Costelytra zealandica (commonly known as the grass grub)[1] is a species of scarab beetle found in forested areas of greater Wellington.[2][3] It was originally described in 1846 by the British entomologist Adam White as Rhisotrogus zealandicus from a specimen obtained during the Ross expedition.[4] The species is known to feed on roots of plants and trees, so is considered a pest for many farm pastures.[1]

Prior to 2016, the New Zealand grass grub was mischaracterized as C. zealandica. In 2016 Coca-Abia and Romero-Samper found differences in syntype specimens between White's (1846) C. zealandica[4] and Given's (1952) description and revised the species name of the latter to Costelytra giveni after Given.[3][5]

References

  1. ^ a b Wise, K. A. J. (1995). "Records Concerning Biological Control of Insect Pests by Neuropteroidea (Insecta) in New Zealand". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 32: 101–117. ISSN 0067-0464. JSTOR 42906455. Wikidata Q58677493.
  2. ^ "Oldstyle id: cd96b200ef1bb75a65252fbfe2199882". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands.
  3. ^ a b "New name for Common Grass Grub". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  4. ^ a b White, Adam; Butler, Arthur Gardiner (1846). The zoology of the voyage of the H.M.S. Erebus & Terror, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross - Insects. London: E. W. Janson. p. 10. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.7364. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  5. ^ Coca-Abia, M. M.; Romero-Samper, J. (2016-07-02). "Establishment of the identity of Costelytra zealandica (White 1846) (Coleoptera: Scarabeidae: Melolonthinae) a species commonly known as the New Zealand grass grub". New Zealand Entomologist. 39 (2): 129–146. doi:10.1080/00779962.2016.1230254. ISSN 0077-9962.