Riekoperla darlingtoni
| Riekoperla darlingtoni | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Plecoptera |
| Family: | Gripopterygidae |
| Genus: | Riekoperla |
| Species: | R. darlingtoni
|
| Binomial name | |
| Riekoperla darlingtoni (Illies, 1968)
| |
Riekoperla darlingtoni, the Mount Donna Buang wingless stonefly, is a species of
.Distribution
Riekoperla darlingtoni is found on
Habitat
The area providing habitat for Riekoperla darlingtoni supports tall
The adult stonefly lives within rolled pieces of alpine ash bark suspended in low vegetation along natural drainage courses and in the vicinity of streams. The aquatic nymphs live under stones and in silty gravel in the drainage lines. Of particular scientific interest is the species' ability to survive the annual drying of its habitat, both in the egg stage and by burrowing down to a damper level and its seasonal flexibility in growth and emergence times, which enhances survival during the extremes of climate experienced on mountain tops.
The species has not been discovered in other similar areas despite deliberate searches.[2]
Relatives
The small brown, wingless stonefly, is one of the only two wingless stoneflies in Australia, and the species was first collected by Darlington in 1931 from the Mount Donna Buang area. A distinguishing feature of the species is its long antennae (up to 100% of its body length).
Threats
The Mount Donna Buang Wingless Stonefly has a very small home range thought to be only 2–4 km, this area is protected within the Yarra Ranges National Park but threats still remain. Fuel or herbicide spillages, changes in hydrology and a proposed Mountain Bike Track called the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination allegedly threaten Mount Donna Buang Stonefly. The Mount Donna Buang Stonefly has recently been reassessed as Critically Endangered under the Victorian State legislation the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.