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Pselaphaulax CHANDLER sp Tasmania1 (a species of ant-like litter-beetle)

Basis for Tasmanian occurrence
Classification
Order: Coleoptera

Suborder: Polyphaga

Superfamily: Staphylinoidea

Family: Staphylinidae

Subfamily: Pselaphinae

Tribe: Pselaphini

Morphology
Typical length (mm): 2.5
Flightedness: (not yet documented)
Ecology
Assumed larval feeding: predator
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 six years of felling (Grove et al., 2009).

Collection method(s) for TMAG material: — Emergence trapping from cut billets of Eucalyptus obliqua (Harrison, 2007) — Emergence trapping from log of Eucalyptus obliqua — Pitfall trapping.

Source ecological literature:
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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