Hemiandrus focalis

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Hemiandrus focalis
Adult female near Bannockburn, South Island, New Zealand
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
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 Orthoptera lives in the mountains of the South Island, New Zealand.[2] 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] This omnivorous ground wētā species is listed as "not threatened" by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.[4]

Taxonomy[edit]

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][7] and Hemiandrus focalis has weakly developed paramedian lobes on the female 6th sternite.[8]

Morphology[edit]

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][9][10] The tarsus of H. focalis is also described as bare with only a few erect setae.

Habitat and distribution[edit]

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.[9] This species are distributed across the mountains of New Zealand's South Island and also found present on Codfish Island.[2]

Diet[edit]

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.[9]

Mating and Breeding[edit]

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.[8]

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.[11]

Female adult from the front

Conservation[edit]

This species is classified as "not threatened" by the New Zealand Department of Conservation in 2014. 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[edit]

  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. ^ a b c d e f g h 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. JSTOR 3503546.
  3. ^ a b 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. S2CID 219564547.
  5. ^ Salmon, J. T. (1950). "Revision of the New Zealand Wetas Anostostominae (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatidae)". Dominion Museum Records in Entomology. 1 (8): 121–177.
  6. ^ a b c d 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. S2CID 86709108.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b 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.
  9. ^ a b c Derraik, José G. B.; Barratt, Barbara I. P.; Sirvid, Phil; Macfarlane, Roderick P.; Patrick, Brian H.; Early, John; Eyles, Alan C.; Johns, Peter M.; Fraser, Patricia M.; Barker, Gary M.; Henderson, Rosa (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.
  10. ^ 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. S2CID 232337351.
  11. ^ 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 – via AGRIS.
  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". 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. JSTOR 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. JSTOR 24058176.
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