Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, 1923 [electronic resource]

Volume 54, 1923

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Art. 28.—An Index of New Zealand Beetles.

By G. V. Hudson, F.E.S., F.N.Z.Inst.

[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 7th December, 1921; received by Editor, 20th October, 1921; issued separately, 30th April, 1923.]

I have undertaken the preparation of the following index, which is outside the scope of my usual entomological work, under the conviction that such an index is urgently required, and is not otherwise likely to be compiled. It is perhaps desirable for me to state that the list is simply a systematic index. It is neither a revision nor a synonymic list. No doubt a properly revised synonymic list of our Coleoptera is a great desideratum at the present time, but the production of such a list would require a much fuller knowledge of our beetles than I can claim to possess, and must, so far as I can see, be left to some future worker. In the meantime the present list may be regarded as a preliminary step. It will assist collectors in arranging their collections, and will enable them to refer to a description of any species they may desire to consult.

The list of Coleoptera contained in Captain Hutton's invaluable Index Faunae Novae Zealandiae is now very much out of date, over 1,400 species having been described by the late Major Broun since that work was published in 1904. Captain Hutton's list was prepared by Major Broun himself, and I have assumed that it is a complete index up to the end of the year 1903. In compiling the following list I have consulted all available publications issued subsequent to that date, and in this way have endeavoured to attain a measure of completeness. In the course of my work I have found that certain species mentioned in Major Broun's Manual of New Zealand Coleoptera do not appear in Captain Hutton's list; and, unless these species are mentioned in publications later than Hutton's index, I have not inserted them, as I assume that Major Broun must have regarded them as synonyms and intentionally omitted them.

The scheme of the classification followed in my index is that in general use in England at the present time. It is regarded as a more natural and satisfactory system than that contained in the Cambridge Natural History, which formed the basis of Captain Hutton's list. For assistance and advice in connection with this part of my work I am much indebted to my kind friend Commander J. J. Walker. Within each family I have arranged the genera, as far as possible, in accordance with the views expressed in Major Broun's publications.

As regards the question of synonymy, it should be stated at the outset that Major Broun is not responsible for the creation of anything like the number of synonyms that some of his critics have assumed. The coleopterous fauna of New Zealand is undoubtedly a very rich one, and, like the Lepidoptera, contains a very large proportion of difficult forms whose slight and elusive differences are extremely difficult to appreciate. The whole subject of synonymy is, however, very slightly touched upon in Major Broun's works, and it certainly appears probable that some of the descriptions contained in the very early publications may relate to insects which have been renamed and redescribed in later publications. For example, Uloma tenebrionides White and Uloma laevicostata Blanchard

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may be names referring to the same species, and this may also apply to Teramocerus barbicornis Fabricius and Teramocerus cylindricornis Fabricius. These and similar questions can only be settled by reference to the original types. Again, Major Broun repeatedly states he has not seen the types of certain species described by Dr. Sharp and other authors, and it would appear likely that a certain amount of synonymy may have resulted in at least some of these cases. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that Major Broun has described a great number of species from single specimens, and in these cases the question of possible intermediate forms connecting some of the species cannot have been fully taken into account.

I am much indebted to the Hon. G. M. Thomson, M.L.C., for a list of the introduced beetles. These have, as far as possible, been inserted in systematic order. They are in every case distinguished by an asterisk placed before the name of each species.

Beetles found in the Kermadec Islands which do not also occur in New Zealand are not included in the index.

In referring to so many scattered publications, extending over a period of nearly twenty years, it is inevitable that some errors and omissions have occurred, and in this connection I must ask for the kind indulgence of all those who may use the index.

Abbreviations.

A.	Annals and Magazine of Natural History.
B.	Bulletin, New Zealand Institute.
C.	Manual of New Zealand Coleoptera, 1880–93.
E.	Transactions of the Entomological Society of London.
S.	Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand.
T.	Transactions of the New Zealand Institute.