by D. W. Frith

ATOLL RESEARCH BULLETIN NO. 225

A LIST OF INSECTS CAUGHT IN LIGHT TRAPS

ON WEST ISLAND, ALDABRA ATOLL, INDIAN OCEAN

by D. W. Frith

Issued by

THE

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Washington,

D.

C., U S A .

September

1979

A LIST OF INSECTS CAUGHT IN LIGHT TRAPS

ON WEST ISLAND, ALDABRA ATOLL, INDIAN OCEAN

C o l l e c t i o n s made by J . C. F. F r y e r d u r i n g t h e Percy Sladen T r u s t Expeditions t o t h e I n d i a n Ocean (1908-1909) form t h e b a s i s of s e v e r a l p u b l i c a t i o n s on t h e i n s e c t fauna of Aldabra A t o l l , I n d i a n Ocean. A b i b l i o g r a p h y o f t h e s e and o t h e r p e r t i n e n t l i t e r a t u r e i s g i v e n by S t o d d a r t (1971). Legrand (1965) p u b l i s h e d a comprehensive l i s t of Lepidoptera based on c o l l e c t i o n s made on t h e S e y c h e l l e s and Aldabra d u r i n g 1956 and 1958-60, and housed a t t h e Museum National d 1 H i s t o i r e N a t u r e l l e , P a r i s . P r e l i m i n a r y o b s e r v a t i o n s on t h e a f f i n i t i e s and composition of t h e i n s e c t fauna of Aldabra were made by Cogan, Hutson and S h a f f e r ( 1 9 7 1 ) , t h e i r r e s u l t s being based p r i m a r i l y on c o l l e c t i o n s made d u r i n g t h e Royal S o c i e t y Expedition t o Aldabra 1967-68. Webb

(1975) d e s c r i b e d s p e c i e s o f Fulgoroidea (Hemiptera-Homoptera) c o l l e c t e d d u r i n g t h e above e x p e d i t i o n .

Aldabra, t h e l a r g e s t e l e v a t e d c o r a l a t o l l i n t h e world, i s s i t u a t e d 420 km northwest of Madagascar and 640 km from t h e A f r i c a n mainland i n t h e southwest I n d i a n Ocean, l a t i t u d e g o 24'S, l o n g i t u d e 46O 20'E

( S t o d d a r t and o t h e r s 1971). The a t o l l i s e l o n g a t e d e a s t - w e s t with a maximum l e n g t h o f 34 km and a maximum width o f 14.5 km. A t i t s h i g h e s t p o i n t it i s a b o u t 1 8 m above s e a l e v e l , b u t most of t h e l a n d mass l i e s approximately 5 m above s e a l e v e l . The a t o l l c o n s i s t s of f o u r main i s l a n d s s e p a r a t e d by t i d a l c h a n n e l s . The s u r f a c e c o r a l i s mainly o f two t y p e s , 'champignon', a deeply p i t t e d and i r r e g u l a r s o l u t i o n - f r e t t e d r e e f r o c k , and ' p l a t i n ' , a smooth s u r f a c e d pavement-like cemented limestone ( F r y e r , i n S t o d d a r t e t a l . 1971)

.

^A t h i r d t y p e , 'pave' may be used t o d e s c r i b e a s u r f a c e t h a t has s i m i l a r f e a t u r e s t o p l a t i n b u t

l i e s a t a g r e a t e r e l e v a t i o n ( S t o d d a r t 1 9 7 0 ) .

The s t u d y a r e a was l o c a t e d on West I s l a n d o r I l e P i c a r d which measures 9.3 sq.km and forms t h e northwest c o r n e r o f t h e a t o l l . I t

c o n s i s t s mainly o f champignon a p a r t from a small a r e a of p l a t i n around Bassin Cabri and an a r e a o f pave around Anse Var. The champignon i s covered by mixed s c r u b e x c e p t f o r c o a s t a l s t r i p s of palm grove and/or

Phuket Marine B i o l o g i c a l C e n t r e , P.O. Box 200, Phuket, Thailand (formerly Royal S o c i e t y Aldabra Research S t a t i o n , Aldabra A t o l l , S e y c h e l l e s ) . (Manuscript r e c e i v e d March 1976

--

Eds.)

