Small Bark Squeaker Atrapsalta fuscata (species complex)

Small Bark Squeaker (species complex) Atrapsalta fuscata (Ewart, 1989)

Male

Species number (TNS): 386, 391, 412–414. Fore wing length: 15–18 mm. Distribution and seasonality: From Porcupine Gorge, Blackdown Tableland and Carnarvon National Park in central Queensland south along the coast and parts of the Great Dividing Range from Kroombit Tops to the northern edge of Greater Sydney. Adults occur from September to April. Notable localities: Mt Moffatt, Blackdown Tableland, Tin Can Bay, Burbank, Toohey Forest, Forster, Wamberal. Habitat: Open forest and heathland. Trees, shrubs and sometimes grass are inhabited. This species complex contains: Small Bark Squeaker (TNS: 412). Coastally and subcoastally from northern Sydney in New South Wales north to Kroombit Tops in Queensland. Wallum Bark Squeaker (TNS: 413). A coastal Queensland species occurring from Woodgate National Park near Bundaberg, south to the Noosa River. Blackdown Bark Squeaker (TNS:386). Occurs on the central tablelands of Queensland including the Blackdown Tableland, Carnarvon Gorge and Mt Moffatt. Mt Moffatt Squeaker (TNS: 391). Known only from the southern end of the Mt Moffatt section in Carnarvon National Park. Montane Grass Squeaker (TNS: 414). TKnown from Gibraltar Range near Glen Innes, White Swamp and Toonumbar near Kyogle in northern New South Wales. Calling song and behaviour: A simple repeated phrase comprising a single buzz, emitted at a very short duration (Wallum Bark Squeaker), short duration (Montane Grass Squeaker), medium to long duration (Small Bark Squeaker) or very long duration (Inland Small Bark Squeaker). Alternatively, a monotonously repeated ratchet-like phrase is produced (Mt Moffatt Squeaker). Adults sit low down on the trunks of trees and burnt stumps, as well as in the foliage of shrubs and occasionally on grass stems. Similar species: Bark Squeaker (species complex), Black Squeaker, Sandstone Squeaker (species complex).