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Item Studies on two new entomogenous fungi (Stilbaceae : Hymenostilbe) and the biology and distribution of their host : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Agricultural Science at Massey University(Massey University, 1968) Wigley, Peter JohnSpecies of the sand weevil Cecyropa, occur on the foreshore all around the new Zealand coast, and extend for several miles inland in pastures of consolidated sand country. The adults vary widely in size and in the pattern of the mottled grey and brown cryptic colouration of the elytra and pronotum. Larvae of Cecyropa are external feeders on plant roots at depths of up to eighteen inches. In the Manawatu there are two species of Cecyropa: a larger species (C. maritima) confined to the unstablized sand dune area, and a smaller species (C. setirgera) occurring in both the unstabilized dunes and in pastures of the consolidated sand country. [From Introduction]Item Habitat requirements, translocation and management of the critically endangered Cromwell chafer beetle Prodontria lewisii Broun : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Zoology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2012) Curtin, Emma RachelTranslocation is an important tool for the conservation of endangered species with threatened habitats and low population numbers. Without high habitat quality, translocations have low chances of success, regardless of how many organisms are released or how well they are prepared for the release. It is therefore crucial to be able to identify sites in which translocations are most likely to be successful based on key environmental characteristics specific to the species and habitat in question. Species information is also needed to determine critical life history traits and minimum habitat fragment sizes. The Cromwell chafer beetle Prodontria lewisii Broun is an ideal candidate for translocation because it has a very limited habitat range, being entirely confined to the 81 ha Cromwell Chafer Beetle Nature Reserve (CCBNR) in Cromwell, Central Otago. The entire population is estimated to contain about 3,000 individuals. This study aimed to identify key plant and soil sites for optimum larval and adult survival by using a combination of field and laboratory-based studies. Larvae survived significantly better on the cushion plant Raoulia and on the grass Festuca rubra than on silver tussock Poa cita, despite this being the plant with which they are traditionally associated. Plant and soil surveys were conducted both within the existing reserve and in a potential new site at the Lindis Crossing. Soil pH, density and particle size were measured, but were not significantly related to chafer beetle survival. However, both larvae and adults survived significantly better when raised in soil from the CCBNR sites than from the experimental Lindis translocation site. Survival varied within the different soil sites of the beetles’ current range, with survival increasing significantly from south to north within the reserve. Results are discussed in the context of their management implications and a set of recommendations are presented. The approach taken here presents a model that could be applied to help identify suitable habitat for the translocation of other invertebrate species.Item Systematics of the Australian longicorn beetle genus Uracanthus Hope 1833 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Uracanthini) : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Science (Entomology) at Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2007) Thongphak, DuangratUracanthus is a large group of longicorn beetles in the Australian Region. The larvae of this genus are borers of at least 31 genera of trees and parasitic plants, including some economically important crops such as citrus, litchi, peach, plum, and apricot. Several species are important pests of orchards. Adults visit flowers of various tree species and are attracted to the light. In this thesis, I undertook a thorough taxonomic revision, analysed the phylogeny using morphological and molecular characters, and appraised biogeographic distribution of the genus. In the taxonomic revision, I redefine the scope of the genus, describe and illustrate new and previously known species, and provide a key to all species. The revised Australian Uracanthus includes 39 species, eight of which are established as new to science: U. pseudogigas sp. nov., U. maculatus sp. nov., U. griseus sp. nov., U. bicoloratus sp. nov., U. perthensis sp. nov., U. punctulatus sp. nov., U. quadristriolatus sp. nov., and U. bistriolatus sp. nov. Six new synonyms are proposed (senior synonyms last): U. multilineatus McKeown with U. ventralis Lea, U. dentiapicalis McKeown with U. parvus Lea, U. marginellus Hope and U. inermis Lea (not Aurivillius) with U. bivittatus Newman, U. fuscostriatus McKeown with U. lateroalbus Lea, and U. daviumbus Gressitt with U. longicornis Lea. Dorsal views of all species are presented as photographs, terminalia of both sexes illustrated, and distributions mapped. Brief comments are also given on the biology of this genus. In the full morphological phylogenetic analyses of all 39 species, I use 55 informative characters and cladistic method to test the monophylies of Uracanthus and its species groups. My results show that the monophylies of the genus and seven species groups are confirmed. However, several species groups still need additional steps to become monophyletic and are currently considered paraphyletic. In the molecular phylogenetic studies, due to the situations beyond my control (difficulties of extracting DNA from some old species and prohibitions of extracting DNA from type specimens), I analyse only 21 species. I extract and amplify the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) region of the mtDNA from 21 species and perform a phylogenetic analysis using molecular characters. To make the molecular phylogeny comparable to the morphological phylogeny, I also cladistically analyse the phylogeny of these 21 species using morphological and combined morphological-molecular characters. A comparison of trees obtained from morphological, mtDNA and combined data shows that the relationships of several closely related taxa remain constant, for example, the sister relationships of U. gigas + pseudogigas, U. insignis + punctulatus, and U. acutus + loranthi. However, the placement of U. insignis and U. punctulatus on the phylogenetic trees varies from the most basal in the full morphological analysis to the highly derived in the combined and molecular analyses. Considering the amount of available data is more limited in the molecular analysis than in the morphological analysis, the molecular phylogeny presented in this study should be interpreted with caution. The Uracanthus fauna can be divided into five subregions: the Kosciuskan, Western and Eyrean in southern and central Australia, and the Torresian and Timorian in northern Australia. The fauna are richest with highest endemism in the Kosciuskan and Western. The Kosciuskan and Western are similar in faunal composition and closely related; the Eyrean has probably acted as a faunal exchange transit area between the Kosciuskan and Western, and the two northern Australian subregions have no endemic species. When the areas of endemism of each species are attached to the phylogenetic tree generated from the full morphological analysis, a clear picture of the distribution patterns of species groups in relation to phylogeny is obtained. It is suggested that the speciation and species radiation of Uracanthus may have occurred first in the Kosciuskan, then in the Western, and finally in the Eyrean, Torresian, and Timorian.