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Green Westwind Katydid (Windbalea viride)

The Green Westwind Katydid is a south-western Australian katydid recorded feeding on Banksia speciosa flowers in heath east of Esperance. Its habitat may be vulnerable to clearing and degradation. It is listed as Priority 1 on the WA DBCA priority fauna list, a DBCA priority category rather than a listing under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. No national listing is recorded.

Conservation status

Western Australia, WA Threatened and Priority Fauna List: Priority 1.

Seasonal survey guidance

Field observations report encounters from November to late February, but no formal seasonal activity study has been conducted. Treat this as a reported observation period, not a guarantee of detectability.

Reported encounters: November to late February.

Breeding season: Unknown.

No breeding, juvenile emergence or movement calendar is documented.

  • Reported encounter period: Individuals have been encountered from November to late February. confirm timing locally and do not infer absence outside the reported period.
  • Additional survey planning: This is a planning window only. Schedule additional checks when suitable Banksia speciosa habitat and flowers are present. This is general precautionary guidance, not a species-specific seasonal finding.

Identification: Appearance and size

Use the distinctive wing posture as a clue, but do not rely on it alone to confirm an identification.

The adult is described as green, with wings held stiffly at an angle from the body. This posture may make the insect resemble a leaf or stem base among foliage.

Juveniles are wingless. No body measurements or other detailed diagnostic features are documented.

Identification: Similar species

Windbalea warrooa is another species in the genus, but diagnostic differences between the two species are undocumented. Do not rely on wing posture alone to confirm an identification.

Identification: Field signs

Individuals have been observed feeding on Banksia speciosa flowers. No distinctive droppings, shelters, eggs or other field signs are documented.

Distribution: Known range

Records and observations place the species on the south coast of Western Australia, but its distribution is poorly known.

The species has been observed in Banksia speciosa heath east of Esperance. Atlas of Living Australia records show five WA records at four distinct 0.1-degree locations, between latitude -35 and -34.4 and longitude 117.9 and 119.3. These are aggregate record coordinates, not named localities.

Distribution: WA status and region

DBCA assigns the species to the South Coast region and lists it as Priority 1. It is known from few locations, none of which are on conservation lands.

Habitat: Recorded habitat

Habitat information is limited to a south-coast heathland observation.

The katydid has been observed in Banksia speciosa heath east of Esperance and is described as relying heavily on this type of vegetation.

Habitat: Knowledge gaps

The full range of habitats used is unknown, as is whether the species occurs in other vegetation types. Do not assume that all Banksia heath is occupied or that other vegetation is unsuitable.

Foraging habitat: Observed feeding

A field observation links feeding to Banksia speciosa flowers.

W. viride has been observed feeding on Banksia speciosa flowers. Its food may include nectar and pollen, but the relative importance of either is unknown.

Foraging habitat: Site checks

Where Banksia speciosa occurs, include flowering plants and nearby foliage in a careful visual search. Other food plants and specific feeding heights are undocumented.

Breeding habitat: Known information

Breeding habitat and reproductive biology are poorly known.

Wingless juveniles have been recorded, but eggs, egg-laying sites, breeding behaviour, clutch size and development are undocumented.

Breeding habitat: Precaution

Treat suitable Banksia heath and adjacent vegetation as potentially relevant during works planning. Do not identify a particular plant, soil feature or season as a breeding site without evidence.

Sheltering habitat: Known information

Specific sheltering or resting sites are undocumented.

The raised wing posture may provide camouflage among leaves or stem bases when the katydid is at rest. No preferred shelter or resting site has been identified.

Sheltering habitat: Search implication

Inspect foliage carefully and do not assume that an insect is absent because it is not visible on flowers. Where juveniles shelter is unknown.

Threats: Habitat pressures

Vegetation loss and degradation are concerns for the heathland habitat.

Banksia speciosa heath east of Esperance has been cleared, degraded or made discontinuous in places. This raises concern about the long-term viability of an insect that relies heavily on this vegetation.

Threats: Status and uncertainty

The species is listed as Priority 1 by DBCA and is poorly known, with few known locations. No other current threat factors are documented.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Focus surveys on suitable Banksia heath and use careful visual inspection. Detectability and survey methods have not been formally documented.

Review project mapping for Banksia speciosa heath and check records and habitat information with the relevant environment team. WA records are sparse, so do not assume the species is absent because no nearby record is mapped.

Survey methodology: 2. Field search

Where Banksia speciosa is present, inspect flowers and nearby foliage visually, looking for green katydids with wings held stiffly away from the body. Also search for wingless juveniles, which cannot be recognised by the adult wing posture.

Survey methodology: 3. Recording and identification

Photograph any candidate in place where practicable and record the plant and habitat context. Seek experienced identification support when the species cannot be confirmed. No validated survey protocol or detection rate is available.

Vegetation associations: Heath

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

The katydid has been observed in Banksia speciosa heath east of Esperance and is described as relying heavily on this type of vegetation.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: WA.

Habitat use: general

Attribution gap: No sentence-level reference is attached to the original profile block. Review the profile bibliography; this candidate is not source-verified.

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. Map and avoid

Plan early to identify Banksia heath and reduce avoidable disturbance to potentially suitable vegetation.

Map Banksia speciosa heath and flowering patches in the proposed work area. Where feasible, avoid clearing this vegetation and retain connected areas, given the reported concerns about clearing, degradation and discontinuity.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Survey and brief

Arrange a targeted inspection before works where suitable habitat is present. Brief spotter catchers and clearing crews on the adult wing posture, wingless juveniles and the need to check flowers and foliage carefully.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Work controls

Use staged, controlled works and respond cautiously to any katydid found in suitable vegetation.

Keep clearing within approved limits and use a staged approach where practicable, allowing the spotter catcher to inspect vegetation ahead of machinery. Avoid unnecessary damage to retained Banksia heath.

During habitat disturbance: 2. If an animal is found

Pause work in the immediate area, avoid handling or injuring the animal, and arrange assessment by a suitably experienced fauna professional. Record the location and habitat context, and follow the project’s fauna handling and escalation procedures.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Check and record

Document outcomes and protect retained habitat after clearing or other disturbance.

Record search effort, vegetation examined, observations and any fauna response. No prescribed post-disturbance monitoring method or duration is available.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Maintain retained habitat

Maintain agreed exclusion areas and minimise further disturbance to retained Banksia heath. Escalate any confirmed record through the project’s environmental procedures and applicable reporting arrangements.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore vegetation

Rehabilitation should prioritise the vegetation type documented for the species, without assuming revegetation will quickly recreate suitable habitat.

Where rehabilitation is required in or beside Banksia speciosa heath, use locally appropriate restoration objectives and protect existing native vegetation first. No species-specific revegetation prescriptions are available.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Review outcomes

Track vegetation establishment and habitat continuity as part of the site rehabilitation programme. Do not claim that restored vegetation is occupied by W. viride unless supported by survey records.

Sources