Dr Markus Koch is currently in Perth studying the subterranean dipluran collection housed at the Western Australian Museum. Dr Koch is an entomologist from the University of Bonn with expertise in the order Diplura and he is currently collaborating with Dr Mark Harvey (WAM) and Gonzalo Giribet (Harvard University) on research into dipluran systematics. Dr Koch’s study visit was made possible thanks to a sponsorship from the Tropicana Joint Venture - AngloGold Ashanti (70%) and Independence Group (30%), and facilitated by ecologia Environment.  

What are Diplurans? 

The order Diplura are small entognathous hexapods (‘primitive insects’) that somewhat resemble earwigs (Dermaptera). Some species are herbivorous and can be recognised by their soft cerci, however the majority of diplurans are predatory, having pincer-like cerci which they use to catch prey. Around 800 species have been described worldwide, with only two species described from Australia to date. Nevertheless, the low number of species in Australia is more likely to reflect the lack of taxonomic knowledge and interest rather than a lack of dipluran diversity. Recent collections of troglobitic diplurans suggest that a number of new, undescribed species exist in Australia. The discovery of these new species is usually linked to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of mining developments, and thus urgent need exists to revise the taxonomy of the group in order to clarify its conservation significance. This need is reflected in the EPA Guidance Statement 54a, which states that “assessing risks of species extinctions requires identifications at species, or morphospecies, level. The EPA is mindful that conservation objectives will be best served if subterranean fauna identifications are competently undertaken and based on the latest available taxonomic information. While there is no accredited list of experts for identification of subterranean fauna, proponents should endeavour to employ appropriately qualified and experienced biologists”.