and Phaulacridium vittatum are endemic to the Australian mainland and Phaulacridium howeanum occurs only on Lord Howe Island. Of the two New Zealand species, Phaulacridium otagoense is endemic to the South Island (Mackenzie Basin and Central Otago).

Phaulacridium marginale is derived from an Australian lineage. [5] It is thought to be reproductively isolated from Phaulacridium vittatum, who is their closest Australian relative. [8]

Predators and Parasites

Many birds and mammals eat Phaulacridium marginale. Although it has not been reported as a dominant diet component, it has been found in the gizzards of black-billed gulls (Larus bulleri), starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen), and New Zealand pipits (Anthus novaeseelandiae). [9] [10] It has also been fed to nestlings of S.vulgaris and house sparrows (Passer domesticus). [11] [12]

Phaulacridium marginale has also been reported in the diet of two invasive mammal species, European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) [13] and common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula). [14]

It has been noted that an unknown species of parasitic horsehair worm (Nematomorpha); Gordioida) was found in one collected specimen of Phaulacridium marginale. [15]

Conservation status

The conservation status of Phaulacridium marginale is "Not Threatened" under the NZTCS. [16] However, Phaulacridium marginale is hybridizing with the very restricted species Phaulacridium otagoense where the ranges of these two species overlap. [17]

Related Research Articles

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Motuweta is a genus consisting of two species of tusked wētā in the family Anostostomatidae, endemic to New Zealand. The Northland tusked wētā, Anisoura nicobarica, may belong in this group, in which case the genus Motuweta would become a junior synonym of Anisoura.

<i>Hemiandrus</i> Genus of orthopteran insects

Hemiandrus is a genus of wētā in the family Anostostomatidae. In New Zealand they are known as ground wētā due to their burrowing lifestyle. Hemiandrus wētā are nocturnal, and reside in these burrows during the day. Ground wētā seal the entrance of their burrow during the day with a soil plug or door so that their burrow is concealed. This genus was originally said to be distributed in Australia and New Zealand, however, with recent molecular genetic methods, this is under debate. Ground wētā adults are smaller than other types of wētā, with the unusual trait of having both long and short ovipositors, depending on the species. The name of this genus is said to come from this trait as hemi- mean half and -andrus means male, as the species where the female has a short ovipositor can sometimes be mistaken for a male. This genus has a diverse diet, depending on the species.

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<i>Neonetus</i> Genus of orthopteran insects

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<i>Sigaus villosus</i> Species of grasshopper

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<i>Deinacrida connectens</i> Species of orthopteran insect

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<i>Sigaus</i> Genus of grasshoppers

Sigaus of grasshoppers in the tribe Catantopini that isendemic to New Zealand, and all but one species is endemic to the South Island: Sigaus piliferus is the only North Island representative and is the type species. There are eight species in the genus; all are flightless, and many are coloured for camouflage against rocky ground. Sigaus minutus and S. childi are threatened with extinction.

<i>Sigaus australis</i> Species of grasshopper

Sigaus australis is the most common alpine grasshopper found in New Zealand. It can be found in the southern half of the South Island above the tree line. Sigaus australis was described in 1897 by Frederick Hutton. Like all of New Zealand sub-alpine and alpine grasshoppers S. australis has a 2 or 3 years life cycle. Individuals can survive the cold by freezing solid at any life stage, at any time of the year. Sigaus australis adults are relatively large grasshoppers. The genus Sigaus is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Phaulacridium otagoense</i> Species of grasshopper

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<i>Hemiandrus bilobatus</i> Species of wētā endemic to New Zealand

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<i>Hemiandrus nox</i> Species of orthopteran insect

Hemiandrus nox, the night ground wētā, is a species of ground wētā endemic to New Zealand. During the day, this wētā hides in burrows in the soil and is active only at night. The species is found in native forests in North and South Island. Females of this species have medium-long curved ovipositers to lay their eggs in the soil. Unlike some Hemiandrus species, H. nox does not show maternal care.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Morgan-Richards</span> New Zealand academic

Mary Morgan-Richards is a New Zealand biologist, and as of 2019 is a full professor at Massey University.

