Mount Donna Buang wingless stonefly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Riekoperla darlingtoni |
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| Conservation status | |
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Gripopterygidae
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| Genus: |
Riekoperla
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R. darlingtoni
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| Riekoperla darlingtoni (Illies, 1968)
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The Mount Donna Buang wingless stonefly, also known as Riekoperla darlingtoni, is a special type of stonefly. It belongs to the Gripopterygidae family. This stonefly is found only in Australia, meaning it's endemic there.
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Stonefly's Home: Mount Donna Buang
The Mount Donna Buang wingless stonefly lives only on Mount Donna Buang. This mountain is a tall peak in the Victorian Central Highlands of Australia. This area has very old rocks, formed about 500 million years ago. Mount Donna Buang is also a popular spot for tourists all year round. The top of the mountain is a special Scenic Reserve area.
Where the Stonefly Lives
The stonefly's home is a tall sclerophyll forest. This forest has many alpine ash trees (Eucalyptus delegatensis). You can also find myrtle beech trees (Nothofagus cunninghamii) growing beneath the taller trees. The forest around this area is mostly mountain ash trees (Eucalyptus regnans).
Specific Spots for the Stonefly
This stonefly seems to live only within about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) of the Mount Donna Buang summit. It prefers the southern slopes. You will find it in small streams that sometimes dry up. These streams flow through the alpine ash forest.
Stonefly Life Cycle
Adult stoneflies live inside rolled pieces of alpine ash bark. They hang out in low plants near natural water paths and streams. The young stoneflies, called nymphs, live in the water. They hide under stones and in silty gravel in the drainage lines.
Surviving Tough Times
What's really cool about this stonefly is how it survives. Its habitat can dry up every year. The stonefly can survive this by staying in its egg stage. It can also burrow deeper into the ground to find damper soil. This helps it live through the extreme weather on mountain tops. Scientists have looked in other similar areas, but they haven't found this stonefly anywhere else.
Threats to the Stonefly
The Mount Donna Buang wingless stonefly has a very small home range. It's thought to be only 2 to 4 square kilometers (0.8 to 1.5 square miles). This small area is protected within the Yarra Ranges National Park. However, some dangers still remain for the stonefly.
Dangers to the Stonefly
Things like fuel or herbicide spills could harm the stonefly. Changes in how water flows in the area are also a threat. There is also a plan for a mountain bike track called the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination. This track could directly threaten the Mount Donna Buang stonefly's home.
Conservation Status
Because of these threats, the Mount Donna Buang stonefly has been re-evaluated. It is now listed as Critically Endangered. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing. This status is under the Victorian State law, the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
