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Vanderschoor's Stag Beetle (Hoplogonus vanderschoori)

Vanderschoor's Stag Beetle is a flightless stag beetle endemic to a restricted area of north-eastern Tasmania, south of Blue Tier along the South George River. It lives in wet forest, including riparian areas, where fallen logs and a well-developed litter layer are important habitat features.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Vulnerable.

Tasmania, Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: Vulnerable.

Seasonal planning

Adults are thought most active in spring and summer in wet, damp eucalypt forest and rainforest, with males active in December and January and females in January and February.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Adult activity: Adults are thought most active in spring and summer in wet, damp eucalypt forest and rainforest, with males active in December and January and females in January and February.

Identification: Appearance

This species is reported to be about 24 mm long. Males of the Hoplogonus genus can be distinguished by the number of notches on their mandibles.

This species is reported to be about 24 mm long. Males of the Hoplogonus genus can be distinguished by the number of notches on their mandibles.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

The species occurs in north-eastern Tasmania, south of Blue Tier along the South George River. Its range is reported to cover about 98 km².

The species occurs in north-eastern Tasmania, south of Blue Tier along the South George River. Its range is reported to cover about 98 km².

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

It occurs in wet and damp eucalypt forest and rainforest, with the species restricted to wetter forests and riparian areas in drier forests. Hoplogonus beetles are associated with undisturbed forests that have a well-developed litter layer on well-drained soils.

It occurs in wet and damp eucalypt forest and rainforest, with the species restricted to wetter forests and riparian areas in drier forests. Hoplogonus beetles are associated with undisturbed forests that have a well-developed litter layer on well-drained soils.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Hoplogonus adults and larvae spend much of their lives beneath fallen logs. The genus is also recorded deep in litter, in holes.

Hoplogonus adults and larvae spend much of their lives beneath fallen logs. The genus is also recorded deep in litter, in holes.

Threats: Threats

Habitat destruction from agricultural and forestry practices is identified as a threat to Hoplogonus species. Loss or disturbance of its restricted wet-forest and riparian habitat may therefore affect this species.

Habitat destruction from agricultural and forestry practices is identified as a threat to Hoplogonus species. Loss or disturbance of its restricted wet-forest and riparian habitat may therefore affect this species.

Threats: Works risk

Land clearing or forestry that removes or disturbs wet forest, riparian areas, fallen logs or litter could harm the species by affecting its habitat and the places where adults and larvae shelter.

Survey methodology: 1. Commonwealth guidance

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the on-ground surveys and data for referred actions under the EPBC Act, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 2. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations: Rainforest or vine thicket

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

It occurs in wet and damp eucalypt forest and rainforest, with the species restricted to wetter forests and riparian areas in drier forests.

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: TAS.

Habitat use: general

Vegetation associations: Eucalypt forest

It occurs in wet and damp eucalypt forest and rainforest, with the species restricted to wetter forests and riparian areas in drier forests.

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: TAS.

Habitat use: general

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 disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Design the footprint, timing and access to avoid known or likely habitat, and brief crews on what to look for and who to call.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Fence or mark habitat to be retained and keep machinery, stockpiles and spoil out of it.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Reinstate disturbed ground with local species, return logs, rocks and litter, and control weeds and erosion until the site is stable.

Sources