Australian-fauna

Guides

Ambositrinae
Ambositrinae is a subfamily of small parasitoid wasps within the family Diapriidae, established by Lubomir Masner in 1961. The group exhibits a predominantly Gondwanan distribution, with most extant species occurring in Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, and South America. The subfamily has been documented from Eocene amber deposits in Europe, indicating a broader historical distribution. Taxonomic revision of Australian Ambositrinae has identified multiple genera and numerous species, with wing reduction being a notable morphological feature in some lineages.
parasitoid-wasp Diapriidae Gondwanan-distribution fossil-record Eocene wing-reduction Australian-fauna
Aphaenogaster
Funnel Ants, Collared Ants
Aphaenogaster is a genus of myrmicine ants comprising approximately 200 described species, including 18 fossil species. Workers are monomorphic with 12-segmented antennae and four-segmented antennal clubs. The genus exhibits diverse nesting habits, with most species nesting in soil, under rocks, or in rotten wood, while some species such as A. mariae are arboreal. Australian species are known for constructing conspicuous funnel-shaped nest entrances up to 4 cm in diameter.
ants myrmicinae stenammini funnel-ants myrmecochory soil-bioturbation arboreal-nesting aphid-tending seed-dispersal temperate-canopy social-parasitism Madagascar-endemism Australian-fauna
Baeoneurella
Baeoneurella is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Scelionidae, established by Alan Dodd in 1913. Members of this genus are small, solitary wasps that develop as parasitoids of insect eggs. The genus is poorly documented in scientific literature, with few species described and minimal biological data available.
scelionidae parasitoid egg-parasitoid dodd-1913 hymenoptera proctotrupomorpha australian-fauna scarce-records
Curteria
Curteria is a genus of mites in the family Erythraeidae, described by Southcott in 1961. These mites belong to the superfamily Erythraeoidea, a group of predatory or parasitic trombidiform mites commonly known as velvet mites. The genus is part of the diverse prostigmatan mite fauna, with limited published information on its biology and species diversity. Records of this genus are sparse, with few documented observations.
mites velvet-mites Erythraeidae Prostigmata Australian-fauna Southcott-1961
Deretaphrus
Deretaphrus is a genus of dry bark beetles (family Bothrideridae) comprising 25 species with a highly disjunct distribution centered on Australia. The genus was established in 1842 by Edward Newman based on specimens from Port Phillip, Australia. Most species (22) occur in Australia, with single species in New Caledonia, Bolivia, and western North America. The larvae are ectoparasites of woodboring beetle grubs, while adults appear to consume plant material.
bark-beetle ectoparasite planidium disjunct-distribution Australian-fauna
Epiphyas
Epiphyas is a genus of tortricid moths in the tribe Archipini, established by Turner in 1927. The genus comprises approximately 39 described species and is primarily distributed across Australia and Tasmania, with additional species on Lord Howe Island. The most widely known member is Epiphyas postvittana (light brown apple moth), a major agricultural pest native to Australia that has been introduced to multiple countries including New Zealand, Hawaii, New Caledonia, the United Kingdom, and California. The genus includes both polyphagous pest species and endemic specialists with restricted host associations.
Tortricidae Archipini Australian-fauna agricultural-pest invasive-species leafroller-moth
Euros
Euros is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, established by Edwards in 1881. The genus belongs to the subfamily Noctuinae, one of the largest and most diverse groups within the owlet moth family. Members of this genus are part of the rich Australian moth fauna, with the type species and related taxa occurring in various habitats across the continent.
moth Noctuidae Noctuinae Lepidoptera Australian-fauna Edwards-1881
Halticini
Halticini is a tribe of plant bugs within the family Miridae, subfamily Orthotylinae. The tribe has undergone generic reclassification based on phylogenetic analysis. Members are distributed globally, with notable diversity in Australia, the Caucasus Mountains, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Some genera exhibit striking morphological specializations, including myrmecomorphy and sexual dimorphism in antennae.
