Contents Vol. 54 (Public)

Papers will be published on-line as soon as they are ready and made available to members of the Entomological Society of New South Wales.  They can be purchased for a small price from INFORMIT.  They will only be made available to the general public via this website once volume 53 is published in its entirety (approximately one year later).

GENERAL AND APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY

The Journal of the Entomological Society of New South Wales Inc.

VOLUME 54

CONTENTS

Predators, parasitoids, hyperparasitoids and detritovores – A study of the arthopod fauna associated with nest aggregations of Ropalidia plebeiana (the white-faced brown paper wasp)

Warburton, P.

This study outlines the inter-related components of the nest ecosystem associated with Ropalidia plebeiana Richards, 1978 (Vespidae: Polistinae: Ropalidiini), the white-faced brown paper wasp, including predators, parasitoids, hyperparasitoids and detritivores that were found in nests collected from a site on the New South Wales south coast. This study builds on an earlier paper that was focused on nesting behaviours of this paper wasp.

This study confirms an earlier finding that Arthula plebeja, Ubaidillah & Kojima, 2009 (Ichneumonidae: Cryptinae: Cryptini) is a parasitoid of Ropalidia plebeiana. No published photographs previously existed of the species, and this study adds detailed photographic records.

A hyperparasitoid that attacks Arthula plebeja – Amoturoides breviscapus Girault, 1932 (Torymidae: Monodontomerinae) – is also photographically recorded, both male and female. Again, no prior published photographs appear to have existed. This study expands on the description of that species.

The Ropalidia plebeiana nest aggregations are often impacted by spider encroachments. The identity of the spider was not previously known. Two possible candidates in Intruda signata Forster, 1979 (Gnaphosidae; Drassodinae) and Badumna sp. Thorell, 1890 (Desidae: Matachiinae) are suggested. Both these spiders have the behavioural characteristics to explain their ability to live amongst the nest aggregations of Ropalidia plebeiana and prey on the wasps, without themselves becoming the prey.

The various predator and parasitoids threats to Ropalidia plebeiana cast some further light on the evolutionary pressures that contribute to the innate behaviours of philopatry, centripetal nest building, site abandonment and the resulting nest aggregation behaviour that was the subject of our earlier behavioural study.

General and Applied Entomology 54: 1-12 (published on-line 22.3.2025)

The native Harlequin Bug (Dindymus versicolor) in Australia: current knowledge on distribution, ecology, and management

Thakur, M. & Dodds, K.

Summary

The harlequin bug (Dindymus versicolor Herrich-Schäffer 1853; Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae) is a widespread native Australian species occurring across New South Wales and other eastern and southern states, including Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. It is commonly observed in gardens, orchards, production nurseries and natural vegetation, and is recognised as a pest of fruit, vegetable, and ornamental plants. D. versicolor feeds primarily on plant tissues, fruits, and seeds, and occasionally scavenges on dead insects, which has led to confusion regarding its ecological role. Periodic outbreaks occur during warm, dry seasons in inland and coastal regions, where aggregations on flowering or fruiting plants can cause noticeable fruit damage. Although usually of minor economic importance, D. versicolor can blemish fruits such as apples, pears, berries, tomatoes, and citrus and disfigure ornamental plants through sap-feeding. Reports from multiple fruit-growing regions indicate that certain apple varieties are highly attractive to the bug. Evidence from related pyrrhocorids suggests that opportunistic feeding and aggregation behaviour are ancestral traits within the family, supporting its persistence under diverse environmental conditions. Observations from growers and citizen science platforms such as “iNaturalist” confirm the species’ broad distribution across Australia. This review synthesises historical records, recent observations, and citizen science data to synthesise the biology, host range, pest status, and ecological context of D. versicolor, and to improve recognition of its agricultural significance and management considerations.

General and Applied Entomology 54: 13-26 (published on-line 28.3.2025)