Chapter VIII

INSECTS WITH MYRIAPODA

MYRIAPODA

(Order CHILOPODA, see Appendix B, p. 558.)

Order SCHIZOTARSIA

Family CERMATIIDÆ

Cermatia smithii, Newport

ONE example of this species was received recently (1919) at the Dominion Museum, Wellington. It was taken at Wanganui.

INSECTA

(The scheme of classification generally adopted is that used by Dr D. Sharp in the Cambridge Natural History, but I have been obliged to depart from it in regard to several groups, especially those of parasitic insects, regarding which the classification is still in a condition of flux.)

Order I. APTERA

Sub-order THYSANURA

Family LEPISMIDÆ

Lepisma saccharina, Linn. (Silver-fish), Bristle-tail or Fish-moth This species is very common throughout the North Island, but not so widespread in the South. (Dr Hilgendorf reports it as only found in heated linen cupboards about Christchurch.) I have found it by no means uncommon in Dunedin. Mr Philpott has only found it in one locality in Southland. Hudson considers it was introduced at a very early date.

Mr Howes reports it from houses in Wellington, Christchurch and Invercargill. "It is undoubtedly throughout N.Z. but cannot be said to be common."

This insect is essentially a vegetable feeder, but its favourite food is starch. Hence the damage it does to books and papers, muslin curtains, starched articles of clothing, and silk garments and tapestry which have been stiffened with starch. They are great pests in libraries, where they eat the glaze, paste of the labels and the surface of the paper.

A number of insects sent to Mr Jas. Drummond in May, 1913,

from Lake Brunner, where they were said to have recently appeared, proved to be this species.

Miller says this species only lives in damp places.

Thermobia furnorum, Rovelli. (Fire-brat)

Common about bakehouses, fireplaces, ovens or any warm dry places, especially in the North Island.

Sub-order COLLEMBOLA

Family ENTOMOBRYIDÆ

Entomobrya multifasciata, Tulb.

Two specimens of this cosmopolitan species were found in an ants' nest at Ashburton by Mr W. W. Smith and recorded in (or before) 1895. Its presence there may have been accidental. It is difficult to say whether this is an introduced or an indigenous species.

Family ACHORUTIDÆ

Achorutes armatus, Nic., Tulb.

Three specimens were found in an ants' nest at Ashburton by Mr W. W. Smith, and recorded at the same time as the preceding species. It is a very widely spread form, being found in all European countries, Sumatra, California, Brazil, etc. The same remarks apply to it as to the preceding.

Order II. ORTHOPTERA

Family FORFICULIDÆ

Forficula auricularia, Linn. (Earwig)

This common European insect was first reported from Ashburton by Mr W. W. Smith in 1900. It was recorded from North Canterbury in 1908, and it was stated then that it had been known for some years in the Wairarapa district in the North Island. Since then it has been steadily increasing its range, and its abundance. Mr Howes first met with it commonly under fish crates in the railway station at Palmerston (S.); from such a position it would be spread broadcast. It is extremely abundant in the north end of Dunedin, in Christchurch, at Waikari in North Canterbury, and on the railway station at Cass.

These insects are most destructive to vegetables, flowers and fruits, and they even penetrate into houses, and devour all starchy and saccharine food materials. They are voracious feeders, and are especially fond of the corollas of flowers, so that they are a great

annoyance to gardeners. Occasionally they visit flowers for the nectar, and Knuth reports them as going into the flowers of Tropaeolum majus for this purpose. They have also been taken on the flowers of ivy (Hedera Helix), poppy (Papaver Rhœas) and Millfoil (Achillea millefolium), perhaps on the same quest. But they eat the flowers of species of Brassica, and of the thistle (Cnicus arvensis) very freely. Their destruction of fruit is chiefly that which has fallen on the ground, or which grows near the ground, like strawberries.

Kerner suggests that:

"it is very probable that the species of Forficula, which we frequently find working for days together in tubular flowers, so far interfere with the floral functions as that by their presence other insects, whose visits would be of use, are prevented from sucking the nectar." He adds: “I possess, however, no definite observations on this point."

A rove-beetle, Philonthus æneus, also introduced into New Zealand, is very generally mistaken for an earwig.

Mr G. Howes informs me that he has three unidentified species of earwigs in his collection, which were introduced from the South Sea Islands in fruit.

Chelisoches morio, Fabr.

This species, originally belonging to the Malay Archipelago, was first observed by Mr Hudson, as landed from a home steamer in Wellington in 1890. He found another specimen amongst some bananas in 1898. Mr W. W. Smith reported it as occurring round about Christchurch in 1906.

Family BLATTIDÆ

Blatta latipennis, Brunn. (Phyllodromia opima). (India?)
(? Blatta orientalis, the Black Beetle)

This species was recorded as taken at Auckland by the 'Novara' Expedition (1859).