<i>Sigaus minutus</i> Species of grasshopper

Sigaus minutus is a species of short-horned grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is one of the smallest and rarest species of grasshopper in New Zealand, found only in the Mackenzie district of South Island. There are nine species within the genus Sigaus described by Bigelow (1967), all endemic to New Zealand. The population status of Sigaus minutus is declining according to threat assessments made by orthopteran experts in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wētā</span> Informal group of orthopteran insects

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<i>Hemiandrus brucei</i> Species of wētā

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<i>Hemiandrus celaeno</i> Species of wētā endemic to New Zealand

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Sivyer, Louisa; Morgan-Richards, Mary; Koot, Emily; Trewick, Steven A. (2018). Stewart, Alan; Keyghobadi, Nusha (eds.). "Anthropogenic cause of range shifts and gene flow between two grasshopper species revealed by environmental modelling, geometric morphometrics and population genetics". Insect Conservation and Diversity. 11 (5): 415–434. doi:10.1111/icad.12289. S2CID   89841369.
  2. ↑ "New Zealand Grasshopper". www.landcareresearch.co.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  3. ↑ Morris, Simon J. (2003). "Two new species of Sigaus from Fiordland, New Zealand (Orthoptera: Acrididae)". New Zealand Entomologist. 26 (1): 65–74. doi:10.1080/00779962.2003.9722110. ISSN   0077-9962. S2CID   85388019.
  4. ↑ Keitha, Monson; Emberson Rowan, M. (2003). Biodiversity of terrestrial invertebrates in Christchurch City: a report for the Christchurch City Council. hdl:10182/4169.
  5. 1 2 Goldberg, Julia; Morgan-Richards, Mary; Trewick, Steven A. (2015). "Intercontinental island hopping: Colonization and speciation of the grasshopper genus Phaulacridium (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Australasia". Zoologischer Anzeiger - A Journal of Comparative Zoology. 255: 71–79. doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2015.02.005.
  6. ↑ Base on the 34 specimens in the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch; Otago Museum, Dunedin and Private collections.
  7. ↑ Westerman, M.; Ritchie, J. M. (1984). "The taxonomy, distribution and origins of two species of Phaulacridium (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in the South Island of New Zealand". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 21 (3): 283–298. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.1984.tb00366.x.
  8. ↑ Westerman, M; Fontana, P G (1973). "Polymorphisms for extra heterochromatin in Phaulacridium marginale". Heredity. 31 (2): 223–229. doi: 10.1038/hdy.1973.77 . ISSN   0018-067X. PMID   4521376.
  9. ↑ GARRICK, A. S. (1981). "Diets of Pipits and Skylarks at Huiarua Station, Tokomaru Bay, North Island, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Ecology. 4: 106–114. ISSN   0110-6465. JSTOR   24052613.
  10. ↑ Moeed, Abdul (1976). "Birds and their food resources at Christchurch International Airport, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 3 (4): 373–390. doi: 10.1080/03014223.1976.9517926 . ISSN   0301-4223.
  11. ↑ MacMillan, B. W. H.; Pollock, B. J. (1985). "Food of nestling house sparrows (Passer domesticus) in mixed farmland of Hawke's Bay, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 12 (3): 307–317. doi: 10.1080/03014223.1985.10428284 . ISSN   0301-4223.
  12. ↑ Moeed, Abdul (1980). "Diets of adult and nestling starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 7 (2): 247–256. doi:10.1080/03014223.1980.10423782. ISSN   0301-4223.
  13. ↑ Jones, C; Moss, K; Sanders, M (2005). "Diet of hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in the upper Waitaki Basin, New Zealand: Implications for conservation". New Zealand Journal of Ecology. 29 (1): 29–35. ISSN   0110-6465. JSTOR   24056190.
  14. ↑ Cowan, P. E.; Moeed, A. (1987). "Invertebrates in the diet of brushtail possums, Trichosurus vulpecula, in lowland podocarp/broadleaf forest, Orongorongo Valley, Wellington, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 14 (2): 163–177. doi: 10.1080/03014223.1987.10422987 . ISSN   0301-4223.
  15. ↑ Harris, A. C. (1990). "Phaulacridium marginale (Walker)(Acrididae) parasitised by a gordian worm (Nematomorpha; Gordioida). A note". Weta. 13(2).
  16. ↑ Trewick, S. A.; Morris, S. J.; Johns, P. M.; Hitchmough, R. A.; Stringer, I. A.N. (2012). "The conservation status of New Zealand Orthoptera". New Zealand Entomologist. 35 (2): 131–136. doi:10.1080/00779962.2012.686318. ISSN   0077-9962. S2CID   219564547.
  17. ↑ Morgan‐Richards, Mary; Vilcot, Maurine; Trewick, Steven A. (2021). "Lack of assortative mating might explain reduced phenotypic differentiation where two grasshopper species meet". Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 35 (4): 509–519. doi: 10.1111/jeb.13879 . ISSN   1010-061X. PMC   9290589 . PMID   34091960.
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