C a s u a r i n a e q u i s e t i f o l i a L . woodland ( f o r d e t a i l s o f v e g e t a t i o n and p l a c e names s e e p a p e r s i n West011 and S t o d d a r t 1 9 7 1 ) . The Royal

S o c i e t y Research S t a t i o n , c o n s t r u c t e d i n 1971, i s l o c a t e d on t h e s o u t h e r n t i p o f West I s l a n d .

I n s e c t s were c o n s t a n t l y t r a p p e d by t h e p r e s e n t a u t h o r u s i n g two Heath l i g h t t r a p s and a Rothamsted l i g h t t r a p d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d August 1971

-

September 1972 w h i l s t t e s t i n g t r a p p i n g t e c h n i q u e s a t t h e

i n v i t a t i o n o f t h e Royal S o c i e t y o f London. D e t a i l s o f t r a p s i t e s and t r a p p i n g p e r i o d s a r e g i v e n below. I n s e c t s were i d e n t i f i e d a t t h e B r i t i s h Museum ( N a t u r a l H i s t o r y ) and Museum N a t i o n a l d l H i s t o i r e N a t u r e l l e , P a r i s ( L e p i d o p t e r a o n l y ) . C o l l e c t i o n s from t h e p r e s e n t s t u d y a r e housed a t t h e B r i t i s h Museum ( N a t u r a l H i s t o r y ) . Data on s e a s o n a l v a r i a t i o n and abundance o f i n s e c t f a m i l i e s and predominant s p e c i e s o n l y , c a u g h t by t h e s e t h r e e l i g h t t r a p s , a r e g i v e n e l s e w h e r e

( F r i t h , 19751, i n a p u b l i c a t i o n u n s u i t a b l e f o r a comprehensive l i s t o f Aldabran i n s e c t s . With f u t u r e i n t e n s i v e z o o l o g i c a l r e s e a r c h on

Aldabra and s u r r o u n d i n g a t o l l s , a s s u r e d by t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e Royal S o c i e t y Aldabra Research S t a t i o n , t h e r e i s a need f o r a c o n t i n u o u s l y updated l i s t s o f f l o r a and f a u n a . A l i s t o f Aldabran i n s e c t s c a u g h t by t h e l i g h t t r a p s i s t h e r e f o r e p r e s e n t e d h e r e a s a b a s i s f o r f u t u r e

r e s e a r c h . W h i l s t t h e p r e s e n t l i s t i s a p r e l i m i n a r y o n e , t h e i n t e n s i t y o f t r a p p i n g and p e r i o d i n v o l v e d i s i n d i c a t i v e o f a f a i r l y comprehensive s t u d y . Annual t o t a l numbers f o r o r d e r s and s p e c i e s a r e i n c l u d e d a s a n i n d i c a t i o n o f i n s e c t abundance. Many o f t h e s m a l l e r i n s e c t s remain u n i d e n t i f i e d t o s p e c i e s and some s p e c i e s , o b t a i n e d i n v e r y s m a l l numbers, were t o o damaged by t r a p p i n g f o r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s t o be inade, b u t numbers of t h e s e a r e g i v e n t o i n d i c a t e r e l a t i v e abundance w i t h i n t h e f a m i l y and genus.

F a m i l i e s a r e l i s t e d i n t h e s y s t e m a t i c o r d e r used i n t h e I n s e c t s of A u s t r a l i a (CSIRO, 1 9 7 0 ) . S p e c i e s a r e l i s t e d a l p h a b e t i c a l l y w i t h i n t h e

f a m i l y and genus.

Trapping t e c h n i q u e s

The l i g h t t r a p s were p l a c e d a b o u t t h e r e s e a r c h s t a t i o n i n a r e a s which v a r i e d i n f l o r a l composition. A l i s t o f p l a n t s p e c i e s n e a r t o e a c h t r a p i s given i n Appendix 1. I t was i n i t i a l l y i n t e n d e d t o t r a p f o r a b o u t 7 n i g h t s p e r month p e r t r a p , b u t due t o t h e l a r g e s i z e o f n i g h t l y c a t c h e s d u r i n g some months f o r t h e Heath l i g h t t r a p s t h i s p e r i o d was reduced. Trap l o c a l i t i e s and t r a p p i n g p e r i o d s were a s f o l l o w s : Heath t r a p 1 was s i t u a t e d 70 m i n l a n d b e h i n d t h e r e s e a r c h s t a t i o n and p l a c e d i n a box 50 cm. above t h e champignon. The t r a p was surrounded on t h r e e s i d e s by p o o r mixed s c r u b predominantly c o n s i s t i n g o f Pemphis a c i d u l a F o r s t . and t h e f o u r t h s i d e f a c e d a l a r g e t i d a l p o o l . Monthly samples (2-8 n i g h t s p e r sample) were t a k e n from September 1971 t o August 1972.