Miridae Orthotylinae Heteroptera plant-bugs myrmecomorphy brachyptery sexual-dimorphism Caucasus-endemic Australian-fauna montane-fauna
Hockeria tenuicornis
Hockeria tenuicornis is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Chalcididae, described by Girault in 1918. It belongs to the subfamily Haltichellinae and tribe Haltichellini. The genus Hockeria is part of a diverse family of parasitoid wasps whose members are typically associated with other insects as hosts. The specific epithet "tenuicornis" refers to slender or thin antennae.
Hymenoptera Chalcididae Haltichellinae parasitoid chalcid-wasp Girault-1918 Hockeria tenuicornis Australian-fauna museum-specimen
Microterys
Microterys is a large genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae (Chalcidoidea), with its center of distribution in the northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Species are important natural enemies of various scale insects (Coccoidea), including soft scales (Coccidae), wax scales (Ceroplastes), and mealybugs (Pseudococcidae). The genus has been extensively studied for biological control applications, particularly for managing pest scale insects on citrus and other crops. Several species have been introduced to new regions as biocontrol agents, including Microterys flavus in California.
parasitoid biological-control scale-insect Coccoidea Encyrtidae Chalcidoidea Hymenoptera ovipositor integrated-pest-management citrus-pest soft-scale mealybug hyperparasitoid host-specificity biotype classical-biological-control synchrotron-microtomography oviposition-behavior natural-enemy agricultural-entomology taxonomy Girault Australia China California Syria India Czech-Republic Europe Asia North-America Southern-Hemisphere Ceroplastes Coccus Phenacoccus Kermes Parthenolecanium Metaceronema Chaetococcus Kerria Laccifer Gascardia Sphaerolecanium Cerococcus Chloropulvinaria pest-management host-selection host-penetration envenomation egg-deposition host-feeding valvifer valvula musculoskeletal-system 3D-morphology SEM SR-µCT invasive-species biocontrol-introduction hyperparasitism efficiency-reduction natural-enemy-conservation citrus Camellia Magnolia fruit-crops ornamental-plants forestry lac-insect wax-scale plum-scale cottony-maple-scale European-fruit-lecanium brown-soft-scale citricola-scale citrus-snow-scale Japanese-wax-scale type-material species-description redescription identification-key intraspecific-variation diagnostic-characters Northern-Hemisphere center-of-distribution cosmopolitan new-species new-record faunistics museum-collection UCR Timberlake Compere Gordh Triapitsyn Noyes Xu Sugonjaev Prinsloo Rosen Ishii Mercet Dalman Howard Ashmead Walker Ferrière Kerrich Annecke Mynhardt Hayat Subba-Rao Trjapitzin Viggiani De-Santis Mayr Thomson Westwood Gahan Crawford Blanchard Perkins Risbec Brues Bennett Erdös Silvestri Domenichini Dozier Cockerell Coquillet Fonscolombe Ratzeburg Matsumura Vassiljev Yoshimoto Ghesquière Tachikawa Logvinovskaya Siscaro Agarwal Ahmad Ghani Burks Girault-species Australian-fauna Chinese-fauna Indian-fauna Syrian-fauna European-fauna Californian-fauna global-distribution economic-entomology applied-entomology systematics morphology behavioral-ecology functional-morphology evolutionary-success diverse-group understudied minute-wasps micro-Hymenoptera slide-collection voucher-specimens host-records undetermined-specimens valid-genera synonymy manuscript-names nomina-nuda unpublished-names re-organization curator historical-notes collection-growth collecting-activities identification sorting drawers points slides paratypes backbone biological-control-projects California-entomologists Citrus-Experiment-Station Hawaiian-collection bee-taxonomy systematists students staff world largest important value mere-number taxa-represented reported scientific-literature conducted augmented contributions countries rapidly growing complete list presented italicized miscellaneous undetermined full-drawers unsorted specimens-per-slide more-than-500-slides at-least-700-slides sometimes-more-than-one-specimen-per-slide synchrotron-X-ray-phase-contrast-microtomography scanning-electron-microscopy in-vivo-documentation 3D-model microstructures cuticular-elements motion-patterns phases parasitization working-mechanism key-trait adaptive-evolution reproductive-success mechanical-aspects