Proposed changes among non-threatened categories LC, DD and NE in the NT – Invertebrate animals

We have very limited knowledge of the distribution and abundance of most species of invertebrates in the NT, which number more than 10,000 species (many unnamed).

The table below lists the species of invertebrates previously listed as Data Deficient (DD).

Following discussions with prominent entomologists, the current review proposes to remove these species from the Data Deficient list as this classification is appropriate for the majority of invertebrate species.

Most of these species have been reclassified as Not Evaluated (NE) in this review, which is the classification currently applied to most invertebrates in the NT.

The eight remaining DD species have been reclassified as Least Concern (LC) or Not Assessed (NA).

In addition, two species of butterfly that were previously classified as Least Concern have been reclassified as Not Evaluated in the 2020 review:

  • Eurema brigitta No-brand Grass-yellow – known from only one record in the NT.
  • Pelopidas agna Common Swift – records of this species are now considered to refer to Pelopidas lyelli.

Species of invertebrates that were previously listed as threatened or near threatened (mostly species of butterflies and land-snails) will retain their current status.

Species of invertebrates to be removed

The following is a list of invertebrate species to be removed from the list of Data Deficient species in the NT.

Snails

Scientific nameCommon nameCurrent
TPWCA listing
category
Proposed
TPWCA listing
category 2020
Justification
Austropeplea lessoniDDNE
Cristigibba wesselensisDDNE
Pupilla ficulneaDDNE
Semotrachia hughana DDNE
Sinumelon hullanumDDNE
Torresitrachia funiumDDNE

Whip-Spiders

Scientific name Common name Current
TPWCA listing
category
Proposed
TPWCA listing
category 2020
Justification
Charon oenpelli Oenpelli Whip-scorpion DD NE

Ants

Scientific name Common nameCurrent
TPWCA listing
category
Proposed
TPWCA listing
category 2020
Justification
Bothroponera spp. (sublaevis group) three species DDNE
Camponotus sp. (vitreus group) DDNE
Cerapachys sp. (longitarsus group) DDNE
Leptogenys sp. (conigera group) DDNE
Leptogenys spp. (clarki group) two species DDNE
Myrmecia sp. near desertorum DDNE
Probolomyrmex greavesi DDNE
Rhytidoponera sp. DDNE
Rhytidoponera sp. (aurata group) DDNE

Butterflies

Scientific name Common nameCurrent
TPWCA listing
category
Proposed
TPWCA listing
category 2020
Justification
Acrodipsas decima Top End Ant-blue DDNE
Acrodipsas myrmecophila Small Ant-blue DDNE
Appias albina White Albatross DDLCFollowing Braby et al. (2018)
Borbo cinnara Common Rice Swift DDNE
Candalides cyprotus Copper Pencil-blue DDNE
Croitana arenaria Inland Sand-skipper DDNE
Danaus chrysippus Lesser Wanderer DDNE
Danaus plexippus Monarch DDNAIntroduced to the NT.
Delias aganippe Spotted Jezebel DDNE
Deudorix diovis Bright Cornelian DDNANo records in the NT.
Hypolimnas anomala Crow Eggfly DDNE
Junonia erigone Northern Argus DDNE
Leptotes plinius Plumbago Blue DDNE
Papilio aegeus Orchard Swallowtail DDLCFollowing Braby et al. (2018)
Papilio anactus Dainty Swallowtail DDNE
Petrelaea tombugensis Mauve Line-blue DDNE
Protographium leosthenes Kakadu Swordtail DDLCFollowing Braby et al. (2018)
Pseudoborbo bevani Lesser Rice Swift DDNE
Sahulana scintillata Glistening Line-blue DDLCFollowing Braby et al. (2018)
Suniana lascivia lasus Dingy Grass Dart DDNE
Taractrocera ilia Rock Grass-dart DDLCFollowing Braby et al. (2018)
Telicota augias Bright-orange Darter DDNE
Telicota mesoptis Narrow-brand Darter DDNANo records in the NT.
Theclinesthes albocinctus Bitter Bush-blueDDNE
Yoma sainaLurcherDDLCFollowing Braby et al. (2018)

Other insects

Scientific name Common nameCurrent
TPWCA listing
category
Proposed
TPWCA listing
category 2020
Justification
Alinjarria elongata Northern Katydid DDNE
Haploscapanes barbarossa Spectacular Elephant Beetle DDNE
Panesthia tepperi Darwin Giant CockroachDDNE

Reference cited

Braby MF, Franklin DC, Bisa DE, Williams MR, Williams AAE, Bishop CL, Coppen RAM (2018) Atlas of Butterflies and Diurnal Moths in the Monsoon Tropics of Northern Australia. Australian National University Press, Canberra.


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