Heath t r a p 2 was s i t u a t e d 60 m. i n l a n d on champignon surrounded by s p e c i e s r i c h mixed s c r u b which b o r d e r e d a coconut p l a n t a t i o n j u s t n o r t h of t h e

r e s e a r c h s t a t i o n . The t r a p w a s p l a c e d on a t a b l e 1 m. above t h e ground. Monthly samples (2-10 n i g h t s p e r sample) were t a k e n from September 1971 u n t i l August 1972.

Rothamsted l i g h t t r a p was s i t u a t e d 50 m. i n a c l e a r i n g j u s t e a s t o f t h e r e s e a r c h s t a t i o n . The t r a p was p l a c e d on r o u g h l y d i s s e c t e d champignon and was surrounded by a r e l a t i v e l y s p e c i e s r i c h mixed s c r u b , Pemphis a c i d u l a b e i n g t h e dominant s p e c i e s . Monthly samples (7-9 n i g h t s p e r month) were t a k e n from October 1971 t o September 1972.

A l i s t o f i n s e c t s and t h e i r a n n u a l t o t a l numbers c a u g h t by Heath and Rothamsted l i g h t t r a p s on West I s l a n d , Aldabra A t o l l o v e r a t w e l v e month p e r i o d .

[ s p e c i e s marked

*

a r e predominant s p e c i e s f o r which monthly p o p u l a t i o n f l u c t u a t i o n s a r e g i v e n i n F r i t h ( 1 9 7 5 ) ]

Annual t o t a l number Family

LEPIDOFTERA Psychidae E thmi i d a e

Cosmopterigidae A l u c i t i d a e Hyblaeidae T h y r i d i d a e

P y r a l i d a e ( e x c l u d i n g

P h y c i t i n a e )

S p e c i e s Heath Heath Rothamsted

- -

T r a p 1 Trap 2 l i g h t t r a p

Pseudometisa s p . 2

Ethmia n i g r o a p i c e l l a SaalmUller

1 u n i d e n t i f i e d s p e c i e s

-

1 u n i d e n t i f i e d s p e c i e s

-

Hyblaea puera (Cramer ) 1

Banisia aldabrana aldabrana

( F r y e r 34

Bocchoris i n s p e r s a l i s Z e l l e r 2

*Bradina sp. 134

C i r r h o c h r i s t a o x y l a l i s V i e t t e 30

Diaphana i n d i c a (Saunders)

-

* D i a s t i c t i s s a v y a l i s Legrand 8 3

*Duponchelia f o v e a l i s f l o e s c h a l i s

Legrand 2 3

*Endotricha e r y t h r a l i s M a b i l l e 123

*Epipagis p r o l a l i s V i e t t e and

Legrand 21

*Hymenid r e c u r v a l i s ( F a b r i c i u s ) 1 5 1

*Hymenoptychis s o r d i d a Z e l l e r 331

* I s c h n u r g e s l a n c i n a l i s a l d a b r e n s i s

V i e t t e 28

*Lamprosema a1 d a b r a l i s Viette 86

* N a u s i n o e c a p e n s i s (Walker) 2 7

*Pardomima z a n c l o p h o r a Martin 215 Pagyda sp. 1

P y r a u s t a sp. 1 ^{1 2 4}

P y r a u s t a i n c o l a r i s Guenee

-

P y r a u s t a nr

.

p r o s t y g i a l i s

V i e t t e 4

S y n c 1 e r a u n i v o c a l i s Walker ) 50 3 u n i d e n t i f i e d species 5

Geometridae * C h l o r i s s a sp. 40

* C h l o r o c l y s t i s s p

.

³⁹

*Corns to1 o p s i s s p

.