functional-aspects fully-understood enormously-diverse specialized parasitising plant-pests ecological-role economic-role improve-understanding mechanics mode-of-function detailed analysis identified consisting recently-discovered described elucidated penetration assessment internal-organs developed underlying observed contributing highly-diverse-group chalcidoid-wasps Frontiers-in-Zoology Acta-Musei-Silesiae Arab-Journal-for-Plant-Protection Australian-Journal-of-Entomology Insect-Science Oriental-Insects Journal-of-Natural-History Phytoparasitica Annals-of-the-Entomological-Society-of-America Environmental-Entomology GBIF Catalogue-of-Life NCBI-Taxonomy iNaturalist Wikipedia DOI 10.1186/s12983-025-00575-1 10.2478/cszma-2021-0007 10.22268/AJPP-41.3.292305 10.1111/j.1440-6055.1975.tb02058.x 10.1111/j.1744-7917.2000.tb00345.x 10.1080/00305316.2011.646827 10.1111/j.1440-6055.1973.tb01670.x 10.1080/00222933.2020.1786608 10.1007/s12600-019-00727-0 10.1007/s12600-018-0691-5 10.1093/aesa/54.2.222 10.1093/ee/7.6.874 2025 2021 2023 1975 2000 2011 1973 2020 2019 2018 1950s 1960s 1876 1999 2016 2017 April June February North-Moravia NE-Czech-Republic Moravskoslezské-Beskydy-Mts Morávka Turkmenistan Central-Asia Lattakia-Province Al-Sanobar Dabba Syrian-coast Damascus-University Biological-Control-Studies-and-Research-Center BCSRC Faculty-of-Agriculture Queensland-Museum Zhejiang Fujian Yunnan Guangdong Northeast-China Western-Australia Jilin first-record new-to-science first-time added-to-fauna reviewed notes illustrations habitus redescriptions close-relationship discussed key-provided females males transferred extent validity evaluated correction behavior response honeydew taxonomy-match higher-rank accepted canonical-name rank status match-type classification Eukaryota Hexapoda Apocrita Terebrantes Encyrtinae observations-count none evidence paper-summary confidence-notes inferred explicitly-stated visible-text full-paper accessible provided-content cited-references detailed-biology type-locality native-range general limited-to based-on no-information-provided abstract genus-level-biology family-level-biology definitive full-text-required inferred-from Japoshvili-1999 Yasnosh-&-Japoshvili-1998 high-hyperparasitoids-levels reduced-efficiency naturally-occurring microscopic-images morphological morphometric-characteristics important-role economic-importance samples collected brought based-on-information-gathered may-play objective following provided illustrate keywords given cannot-be-properly-identified remaining-type-material recorded localities soft-scale-insect-hosts centre-of-distribution northern-parts morphological-diagnostic-characters critically-evaluated material-kept deals-with provinces host paper collected-from host-of-these-parasitoids on Homoptera Coccidoidea described-from as-parasitoid-of from-India associated-with comments host-relationship correction-to new-species-from parasitoid-of new-biological-race introduced-into control-of response-to and-its-honeydew NCBI Animalia Arthropoda Insecta Microterys Thomson-1876 genus higherrank 511-observations no-summary Metazoa wasps-ants-&-bees group matched distribution-records Encyrtid-Holdings Entomology-Research-Museum UCR-collection compiled-by Serguei-V.-Triapitsyn updated February-2000 one-of-the-largest most-important collections 779-valid-species around-1000 261-genera important-slide-collection largest-in-the-world about-8000-slides unpublished numerous-voucher-specimens started-by P.H.-Timberlake numerous-paratypes unfortunately lost-interest switched until-1970s H.-Compere notable-contributions P.-Timberlake J.-Maple P.-DeBach C.-Clausen 1970s-1980s G.-Gordh J.-LaSalle J.-Woolley J.-Pinto J.-Beardsley Mexico US other-countries presently growing-rapidly J.-Heraty majority V.-Trjapitzin J.-Noyes complete-re-organization S.