Invertebrate biodiversity and habitat quality: some thoughts

Abstract

Assessments of biodiversity in New Zealand should include insects and other invertebrates. The lack of comprehensive field guides for insects in New Zealand makes this difficult. Since 1999 the presence of invertebrate herbivores that can be identified from plant damage symptoms or by their distinctive appearance on their host plant have been recorded. The focus has been on indigenous invertebrates in native ecosystems, parks, gardens, and street trees. The herbivores that can be recognized on Coprosma robusta, Myrsine australis, Pseudopanax lessonii and Sophora species are listed. Some herbivores were only found in habitats where the plants had been present since before European arrival and are proposed as indicators of habitats with high biodiversity values.