Blatta germanica, Linn. (Phyllodromia germanica, Linn.).

(Cosmopolitan.) Cockroach

This species, which has spread very widely from Europe, is known in America, where it is very common, as the "Croton Bug.' Mr Howes reports it as generally distributed by merchandise, and common on all New Zealand coastal boats. It has been found in parts of Dunedin and Invercargill.

Polyzosteria truncata, Brunn.

This Australian species is recorded among introduced insects in Hutton's list in the Fauna Nova-Zealandia.

Periplaneta americana, Linn. Cockroach, Yellow Roach

This species, which is now cosmopolitan in its distribution, is a native of tropical America. It is a common cockroach on board ships. Mr Howes says it is occasionally taken in seaport towns, where it comes off boats, amongst goods, etc. He has picked it up in fruit auction rooms in various parts of New Zealand.

Family MANTIDÆ

Orthodera ministralis, Fabr. Mantis

Some time prior to 1860, Dr Sinclair took egg-cases of this Australian insect to England; they were found apparently in Auckland. In 1873-74, Captain Hutton observed it at Clyde in Central Otago; Mr W. Colenso recorded it from Napier in 1878; Mr Potts found it in Canterbury in 1880; Mr Hudson found it in Nelson in 1886, and in Wellington in 1891; Dr Hilgendorf in 1916 says that it is common, but overlooked on account of its protective colouring; and in 1919 Mr W. W. Smith says it is common in Taranaki, while Mr Howes reports it from Oamaru. It seems, therefore, to be pretty generally distributed. Captain Hutton writing in 1896 said: “I think that the species has been unintentionally introduced into Auckland from Sydney, and into Otago from Tasmania or Victoria, when large quantities of hay were brought to Otago from Australia."

Family LOCUSTIDÆ

Cædicia olivacea, Brunner

This Australian locust was found very commonly amongst sweetbriars in Nelson in 1886, by Mr Hudson, and was also recorded from Auckland by Captain Hutton in 1897. The latter authority states that "probably it was introduced into Nelson in the early days of the gold-diggings, and taken from there to Auckland.” Mr W. W. Smith tells me that it is common in Taranaki in 1919.

Family GRYLLIDA

Gryllus servillei, Saussure. Field Cricket or Whistling Cricket

Also recorded as Acheta fuliginosa. Mr Hudson thinks that the introduction of this cricket from Australia occurred at a very early period. He first recorded it from the Nelson district in 1875, when it was extremely destructive. In 1896-97 the Agricultural Department reported it as very destructive in Auckland and Hawke's Bay, in the latter district eating the paddocks quite bare. It also entered houses, destroying wall-papers, boots, clothing, harness, provisions, etc.; and did much damage in orchards and gardens. In 1907 it was

extremely abundant in the neighbourhood of Auckland. Mr Howes states that "the cheerful chirping of the Black Cricket can be heard every evening (in summer) about the North Island towns. I have also heard it in the Port Hills above Christchurch."

Gryllotalpa vulgaris, Linn. Mole Cricket

In 1888 this species was noted by Mr T. W. Kirk in a bank on the Tinakori Road, Wellington. Also found by Mr Robinson of Makara, west of Wellington. Dr Hilgendorf (1916) says: "the first specimen from near Wanganui was noted there some ten years ago; it is now common in sand-hills there."

Mr Howes states that it is common as far south as Nelson.

Order III. NEUROPTERA

Sub-order MALLOPHAGA

(In Neumann's classification the Mallophaga or Ricinidæ are treated as a family of the sub-order Rhyncota or Pediculinæ.) Trichodectes scalaris, Nitzsch. Ox-louse

This ecto-parasite of cattle is not uncommon in New Zealand.

Trichodectes sphærocephalus, Nitzsch. Sheep-louse

This species appears to be very common. The report of the Agricultural Department for 1916 states that it is a very abundant parasite among sheep. Mr Miller recorded it from Weraroa in 1917. Trichodectes latus, Nitzsch. Dog-louse

This species is found on dogs in New Zealand.

Trichodectes climax, Nitzsch. Goat-louse

Col. H. A. Reid informs me that this species occurs on goats in New Zealand.

Goniodes dissimilis, Nitzsch. Brown Chicken-louse

Col. H. A. Reid states that this parasite is found on poultry in New Zealand.

Menopon pallidum, Nitzsch

This most troublesome ecto-parasite of poultry is termed in American publications the shaft-louse or small body-louse of chickens. It is a species which moves with great nimbleness among feathers, and can be kept alive for months on fresh feathers, of which it particularly consumes the quill epidermis. Col. H. A. Reid states that it occurs among poultry in New Zealand.