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Beverley Shield-back (Ixalodectes flectocercus)

The Beverley Shield-back is a Western Australian shield-back katydid known from Beverley, where it has been found in a small patch of natural vegetation among wheat fields. It is in DBCA Priority 3. Works near suitable remnant vegetation should account for its poorly known distribution and avoid unnecessary habitat disturbance.

Conservation status

Western Australia, WA Threatened and Priority Fauna List: Priority 3.

Seasonal considerations

Species-specific activity, breeding and survey months are not known. Use the seasonal categories only as a planning window, not as evidence of when the species is present or detectable.

Species-specific timing: Not known.

Fire timing: An ill-timed prescribed burn could be harmful, but no safe season is identified.

No seasonal pattern should be inferred for this species.

  • Survey and works planning: Planning window only. Species-specific seasonal activity or survey timing is not known. Consult an invertebrate ecologist before disturbance.

Identification: Appearance and size

The Beverley Shield-back is poorly known, and a species-level field description is not available.

The Beverley Shield-back is a katydid in the shield-back group. Its colour, measurements and other diagnostic physical features are not known.

Ixalodectes and Nanodectes include small, flightless species, but those traits have not been established for the Beverley Shield-back. They are not confirmed identification features for this species.

Identification: Similar species

Other shield-back katydids may be difficult to distinguish from this species. Characters for separating it from other Ixalodectes or related katydids are not known.

Arrange identification by a suitably experienced insect taxonomist when a specimen or image could affect a works decision.

Identification: Field signs

Species-specific calls, tracks, eggs, shelter sites and other field signs are not known.

Katydids as a group are described as having long legs and long antennae and as generally nocturnal. These are broad group traits, not a diagnostic description of the Beverley Shield-back.

Distribution: Known range

The Beverley Shield-back is associated with Beverley in the Wheatbelt, but its current range is not established.

The species was first discovered in material collected at Beverley in 1896. Further specimens were found at Beverley in 1991.

No other named localities are confirmed. Atlas of Living Australia records show one Western Australian record at one 0.1-degree location, but do not identify that grid location as Beverley.

Distribution: WA region

The DBCA Priority Fauna List identifies the Wheatbelt as the WA region associated with this species.

The species is described as restricted to the Southwest Australia biodiversity hotspot. Its full distribution within that hotspot is not defined.

Habitat: Recorded setting

Habitat information is limited to the natural vegetation remnant where the species was found near Beverley.

The species was rediscovered in a tiny patch of natural vegetation surrounded by wheat fields. The plant community, soil, vegetation structure and patch size are not known.

Habitat: Assessment near works

Treat natural vegetation remnants in and around the Beverley area as potential habitat requiring assessment. This is a precautionary approach, not evidence that the species occupies every remnant.

Cleared land, crop fields and any particular vegetation type have not been established as habitat for the species.

Foraging habitat: Diet information

A group-level account describes shield-back katydids as mainly carnivorous, but the Beverley Shield-back's feeding sites and prey are not documented.

Ixalodectes and Nanodectes shield-back katydids are described as mainly feeding on a variety of small insects. Prey records specific to the Beverley Shield-back are not known.

Foraging habitat: Foraging setting

Where this species forages and how it uses vegetation while feeding are not known.

When assessing a remnant, retain the vegetation and ground cover pending specialist advice rather than assuming a particular foraging microhabitat.

Breeding habitat: Known information

Species-specific breeding information is not known.

Egg-laying sites, egg characteristics, breeding season and number of young have not been recorded for this species.

Breeding habitat: Precaution

Do not time vegetation clearing on the assumption that the species has a known breeding season. Seek specialist advice and apply precautionary controls where potential habitat may be affected.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter information

Specific shelter sites have not been described for the Beverley Shield-back.

Whether this species shelters in vegetation, beneath ground cover, in soil or elsewhere is not known.

Sheltering habitat: On-site approach

Avoid removing or disturbing vegetation and ground materials in potential habitat before a specialist assessment. Do not assume that a lack of visible insects means a remnant is unoccupied.

Threats: Habitat loss

Agricultural clearing around Beverley and an ill-timed prescribed burn are identified risks.

The region around Beverley has been substantially cleared for agriculture, mainly wheat. The species was found in a small natural vegetation patch surrounded by wheat fields.

Threats: Fire and uncertainty

A prescribed burn at the wrong season could cause the species' demise. A safe or unsafe season has not been identified.

The species is poorly known. Its present distribution, abundance and tolerance of other disturbance types are not established.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

No species-specific survey method or detectability information is known. Surveys should be targeted and led by an experienced invertebrate ecologist.

Review the proposed works footprint and nearby natural vegetation remnants, with particular attention to the Beverley area and the Wheatbelt region identified by DBCA.

Check current fauna records and confirm the location and reliability of records with relevant specialists. The species' full range is not defined.

Survey methodology: 2. Field survey

Have a suitably experienced invertebrate ecologist inspect potential habitat and document survey locations, conditions, effort and results. A validated survey protocol or seasonal window for this species is not known.

Katydids are generally nocturnal. A night-time search may be considered as general survey practice, but it is not a confirmed species-specific method. Do not treat a non-detection as proof of absence.

Survey methodology: 3. Identification and records

Record photographs and relevant site details, and obtain expert confirmation of any suspected record. Avoid collecting specimens unless appropriately authorised and necessary for reliable identification.

Report confirmed observations through the applicable fauna-recording and project processes.

Vegetation associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific vegetation association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Assess and plan

Plan works on the basis that suitable natural vegetation may support this poorly known species.

Before clearing or other disturbance, map natural vegetation in and near the works area and commission a targeted invertebrate assessment where potential habitat could be affected.

Consult the project ecologist and relevant DBCA guidance on the current status and management requirements. A species-specific buffer distance is not known.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Brief the crew

Show crews the areas to avoid, the stop-work process and the contact for the fauna spotter catcher or ecologist.

Do not schedule burning on the assumption that any season is safe for this species. A safe timing is not known.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Control the footprint

Keep disturbance within approved areas and pause work if a suspected Beverley Shield-back is found.

Clearly mark retained natural vegetation and keep vehicles, stockpiles and clearing activity out of those areas unless disturbance is authorised.

Use a fauna spotter catcher or ecologist to check vegetation scheduled for removal, where required by the project controls.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Respond to a find

Stop work in the immediate area, protect the animal and surrounding vegetation from further disturbance, and contact the project ecologist for identification and direction.

Do not handle or relocate the animal unless the person is authorised and the action is consistent with project approvals and expert advice.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Record and report

After works, check that retained habitat remains protected and document any fauna observations or incidents.

Record the location, date, circumstances and identification confidence for any suspected or confirmed observation. Notify the project ecologist and follow applicable reporting requirements.

Document any unplanned disturbance to retained vegetation and implement the project's incident response.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Check retained areas

Inspect protective fencing and access controls around retained natural vegetation, and repair them if needed.

Post-disturbance monitoring methods and duration are not prescribed. Set these with the project ecologist and relevant authorities.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Protect remnants

Protect existing remnants first. A species-specific restoration method is not known.

Retain and protect natural vegetation patches wherever practicable. The species is known from a small natural vegetation patch in an agricultural landscape, but a specific plant community or required patch size has not been identified.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Restore disturbed areas

Where rehabilitation is required, use locally appropriate native vegetation and avoid introducing weeds or causing further disturbance to retained habitat.

Do not count rehabilitation as a substitute for avoiding impacts to known or potential habitat. Seek advice from an ecologist familiar with local invertebrates.

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