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We undertook stratified random sampling of vegetation, soil chemical fertility and subsurface soil temperature at 38 sites on 15 geothermal fields in the Taupō Volcanic Zone, central North Island, New Zealand, to develop a quantitative classification of geothermal vegetation types and to identify the main environmental drivers of vegetation composition. We implemented this with the fuzzy classification framework of noise clustering. Gradients in composition were derived using Detrended Correspondence Analysis ordination and related to soil physical and chemical parameters using correlation. Of 166 plant species recorded, only seven native species were present in > 20% of plots and only four adventive species in > 5% of plots. Subsurface soil temperatures ranged from ambient (7 °C) to near-boiling (98.5 °C). Classification identified 16 vegetation associations, almost all dominated by indigenous species and unique to geothermal fields. Subsurface soil temperature was the main factor controlling veg...

Based on institutional collections, database records, literature and new field collections, 247 breeding host associations were found in New Zealand for the four species of the subfamily Panchaetothripinae. The endemic Sigmothrips aotearoana bred only on indigenous plants (21 species). The three adventive species, Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis, Hercinothrips bicinctus and Parthenothrips dracaenae, bred on indigenous plants in native ecosystems and on other plants in and outside native ecosystems; 165, 52 and 9 species, respectively. Of the 172 plant genera, only 17 hosted more than one species. Several plant families and orders hosted only one thrips species; notably, S. aotearoana on Orchidaceae and Loganiaceae; Hercinothrips bicinctus on Compositae (Asteraceae) and Solanales; Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis on Cornales, Ericales, Fagales, Malvales, Poales, Pinales, Rosales and Vitales. The robustness and usefulness of the patterns of host plant associations for predicting plant species at risk could b...

Fourteen species of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) are recorded as new to Saudi Arabia. These are: Aphis coreopsidis (Thomas, 1878); Aphis illinoisensis Shimer, 1866; Baizongia pistaceae (Linnaeus, 1767); Capitophorus elaeagni (del Guercio, 1894); Dysaphis plantaginea (Passerini, 1860); Eucarazzia elegans (Ferrari, 1872); Geoica lucifuga (Zehntner, 1897); Hayhurstia atriplicis (Linnaeus, 1761); Macrosiphoniella absinthii (Linnaeus, 1758); Macrosiphoniella sanborni (Gillette, 1908); Smynthurodes betae Westwood, 1849; Uroleucon cichorii (Koch, 1855), and Wahlgreniella nervata (Gillette, 1908). Among these, three species, i.e. A. coreopsidis, A. illinoisensis, and W. nervata are alien species.

SummaryChecklist of bees from Martinique (French West Indies) and their relations with visited flowers (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Megachilidae, Apidae). An annotated checklist of the bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) of Martinique, Lesser Antilles is presented. The bee fauna is constituted by 14 species: one endemic; five known only from the Insular Caribbean; four that occur both on mainland and the West Indies and three adventive species to the West Indies. Seven species are new island records: Megachile (Eutricharaea) concinna Smith 1879, Megachile (Pseudocentron) vitraci Perez 1884, Centris (Hemisiella) barbadensis Cockerell 1939, Centris (Centris) decolorata Lepeletier 1841, Centris (Centris) versicolor (Fabricius 1775), Exomalopsis (Exomalopsis) analis Spinola 1853 and Exomalopsis (Exomalopsis) similis (Cresson 1865). The list is arranged with data from literature and field researches carried out by the junior author between 2006 and 2014. A list of the visited flowers along with ecological notes ...

A new host and distribution record is provided for the whitefly parasitoid Baeoentedon balios Wang, Huang, & Polaszek (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Specimens were reared from ficus whitefly, Singhiella simplex (Singh) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), in St. Petersburg, FL, USA, representing the second confirmed host for B. balios, as well as the first record of Baeoentedon Girault from the Western Hemisphere.

Two cicadas previously restricted to the North Island of New Zealand have recently been found on the South Island. The North Island bush species Kikihia scutellaris (Walker) first reported from around Picton, South Island, in 1966, is now found throughout much of Marlborough and the Marlborough Sounds, as far as Kenepuru Head to the north, Canvastown to the west, Grovetown to the south and Robin Hood Bay to the east. We also note a single older specimen collected in 1932 from Torrent Bay, Tasman Bay. Our new data suggest a substantially faster rate of spread than can be estimated for other cicada species, possibly because the preferred habitat of K. scutellaris is pre-existing and unoccupied by competitors. Three males of the second adventive species, the bush-edge green foliage cicada Kikihia ochrina (Walker), were found in one Christchurch street in February 2004. Its restricted distribution suggests that K. ochrina was transported within the past few years, possibly on one of the small garden trees and...

