Biology:Hemiandrus focalis

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Short description: Species of orthopteran insect

Hemiandrus focalis
Adult female near Bannockburn, South Island, New Zealand
Invalid status (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Ensifera
Family: Anostostomatidae
Genus: Hemiandrus
Species:
H. focalis
Binomial name
Hemiandrus focalis
(Hutton, 1896)
Synonyms
  • Zealandosandrus maculifrons sensu Salmon 1950[1]
Distribution map of Hemiandrus focalis in New Zealand based on observations from iNaturalist 2021.

Hemiandrus focalis is a species of ground wētā endemic to New Zealand. This flightless orthopteran lives in the mountains of the South Island.[2] The species can be distinguished from other ground wētā by their three superior retrolateral spines on their mid tibia and females' long ovipositors.[3] This omnivorous ground wētā species is listed as "not threatened" by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.[4]

Taxonomy

Hemiandrus focalis was formally placed in the genus Zealandosandrus by Salmon in 1950.[5] The genus Zealandosandrus was formed to separate species with the distinct traits of long ovipositors and the absence of a modified 6th abdominal sternite in female wētā.[6] However, this genus is now regarded as synonymous with Hemiandrus[2], as some ground wētā species have intermediate length ovipositers[2][3] and Hemiandrus focalis has weakly developed paramedian lobes on the female 6th sternite.[7]

Morphology

This species can be distinguished from other ground wētā by their three superior retrolateral spines on their mid tibia and females have relatively long ovipositors.[3] Ovipositor length vary in different ground wētā species. Hemiandrus focalis is one of about ten Hemiandrus species with females possessing long ovipositors.[2][8][9] The tarsus of H. focalis is also described as bare with only a few erect setae.

Habitat and distribution

All species within the genus Hemiandrus are nocturnal.[2] Individuals of H. focalis are found during the day in soil burrows in native forest or in burrows of stony silts in open habitat.[2] The habitat of Hemiandrus focalis extends into high elevation in the alpine zone above the tree line.[8] This species are distributed across the mountains of New Zealand's South Island and also found present on Codfish Island.[2]

Diet

Hemiandrus focalis is one of the Hemiandrus species that has an omnivorous diet.[2] Omnivorous ground wētā such as H. maia are found to consume fruits, seeds and other invertebrates.[8]

Mating and breeding

Hemiandrus focalis lay their eggs in the ground similar to the suborder Ensifera.[6] The long ovipositors in the females suggest that they do not have maternal care.[6] This species may take three years to reach maturity.[7]

Nuptial gifting occurs in Hemiandrus species where the male attaches a spermatophylax with the sperm ampulla onto the female when mating.[6] Although the mating process of the H. focalis has not be recorded specifically, Hemiandrus species with long ovipositors have been recorded to have a spermatophylax attached to the sperm ampulla.[10]

Female adult from the front

Conservation

Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as "Not Threatened".[11] Ground wētā are important as they are part of the diet of native kiwi.[12] They are also eaten by introduced mammals in New Zealand such as hedgehogs[13] and stoats.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Johns, Peter (2001). "Distribution and conservation status of ground weta, Hemiandrus species (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae)". Science for Conservation, New Zealand Department of Conservation 180: 1–24. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Johns, P. M. (1997). "The Gondwanaland Weta: Family Anostostomatidae (Formerly in Stenopelmatidae, Henicidae or Mimnermidae): Nomenclatural Problems, World Checklist, New Genera and Species". Journal of Orthoptera Research (6): 125–138. doi:10.2307/3503546. ISSN 1082-6467. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3503546. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Smith, BL Taylor; Morgan-Richards, M.; Trewick, S. A. (2013). "New Zealand ground wētā (Anostostomatidae: Hemiandrus): descriptions of two species with notes on their biology". New Zealand Journal of Zoology 40 (4): 314–329. doi:10.1080/03014223.2013.804422. ISSN 0301-4223. 
  4. ↑ Trewick, S. A.; Morris, S. J.; Johns, P. M.; Hitchmough, R. A.; Stringer, I. A.N. (2012-06-21). "The conservation status of New Zealand Orthoptera". New Zealand Entomologist 35 (2): 131–136. doi:10.1080/00779962.2012.686318. ISSN 0077-9962. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00779962.2012.686318. 
  5. ↑ Salmon, J. T. (1950). "Revision of the New Zealand Wetas Anostostominae (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatidae).". Dominion Museum Records in Entomology 1 (8): 121–177. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Gwynne, Darryl T. (2004). "Reproductive Behavior of Ground Weta (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae): Drumming Behavior, Nuptial Feeding, Post-copulatory Guarding and Maternal Care". Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 77 (4): 414–428. doi:10.2317/e-34.1. ISSN 0022-8567. http://dx.doi.org/10.2317/e-34.1. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Johns, P. M. (2001). Distribution and conservation status of ground weta, Hemiandrus species (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae). New Zealand. Department of Conservation. Wellington, N.Z.: Dept. of Conservation. ISBN 0-478-22134-7. OCLC 50737260. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Derraik, José G. B.; Barratt, Barbara I. P.; Sirvid, Phil; Macfarlane, Roderick P.; Patrick, Brian H.; Early, John; Eyles, Alan C.; Johns, Peter M. et al. (2001). "Invertebrate survey of a modified native shrubland, Brookdale Covenant, Rock and Pillar Range, Otago, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Zoology 28 (3): 273–290. doi:10.1080/03014223.2001.9518270. ISSN 0301-4223. 
  9. ↑ Trewick, Steven A. (2021). "A new species of large Hemiandrus ground wētā (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae) from North Island, New Zealand". Zootaxa 4942 (2): 207–218. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4942.2.4. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 33757066. https://www.biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.4942.2.4. 
  10. ↑ Brown, W. D.; Gwynne, D. T. (1997). "Evolution of mating in crickets, katydids and wetas (Ensifera)". Bionomics of Grasshoppers, Katydids, and Their Kin: 281–314. 
  11. ↑ Trewick, Steven & Hegg, Danilo & Morgan-Richards, Mary & Murray, Tara & Watts, Corinne & Johns, Peter & Michel, Pascale. (2022). Conservation status of Orthoptera (wētā, crickets and grasshoppers) in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2022. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 39. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 28 p.
  12. ↑ Colbourne, Rogan; Baird, Karen; Jolly, Jim (October 1990). "Relationship between invertebrates eaten by little spotted kiwi, Apteryx owenii, and their availability on Kapiti Island, New Zealand" (in en). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 17 (4): 533–542. doi:10.1080/03014223.1990.10422951. ISSN 0301-4223. 
  13. ↑ Jones, Chris; Moss, Kirsten; Sanders, Mark (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. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24056190. 
  14. ↑ Smith, D.H.V; Jamieson, I.G.; Peach, R.M.E. (2005). "Importance of ground weta (Hemiandrus spp.) in stoat (Mustela erminea) diet in small montane valleys and alpine grasslands". New Zealand Journal of Ecology 29 (2): 207–214. ISSN 0110-6465. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24058176. 

Wikidata ☰ Q10520963 entry



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