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Springtime Corroboree Stick Katydid (Eneabba) (Phasmodes jeeba)

The Springtime Corroboree Stick Katydid (Eneabba), Phasmodes jeeba, is an Australian insect in the katydid family Tettigoniidae. Its habitat, appearance and life history are poorly known, so works sites in the Midwest require precautionary assessment. It is listed as DBCA Priority 3, a priority category, and is not listed under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

Conservation status

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

Seasonal planning

Species-specific activity and breeding months are not known. The row below is a precautionary planning prompt, not a known seasonal pattern.

Seasonality: No species-specific months are recorded.

No seasonal pattern should be inferred from this planning row.

  • Survey and works planning: Planning window only. No months are known for activity, breeding or detectability; use project-specific risk assessment and survey advice.

Identification: Appearance and size

A scientific name and family placement are known, but diagnostic field features have not been documented.

Phasmodes jeeba is an insect in the family Tettigoniidae. Its colour, form, distinguishing features and size have not been documented.

Identification: Similar species and field signs

Similar species and distinguishing features have not been documented.

No species-specific field signs, such as calls, eggs or feeding signs, are recorded. Do not identify the species from the common name alone.

Distribution: Known range

The species is endemic to Australia, but its detailed range and coordinates are not established.

The DBCA list flags the Midwest region of Western Australia. The common name includes Eneabba, but no confirmed occurrence locality or coordinates there are recorded.

Distribution: Records and status

Atlas of Living Australia records show no public WA coordinates for this species. A South Erregulla project assessment classed it as unlikely in the Entrance Area, noting no records within 10 km. This does not establish whether the species occurs at the site.

The WA listing is Priority 3: poorly known, known from several locations, and not under imminent threat. No national listing is given.

Habitat: Habitat information

The species' habitat has not been documented.

Vegetation types, landforms, soil conditions and other habitat features used by the species are not known.

Habitat: Site assessment

Do not infer habitat suitability from the common name or from records of other katydids. Record the vegetation and site conditions within and around the works area so that any later species-specific information can be considered.

Foraging habitat: Diet and foraging

The species' diet and foraging habitat have not been documented.

Food plants, prey, feeding signs and foraging behaviour are not known.

Foraging habitat: Precaution on works sites

Do not treat any particular plant or vegetation type as a confirmed food resource. Where the species is a survey target, document vegetation that will be removed and retain survey observations for ecological review.

Breeding habitat: Breeding information

Breeding sites, timing and reproductive behaviour are poorly known.

Egg-laying sites, eggs, development, breeding season and number of generations have not been documented.

Breeding habitat: Works planning

Do not schedule works on the assumption that a particular season is outside the breeding period. Where suitable precautions are required, apply them throughout the works period unless reliable species-specific information becomes available.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter information

Resting, refuge and overwintering sites have not been documented.

Sheltering behaviour and use of particular plants, ground cover, bark, litter or other features are not known.

Sheltering habitat: Precautionary inspection

If a survey is required, inspect vegetation and other site features using methods appropriate to the site and the survey brief. Treat any unidentified katydid or potentially relevant observation as requiring review rather than assuming a shelter type.

Threats: Known information

Species-specific threats have not been documented.

The DBCA Priority 3 category describes the species as poorly known, known from several locations and not under imminent threat. Specific threats affecting it are not known.

Threats: Development risks

The species' response to clearing or other disturbance is not known. Do not assume that the species is absent because no individuals are observed.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Species-specific detectability and survey methods are not known. Use a documented, precautionary approach and do not treat a non-detection as proof of absence.

Check current DBCA priority fauna information, available records and project-area assessments. Confirm the works footprint and search for current, georeferenced records. Atlas of Living Australia records show no public WA coordinates.

Survey methodology: 2. Field inspection

A suitably experienced ecologist should inspect the proposed disturbance area and adjacent retained areas, recording survey coverage, conditions, vegetation and any katydid observations. Use general insect-search practices suited to the site, but do not present a particular time of day, season or technique as validated for this species.

Survey methodology: 3. Identification and records

Photograph and record any candidate observation where practicable, including its location and context. Seek expert identification where field features are insufficient, and report uncertainty clearly.

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. Plan and brief

The species is poorly known and its site-specific habitat requirements are not established, so plan works to allow for uncertainty.

Review the footprint against current records and the Midwest regional listing. Brief the ecologist, spotter catchers and clearing crew on the possibility of encountering an unidentified katydid and on the stop-work and escalation process.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Check and minimise

Arrange a pre-disturbance inspection where required by approvals or the project risk assessment. Minimise the area cleared, mark retained areas clearly and provide a practical way for workers to report observations before vegetation removal begins.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Observe and pause

No species-specific handling or displacement protocol is known. Use a cautious response to any candidate animal found during works.

If a possible Phasmodes jeeba is found, pause work in the immediate area where safe to do so. Avoid handling or damaging the animal, and keep machinery and personnel clear while an ecologist assesses the observation.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Record and escalate

Record the location, photographs if practicable, circumstances and action taken. Follow project approval conditions and the agreed escalation process before resuming work in the affected area.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Review the event

Species-specific post-disturbance responses and monitoring requirements are not known.

Document any candidate observations, identification outcome, area affected and response. Provide records to the project ecologist for review and follow applicable approval and reporting requirements.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Check retained areas

Where the project risk assessment or approvals require it, inspect retained areas and work margins for further observations. Do not infer that the species has been displaced successfully or is absent because no further individuals are seen.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore the site

Species-specific rehabilitation requirements and preferred habitat features are not known.

Rehabilitate disturbed areas in line with project commitments and the site's documented pre-disturbance conditions. Do not claim that a particular planting or ground treatment benefits this species without supporting evidence.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Track outcomes

Record rehabilitation actions and monitoring results. If the species is identified during or after rehabilitation, retain the observations and seek ecological advice before changing management.

Sources