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Stylet Bush Cricket (Throscodectes xiphos)

The stylet bush cricket is an Australian bush cricket in the family Tettigoniidae. Its appearance, habitat and life history are poorly known. It is recorded from Jandakot, Western Australia, and is assigned DBCA Priority 1. Works near areas that may provide habitat should be planned cautiously and with specialist advice.

Conservation status

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

Seasonal knowledge and planning

Seasonal activity, breeding and movement have not been documented. The row below is a general planning prompt, not a species-specific activity calendar.

Species-specific seasonal information: Not documented.

No particular months can be assigned to activity or breeding for T. xiphos.

  • Precautionary assessment and survey planning: General planning window only. Arrange assessment before disturbance; no species-specific active season is known.

Identification: Appearance and size

The stylet bush cricket is a bush cricket, but field-identification information is limited.

It is an insect in the bush cricket family Tettigoniidae. Its colour, body form, distinguishing features and size are undocumented.

Identification: Similar species

The genus Throscodectes includes T. xiphos and T. xederoides. Field differences between these species are undocumented.

Identification: Field signs

Species-specific tracks, calls, feeding signs, eggs and other field signs have not been described. An unverified bush cricket observation should not be reported as a confirmed identification.

Distribution: Known range

The type locality is Jandakot, Western Australia. Other confirmed locality information is limited.

The species is endemic to Australia. The Orthoptera Species File gives the type locality as Jandakot, Cutler Road, Western Australia. No coordinates or further confirmed localities are known.

Distribution: WA records and status

The DBCA list flags the Swan region. The species is known from few locations, none on conservation lands. Atlas of Living Australia records show no public WA coordinates.

It is assigned DBCA Priority 1, a priority category rather than a listing under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. No national listing is recorded.

Habitat: Documented habitat

Species-specific habitat has not been documented.

The species' vegetation, soil, landform and other habitat requirements are undocumented. Nearby vegetation types or general bush cricket habitat should not be assumed to represent confirmed habitat for this species.

Habitat: Site assessment

Use local ecological assessment to identify areas that may warrant targeted investigation. Record the basis for any potential-habitat assessment separately from confirmed species records.

Foraging habitat: Diet and foraging

The species' diet and foraging habitat are undocumented.

Diet, feeding behaviour and foraging habitat have not been documented. Do not infer a food plant or feeding area for this species.

Foraging habitat: Precaution on site

During ecological assessment, note the vegetation and ground conditions at any observation without assuming these are required for feeding. Have a suitably qualified specialist assess any proposed search or handling methods.

Breeding habitat: Breeding information

Breeding habitat and reproductive information are undocumented.

Breeding season, egg-laying site, egg development and number of young are undocumented.

Breeding habitat: Works planning

Do not assume any particular season is free of breeding risk. Seek specialist advice before works that could affect areas identified for further investigation.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter information

Sheltering sites and resting behaviour are undocumented.

Shelter type, resting location, daily activity pattern and overwintering behaviour have not been documented.

Sheltering habitat: Inspection approach

As a general precaution for an invertebrate, inspect vegetation and ground materials carefully where a specialist identifies a reason to search. Avoid destructive searching unless the method is authorised and necessary.

Threats: Known pressures

Species-specific pressures have not been documented.

The species' specific threats are undocumented. Its DBCA Priority 1 status reflects its limited known distribution, with records from few locations and none on conservation lands.

Threats: Development risk

Clearing could affect an individual or an unrecorded local occurrence if present, but no particular site-level impact pathway has been established. Treat uncertainty as a reason for careful assessment, not as proof of presence or absence.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

No species-specific survey or detectability method is established. A suitably experienced invertebrate ecologist should design any survey.

Check current DBCA information, project records and local survey data. The type locality is Jandakot, Cutler Road, but no coordinates or public WA Atlas of Living Australia coordinates are available.

A desktop assessment for a Garden Street Extension project included T. xiphos in its review and reported no previous records from that study area. That result does not establish the species' presence or absence at another site.

Survey methodology: 2. Field survey design

Ask a specialist to determine whether targeted survey is warranted and to choose methods suited to the site conditions. General invertebrate practice may include careful visual searches and non-destructive examination of relevant vegetation or ground materials, but these methods have not been documented specifically for T. xiphos.

Survey methodology: 3. Records and identification

Record the date, location, survey effort, conditions, habitat observations and identification confidence. Photograph observations where practicable and obtain expert confirmation before reporting a record as T. xiphos.

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 consult

The species is poorly known, so pre-clearing planning should account for uncertainty and allow for a specialist response.

Check applicable approvals and current DBCA advice. Consult an appropriately experienced invertebrate ecologist about the need for targeted assessment, especially for works in the Swan region or near Jandakot.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Mark work areas

Clearly mark approved clearing limits and areas set aside for further assessment. Brief crews on the possibility of an unidentified priority invertebrate and on the stop-work and reporting process.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Prepare response arrangements

Before clearing, confirm who will inspect an unexpected animal, how work will be paused, and who will contact the project ecologist or relevant authority. Do not plan capture or relocation without appropriate advice and authorisation.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Work to limits

Use cautious work practices and respond promptly to any potentially relevant invertebrate observation.

Keep clearing within the approved footprint and follow the agreed clearing sequence. Avoid unnecessary disturbance to areas retained for further assessment.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Pause and report

If a bush cricket that could be relevant is found, pause work in the immediate area where safe to do so. Do not handle or harm it. Notify the spotter catcher and project ecologist for identification and instructions.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Document the observation

Record the location, time, activity and surrounding site conditions, and take photographs if this can be done without disturbing the animal. Resume work only in accordance with the project response process and any required approvals.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Close out records

After works, retain reliable records and follow up any confirmed observation or incident.

Provide survey results, photographs, identification confidence, effort and any incident details to the project ecologist. Keep suspected records clearly distinguished from confirmed records.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Follow up

If the taxon is confirmed or a potentially significant incident occurs, seek advice on reporting, further assessment and any required management actions. No species-specific post-disturbance protocol is established.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Rehabilitate as approved

Species-specific rehabilitation requirements have not been documented.

Rehabilitate disturbed areas in line with project approvals and the site rehabilitation plan. Do not describe a planting palette or habitat feature as beneficial to T. xiphos unless supported by site assessment or specialist advice.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Monitor and adapt

Document rehabilitation actions and any relevant invertebrate observations. Seek specialist advice if a confirmed record is associated with the works area. No species-specific monitoring or translocation method is established.

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