Grateloupia doryphora (Montagne) Howe, originally described from Peru, has repeatedly been reported as an invasive species in Atlantic and Mediterranean waters. Various attempts to explain this species' route of introduction have been unsatisfactory. New evidence from comparative rbcL sequence analysis and morphology suggests that this adventive species in the NE and NW Atlantic corresponds with G. turuturu Yamada, originally described from Japan. This provenance follows a well-recognized trend of invasive marine organisms that have colonized the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea from Pacific NE Asia.

Information is provided about the 27 species of foreign Lepidoptera recorded from New Zealand for the first time after 1988. Most of these have become established in this country. Four species (Heteroteucha dichroella (Oecophoridae), Cizara ardeniae (Sphingidae), Papilio xuthus (Papilionidae) and Chasmina sp. (Noctuidae)) are only known in New Zealand from a single specimen, with no evidence of establishment. One established species (Orgyia thyellina (Lymantriidae)) has been deliberately eradicated. Eighteen species are believed to have arrived from Australia, although some of these (e.g. Herpetogramma licarsisalis) also occur elsewhere. Three species (Orgyia thyellina, Artona martini (Zygaenidae) and Papilio xuthus) are Asian in origin. Three species (Agonopterix alstromeriana (Depressariidae), Coleophora striatipennella (Coleophoridae) and Scrobipalpa obsoletella (Gelechiidae)) are European. One species (Monochroa sp. (Gelechiidae)) is probably Palaearctic but has not yet been identified to species.The ...

Composition of the germinable seed rain and the soil seed bank is documented for five sites in temperate rainforest near Auckland, New Zealand, in an effort to understand the dynamics of the soil seed bank. The seed rain added a mean of 202 ± 93 germinable seeds per 0.1 m2 over 15 months to the forest floor in 1988 and a total of 40 species (range 15–25 per site). The source of seeds included both native forest species growing on-site, and adventive species of which most were growing off-site. Species richness of the seed rain was highest in summer (32 species) and lowest in winter (6 species). However, density of the recorded seed rain was highest in late autumn-early winter from high seed rain and massive germination in May and June of seeds from the native tree, Kunzea ericoides, at two sites in the early stages of forest regrowth. Seed germination from soil samples which had been denied seed inputs for 15 mo identified the density (52 ± 41/0.1m2) and composition (18 species, range 2–9) of the...

A preliminary review of the subfamilies and genera of Staphylinidae known from New Zealand is presented, with data on natural history and selected references. Taxonomic changes involving 15 new combinations and a new synonymy are given in an appendix. The New Zealand staphylinid fauna as reported here includes approximately 936 native and 85 adventive species in approximately 178 genera and 16 subfamilies. The native fauna is characterised by the absence of many major lineages (including half of all staphylinid subfamilies), the high level of endemism of genera (43%) and species (>90%), and the radiation of several groups of genera and species. Staphylinid diversity in New Zealand is compared with that of several other regions. The size of the New Zealand fauna of rove beetles is consistent with species number/land area relationships in a variety of areas around the world.

The characteristics of soil seed banks in Agathis australis (kauri) forests of northern New Zealand are presented, and variations in seed bank composition are described in relation to stand age and distance from forest edges. A mean viable seed density of 1118±217/m2 was present under the kauri forest sites. While the seed bank contained both native (77%) and adventive species (23%), its composition was not closely related to that of the extant vegetation. The abundance of adventive and native herbaceous components of the seed bank declined as stand age increased, while that of native woody secondary species remained relatively constant. The abundance of adventive species also declined significantly with increasing distance from forest edges.

A study of Carabidae found in coastal debris after floods has revealed 24 species, mainly of lowland origin. Of these, 54% were adventive species, reflecting their establishment in human-modified habitats whereas most endemic species do not seem to survive far beyond native vegetation. Some species that are normally common in river beds were not seen in the beach debris, perhaps indicating an ability to avoid being flushed away by rapidly rising flood waters. An apparent clumping of individuals of some species may suggest that they were tending to re-unite after being cast back on shore. Pheromonal activity may be involved in their relocation. Brief taxonomic notes are included.