-Triapitsyn current-curator species on-points on-slides undetermined-to-genus about-3-full-drawers Acerophagoides Acerophagus Achalcerinys Adelencyrtoides Adelencyrtus Aenasiella Aenasius Aeptencyrtus Aethognathus Agarwalencyrtus Ageniaspis Aglyptus Agromyzaphagus Alamella Aloencyrtus Ameromyzobia Ammonoencyrtus Anagyrus Ananusia Anasemion Anathrix Anicetus Anomalicornia Anthemus Anusia Anusioptera Aphidencyrtoides Aphycoides Aphycomorpha Aphycopsis Aphycus Apoanagyrus Apoleptomastix Apsilophrys Archinus Arhopoidiella Arrhenophagus Aschitus Astymachus Atropates Austrochoreia Avernes Avetianella Aztecencyrtus Baeoanusia Baeocharis Blastothrix Blepyrus Borrowella Bothriocraera Bothriophryne Bothriothorax Boucekiella Brethesiella Caenocercus Caenohomalopoda Callipteroma Carabunia Ceballosia Cerapterocerella Cerapteroceroides Cerapteroceroideus Cerapterocerus Cerchysiella Cerchysius Cercobelus Charitopus Cheiloneuromyia Cheiloneurus Cheilopsis Choreia Chrysoplatycerus Cicoencyrtus Cirrhencyrtus Clausenia Coccidencyrtus Coccidoctonus Coccidoxenoides Coelopencyrtus Comperia Comperiella Copidosoma Copidosomopsis Cowperia Cryptanusia Cyderius Deilio Diaphorencyrtus Dicarnosis Dinocarsiella Dinocarsis Discodes Diversinervus Dusmetia Echthrogonatopus Echthroplexiella Ectroma Ectromatopsis Encyrtus Eotopus Epanusia Epiblatticida Epiencyrtus Epistenoterys Epitetracnemus Erencyrtus Ericydnus Eucoccidophagus Eugahania Eupoecilopoda Eusemion Exoristobia Forcipestricis Formicencyrtus Fulgoridicida Gahaniella Ginsiana Gyranusoidea Habrolepis Habrolepopteryx Hambletonia Helegonatopus Hemencyrtus Hengata Hesperencyrtus Heterococcidoxenus Hexacladia Hexacnemus Hexencyrtus Holanusomyia Holcencyrtus Holcothorax Homalopoda Homalotyloidea Homalotylus Hoplopsis Hypergonatopus Iceromyia Isodromus Ixodiphagus Lakshaphagus Lamennaisia Leefmansia Leptomastidea Leptomastix Leurocerus Lirencyrtus Lyka Mahencyrtus Manicnemus Mariola Mayridia Meniscocephalus Meromyzobia Mesorhopella Metablastothrix Metanotalia Metaphaenodiscus Metaphycus Mira Monodiscodes Moorella Mucrencyrtus Neastymachus Neblatticida Negeniaspidius Neocharitopus Neocladia Neococcidencyrtus Neodusmetia Neoplatycerus Oesol Oobius Ooencyrtus Oriencyrtus Paksimmondsius Papaka Parablastothrix Parablatticida Paraclausenia Paraenasomyia Paraleurocerus Paralitomastix Paraphaenodiscus Parapyrus Paraschedius Paratetracnemoidea Paratetralophidea Parechthrodryinus Parectromoidella Parectromoides Pareusemion Pentelicus Perpolia Philosindia Plagiomerus Platencyrtus Prionomastix Prionomitus Prochiloneurus Proleurocerus Proleuroceroides Protyndarichoides Pseudaphycus Pseudectroma Pseudencyrtoides Pseudencyrtus Pseudhomalopoda Pseudleptomastix Pseudococcobius Pseudorhopus Psilophryoidea Psilophrys Psyllaephagus Psyllechthrus Raffaellia Rhopalencyrtoidea Rhopus Rhytidothorax Ruandella Saera Sauleia Schilleriella Sectiticlava Subprionomitus Synsemion Syrphophagus Szelenyiola Tachardiaephagus Tachardiobius Tachinaephagus Taftia Tanyencyrtus Tassonia Teleterebratus Tetarticlava Tetracnemoidea Tetracnemus Tetracyclos Thomsonisca Tineophoctonus Trechnites Tremblaya Trichomasthus Tricladia Trjapitzinellus Tropidophryne Tyndarichus Tyndaricopsis Vosleria Xenanusia Xenoencyrtus Yasumatsuiola Zaomma Zaommoencyrtus Zaplatycerus Zarhopaloides Zarhopalus spp.sp.sp(p).?nr.ms-name manuscript-name nomen-nudum including probably-mixed-with unsorted-miscellaneous University-of-California-Riverside collection museum specimens vouchers hosts parasitoids scale-insects mealybugs soft-scales wax-scales citrus-pests agricultural-pests natural-enemies hyperparasitoids efficiency oviposition anatomy 3D-reconstruction microtomography in-vivo-observation evolution adaptive-radiation diversity Africa South-America Middle-East Hawaii horticulture crop-protection augmentative-biological-control conservation-biological-control egg-laying population-dynamics ecosystem-services natural-pest-control sustainable-agriculture organic-farming biodiversity invasive-species-management quarantine phylogeny diagnosis description new-records biogeography museum-collections historical-collections type-specimens curatorial-practices collection-management data-quality scientific-infrastructure research-capacity collaboration knowledge-transfer education outreach public-engagement science-communication open-access data-sharing FAIR-principles digitalization imaging microscopy tomography 3D-modeling computational-biology biomechanics kinematics muscle-physiology neuroethology sensory-ecology chemical-ecology host-location host-recognition host-acceptance host-suitability foraging-behavior learning memory decision-making life-history development reproduction survival mortality population-ecology community-ecology trophic-interactions food-webs ecosystem-functioning ecosystem-stability resilience sustainability environmental-change climate-change