⁸

* E r a s t r i a m a d e c a s s a r i a Boisduval 2 1 P r o b l e p s i s d e d u c t a Herbulot 8

S c a r d a m i a sp. 4

*Scapula minora t a (Boisduval ) 106 S c o p u l a nr

.

minora t a

(Boisduval) -

*Scapula s p a r s i p u n c t a t a m e n a i e n s i s

Legrand 88

S c o p u l a sp. 14

* S t e r r h a sp. 82

* T e p h r i n a p u l i n d a d e e r r a r i a

(Walker) 1 7

X e n i m p i a sp. 4

5 unidentified species 3 7

Sphingidae

No todontidae

Arctiidae

A g r i u s c o n v o l v u l i Linne 8

Hippo t i o n geryon Boisduval 18

I r i d o p l i t i s ma1 a g a s s i c a a1 d a b r a l i s

Legrand 1

*Celama sp. 1434

*Eilema a l d a b r e n s i s (Hampson) 697

* E i l e m a sp. 1

Noctuidae Achaea c a t e l l a Guenee

-

*A. viol a c e o f a s c i a SaalmiIller 267 A c o n t i a m a l a g a s s i c a Mabille 2

*Amyna octo (Guenee ) 8 8

A t t a t h a g a e t a n a (Ch. Oberthtlr) 3 A u l o t a r a c h e d e c o r i p e n n i s

(Mabille ) 3

* A v a t h a e x t r a n e a Berio 20

* B r y o p h i l o p s i s g r i s e o p l aga

Legrand 1234

* B . n e s t a (B. Fletcher) 7 2

" C a t e p h i a squamosa Wallengren 187

C a t e p h i a sp. 2

Chal ciope d e l t a (Boisduval ) 3 Dysgonia t o r r i d a ( ~ u e n 6 e ) 7 E a r i a s spp. ( 4 s p e c i e s ) 1

* E r i c e i a i n a n g u l a t a (Guen6e ) 465 Eublemma c o s t i m a c u l a (SaalmUller) 2 E u l o c a s t r a n e o x c i s a Berio

-

E u t e l i a b l a n d i a t r i x Guen&e 2 Heliothis a s s u l t a Guen6e 5 MY t h i m n a m a d e n s i s Berio 3 4 O e d e b a s i s ovipennis Hampson 2 O e d i p l e x i a nr. c i t r o p h i l a Berio 4 O g l a s a a l d a b r a n a a l d a b r a n a Fryer 1 Ophiusa l e g e n d r e i V i e t t e 8

*Ozarba a 1 d a b r a e Berio 87

* ~ e r i g e a a l d a b r a e (Berio) 1 1 4 P 1 u s i a c h a l c y t e s (Esper 9 T a r a c h e r a c h i a s t r i s Hampson 2 T r i g o n o d e s h y p p a s i a a n f r a c t u o s a

(Boisduval) 8

Z e u x i n i a a e s c h r i n a Legrand 40

1 4 unidentified species 10

T o r t r i c i d a e Approximately 10 unidentified species

Tineidae Approximately 2 u n i d e n t i f i e d

species 15447

Pyralidae

-

Phycitinae Approximately 10 unidentified species

ANNUAL TOTAL NUMBER OF LEPIDOFTERA

HEMIFTERA -HOMOPTERA

Cixiidae *Achaemenes m a j o r Jacobi 133

B r i x i a s t e l l a t a Distant 16

Achilidae A k o t r o p i s s p 1

Ricaniidae D e f e r u n d a t a a l d a b r a n a Distant 1 N e o p r i v e s a f u s c o v a r i a Distant 6

Osaka h y a l i n a Distant 2

P r i v e s a n r . f r y e r i Distant 15 3 7

F l a t i d a e

*Chaetormeni

s

madagascari e n s i

s (Signoret)

Cicadellidae

B a l c l u t h a

sp.

Ba tracomorphus

sp

.

Empoasca

spp. ( 2 species)

*nr

.

^{H e 1 ioni}

^{d i a}

^sp

.

* L i m e n t i u s a 1 dabranus

Distant

Naevus s u b p a r a l l el u s

Knight

Paganalia virescens

Distant

Penthima

sp.

*nr

. ^{V u l}

^t

u r n u s

sp.

X e s

t o c e p h a l u s

sp.

