Invertebrate Biosystematics
Introduction
Invertebrate Biosystematics. Carabid beetle Mecodema regulus.
New Zealand has a distinctive and diverse land invertebrate fauna, with over 80% of the estimated 30,000 species being endemic and found nowhere else in the world. Less than 20% of endemic species have adequate scientific descriptions. Biosystematic studies on poorly known groups are revealing the presence of many new species, as well as species introduced mainly through the actions of humans.
Our research underpins the sustainable use and management of biodiversity. Current projects focus primarily on catalogues and taxonomic revisions targeting groups of importance to end users or to the understanding of New Zealand's unique fauna. These studies are combined with molecular approaches, phylogenetic methodologies, and innovative methods of data analysis and delivery.
We maintain and develop the New Zealand Arthropod Collection and its associated databases and the National Nematode Collection of New Zealand. We deliver invertebrate information through the Fauna of New Zealand series, other science publications, identifications, online tools and other services.
A free electronic newsletter, NZAC News, is issued 3 times a year, and the latest issue is downloadable here.
Research areas
- Acari
Primary contact: Zhi-Qiang Zhang
Acari systematics research is centred on describing and cataloguing New Zealand's indigenous and introduced mites, especially groups of importance in pest control or biosecurity. - Carabidae
Primary contact: Andre Larochelle
This research area focuses on insects of the order Coleoptera belonging to the family Carabidae (ground-beetles). - Coleoptera
Primary contact: Rich Leschen
The object of this research programme is to describe and classify New Zealand Coleoptera, placing endemic members into a global framework and addressing questions about their origin, distribution, and natural history. - Hemiptera (excluding Sternorrhyncha)
Primary contact: Marie-Claude Lariviere
This research area focuses on insects of the order Hemiptera, suborders Cicadomorpha (cicadas, leafhoppers, spittlebugs, treehoppers), Coleorrhyncha (moss bugs), Fulgoromorpha (planthoppers), and Heteroptera (true bugs). - Hemiptera (Sternorrhyncha)
Primary contact: Rosa Henderson
The research in this area concerns the small family Aleyrodidae (whiteflies) and the superfamily Coccoidea or scale insects, the latter having 10 families present in New Zealand, with the largest four being Coccidae (soft scales), Diaspididae (armoured scales), Eriococcidae (felt scales), and Pseudococcidae (mealybugs). - Hymenoptera
Primary contact: Darren Ward
This research focuses on New Zealand sawflies, wasps, ants and bees (Hymenoptera); especially entomophagous wasps (those that parasitise other insects). - Lepidoptera
Primary contact: Robert Hoare
We research New Zealand moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera), especially groups with larvae feeding in leaf-litter, dead wood and fungi (mainly families Oecophoridae and Tineidae) and groups with leaf-mining larvae (particularly Nepticulidae). - Nematoda
Primary contact: Zeng Zhao
The nematodes in the families Tripylidae and Alaimidae mainly occur in freshwater and soil. There are probably 20 to 40 species in New Zealand (G W Yeates pers. comm. 2007). They are generally relatively large nematodes. Their description would be a significant contribution to the known nematode fauna of New Zealand. - Onychophora
Primary contact: Dianne Gleeson
The Phylum Onychophora are a very small group of terrestrial animals, commonly known as peripatus or 'velvet worms' from their velvety appearance. This group has long been regarded as important in evolutionary biology due to their phylogenetic position, ancient history and Gondwanan distribution. Evolutionary relationships constructed using morphology and molecular data clearly show the Onychophora as a sister group to the Arthropods and a member of the Ecdysozoans. - Phasmatodea and Molecular Systematics
Primary contact: Thomas Buckley
This research focuses on the systematics of New Zealand stick insects (Phasmatodea) and molecular phylogenetics of New Zealand terrestrial invertebrates.
Research collaborations
A network of New Zealand and overseas researchers use the New Zealand Arthropod Collection (NZAC) to borrow specimens for scientific research and as a repository for voucher specimens of their studies, and for type specimens of new taxa. Associated databases are also consulted to obtain additonal information on New Zealand and South Pacific taxa. In several cases, Landcare Research staff have collaborative research linkages with these researches.
New Zealand:Landcare Research staff, and staff of educational and scientific institutions, particularly Crown Research Institutes (HortResearch, AgResearch, ESR, Scion, Crop and Food Research). Other linkages include: general public (through the identification and information service); government departments (MAF Biosecurity, Department of Conservation); private environmental consultancy firms; other entomological collections and museums.
International: All major entomological systematics institutes (e.g., Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra; Canadian National Insect Collection, Ottawa; The Natural History Museum, London; U.S. National Museum, Washington D.C.; Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris) and university departments; South Pacific Commission, UN Food and Agriculture Organisation; Pacific Island Countries, BioNET, GBIF, have linkages with the New Zealand Arthropod Collection and its research staff either through collection & databases services or via joint-research initiatives.
Tools & Services
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Analysis of Asia–Pacific freshwater invertebrates
Freshwater invertebrates from the Asia–Pacific region are identified and photographed to assist with stream and river monitoring programmes. -
Checklist of New Zealand Hemiptera
Wise´s (1977) checklist of Hexapoda recorded 46 families, 235 genera and 503 species of Hemiptera (excluding Sternorrhyncha) for New Zealand. -
Cicadas – a virtual identification guide
An elementary identification guide to the 5 cicada genera occurring in New Zealand as well as to species of Amphipsalta Fleming, Notopsalta Dugdale, and Rhodopsalta Dugdale -
English–Māori identification key to leafhopper and treehopper genera occurring in New Zealand
This key will enable any treehopper (Membracidae) or leafhopper (Cicadellidae) genus and several species found in New Zealand to be identified. -
Fauna of New Zealand series – print version
The Fauna of New Zealand series presents New Zealand´s unique invertebrate fauna to the world. -
Fauna of New Zealand series – test electronic version
Four volumes of the Flora and Fauna of New Zealand series are available to the public via the Internet. -
Invertebrate biodiversity assessment and surveys (Koiora–Bioassist)
Koiora–BioAssist™ is a laboratory operated by taxonomists and ecologists, primarily focused on the processing of samples and identification of invertebrates from large ecological projects. -
Invertebrate specimen loans
Loan of invertebrate specimens for scientific studies. -
Keys to New Zealand land snails
A series of LUCID keys to identify New Zealand land snails -
Leafhopper and treehopper identification keys and checklists
The included keys will enable any leafhopper genus or species currently recorded from New Zealand to be identified. The checkslists provide valid names and synonymies for all species as well as digital images for the majority of taxa. -
NZAC Biological Control Voucher Collection
List of the voucher specimens representing natural enemies imported into New Zealand to control various arthropod and weed pests. Arranged by target organism. -
Specialist invertebrate diagnostics
A service offering expert identification and information for invertebrate species provided by the taxonomists of the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. The service is available to Crown Research Institutes, Universities members of the public, commercial organisations, and government organisations, and utilisies a range of resources, primarily, the Arthropod Collection and associated literature. -
Virtual identification guide to NZ Caridae genera
This identification guide provides a Lucid Phoenix interactive key to New Zealand ground–beetle genera -
What is this bug?
A simple key to identifying bugs found in the house and garden. This service is aimed at members of the public and mostly provides a common name, or general group name. For primary students of years 2–6 and their teachers, we also provide a teaching resource Insects & spiders, It provides information about the insects and spiders found in New Zealand and is suitable for levels 2 and 3 of the Science curriculum, Making Sense of the Living World.
Primary contact
 | Marie-Claude Lariviere Email  |
Landcare Research | |
Phone: 09 574 4100 |