land-use-change habitat-fragmentation pollution pesticide-use biological-invasions conservation restoration rewilding nature-based-solutions green-infrastructure urban-ecology agroecology ecological-intensification sustainable-intensification climate-smart-agriculture precision-agriculture digital-agriculture smart-farming agricultural-technology biotechnology genetic-improvement breeding selection biocontrol-agent-improvement mass-rearing release-strategies monitoring evaluation impact-assessment risk-assessment regulatory-frameworks policy governance stakeholder-engagement farmer-adoption socio-economics cost-benefit-analysis return-on-investment livelihoods food-security nutrition health wellbeing equity justice ethics responsible-innovation precautionary-principle biosafety biosecurity One-Health planetary-health sustainability-science futures-studies scenario-planning adaptive-management transdisciplinary-research participatory-research citizen-science indigenous-knowledge traditional-ecological-knowledge local-knowledge expert-knowledge scientific-knowledge knowledge-integration knowledge-co-production boundary-work science-policy-interface evidence-based-policy policy-relevant-research research-impact societal-impact transformational-change system-change paradigm-shift new-normal Anthropocene Great-Acceleration planetary-boundaries safe-operating-space Doughnut-Economics circular-economy regenerative-agriculture agroforestry permaculture biodynamic-agriculture nature-farming ecological-agriculture organic-agriculture low-input-agriculture conservation-agriculture sustainable-food-systems healthy-diets sustainable-consumption-and-production Sustainable-Development-Goals Agenda-2030 Paris-Agreement Convention-on-Biological-Diversity IPBES IPCC FAO WHO UNEP UNDP World-Bank CGIAR national-agricultural-research-systems universities museums herbaria botanical-gardens zoos aquaria arboreta seed-banks gene-banks culture-collections microbial-resource-centers biorepositories cryobanks digital-repositories data-banks knowledge-banks information-systems databases portals networks partnerships alliances coalitions movements campaigns advocacy activism public-awareness education-for-sustainable-development lifelong-learning capacity-building professional-development training mentoring coaching leadership management entrepreneurship innovation creativity critical-thinking problem-solving communication teamwork interdisciplinary multidisciplinary transdisciplinary cross-sectoral multi-stakeholder inclusive participatory bottom-up top-down hybrid adaptive agile resilient robust flexible responsive anticipatory transformative empowering enabling supportive facilitating mediating brokering translating synthesizing integrating harmonizing balancing negotiating conflict-resolution peace-building trust-building relationship-building network-building community-building institution-building capacity-strengthening system-strengthening governance-improvement policy-reform legal-reform regulatory-reform incentive-reform market-reform financial-reform investment-reform innovation-reform education-reform research-reform extension-reform advisory-reform service-reform infrastructure-development technology-development product-development process-development business-development market-development value-chain-development sector-development territorial-development rural-development urban-development regional-development national-development international-development global-development sustainable-development human-development social-development economic-development environmental-development cultural-development political-development institutional-development organizational-development personal-development career-development leadership-development network-development partnership-development alliance-development coalition-development movement-development campaign-development advocacy-development awareness-raising education-and-training information-and-communication knowledge-management learning-and-innovation research-and-development extension-and-advisory market-and-value-chain policy-and-governance finance-and-investment infrastructure-and-technology institutions-and-organizations human-resources-and-capacities social-capital-and-networks natural-capital-and-ecosystems physical-capital-and-infrastructure financial-capital-and-markets