Buprestidae of South Australia
( Jewel beetles )
by Peter J. Lang
Castiarina malleeana   (Carter, 1931)
subfamily  Buprestinae » tribe  Stigmoderini » subtribe  Stigmoderina
Castiarina  species group: decemmaculata
Castiarina malleeana   Adult images
Castiarina malleeana, PL0432A, female, on Spyridium subochreatum, MU, 10.6 × 3.7 mm Castiarina malleeana, PL0432A, female, on Spyridium subochreatum, MU, 10.6 × 3.7 mm Castiarina malleeana, PL2598A, on Calytrix tetragona, EP Castiarina malleeana, PL2598A, on Calytrix tetragona, EP Castiarina malleeana, PL2598A, on Calytrix tetragona, EP Castiarina malleeana, PL2598A, on Calytrix tetragona, EP Castiarina malleeana, PL2598A, on Calytrix tetragona, EP Castiarina malleeana, PL2598A, on Calytrix tetragona, EP Castiarina malleeana, PL1639, KI Castiarina malleeana, PL0432A, female, MU, 10.6 × 3.7 mm Castiarina malleeana, DAY38, KI, 10.3 × 3.6 mm
Actual
size¹:
10.4 mm
×
3.5 mm
Measurements (mm)
malefemale
L19.9
8 – 12.15
 n = 611.4
10.6 – 12.1
 n = 3
L210.2
9.45 – 11.85
 n = 411.6
11.2 – 12
 n = 2
W3.3
2.6 – 4.1
 n = 64.0
3.7 – 4.4
 n = 3
Legend  L1length from clypeus/frons to elytral apex (mean, range, sample size)
L2length from anterior of edge of eyes to elytral apex
Wmaximum width with elytra fully closed
Castiarina malleeana  Distinctive features

Pronotum and elytra with strong (green-)blue or violet reflections.

Notes

Superficially similar to C. decemmaculata and differing most obviously in colour, although there are subtle differences in body shape; the pair of basal lacunae on the elytra tend to be larger and more elongate than in C. decemmaculata.

Distribution
SA Regions¹:  EP,  MU,  SL,  KI,  SE
Australian States:  SA,  VIC,  (Big,  Desert,,  Sea,  Lake)
Southern South Australia distribution
LegendP.J.Lang collection vouchered records
other private collection or museum specimens, or sightings
Satellite map
Terrain map
Enlarge map
Adult activity records for Castiarina malleeana  (total of 63 beetles)
5 7
14 13 7 4
1 3 4
1 1 2
1
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Legend
live emerged adults, count > median value of 4 per quarter month
live emerged adults, count <= median value of 4
live non-emerged adults only, for that quarter month
12
number of active beetles for that quarter month
Adult host plants
beetles sites SA regions¹ family position on host plant
Leptospermum coriaceum158EP, MUM
Calytrix tetragona123EP, KIM
Leptospermum sp.84MU, SLM
Melaleuca pauperiflora ssp. mutica41EPM
Hysterobaeckea behrii22MUM
Exocarpos sparteus11MUS
Homoranthus wilhelmii11EPM
Leptospermum myrsinoides11SLM
Spyridium subochreatum11MUR
Legendbeetlescount of beetles collected from, or sighted on, host plant taxon
sitescount of major sites (unique 10 km grid cells +/- some distinct approximate localities)
Plant family
Code beetles % host plant taxa
M Myrtaceae 43 96% 6
R Rhamnaceae 1 2% 1
S Santalaceae 1 2% 1
Position on adult host
positionbeetlessites
on flower(s)75
on flowering plant187
on plant (unspecified)2011
Lure affinity
colour beetles sites SA regions¹
white21SE
blue22KI, SE
light violet11SE
Castiarina malleeana Breeding record images
Castiarina malleeana, PL4189, dead non-emerged adult, in Hibbertia virgata (PJL 3313) root, SE, photo by A.M.P. Stolarski Castiarina malleeana, PL4189, dead non-emerged adult, in Hibbertia virgata (PJL 3313) root, SE, photo by A.M.P. Stolarski Castiarina malleeana, PL4189, dead non-emerged adult, from Hibbertia virgata (PJL 3313) root, SE
Larval host plant
individuals sites SA regions¹ family adult dead
Hibbertia virgata11SED1
Legendindividualscount of breeding adults, pupae and larvae
sitescount of major sites (unique 10 km grid cells +/- some distinct approximate localities)
adultlive = extracted alive;   dead = extracted dead as intact or fragmentary remains;   ex billet = reared and emerged from stored sections of host;   ex pupa = reared from sampled pupa
pupaextracted pupa;   pupa ex larva = reared pupa from larva
larvaextracted larva (any stage including prepupa)
gall (only)hatched or unhatched gall identified by form and position rather than contents
Plant family
Code individuals % host plant taxa
D Dilleniaceae 1 100% 1
Position in larval host
positionindividualssitesadult dead
root crown111
¹ LegendregionsSA State Herbarium regions (map)
EA: Eastern, EP: Eyre Peninsula, FR: Flinders Ranges, GT: Gairdner-Torrens, KI: Kangaroo Island, LE: Lake Eyre, MU: Murray, NL: Northern Lofty, NU: Nullarbor, NW: North-Western, SE: South-Eastern, SL: Southern Lofty, YP: Yorke Peninsula
sizeThe ellipse is the correct size when printed, indicative on a desktop screen, and likely to be wrong on a mobile device.