
Notocryptus GIMMEL & LESCHEN n sp 4 (a species of silken fungus-beetle)
Basis for Tasmanian occurrence
Gimmel, M.L. & Leschen, R.A.B. (2022). Revision of the genera of Picrotini (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae: Cryptophaginae). Acta Entomologica 62(1): 61-109.
TMAG collections
Classification
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Cucujoidea
Family: Cryptophagidae
Subfamily: Cryptophaginae
Tribe: Picrotini
Morphology
Typical length (mm): 2.5
Flightedness: winged and assumed capable of flight
Source taxonomic publications:
Gimmel, M.L. & Leschen, R.A.B. (2022). Revision of the genera of Picrotini (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae: Cryptophaginae). Acta Entomologica 62(1): 61-109.
Ecology
Assumed larval feeding: fungus-feeder
Association with dead wood or old trees: at least facultatively saproxylic
Ecological attributes: — 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: — Baited trapping (funnel trap) — Emergence trapping from log of Eucalyptus obliqua — Flight intercept trapping (trough below Malaise trap) — Knockdown fogging of canopy of Athrotaxis selaginoides — Log-mounted flight intercept trapping — Malaise trapping — Pitfall trapping — Sticky trapping on Eucalyptus obliqua — Vane 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. (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.
Harrison, K.S. (2007). Saproxylic beetles associated with habitat features in Eucalyptus obliqua trees in the southern forests of Tasmania. PhD thesis, Dept. of Zoology, Univ. of Tasmania, Hobart.
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.

