Purple Swamphens Porphyrio porphyrio and Dusky Moorhens Gallinula tenebrosa climbing trees and feeding on lerps

John Seymour
pp. 16-19


Abstract

During an outbreak of the lerp-forming insect Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) on River Red Gums Eucalyptus camaldulensis near Adelaide, South Australia, Purple Swamphens Porphyrio porphyrio and Dusky Moorhens Gallinula tenebrosa climbed trees to feed on lerps. The Swamphens climbed up to 8 m above groundor water-level, the Moorhens up to 4 m. The Swamphens usually obtained lerps in situ by pecking or by drawing leaves through the bill. Sometimes an individual detached a branch and flew with it to the ground to feed there. The Moorhens took lerps only by pecking in situ.


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