Research Report

Some Flowers visited by the Australian Painted Lady Vanessa kershawi
(Nymphalidae, Lepidoptera) in northern Sydney bushland

PJ Kubiak

Abstract
Adults of the Australian Painted Lady Vanessa kershawi were recorded visiting the flowers of 17 species of plants for nectar, in bushland of northern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. More than half of these were native plants, predominantly in the family Myrtaceae. Most of the plants visited were dicotyledons. The growth forms of the plants visited by V. kershawi ranged from herbs, through to shrubs and one species of tree. All native flowers visited by V. kershawi were white or cream coloured. Flowers of weed species visited were white, yellow, purple or orange. Tubular, cup-shaped and dish-shaped or open flowers were fed upon by V. kershawi. In the wild, ready availability of nectar may be the overriding factor in determining flower selection by V. kershawi adults. V. kershawi may play a role in the pollination of many of the 17 plant species recorded in this study. As a migratory butterfly species, V. kershawi may be involved in the long range dispersal of the pollen of a number of common native and exotic plant species. (The Victorian Naturalist 123 (6), 2006, 352-361)
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Practices, experiences and opinions of snake catchers and their clients in southern Australia

Nick Clemann

Abstract
The occurrence of snakes on private properties concerns many residents. Translocation of snakes by licensed snake catchers from private properties to public land is a common management practice in many urbanised areas in Australia. However, little is known about the practices of the snake catchers and the effectiveness of this management in terms of solving human-snake conflict. Mail questionnaires were used to survey licensed snake catchers from South Australia, and South Australian and Victorian residents who have used snake catchers. Catchers received calls from spring to autumn. The most frequently relocated snakes in South Australia were Brown Snakes Pseudonaja spp. Catchers chose release sites based on permit stipulations, perceived suitability of habitat, and likelihood of repeat encounters with humans. Residents detailed various beliefs for the occurrence of snakes on their property, including prey and shelter availability, and proximity to ‘snake habitat’, and, after first having a snake removed from their property, most found snakes subsequently. These repeat encounters suggest that education regarding snake encounters and discouraging snakes from entering/staying on their properties should be provided to residents, and that alternative management strategies for snakes in urban areas should be investigated. (The Victorian Naturalist 123 (6), 2006, 383-389)
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Sexing Little Penguins Eudyptula minor using bill measurements

Rebecca Overeem, Robert Wallis and Scott Salzman

Abstract
In Little Penguins Eudyptula minor there are no reliable plumage or body size differences that can be used visually to distinguish the sex of individuals. However, sexual dimorphism of morphometric measures has been noted, with males always being a little larger than females. In this study, differences between E. minor sexes at eight colonies in south-eastern Australia were determined statistically via discriminant function analysis (DFA) and through the utilization of DNA-based techniques developed for non-ratite birds. The DFA correctly determined gender in 91.1% of cases and molecular methods were 100% accurate. Our DFA success rate of classification is similar to that previously published for Little Penguins in Victoria. In this study statistically significant differences in mean bill depths and lengths were found between Little Penguin colonies at St Kilda, Phillip Island and Gabo Island, compared to colonies at Kangaroo Island, Granite Island, Middle Island and London Bridge. As birds in eastern populations (St Kilda, Phillip Island, Gabo Island) exhibit statistically significantly smaller beaks (bill depth and bill length), separate discriminant functions were investigated for each phenotypically distinct geo-spatial cohort. Interestingly, cluster analysis for bill length identified three groups: western (Kangaroo Island and Granite Island), eastern (St Kilda, Phillip Island and Middle Island) and the London Bridge Little Penguin colony, which constituted a separate group. We conclude that while there is a slight increase in DF power for colonies west of Cape Otway and for some specific colonies, colony-specific DFA is not required to identify the sex of Little Penguins in south-eastern Australia. (The Victorian Naturalist 123 (6) 2006, 390-395).
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Is there always a bias towards young males in road kill samples?
The case in Victorian Koalas Phascolarctos cinereus

Natasha McLean

Abstract
Mortality due to road trauma can have large negative impacts on some populations and often is biased towards age/sex classes that have higher rates of movement: individuals during the breeding season and juveniles while they are dispersing. A bias towards young males has been found in two previous studies of road kill Koalas in southeast Queensland. Such a bias was not found in the present study of Koala skulls from populations across Victoria. This may be due to the different Koala population structures and densities or road types and characteristics. (The Victorian Naturalist 123 (6) 2006, 395-399).
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Contributions

Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana: discovery of new populations around Melbourne

Ian Endersby and Sally Koehler

Abstract
The Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana is a small diurnal moth that is critically endangered in Australia. The species had been known from just six areas in Victoria until 2003, when new populations were discovered at the Craigieburn and Cooper Street Grasslands north of Melbourne. In response to these discoveries, Biosis Research Pty Ltd has undertaken a number of targeted surveys for Golden Sun Moth as part of ecological investigations of land proposed for development around Melbourne. This report provides a general outline of the species’ habitat requirements and biology, and briefly describes the discovery of additional populations and implications of these survey results. (The Victorian Naturalist 123 (6), 2006, 362-365)
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Some taxonomic and ecological observations on the genus Banksiamyces

Katy Sommerville and Tom May

Abstract
The stalked cup-fungus Banksiamyces is reported from 13 wild and one cultivated Banksia species. The geographic range of Banksiamyces is expanded to include Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmaniaand NSW. Forty-five collections of Banksiamyces were examined in detail for a range of macro- and micro-morphological characters. Amongst the collections were all four of the previously described Banksiamyces species (B. katerinae, B. maccannii, B. macrocarpus and B. toomansis). Some collections that did not accord with these taxa were assigned to Banksiamyces aff. macrocarpus and B. aff. toomansis. The two species B. katerinae and B. toomansis appeared closer than initially proposed. The strict host-specific relationship suggested by some earlier studies was not confirmed. Evidence is provided for production of the fruit-body in early spring, and production of multiple crops of the same species on the one cone over successive fruiting seasons. Apothecia of these crops are of different macroscopic appearance, with lighter apothecia being mostly immature, and darker apothecia producing spores. This phenomenon may explain previous observations of seemingly different species on the same cone. (The Victorian Naturalist 123 (6) 2006, 366-375)
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Annotated records of the Greater Glider Petauroides volans
from The Victorian Naturalist 1884-2005

K. Shane Maloney and Jamie M. Harris

Abstract
A survey of The Victorian Naturalist was undertaken for records of the Greater Glider Petauroides volans. This report compiles around 52 distribution records, and summarises naturalists’ observations of the animal’s behaviour and feeding. Those concerned with the ecology and conservation of arboreal marsupials generally, and the Greater Glider in particular, should find this work useful as it compiles many interesting and important records of this the largest and most conspicuous of the gliding possums. (The Victorian Naturalist 123 (6), 2006, 376-382)

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