New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts

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Back from extinction: rediscovery of the Canterbury knobbled weevil Hadramphus tuberculatus (Pascoe 1877) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), with a review of its historical distribution

Laura M. Young

University of Canterbury
School of Biological Sciences
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8020, New Zealand
laura.young@pg.canterbury.ac.nz

John W. M. Marris

Entomology Research Museum
Bio-Protection & Ecology Division
PO Box 84
Lincoln University
Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
marris@lincoln.ac.nz

Stephen M. Pawson

Scion
Forestry Rd
Ilam
PO Box 29237
Christchurch 8540, New Zealand
steve.pawson@scionresearch.com

Abstract The Canterbury knobbled weevil, Hadramphus tuberculatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytini), was once widespread in the Canterbury plains, foothills and fringing ranges, ranging from Oxford in the north to Waimate in the south. Habitat degradation, reduction in host plant numbers through grazing and predation by rodents are thought to be responsible for the decline in its numbers and distribution. In December 2004, more than 80 years since the last sighting of H. tuberculatus in 1922, a single individual was found at Burkes Pass Scenic Reserve. This paper records the rediscoveryof H. tuberculatus, reviews the historical distribution records for H. tuberculatus, discusses them with respect to changes in host plant habitat in the eastern South Island, and suggests conservation strategies to protect this and other relictual populations that might be found in future.

Keywords Burkes Pass; insect conservation; Molytini

Z08013; Online publication date 24 September 2008
Received 8 May 2008; accepted 22 August 2008

New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2008, Vol. 35: 323–330
0301–4223/08/3504–0323 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2008

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