CONSERVATION POLICIES

Background

The Entomological Society of Victoria is firmly committed to the principles of the conservation of insects in the State. It endorses the commitment implied in the Flora and Fauna Guarantee of Victoria that no animal or plant species should be permitted to become extinct. The Society recognises the need to conserve insects, and to do this progressively from a basis of sound understanding of the distribution and ecology of all species.
The Society recognises that, in some situations, the legislative listing of particular taxa as "protected" may be deemed necessary. We urge that this be done, if at all, only on sound scientific grounds or as an interim measure to enable clarifying scientific studies to be made.

Conservation Committee

1.	The committee will consist of the Convenor and two members of the Society as appointed in July each year.
2.	A minimum of two Committee members must be involved in any correspondence or in any recommendation to Council.

Terms of Reference of Committee

1.1	To prepare and maintain a list of insect taxa of conservation interest in Victoria.
1.2	To respond to issues of a conservation nature raised by members of the Society or other sources.
1.3	To provide information and advice wherever possible to Government Departments and Agencies involved in assuring the wellbeing of the State's fauna.
1.4	To keep under continual review the policy and taxa under the Society's "Limited Voluntary Protection" category.
1.5	To prepare and review a "Code of Collecting".

Operating Procedures of the Committee

1. Hold one meeting a year and others as necessary.

2. Liaise with the ENTRECS Committee on distribution data.

3. Liaise with the Australian Entomological Society, Conservation Committee as necessary.

4. Report to the May Council Meeting on the years activities.

LIST OF INVERTEBRATES LISTED UNDER THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT'S FLORA AND FAUNA GAURANTEE LEGISLATION

The Flora and Fauna Guarantee is a Victorian Government Conservation Initiative which provides a framework for the identification of threatened taxa or communities together with the management of potentially threatening processes.

Below is a list of the invertebrates which have been listed, recommended for listing, or rejected as part of Schedule 2 of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988:

Scientific Name                Common Name                      Status

Platydoris galbana             marine opisthobranch             Listed
Myrmecia sp. 17                bull-ant                         Listed
Ogyris otanes                  Small Brown Azure Butterfly      Listed
Thaumatoperla flaveola         stonefly                         Listed
Acrodipsas myrmacophila        Small Ant-Blue Butterfly         Listed
Acrodipsas brisbanensis        Large Ant-Blue Butterfly         Listed
Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida    Eltham Copper Butterfly          Listed
Archaeophylax canarus          caddisfly                        Listed
Austrogammarus australis       Freshwater amphipod              Listed
Hemiphlebia mirabilis          Hemiphlebia Damselfly            Listed
Riekoperla darlingtoni         Mt Donna Buang Wingless Stonefly Listed
Eusthenia nothofagi            Otway Stonefly			de-listed
Megascolides auslralis         Giant Gippsland Earthworm	Listed
Rhodope genus                  marine opisthobranch             Listed
Hesperilla flavescens flavescens
   type population              Altona Skipper type population  Rejected
Euastacus divarsus             Orbost Crayfish                  Listed
Paramecium caudatum            paramecium                       Rejected
Riekoperla isosceles           stonefly                         Listed
Spathula tryssa                planarian                        Currently Recomm. for de-listing
Riekoperla intermedia          stonefly                         Listed
Thaumatoperla alpina           stonefly                         Listed
Engaeus sternalis              Warragul Burrowing Crayfish      Listed
Engaeus mallacoota             Mallacootal Burrowing Crayfish   Listed
Engaeus Phyllocarcus           Narracan Burrowing Crayfish      Listed
Synemon plana                  Golden Sun Moth                  Listed
Synemon nais                   moth                             Listed
Synemon theresa                moth                             Rec. for Listing-final
Ogyris idmo halmaturia         Large Brown Azure Butterfly      Rec. for Listing-prelim.
Ogyris sp. aff. idmo           Ogyris butterfly                 Rec. for Listing-prelim.
Australatya striolata          Eastern Freshwater Shrimp        Listed


Communities: Butterfly Community No. 1                          Listed
             San Remo marine Community                          Listed

Notes on delisted taxa
Spathula tryssa has been recommended for de-listing because subsequent survey work of freshwater flatworms in the alps has been undertaken which indicates that Spathula tryssa is more widespread than previously thought, but is still restricted to two alpine areas.

Eusthenia nothofagi has been delisted because subsequent recent surveys have indicated that it is more widespread through forested areas within the Otway Range than originally known, occurring in relatively low numbers in a wide variety of habitats, streams and altitudes.

Entomological Society of Victoria Inc. Guidelines

Ogyris otanes C. and R. Felder
Ogyris idmo halmaturia Tepper
Hesperilla flavescens flavescens Waterhouse

In December 1973 the two Ogyris were listed and in March 1986 the Hesperilla species was added.

The Society's guidelines are:

1. That no more than two specimens be netted by any one collector within any one season.
2. That no larvae or pupae be collected at any time.

It should be noted that the State Acts of parliament such as the Flora and Flora Guarantee Act 1988 must be observed and take precedence over the Society's listings and guidelines e.g. Ogyris otanes.

I would like to thank Kerri Northey and Pam Clunie of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for assistance in the preparation of this summary.