HEM1 PTERA -HETEROPTERA

Miridae 2 unidentified species 159

Tingidae 1 unidentified species

-

Coreidae

P l i n a c h t u s

sp. 4

Stenocephalidae

Dicranocephal u s p u n c t i p e s (st81

2

Lygaeidae * D i

e u c h e s

sp

.

^{A 1288}

D i e u c h e s

sp

.

^{B 1}

* L e t h a e u s s t e l l a t u s

Distant 1769

2 unidentified species 9

Cydnidae 2 unidentified species 84

Pentatomidae

*Acrosternum

nr.

h e e g e r i

Fieber 190

E

y s a r c o r i s

sp

.

1

Nezara v i r i d u l a

(Linnaeus)

-

1 unidentified species 1

Notonectidae 1 unidentified species

-

Corixidae 1 unidentified species 20

ANNUAL TOTAL NUMBER OF HEMIFTERA 3998

Carabidae

* A u l o c o r y s s u s a c i c u l a t u s

p a v o n i n u s

Gerstaecker 194

C a l l i d a r u f o p l a g i o t a

Jeanne1 1

C h l a e n i u s n r . a l l a c t e u s

Alluaud

-

C . b i s i g n a t u s

De jean 1

Egadroma l a t i m l l e

Jeanne1 7

E

. ^trivi

^{t t e Fairmaire}

-

* M y r i o c i l e melancholica perpl e x a De j e an

P l a t y m e t o p u s i n t e r p u n c t a t u s De jean

Tachys sp.

T e t r a g o n o d e r u s b i l u n a t u s m u g

D y t i s c i d a e

Hydrophilidae

Copel a t u s s p

.

Laccophil u s pos ti c u s Aube

*Berosus s p

.

^A

*Beros u s s p

.

^B

Enochrus sp.

Hydrobius s p . S taphy l i n i d a e

Scarabaeidae

* B l e d i u s s p .

*Carpel i m u s s p

.

Comaserica g r a n u l i p e n n i s F a i r m a i r e

*Phaecrous i n s u l a r i s Line11 E l a t e r i d a e Cardiophorus l u t o s u s Candsze

* C a r d i o t a r s u s l a b i d u s Erichson E l a s t r u s a l d a b r e n s i s F l e u t i a u x Megapen thes d i f f o r m i s F l e u t i a u x

1 u n i d e n t i f i e d s p e c i e s Bos t r y c h i d a e Apate congener G e r s t a e c k e r

Ennaedesmus s p

.

C l e r i d a e N i t i d u l i d a e C o c c i n e l l i d a e Tenebrionidae

Necrobia r u f i p e s DeGeer C r y p t a r c h a s p

Exochomus l a e v i u s c u l u s Weise A l p h i t o b i u s d i a p e r i n u s Panzer Leichenum c a n a l i c u l a t u m

F a b r i c i u s Platydema sp.

A l l e c u l i d a e C a c o p l e s i a n r . v i r i d i t i n c t a Champion

Monommidae Oedemeridae

Monomma pruinosum Champion

*Ananca a1 dabrana Champion O x a c i s sp.

3 u n i d e n t i f i e d s p e c i e s

8

Cerambycidae Idobri um voel t z k o w i Kolbe - 1 3 3 3

n r . l y g r u s sp. 1 19 14

P a r a l o c u s s e m i t i b i a l i s

F a i r m a i r e 4 7 14

Chrysomelidae A s p i domorpha a p i c a l i s Klug 4

- -

K e e t a f r y e r i Maulik 6 5 11 2

* R h y p a r i d u l a i n s u l a r i s Maulik 9 760 1 0

Rh y p a r i d u l a s p 2 4 9 5

A n t h r i b i d a e Phloebi u s p u s t u l o s u s Gerstaecker

-

^{4 6}

C u r c u l i o n i d a e C a m p t o r h i n u s sp.

* C r a t o p u s v i r i d i s p a r s u s F a i r m a i r e

ANNUAL TOTAL NUMBER OF COLEOPTERA 2381 3422 1108

DIPTERA T i p u l i d a e

C u l i c i d a e Chironomidae Tabanidae S t r a t i o m y i d a e A s i l i d a e Bombyliidae Dolichopodidae Tephri t i d a e

N e r i i d a e Lauxaniidae

L i m n i a c o r a l l i c o l a m a y o t t e a n a Alexander

L . e d w a r d s e l l a Alexander L i n w n i a s p .

