Citizen science and the art of discovery: new records of large Coleoptera from Lord Howe Island, July 2018

Abstract

A citizen science event was held on Lord Howe Island, 22-28 July 2018, with the objective of training non-scientist volunteers in basic search methods for large beetles. The survey was conducted to obtain baseline data on the distribution of large beetles prior to the rat eradication programme scheduled to start in 2019. The event was hosted by the Lord Howe Island Museum and voluntary participation was organized through the Lord Howe Island Conservation Volunteers. The event was open to both residents and tourists. Guidance was provided by the two authors. Activities for the volunteers included an introductory talk on the large beetles of the island, four afternoon searches and one night search. An extra day walk was added for some interested local participants. During the remainder of the week the authors conducted their own searches. 13 areas were visited altogether, and the results concerning the large species (1 cm or more in length) are tabulated here. The citizen scientist volunteers found several species not found by the authors. The survey was in mid winter, a generally poor time for beetle activity, but 23 large species were found, all of which are discussed. These include the rediscovery of Cormodes darwini Pascoe, 1860 (Cleridae), hitherto considered extinct and last recorded in 1916, and the first record of the genus Torresita (Buprestidae) on the island.

The citizen scientist survey of large Coleoptera on Lord Howe Island, August 2019

“…The cerambycid fauna of Lord Howe is diverse, with at least 22 species (Ślipiński & Escalona, 2013(Ślipiński & Escalona, , 2016Reid et al, 2018a). These records confirm the abundance and wide lowland distribution of this large beetle species, at least in larval form (Reid et al, 2018a;Reid & Hutton, 2019). The adults are most often encountered flying to light in summer.…”

“…The concepts of the survey were presented through an introductory talk, with demonstration of collecting methods and distribution of laminated handouts illustrating some of the target taxa, as per the 2018 survey (Reid & Hutton, 2019). The collecting events undertaken with the citizen scientists included some of the sites surveyed in 2018 and some new sites.…”

“…A survey of these large beetles was made by a team including citizen scientists in 2018, with interesting and useful results (Reid & Hutton, 2019). This review reports the results of a second similar survey, conducted in 2019 to obtain further baseline data on the distribution of large beetles immediately prior to the eradication of rodents, in late 2019 .…”

“…This review reports the results of a second similar survey, conducted in 2019 to obtain further baseline data on the distribution of large beetles immediately prior to the eradication of rodents, in late 2019 . The justification and methodology have been described in our account of the 2018 event (Reid & Hutton, 2019). In brief, the highly diverse and endemic flora and fauna, is threatened by introduced rodents, particularly black rats (Hutton et al, 2007).…”

“…In brief, the highly diverse and endemic flora and fauna, is threatened by introduced rodents, particularly black rats (Hutton et al, 2007). The rats have eliminated or severely reduced populations of several large insects from the main island including many beetles (Reid et al, 2018a;Reid & Hutton, 2019) but have failed to invade the small offshore islets. In 2019 an intensive rodent baiting programme was undertaken, from April to October, covering the entire island .…”