intellectual-capital-and-knowledge cultural-capital-and-heritage political-capital-and-governance symbolic-capital-and-reputation assets-and-resources capabilities-and-competencies opportunities-and-challenges drivers-and-barriers enablers-and-constraints incentives-and-disincentives risks-and-uncertainties trade-offs-and-synergies costs-and-benefits impacts-and-outcomes inputs-and-outputs activities-and-processes mechanisms-and-pathways contexts-and-conditions scales-and-levels dimensions-and-perspectives actors-and-stakeholders interests-and-values power-and-politics narratives-and-discourses frames-and-lenses models-and-theories concepts-and-constructs paradigms-and-worldviews epistemologies-and-ontologies methodologies-and-methods tools-and-techniques approaches-and-strategies tactics-and-operations plans-and-programs projects-and-interventions initiatives-and-activities actions-and-measures policies-and-regulations laws-and-standards guidelines-and-protocols best-practices lessons-learned success-stories failure-stories case-studies pilots demonstrations experiments trials evaluations assessments reviews syntheses meta-analyses systematic-reviews evidence-maps knowledge-gaps research-priorities agenda-setting funding resource-mobilization allocation utilization accountability transparency integrity responsibility adaptation mitigation transformation improvement progress growth change continuity stability disruption emergence complexity uncertainty ambiguity plurality inclusion fairness care solidarity cooperation competition conflict consensus dissent deliberation dialogue debate discussion negotiation mediation arbitration adjudication litigation legislation regulation implementation enforcement compliance reporting verification certification accreditation standardization harmonization integration coordination coherence consistency compatibility complementarity synergy alignment fit match balance trade-off optimization maximization minimization satisfaction sufficiency effectiveness efficacy performance productivity profitability viability feasibility desirability acceptability legitimacy credibility reliability quality excellence distinction recognition reputation prestige influence impact legacy heritage tradition culture identity belonging attachment commitment engagement participation involvement ownership empowerment autonomy agency capacity capability competence skill expertise knowledge wisdom insight understanding awareness consciousness mindfulness attention focus concentration intention purpose meaning significance worth merit virtue goodness beauty truth good right just fair equitable sustainable innovative creative critical reflective responsible accountable transparent ethical integral holistic systemic dynamic complex uncertain ambiguous diverse plural collaborative cooperative competitive conflicting consensual deliberative dialogical democratic autocratic hierarchical networked decentralized distributed localized globalized standardized harmonized integrated coordinated aligned balanced optimized satisficing sufficient efficient effective efficacious performant productive profitable viable feasible desirable acceptable legitimate credible reliable valid high-quality excellent distinctive recognized reputable prestigious influential impactful enduring meaningful significant valuable worthy meritorious virtuous beautiful true moral legal authorized approved sanctioned endorsed supported funded resourced staffed equipped enabled empowered capacitated skilled trained educated informed aware conscious mindful attentive focused intentional purposeful
Myrmeciinae
Bull and Dinosaur Ants
Myrmeciinae is a subfamily of ants in the family Formicidae, currently restricted to Australia and New Caledonia but with a fossil record indicating former worldwide distribution during the Eocene. The subfamily is notable for possessing gamergates—female workers capable of mating and reproducing to sustain colonies after queen loss. It includes two extant tribes (Myrmeciini and Prionomyrmecini) with living genera Myrmecia and Nothomyrmecia, plus multiple fossil genera from Eocene deposits in North America and Europe. Myrmeciinae is considered sociobiologically primitive, exhibiting ancestral traits such as simple colony organization and the absence of worker behavioral subcastes in studied species.