1 u n i d e n t i f i e d s p e c i e s Unsorted t o s p e c i e s Unsorted t o s p e c i e s

Aegophagomyia r e m t a Austen Odontomyia s p

Omma ti u s p u l c h r i p e s B i g o t Micomi t r a famula Bezzi Hydrophorus p r a e c o x Lehmann C e r a t i t i s c a p i t a t a Wiedemann C o e l o t r y p e s vi t t a t u s Bezzi Dioxyna s o r o r c u l a Wiedemann Psednometopum a 1 d a b r e n s i s Lamb 1 u n i d e n t i f i e d s p e c i e s

Honwneura sp.

Sapromyza s p

Lonchaeidae Drosophilidae Tethinidae

Chloropidae Anthomyiidae Muscidae

Calliphoridae

Sarcophagi dae Tachinidae

Ceratopogonidae

Scenopinidae Ephydridae

Milichiidae

Lamprolonchaea a u r e a Macquart 1 unidentified species

Approximately 3 unidentified species

Ca drema pal 1

i

da Loew Anthomyia f a s c i a t a Walker A theri gona sp

.

A t h e r i g o n a o r i e n t a l i s Schiner) C o e n o s i a s t r i g i p e s Stein

H e l i n a sp.

Limnophora sp

.

L i s p e t e t r a s t i g m a Schiner Musca s o r b e n s Wiedemann Ophyra n i g r i s q u a m a S t e i n

Chrysomya n r . a l b i c e p s Wiedemann Cosmina f u s c i p e m i s Desvoidy R h i n i a nr. a p i c a l i s Wiedemann

2 unidentified species Sarcophaga spp

.

^{( 2 species )}

P l e i s i o c y p t e r a nr. hemimelaena Bezzi

6 unidentified species Forcipomyia sp.

1 unidentified species )

1 unidentified species )

B r a c h y d e u t e r a sp.

P a r a t i s s a s e : m i l u t e a Loew 1 unidentified species )

ANNUAL TOTAL NUMBER OF DIPTERA

HYMENOPTERA

Formicidae " A n o c h e t u s sp. A

A n o c h e t u s sp. B

*Campno t u s sp

.

^A

* C a m p n o t u s sp. B

*Campon0

t

u s sp

.

^C

C a m p n o t u s sp

.

^D

*Leptogenys m a x i l l o s a F

.

^Smith

*Phei do1 e sp

.

^A

Phei do1 e sp

.

^B

*Tetramorium simillimum Emery 1 unidentified species Ichneumonidae * E n i c o s p i l us sp.

Braconidae *Phanerotoma s p

.

Unsorted t o families

-

9 unidentified species ANNUAL TOTAL NUMBER O F HYMENOPTERA

ODONATA 5 unidentified species

DICTYOFTERA 3 unidentified species

ORTHOFTERA 3 unidentified species

EMBIOFTERA 1 unidentified species

NEUROFTERA 1 unidentified species

TOTAL NUMBER O F TRAPPING NIGHTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish t o thank a l l s t a f f of the Royal Society of London,

134 297 3 590

-

1 159

7 6 2 860

3

11

16

1

133

8 7

Aldabra Research S t a t i o n and B r i t i s h Museum (Natural ~ i s t o i - y ) concerned with Aldabra f o r making my v i s i t possible; Professor T. R. E. Southwood f o r supervising the research programme; t h e Natural Environment Research Council f o r providing funds; M r . J. F. Peake, D r . P. Freeman and t h e Trustees of the B r i t i s h Museum (Natural History) f o r providing working space and use of f a c i l i t i e s f o r one year; s t a f f of dipteran,

coleopteran, lepidopteran, hymenopteran and hemipteran s e c t i o n s of the Department of Entomology, i n p a r t i c u l a r M r . B. Cogan f o r time and help with i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s ; D r . P. V i e t t e f o r allowing me access t o Legrand's c o l l e c t i o n a t the Museum of Natural History, Paris; and M r . C. B. F r i t h f o r h i s useful c r i t i c i s m s of the manuscript.

