Porrostoma simsoni (Lea, 1909) (a species of net-winged beetle)
Basis for Tasmanian occurrence
Classification
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Elateroidea
Family: Lycidae
Subfamily: Metriorrhynchinae
Tribe: Metriorrhynchini
Morphology
Flightedness: winged and assumed capable of flight
Morphology (characterised by L. Forster): — Abdomen with penultimate segment triangularly excised to base — Elytra black with orange at tip of apex and shoulders; punctures in double rows, but intermediate ridges are fine and can appear to be single rows — Head with very short, almost non-existent rostrum — Pronotum black, divided into seven distinct areolets — Wings present.
Source literature on morphology and taxonomy (*primary taxonomic source, where identified):
*Lea, A.M. (1909). Revision of the Australian and Tasmanian Malacodermidae. Trans. Roy. Entom. Soc. Lond. 1909: 45-251. [Pages 52, 82-83]
Ecology
Association with dead wood or old trees: obligately saproxylic
Ecological attributes: — May occupy logs or trunks of Eucalyptus obliqua, at least temporarily, since found having emerged within six years of felling (Grove et al., 2009).
Collection method(s) for TMAG material: — Emergence trapping from log of Eucalyptus obliqua — Malaise trapping — Pitfall trapping.
Source ecological literature:
Baker, S.C. (2006b). Ecology and conservation of ground-dwelling beetles in managed wet eucalypt forest: edge and riparian effects. PhD thesis, Univ. of Tasmania, Hobart.
Grove, S. et al. (2009). A long-term experimental study of saproxylic beetle … succession in Tasmanian Eucalyptus … logs… In: Fattorini, S. (Ed.), Insect Ecology and Conservation. Research Signpost, pp. 71-114.
Yee, M. (2005). The ecology and habitat requirements of saproxylic beetles native to Tasmanian wet eucalypt forests: potential impacts of commercial forestry practices. PhD thesis, Univ. of Tasmania, Hobart.