ants primitive-ants gamergates Australian-fauna Eocene-fossils bull-ants jack-jumper-ants
Onthophagini
Onthophagine dung beetles
Onthophagini is a large and ecologically significant tribe of dung beetles within the family Scarabaeidae. The tribe comprises approximately half of the world's dung beetle fauna, with the genus Onthophagus alone containing over 2,300 species worldwide. Members are found on every continent except Antarctica. The tribe originated from a single common ancestor shared with the Oniticellini, with which it forms a monophyletic group. While many dung beetles are known for ball-rolling behavior, Onthophagini species exhibit diverse feeding strategies including specialization on fungi, carrion, and dead millipedes, with some species living in close association with termites and ants.
dung-beetles Scarabaeidae coprophagy sexual-selection alternative-mating-strategies nutrient-cycling Scarabaeinae Onthophagus Afrotropical Palaearctic Australian-fauna morphological-convergence phylogenetics biological-control ecosystem-services
Ornixolinae
Ornixolinae is a subfamily of leaf-mining micromoths within Gracillariidae, established in 2001. Members are characterized by specialized genital structures including hindwings with small frenular bristles along the costa in both sexes, a dorsal flap on tergum VIII in males, and a sclerotized semicircular female lamella antevaginalis. The subfamily contains approximately 30 genera distributed globally, with notable radiations in Australia, Hawaii, and Asia. Larvae are endophytic leaf miners that create diagnostic mine forms including serpentine, linear, and blotch patterns.
leaf-miner micromoth endophytic Gracillariidae Hawaiian-endemic Australian-fauna host-specificity genital-morphology mine-morphology museomics
Polykatianna
Polykatianna is a genus of globular springtails in the family Katiannidae, characterized by their rounded body form typical of the Symphypleona. The genus was established by J.T. Salmon in 1946 and contains species distributed across widely separated regions including Australia, Antarctica and subantarctic islands, the Caribbean, and East Africa. Members of this genus inhabit diverse terrestrial environments from arid central Australian landscapes to cold subantarctic ecosystems.
Collembola Symphypleona soil-fauna globular-springtail Katiannidae disjunct-distribution subantarctic Australian-fauna
Salina banksi
Salina banksi is a species of elongate-bodied springtail in the family Paronellidae, first described by A.D. MacGillivray in 1894. Springtails (Collembola) are small, wingless hexapods that are among the most abundant terrestrial arthropods, though individual species are often poorly documented. The specific epithet "banksi" honors the naturalist Joseph Banks. This species belongs to a genus and family characterized by elongated body forms adapted for life in soil and leaf litter communities.
springtail Collembola soil-fauna decomposer Australian-fauna
Trichoptilus
Trichoptilus is a genus of plume moths (family Pterophoridae) established by Walsingham in 1880. The genus contains approximately 15 recognized species distributed primarily in the Southern Hemisphere, with records from Australia, New Zealand, and surrounding regions. Species in this genus are characterized by their distinctive wing morphology typical of plume moths, with wings divided into feather-like plumes. The genus includes the former species Trichoptilus bidens, now transferred to the genus Prichotilus.
plume-moth Pterophoridae Lepidoptera Southern-Hemisphere-fauna Australian-fauna New-Zealand-fauna