The paper begins with a brief survey of the history of study of the vascular plants of Arthur's Pass National Park. Taxa first described from the area of the Park are listed. The important work of Julius von Haast, Leonard Cockayne and other early botanists is outlined. The main part of the paper is a floristic list. Distribution records are given for each species, by subregions, altitudinal zones, and the main habitats occupied. The list includes a total of 660 indigenous species, 8 subspecies, and 55 hybrids. Among these species are 1 psilopsid, 6 lycopsids, 70 filicopsids, 13 gymnosperms, and 575 angiosperms. A total of 154 adventive species (all angiosperms) is listed. Separate sections discuss rare and locally distributed species, hybrids, and adventive species.

The New Zealand Sphecidae are represented by the subfamilies Sphecinae, Nyssoninae, Larrinae, Crabroninae, and Pemphredoninae. Their relationships lie with Australia, and in the genus Podagritus with South America. The sphecid fauna is isolated and restricted and 16 species are discussed. A key is given to the genera and subgenera. The names applied to these wasps are updated and present knowledge of their nesting behaviour and prey is recorded. Most species are endemic, but there are two adventive species of Australian origin. Pison spinolae Shuckard was introduced into New Zealand probably in about 1880. Podalonia tydei suspiciosa (F. Smith) was evidently stablished only some 10 years ago. Two species of Crabroninae, which normally provision their nests with flies, are reported to prey occasionally on large geometrid and pyralid moths and on mayflies.

These notes extend a list of vascular plants (Wardle 1975) that mainly dealt with Westland National Park. They bring the recorded number of vascular plants in the region, represented by herbarium specimens, to 711 native species, 24 varieties, 32 hybrids, and 160 adventive species. Extensions of range, redeterminations, and changes resulting from taxonomic revisions are also noted. Most of the specimens are held at the herbarium of Botany Division, DSIR (CHR).

Nymphoides geminata (R. Br.) Kuntze (Menyanthaceae), a stoloniferous floating-leaved hydrophyte is reported present in New Zealand. This is the only known representative of this adventive genus in the country. Identifying features of the plant, its field occurrence, and potential for further spread are discussed.

With 189 native and 22 adventive species, pteridophytes are a numerically small but economically and ecologically important component of the New Zealand flora. Taxonomically they arc well known but, following several major revisions and many nomenclatural changes in the last 20 years, there is a need for a new Flora treatment. A more expansive style of Flora including a greater range of information and illustrations for both native and adventive taxa is contemplated. The evidence for hybridisation amongst New Zealand ferns is outlined and a comparison with Cockayne & Allan's list suggests that its extent may be greater than they suspected. Most fern hybrids, with the notable exception of those in Blechnum, appear to be effectively sterile. Chromosome counts have been obtained for about 75% of native species of which 54% are polyploid, a figure comparable with other temperate floras, but only 2% are apomictic. Chemotaxonomy of New Zealand ferns is still in its infancy but can be expected to provid...

An annotated list of vascular plants in Westland National Park and its vicinity includes about 620 native species, 22 varieties, 26 hybrids, and 114 adventive species. Ecological information is included and records are supported by herbarium specimens.

Summary Hybrids between the endemic Disphyma australe and two adventive species of Carpobrotus, namely C. edulis and C. aequilaterus, occur naturally in coastal areas throughout New Zealand. The hybrids are highly sterile triploids. Both exhibit parental characters although in size and form they resemble Disphyma more closely.

Summary Eight American cudweeds belonging to Gnaphalium section Gamochaeta are adventive to New Zealand. They are G. calviceps Fern., G. subfalcatum Cabr., G. pensylvanicum Willd., G. simplicicaule Willd. ex Spreng., G. purpureum Linn., G. ustulatum Nutt., G. spicatum Lam., and G. americanum Mill. Keys to cudweed groups and Gnaphalium sections, as well as to these adventive species, are provided together with species descriptions, nomenclatural summaries, habitats, and distributional records, and observations.

A further change in name is noted for an adventive species of Zingiberaceae in New Zealand. The plant previously known as Hedychium flavium Roscoe, non Roxb. or H. coronarium var. subditum (Turrill) Naik is now considered to be H. flavescens Carey ex Roscoe. The reasons for this change are briefly outlined, and the nomenclatural history of the whole Hedychium coronarium complex is given.