
Decilaus nigronotatus (a species of weevil)
Basis for Tasmanian occurrence
Semmens, T.D., McQuillan, P.B. & Hayhurst, G. (1992). Catalogue of the Insects of Tasmania. Government of Tasmania: Department of Primary Industry, 104 pp.
TMAG collections
Classification
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Curculionoidea
Family: Curculionidae
Subfamily: Molytinae
Tribe: Cryptorhynchini
Morphology
Typical length (mm): 2
Flightedness: (not yet documented)
Morphology (characterised by L. Forster): — Elytra with a large dark spot on side of each elytron, and three spots on interstices (hind one sometimes missing) — Femora not toothed, and angular on outer edge at base — Pronotum strongly transverse, with three thin lines of pale scales — Wings absent.
Source literature on morphology and taxonomy (*primary taxonomic source, where identified):
*Lea, A.M. (1913). Descriptions of Australian Curculionidae, with notes on previously described species. Part X1. Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Aust. 37: 301-445. [Pages 382-3].
Ecology
Assumed larval feeding: wood-feeder
Association with dead wood or old trees: obligately saproxylic
Ecological attributes: — Affiliated with interior of mature (unlogged) forest (Baker et al., 2007a) — Affiliated with larger-diameter logs in mature (unlogged) forest (Yee, 2005) — Affliliated with mature (unlogged) forest (Baker et al., 2009c) — Affliliated with mature (unlogged) forest (Baker, 2006a) — May occupy logs or trunks of Eucalyptus obliqua, at least temporarily, since found having emerged within a year of felling (Grove & Bashford, 2003) — 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 — Extraction by Berlese funnel from leaf litter — Pitfall trapping.
Source ecological literature:
Grove, S.J. & Bashford, R. (2003). Beetle assemblages from the Warra log decay project: insights from the first year of sampling. Tasforests 14: 117-129.
Grove, S.J. (2009b). Beetles and fuelwood harvesting: a retrospective study from Tasmania’s southern forests. Tasforests 18: 77-99.
Baker, S.C. (2000). Forest litter beetles and their habitat: a comparison of forest regenerated by wildfire and logging practices. Hons. thesis, Univ. of Tasmania, Hobart.
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.
