Beetles (Coleoptera)
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entom2
wrote:
5 hrs ago
Hi Michael, understand perfectly! Melobasis thoracica, if that is what this is, has a wide distribution in the SE of Oz (a single record in the Atlas of Living Australia - ALA - of its purported occurrence at 'King George Sound', i.e. Albany, in southern WA, is extremely dubious as to such provenance and will require confirmation), so it very likely occurs near to wherever you live, in case you get a chance to go look. Especially look for it on the foliage of Acacia spp., (around Sydney it favours Acacia fimbriata but it might favour a different Acacia sp. in your area). Here is a link to the species on Dr Peter Lang's absolutely brilliant web page for this species: https://syzygium.xyz/buprestidae/species.php?species=Melobasis_thoracica
Buprestidae sp. (family)
entom2
wrote:
5 hrs ago
Most likely Melobasis propinqua. If possible, next time try to also get pics looking from straight above. Cheers, Allen M. Sundholm
Melobasis propinqua
MichaelBedingfield
wrote:
13 hrs ago
Hi Allen. It is not possible for me to find other specimens. These photos were taken a year ago at a site that is distant from home.
Buprestidae sp. (family)
entom2
wrote:
Yesterday
Hi Michael, hi Mark, I propose Melobasis sp., possibly Melobasis thoracicus due to the purplish colour. I propose it is at least in Melobasis, not being Ethonion as there is no deep sulcus (groove) whatsoever on the frons between the eyes (a deep sulcus on the frons is diagnostic for all species in Ethonion, a function of the bulbous shape of the eyes), and, though difficult to tell, not Diphucrania as there is no obvious carina on the pronotum laterally, such being present in Diphucrania, nor a shallow sulcus or depressed area between the eyes which is present in Diphucrania. In fact this specimen has no depressed area between the eyes at all. Also, the broad frons (space between the eyes at the front of the head) and which appears to be without a depression and is either flattened or even slightly convex also suggests Melobasis. Happy to be corrected of course. Try to find other specimens, and if you find any try to take some pics looking straight above the specimen if you can. Cheers! Allen M. Sundholm.
Buprestidae sp. (family)
Significant sightings
- Paropsis pantherina at Broke, NSW
- Australoneda bourgeoisi at Nimbin, NSW
- Aporocera rufescens at Rendezvous Creek, ACT
- Araiorrhinus howittii at Melba, ACT
- Atesta chiangi at Melba, ACT
- Chlorobapta bestii at Oallen, NSW
- Paraschizognathus elgatus at Falls Creek, VIC
- Temognatha thoracica at Cook, ACT
- Tragocerus spencii at Wyanbene, NSW
- Aporocera (Aporocera) iridipennis at Vincentia, NSW
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