Liocheles australasiae (Fabricius, 1775)

(Fig. 1)

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Vanuatu. Espiritu Santo Island, Camp Perouse, L. Albenga, 11.XI.2006, 1 ♀ (dry specimen). — Bill’s cave, under stone, 151.7514°S, 166.95854°E, 25.XI.2006, C. Rollard, 1 ♀. — Latautei, in forest, 512 m, 151.9596°S, 166.68676°E, 11.XI.2006, C. Rollard, 1 juvenile. — Mangrove Palikoulo, 154.9780°S, 167.25135°E, 28.XI.2006, C. Rollard, 3 juveniles. — Matantas Reserve, in forest, 151.6906°S, 166.94731°E, 24.XI.2006, C. Rollard, 2 ♀♀. — Pénaoru, Soustéo, in forest, 149.6448°S, 166.63662°E, 14.XI.2006, C. Rollard, 6 ♀♀, 1 juvenile, brood with 5 juveniles. — West road, 155.5676°S, 166.96789°E, 10 m, 30.XI.2006, C. Rollard, 2 ♀♀. — Tasmate Village, Mamasa River, 152.1629°S, 166.66442°E, under stone, 8.XI.2006, C. Rollard, 1 female. — Idem, 10.XI.2006, local children, 10 ♀♀. — Wonakum, near River Pélapa, in forest, 60 m, 151.7161°S, 166.66528°E, 10.XI.2006, C. Rollard, 5 ♀♀. — Wurahawo, in forest soil, 66 m, 152.1124°S, 166.67564°E, 9.XI.2006, C. Rollard, 2 juveniles. — Wurahawo, in forest, under stones, 112 m, 152.1087°S, 166.67939°E, 9.XI.2006, C. Rollard, 2 ♀♀, 1 juvenile.— In forest, 400 m, 151.95839°S, 166.68536°E, 11.XI.2006, C. Rollard, 3 ♀♀, 1 juvenile.

REMARK

Considering that a total of 31 females were collected but no males, most certainly this population is also parthenogenetic. This phenomenon has already been observed for other populations of Liocheles australasiae, in distinct islands of the Pacific zone. For details see Lourenço (2008).