REFERENCES

Cogan, B.H., Hutson, A.M. & S h a f f e r , J. C., 1971. P r e l i m i n a r y

o b s e r v a t i o n s on t h e a f f i n i t i e s and c o m p o s i t i o n o f t h e i n s e c t f a u n a o f A l d a b r a . P h i l . T r a n s . R o y . S o c . L o n d . B 260: 315-325

CSIRO, 1970. T h e insects o f A u s t r a l i a . Melbourne U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , Melbourne.

F r i t h , D. W . , 1975. A p r e l i m i n a r y s t u d y o f i n s e c t abundance o f West I s l a n d , A l d a b r a A t o l l , I n d i a n Ocean. T r a n s . R . e n t . S o c . L o n d . 127: 209-226.

Legrand, H . , 1965. ~ e p i d o p t s r e s d e s I l e s S e y c h e l l e s e t d ' A l d a b r a . Mem. Mus. natn. H i s t . n a t . , p a r i s ( A ) , Z o o l o g i e 37: 1-210.

S t o d d a r t , D.R., ( e d . ) , 1970. C o r a l i s l a n d s o f t h e Western I n d i a n O c e a n . A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 136: 1-224.

S t o d d a r t , D.R., 1971. S c i e n t i f i c s t u d i e s a t A l d a b r a and n e i g h b o u r i n g i s l a n d s . P h i l . T r a n s . R o y . S o c . L o n d . B 260: 5-29.

S t o d d a r t , D.R., T a y l o r , J . D . , F o s b e r g , F.R. and F a r r o w , G.E., 1971.

Geomorphology o f A l d a b r a A t o l l . P h i l . T r a n s . R o y . S o c . L o n d . B 260: 31-65.

Webb, M.D., 1975. F u l g o r o i d e a from A l d a b r a , A s t o v e , and Cosmoledo A t o l l s , c o l l e c t e d by t h e Royal S o c i e t y E x p e d i t i o n 1967-68

(Hemiptera-Homoptera). A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 177: 1-10.

W e s t o l l , T.S. & S t o d d a r t , D.R. ( e d i t o r s ) . 1971. A d i s c u s s i o n o n t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e Royal S o c i e t y E x p e d i t i o n s t o A l d a b r a 1967-68.

P h i l . T r a n s . R o y . S o c . L o n d . B 260: 1-654.

Appendix 1. Composition of v e g e t a t i o n s u r r o u n d i n g t h e l i g h t and s u c t i o n t r a p s on W e s t I s l a n d , Aldabra A t o l l

Heath t r a p 1:

2

-

3 m. i n h e i g h t Pemphis a c i d u l a F o r s t . Ipomoea macran t h a R. & S

.

Herb l a y e r A c h y r a n t h e s a s p e r a L.

P o r t u l a c a o l e r a c e a L.

Heath T r a p 2 and Johnson-Taylor S u c t i o n t r a p s :

2

-

3 m. i n h e i g h t Euphorbia a b b o t t i i Baker Acal ypha c l a o x y l o i d e s Hutch.

A l l o p h y l u s a 1 d a b r i c u s Radlk

.

D i c h r o s t a c h y s s p

.

^nov.

P o l y s p h a e r i a mu1 t i f l o r a Hiern Dracaena ref1 e x a Lam.

Maytenus s e n e g a l e n s i s E x e l l Ochna c i l i a t a Lam.

Ipomoea macrantha R . & S.

Azima t e t r a c a n t h a Lam.

Pemphis a c i d u l a F o r s t . Premna o b t u s i f o l i a R. B r

.

Euphorbia h i r t a L.

D a c t y l o c t e n i u m p i l o s u m S t a p f P a s s i f l o r a s u b e r o s a L.

Loma t o p h y l l um

C y p r u s o b t u s i f l o r u s Vahl Ach y r a n t h e s a s p e r a L.

Herb l a y e r

Rothamsted l i g h t t r a p : 2

-

3 m. i n h e i g h t 0.5

-

1 m. i n h e i g h t

Herb l a y e r

Pemphis a c i d u l a F o r s t . V e r n o n i a c i n e r e a Less.

~ c a l y p h a c l a o x y l o i d e s Hutch.

Ipomoea macrantha R. and S .

P a s s i f l o r a s u b e r o s a L.

A s p r a g u s umbel1 u l a t u s B r e s l e r

~ c a e v o l a t a c c a d a Roxb

.

A c h y r a n t h e s a s p e r a L.