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Prionocyphon warra Watts, 2010 (a species of marsh-beetle)

Basis for Tasmanian occurrence

Watts, C.H.S. (2010). Revision of Australian Prionocyphon Redtenbacher (Scirtidae: Coleoptera). Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 134(1): 53-88. (as Prionocyphon warra)

TMAG collections

Classification

Order: Coleoptera

Suborder: Polyphaga

Superfamily: Scirtoidea

Family: Scirtidae

Morphology

Typical length (mm): 2.7
Flightedness: winged and assumed capable of flight

Source literature on morphology and taxonomy (*primary taxonomic source, where identified):
*Watts, C.H.S. (2010). Revision of Australian Prionocyphon Redtenbacher (Scirtidae: Coleoptera). Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Aust. 134 (1): 53-88.

Ecology

Assumed larval feeding: detritivore
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 — Flight intercept trapping (trough below Malaise trap) — Malaise trapping — Malaise trapping — Pitfall trapping — Sticky trapping on Eucalyptus obliqua — Vane trapping.

Source ecological literature:
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.

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