Hemiandrus

Hemiandrus is a genus of wētā in the family Anostostomatidae. In New Zealand they are known as ground wētā due to their burrowing lifestyle.[1][2] Hemiandrus wētā are nocturnal,[3] and reside in these burrows during the day.[4] Ground wētā seal the entrance of their burrow during the day with a soil plug or door so that their burrow is concealed.[4] This genus was originally said to be distributed in Australia and New Zealand, however, with recent molecular genetic methods, this is under debate. Ground wētā adults are smaller than other types of wētā, with the unusual trait of having both long and short ovipositors, depending on the species. The name of this genus is said to come from this trait as hemi- mean half and -andrus means male, as the species where the female has a short ovipositor can sometimes be mistaken for a male. This genus has a diverse diet, depending on the species.

Hemiandrus
Hemiandrus pallitarsis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Orthoptera
Suborder:
Ensifera
Family:
Anostostomatidae
Genus:
Hemiandrus

Ander, 1938
Species

See text.

Hemiandrus electra male

Taxonomy

The genus Hemiandrus was originally described by Kjell Ander in 1938.[5] 10 undescribed species of this genus are said to be in Australia,[6] however molecular analyses show that the two lineages genetically represent two separate lineages, therefore their Australasian distribution is under debate.[7] Hemiandrus is however the most species rich genus of the New Zealand Anostostomatidae.[6]

Morphology

The genus Hemiandrus has the smallest sized wētā, in terms of body size, with individuals ranging from 12-45 millimetres, and weighing 1-3 grams.[8] These wētā have no tympanum, and instead are able to detect sound through their cuticle, which is adaptive for their underground lifestyle.[2] Some species in this genus have unusually short ovipositors for being Orthopterans, the species with this morphological trait exhibit maternal care,[4] which is uncommon as it occurs only in five families within the Orthoptera order.[9]

Diet

The diet of these wētā depends on the species, where H. maculifrons is carnivorous,[10] H. maia is omnivorous, eating fruit and invertebrates.[4][11] Other ground wētā species however have been shown to be mainly herbivorous, eating apricots and various grass species.[12]

Distribution

Hemiandrus in New Zealand

There are approximately 15 undescribed New Zealand species of this genus,[4] with 18 described species.[6][15] These species of Hemiandrus are eaten by native species such as the wattle birds,[16] kiwi,[17] but also by introduced species such as mice,[18] stoats,[19] and hedgehogs.[20] Of the described species in this genus, half have a restricted range, but most are common and widespread, and are not thought to be endangered (as per the New Zealand Department of Conservation).[21]

Synonymy
  • Zealandosandrus Salmon, 1950 was formerly considered to be a distinct genus.

Species

Possibly also:

  • Hemiandrus anomalus Salmon, 1950

References
  1. Gwynne, D. T. (2014). "A secondary copulatory structure in a female insect: a clasp for a nuptial meal?". Naturwissenschaften. 89 (3): 125–127. doi:10.1007/s00114-002-0298-y. PMID 12046632. S2CID 28093747.
  2. Strauß, J.; Lomas, K.; Field, L. H. (2017). "The complex tibial organ of the New Zealand ground weta: sensory adaptations for vibrational signal detection". Scientific Reports. 7 (1): 2031. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-02132-1. PMC 5435688. PMID 28515484.
  3. Chappell, E. M.; Trewick, S. A.; Morgan-Richards, M. (2012). "Shape and sound reveal genetic cohesion not speciation in the New Zealand orthopteran, Hemiandrus pallitarsis, despite high mitochondrial DNA divergence". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 105 (1): 169–186. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2011.01777.x.
  4. Taylor Smith, B. L.; Morgan-Richards, M.; Trewick, S. A. (2013). "New Zealand ground wētā (Anostostomatidae: ): descriptions of two species with notes on their biology". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 40 (4): 314–329. doi:10.1080/03014223.2013.804422.
  5. 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. JSTOR 3503546.
  6. Taylor-Smith, B. L.; Trewick, S. A.; Morgan-Richards, M. (2016). "Three new ground wētā species and a redescription of". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 43 (4): 363–383. doi:10.1080/03014223.2016.1205109. S2CID 88565199.
  7. Pratt, R. C; Morgan-Richards, M.; Trewick, S. A (2008). "Diversification of New Zealand weta (Orthoptera: Ensifera: Anostostomatidae) and their relationships in Australasia". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 363 (1508): 3427–3437. doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0112. PMC 2607373. PMID 18782727.
  8. Chappell, E. M.; Webb, D. S.; Tonkin, J. D. (2014). "Notes on sexual size dimorphism, sex ratio and movements of adult ground weta (Walker) (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae)". New Zealand Entomologist. 37 (2): 83–92. doi:10.1080/00779962.2013.856377. S2CID 4814697.
  9. Gwynne, D. T. (1995). "Phylogeny of the Ensifera (Orthoptera): A Hypothesis Supporting Multiple Origins of Acoustical Signalling, Complex Spermatophores and Maternal Care in Crickets, Katydids, and Weta". Journal of Orthoptera Research (4): 203–218. doi:10.2307/3503478. JSTOR 3503478.
  10. Cary, P. R. L. (1983). "Diet of the ground weta (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatidae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 10 (3): 295–297. doi:10.1080/03014223.1983.10423918.
  11. Morgan-Richards, M (2008). "When is it coevolution? The case of ground wētā and fleshy fruits in New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Ecology. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
  12. Basri, W. M. (1978). The biology and economic impact of the weta, Hemiandrus sp. (Orthoptera : Stenopelmatidae) in an apricot orchard, Horotane Valley. Christchurch, New Zealand: Lincoln College, University of Canterbury. hdl:10182/3201.
  13. 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.
  14. Monteith, G.B.; Field, L.H. 2001: Australian king crickets: distribution, habitats and biology (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae). Pp. 79-94 in Field, L.H. (ed.) The biology of wetas, king crickets and their allies. CABI publishing.
  15. Trewick, Steven A.; Taylor-Smith, Briar; Morgan-Richards, Mary (2020). "Ecology and systematics of the wine wētā and allied species, with description of four new Hemiandrus species". New Zealand Journal of Zoology: 1–34. doi:10.1080/03014223.2020.1790396. ISSN 0301-4223.
  16. Pierre, J. P. (2000). "Foraging behaviour and diet of a reintroduced population of the South Island Saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus)" (PDF). Notornis. 47: 7–12.
  17. Colbourne, R.; Baird, K.; Jolly, J. (1990). "Relationship between invertebrates eaten by little spotted kiwi, , and their availability on Kapiti Island, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 17 (4): 533–542. doi:10.1080/03014223.1990.10422951.
  18. Wilson, D. J.; Lee, W. G. (2010). "Primary and secondary resource pulses in an alpine ecosystem: snow tussock grass ( spp.) flowering and house mouse ( ) populations in New Zealand". Wildlife Research. 37 (2): 89. doi:10.1071/WR09118.
  19. 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. JSTOR 24058176.
  20. Jones, C.; Moss, K.; Sanders, M. (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. JSTOR 24056190.
  21. Johns, P. M. (2001). Distribution and conservation status of ground weta, Hemiandrus species (Orthoptera: Anastostomatidae) (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
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