A5038535118- Coleoptera Taxonomy and Distribution
- Coleoptera: Cerambycidae studies
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant and animal studies
- Biological Control of Invasive Species
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Archaeology and Historical Studies
- Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Agricultural pest management studies
- Insect behavior and control techniques
Australian Museum
2016-2025
MoTeC (Australia)
2024
University of Tasmania
2024
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
1999-2000
James Cook University
1995-1996
Australian National University
1990-1994
Australian National Botanic Gardens
1991-1993
With large wildfires becoming more frequent1,2, we must rapidly learn how megafires impact biodiversity to prioritize mitigation and improve policy. A key challenge is discover interactions among fire-regime components, drought land tenure shape wildfire impacts. The globally unprecedented3,4 2019–2020 Australian burnt than 10 million hectares5, prompting major investment in monitoring. Collated data include responses of 2,000 taxa, providing an unparalleled opportunity quantify affect...
ABSTRACT We examined the responses of a beetle assemblage to habitat complexity differences within single type, Sydney sandstone ridgetop woodland, using pitfall and flight‐intercept trapping. Six characters (tree canopy cover, shrub ground herb soil moisture, amount leaf litter, logs, rocks debris) were scored between 0 3 ordinal scales reflect at survey sites. Pitfall trapped beetles more species rich different composition in high sites, compared with low Species from Staphylinidae...
Short-sequence fragments (‘DNA barcodes’) used widely for plant identification and inventorying remain to be applied complex biological problems. Host–herbivore interactions are fundamental coevolutionary relationships of a large proportion species on the Earth, but their study is frequently hampered by limited or unreliable host records. Here we demonstrate that DNA barcodes can greatly improve this situation as they (i) provide secure (ii) establish authenticity trophic association. Host...
The genus Lamprima Latreille, 1804 (Coleoptera: Lucanidae: Lampriminae: Lamprimini), is revised. Five species are recognised: one in New Guinea (L. adolphinae (Gestro, 1875)), two on isolated western Pacific islands aenea Fabricius, 1792: Norfolk Island; L. insularis W.J. Macleay, 1885: Lord Howe Island), northeastern South Wales imberbis Carter, 1926) and a common widespread eastern southern Australia, aurata 1817. varies considerably morphologically many of the different forms encompassed...
The Australian lucanid genus Ryssonotus MacLeay, 1819 is redefined and reduced to one species: R. nebulosus (Kirby, 1819). supposed senior synonym of this species, Lucanus foveolatus Thunberg, 1806 a junior the North American species capreolus (Linnaeus, 1763) (new synonym). Safrina new genus, described for remaining formerly in three S. dekeyzeri grandis (Lea, 1915) combination, jaedoni jugularis (Westwood, 1863) laticeps (Macleay, 1885) moorei parallela (Deyrolle, 1881) polita (Carter,...
The leaf beetle subfamily Chrysomelinae is reviewed for New Zealand. native fauna consists of six genera, three new, all which are described: Aphilon Sharp, 1876; Caccomolpus 1886; Chalcolampra Blanchard, 1853; Mauroda gen. nov.; Nanomela Zeaphilon nov.. the senior synonym Cyrtonogetus Broun, 1915 (comb. nov.). These genera include 51 species, nine newly described and eight in new combinations, as follows: laticollis (Broun, 1893) comb. nov., from Aphilon; C. pretiosus 1880) crassa 1915)...
The ‘plain pumpkin-beetle’, indica species-complex of Aulacophora Chevrolat, 1836, is revised for Australopapua, Timor and the West Pacific. defined following eight included species are diagnosed described: A. abdominalis (Fabricius, 1781); barrogae Reid, Halling & Beatson, sp. nov.; cornuta Baly, 1879; (Gmelin, 1790); mbabaram relicta (Boisduval, 1835); wallacii 1886; wilsoni 1888. three other similar in region interest, bicolor (Weber, 1801), A coffeae 1801) deplanchei (Perroud...
The endemic Australian leaf beetle genus Cheiloxena Baly, 1860 is revised, with eight valid species, three new: C. aitori sp. nov.; blackburni Reid, 1992; conani frenchae Blackburn, 1893; insignis 1896; monga tuberosa westwoodii 1860. A key provided for their identification and all species are described. occur from southern Victoria to central Queensland. Hosts Araliaceae (Astrotricha), Proteaceae (Lomatia) possibly Myrtaceae (Eucalyptus).
The phylogeny of the Chrysomeloidea is re-assessed, with data from recently described larvae three chrysomeloid taxa. Cladistic analyses were performed on 19 subfamilies and tribes 56 informative characters. tribe Megascelidini shown to be correctly placed in Eumolpinae subfamily Aulacoscelidinae Orsodacnidae, but Spilopyra associated genera are probable monophyletic sister-taxon (Eumolpinae + (Lamprosomatinae Cryptocephalinae)) therefore elevated subfamily: Spilopyrinae Chapuis (=...
ABSTRACT Aim To compare field‐based evidence of plant and animal responses to fire with remotely sensed signals heterogeneity post‐fire biomass recovery. Location South‐eastern Australia; New South Wales. Time Period 2019–2022. Major Taxa Studied A total 982 species plants animals, in eight taxonomic groups: amphibians, birds, fish, insects, mammals, molluscs, reptiles. Methods We collated 545,223 response records from 47 field surveys 4613 sites that focussed on areas burnt 2019–2020. For...
Abstract The establishment of cattle ranches throughout the world has prompted release dung beetles as biological control agents that reduce pasture fouling and dung‐breeding flies. One these beetles, Digitonthophagus gazella (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), is native to southeast Africa, been introduced into Americas, Australia, New Zealand. Distribution records for this species have used develop climate models potential future establishment. Recent studies, however, identify D. a...
The Australian genera of Chrysomelinae are reviewed and redefined. A new genus is described: Alfius gen. n., from Queensland, with three species, A. hieroglyphicus (Lea), pictus (Lea) pictipennis all transferred Oomela Lea. hitherto Papuan Sphaerotritoma Arrow, two removed Erotylidae placed in Chrysomelinae, one species added, S. coccinelloides Oomela. key provided for adults the 42 native 4 exotic occurring Australia. Information on host-plants immature stages listed where known. Taxonomic...
Abstract. The rainforest canopy has been called ‘the last biological frontier’, and if this is true, there should be more undescribed species in stratum than the ground stratum. Here, we test other hypotheses regarding traits of described by a sub‐sample 156 into 96 60 from beetle assemblage 1473 collected an Australian lowland rainforest. We show that are significantly likely to canopy, larger and, they large, have earlier. Undescribed just as found near smaller. After first year sampling,...
We analyse expert-confirmed occurrence records from the collection of Australian Museum altogether 733 species invertebrates that exhibit a wide range life history strategies, dispersal abilities and ecological adaptations (dung beetles, spiny freshwater crayfishes, drosophilid flies, land snails, mygalomorph archaeid spiders). For 29 (two dung four 11 five three spiders), all known occurrences are within extent 2019–2020 bushfires. In addition, ranges another 46 had at least half their...
Abstract In Southeast Asian tropical rainforests, two events, severe droughts associated with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and general flowering, a type of community-wide mass occur at irregular, supra-annual intervals. The relationship between these events patterns insect population fluctuations has yet to be clearly elucidated. Leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) are major herbivores flower-visitors canopy trees, affecting their growth reproduction and, in turn, affected by tree phenology;...
Abstract The diversity of Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera) in Australia and New Guinea (Australopapua) is reviewed. There are 3100 described species 244 genera, with a further 2300 to be or confirmed. Approximately 11.6% the world found Australopapua. Among larger subfamilies, there relative dearth Bruchinae, Cassidinae Criocerinae abundance Chrysomelinae, Cryptocephalinae Eumolpinae. In smaller Lamprosomatinae Synetinae absent, whereas Sagrinae Spilopyrinae strongly represented. Endemicity at...
Abstract The aim of our work is to catalogue host plant records the leaf beetle subfamily Cryptocephalinae at global scale and use it as foundation analyse relationships, one proposed key driver in evolution phytophagan hyperdiversity. We describe macro-scale association patterns assess trophic range generic level. assembled 532 sources extracted 14 253 (1894 species plants) for 1436 Cryptocephalinae. results revealed that most genera are either polyphagous or strongly polyphagous, yet five...
The variation in animal coloration patterns has evolved response to different visual strategies for reducing the risk of predation. However, perception by enemies is affected a variety factors, including morphology and habitat. We use diversity Australian chrysomeline leaf beetles explore relationships ecology beetle colour patterns. There impressive pattern within Chrysomelinae, which likely reflect anti-predatory strategies. Our phylogenetic comparative analyses reveal strong selection be...